At Duquesne University, our Office of Greek Life proudly supports more than 30 social,
sorority and fraternity chapters, fraternal professional organizations and honor societies
alike who encourage:
Lifetime membership
Academic excellence
Leadership
Community service
Strong friendships
Learning outside the classroom
Spiritual, intellectual and social growth
From sports to study breaks, the Greek community offers a number of benefits to its
members. Along with its own intramural athletic league program, Greeks can hit the
books with fellow members earning them a higher GPA than non-Greek students on average.
"The language of friendship is not words, but meanings."
Henry David Thoreau
Greek Chapters at Duquesne
"There are the families that we are born into, and there are the families that we
choose our circle of friends. While their faces may change over the course of our
lives, the joy they bring us remains constant."
When you go Greek, it's not like joining a regular club or activity. It isn't a case
of just showing up for a meeting once a month or getting together for one event each
semester.
With daily interaction and constant opportunities for leadership within the chapter,
fraternities and sororities lay the groundwork for engaged citizenship and developing
networking skills.
Brotherhood and Sisterhood
There are many popular terms connected with Greek Life, two of which are brotherhood
and sisterhood. When you share rituals, traditions, and unforgettable experiences
with your brothers and sisters, you truly develop a sense of family that's unlike
any other. These relationships will be lifelong friendships.
A fraternity brother or sorority sister is someone who will encourage you to succeed,
support you when things are going well, and listen when you are having problems, offering
unconditional support.
At the heart of these friendships and interactions are the traditions within each
chapter. Although each fraternity and sorority has different founding values, you'll
find some words come up again and again in all Greek organizations:
Virtue
Scholarship
Ethics
Justice
Friendship
These strong basic beliefs have long been a part of college communities across the
United States, and are key contributors to the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood
that over seven million members have enjoyed.
Recruitment: Rush
To get to know members in Greek chapters, and decide which one to join, students can
take part in recruitment. Our recruitment period known as "Rush", is when all fraternities
and sororities host their membership drives.
At Duquesne, fall recruitment is for upper class and transfer students only. First-year
students participate in spring recruitment.
Serving Others
Every Greek chapter has a philanthropic event such as the
5K run/walk that benefits the DePaul School for Hearing and Speech
A soccer tournament that benefits the American Heart Foundation
A "White Rose Ball" that benefits the American Gold-Star Mothers Association
Greek Week
Greek Week, in spring semester, includes a series of weeklong competitions among the
chapters, and concludes with the traditional Greek Sing. Greek Week has raised thousands
of dollars to help charitable groups including a mission school in Ghana and several
local foodbanks.
Community Involvement
Duquesne Greek students:
Serve as academic tutors and literacy coaches at community centers
Participate in several neighborhood clean-up initiatives
Organize blood and food drives each semester
It is our belief that when when we help the underprivileged and needy, we gain understanding
and compassion for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Greeks sponsor social events that support philanthropies that include:
Carnival
Greek Week
Homecoming Week activities
Big Man On Campus
Water Wars
Snagged for Jimmy V Tournament
Pretty In Pink Brunch
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Walk Miles for Smiles
Ultraviolet Games
Red Dress Gala
White Rose Ball
Valentine's Day Ball
Miss Duquesne Pageant
Monte Carlo Night
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth."
