Sorority Girls Aren’t Always One Thinks
Aleigha Shears
looks like a hip hop star by sporting a nose ring and her hair in an easy
up-done bun. But Shears doesn’t belong to a band, instead she is the Directory
of Activities chair for the sorority Zeta Tau Alpha.
According to
Shears, sororities are nothing like the view that media portrays of them. Not
all of the girls are super-skinny, blonde, cheer-leader types. Instead many of
them are the exact opposite.
“Many of my
sisters have nose rings, belly button piercing, and tattoos,” Shears says.
Instead of her
sisters being all about hair and makeup her they often spend time raising money
for charities. Their main charity is the Susan G. Coleman Organization. This
organization t helps those with breast cancer and raises awareness about breast
cancer.
The sorority’s
involvement with this charity is one of the reasons that Shears chose ZTA.
While Shears was choosing her sorority her aunt was going through breast
cancer.
“It’s hard to meet
someone that hasn’t had an experience with breast cancer. Whether they
themselves have had it or know someone who has I think it’s a charity that we
all can feel affected by,” Shears said.
Apart from raising
money for the Coleman foundation Shears also spends social times with her
sisters. Shears is the Director of Activities chair for ZTA. This is her second
year in the position.
Last year Shears
organized family day for her organization which she referred to as “a royal
pain in the butt.” This was a day that all of the parents of the sorority were
invited down to the university. There were games and chances for the families
to interact.
“We have to begin
organizing these events as soon as possible. It’s so hard when people don’t
answer emails or call you back,” Shears said.
While Shears has
enjoyed her time as the Director of Activities Chair in November she hopes to
move up to either Vice President or Ritual Chair. A Ritual Chair is someone who
organizes the different rituals that the sorority’s preform such as the
induction ceremony.
Shears encourages
other who are interested in Greek Life to try out for a sorority or fraternity.
“The sisterhood is
the best part of being in a sorority. We can all act stupid, weird and just
ourselves around each other without worrying about that person talking behind
our backs about stuff,” Shears said.
However, she does
realize that Greek Life isn’t for everyone.
“If I ask someone
and they’re not interested in Greek life then I don’t try to force it down
their throats. You have to have the desire to be a part of a group like this,
but for me it was the right decision,” Shears said.
