Sorority life is like a society unto itself with rules and standards that even fraternity brothers do not quite experience, a sorority sister, Megan Beller said.

Sororities can’t publicize like fraternities do, Beller, a member of Sigma Kappa sorority, said. We don’t throw parties all the time, and guys can wear their letters while they drink. We can’t.

I guess it comes back to the idea that girls are supposed to be ladies.

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One of thousands of girls that experience sorority life at SIUC, Beller said she doesn’t have any idea what she would be doing now if she had not joined a sorority.

It takes up so much of my time, Beller, a junior in education from Belleville, said. I never really thought about what I would be doing now if I hadn’t joined. There’s really nothing I don’t like about it.

Beller said she was more of a tomboy when she was younger, active in sports, and had not planned on being in a sorority until she came to SIUC.

In high school I never even thought about (joining a sorority), she said. My mom had mentioned the idea to me. She was in a sorority at St. Louis University.

Beller said she knew five girls when she came to SIUC and decided to rush during her freshman year, in spring of 1994, to meet more people.

When I was a freshman I really didn’t know what to do with myself, and I wanted to meet more people, Beller said. I have 75 friends now (from her sorority) and I have so much to do. It’s also kind of exciting with something always going on.

She said having friends to rush with her helped out a lot in deciding which sorority she wanted to join.

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We could talk about the different sororities, Beller said. There were a couple of girls that rushed by themselves. I think that girls should definitely rush by themselves even if they don’t have anyone to do it with them.

Rushing is expensive and time consuming but when it is over the monthly dues are reasonable and there is more time for other activities, Beller said.

It takes up a lot of your time, she said. Pledging itself is more expensive than dues.

Sorority life matured Beller and made her more aware of others through the community activities she participated in and through living with her sorority sisters.

I lived (in the house) last year and this year, Beller said. I was an only child and kind of selfish and after living and sharing everything with these girls I’ve changed a lot.

Beller said the sorority keeps her active in the community from volunteering time at nursing homes to giving blood.

We have to donate a lot of our time to community activities, Beller said. (Academics) are really important too. We have study hours and have to keep our grades up.

Beller said everyone in the sorority is close and everyone has someone to talk to if you have a problem.

We have a very diverse house and we don’t compete with each other, Beller said. Everyone here is their own person. We do compete with other (sororities) though.

Beller said joining a sorority has not made her trendier, but has made her more aware of what she looks like.

You always want to give people a good impression, Beller said. It’s like you want to make sure you look nice.

Sororities look for quality girls when expanding their membership, Beller said.

We want to have girls that can take the place of those girls that are leaving, Beller said. One girl can totally affect the house, if she has a bad reputation.

Beller said every year she looks forward to coming back to school to see all of her friends.

If I hadn’t joined a sorority I would be very, very bored, Beller said.