By Jake Galvan, Student Body President, and Nick Watts, Student Body Vice President

Finding your community is one of the most important parts of being a Xavier student.

Adding traditional Greek life to Xavier University recognizes this and gives students another way to find their group while also invigorating our campus. 

The phrase “I came to Xavier because there was no Greek life” is often repeated to me when we talk about this idea with classmates. The absence of traditional Greek life at Xavier was attractive too us. However, the blueprint for Greek life at our university will be different from other schools. We now support Greek life at our school because we have been able to see how a new style of it can benefit our campus.

Greek life on our campus will not be an imitation of other schools’ Greek life. Students will not have to worry about our school turning into a Miami of Ohio or an Alabama because that is not the model Xavier will be implementing.

First, there will be no official fraternity or sorority houses established by the university or parent organizations. This makes Greek life much safer for everyone involved because research shows that when Greek houses are taken out of the equation, incidents regarding hazing plummet in frequency. It also means that students will get to experience Greek life on their own terms and can continue to engage with other parts of Xavier.

Many students have expressed their concerns to Student Government Association (SGA) regarding a toxic partying and hazing culture taking root on campus if Greek life is implemented. These concerns are legitimate and are ones we share. 

The way to prevent this hazard is by selecting organizations that align with our values and are focused on service. Fraternities like Alpha Delta Gamma, which was founded within the Jesuit tradition, is an example of this. We encourage students to find Greek organizations they believe can have a positive impact on campus so that everyone can feel safe and welcome.

Joining a fraternity or sorority may not be everyone’s calling, and that is okay. The introduction of traditional Greek life will not bring a social mandate that pushes everyone to rush and excludes those who do not.

This is because of the small size and slow speed that would come with Greek life’s introduction. Whether it is in 2026 or later, Xavier Greek life will likely begin with one fraternity and one sorority. Each chapter could have 25 members each, culminating in 50 Greek members at our 5,000 undergraduate University. That is 1% of the student population. If Greek life expands, I hope Xavier follows the path of Jesuit universities like Loyola Chicago and John Carroll, where the student Greek populations hover around 15%. 

Adding Greek life creates a new community on campus for those who are interested in it. Students will have more options on how they want to find their group at Xavier. If a student is having trouble finding their place, rather than transferring to another university, they have the opportunity to rush a fraternity or sorority. Or, if a student is looking to expand their network and meet new people, Greek life can be a great way for this to happen. 

We all love Xavier’s darties like Golf, Pig Roast and Pong Madness. Imagine the new traditions and possibilities that Greek life can bring us. Events like these mentioned can happen more frequently and make weekends around Xavier much more lively. 

Ultimately, Xavier’s model of Greek life benefits all students searching for their place and boosts campus culture, while dodging the hazards of stereotypical Greek Life.  

We found our place on campus. Greek life can help students find and expand their community and feel proud to be a Musketeer.