What does Greek Life look like at Occidental? Margaret Seaney '25 shares her story about joining one of the College's two sororities.
When I came to Oxy after a mostly-virtual senior year of high school, I was excited to make new friends and find a new community at college. I noticed how sports teams came to campus as an established group; they ate meals together at the Marketplace, spent their free time together, and seemed to have a strong bond because of the sport that they played. As someone who is not particularly competitive, I knew that joining a sports team was not the way I was going to find a tight-knit group of friends like this on campus. Instead, I found my home with Alpha, one of Oxy’s local sororities.
I didn’t find Alpha all by myself. I was flung into life with Alphas through a positive Covid test and a randomized quarantine group in the spring semester of my freshman year. It just so happened that the other girls in my group were members of Alpha. At this point in time, I didn’t know very much about the sorority, but I was eager to learn more and hear about each girl’s experience.
The girls in my quarantine group were friendly, inviting, and excited to fill me in. During my time in quarantine, I learned how Alpha presents unique opportunities for building leadership skills, devoting time to community service, and forming lifelong friendships. After the quarantine group experience was over, I regularly saw these girls around campus, and we would catch up and greet one another with hugs. I decided to rush the following semester.
Now, in my third semester as a member of Alpha, I currently serve as Vice President of the Active Chapter. Because Alpha is a local sorority, there is no national organization that sets rules and standards for us to follow. As members, we have complete control over our bylaws, and we determine how our organization is run. Because of this, we are able to support Planned Parenthood as our main philanthropic partner, who we donate to through proceeds from our fundraisers and activities such as condom kit making parties and our annual Black Tie Event. Alpha breaks the traditional mold of a sorority, which makes it a special part of Occidental’s history, considering Alpha was established in 1900.
Overall, Alpha has provided me a place among a wonderful group of people who feel like siblings. Whenever I walk across campus, whether at the library, or the Marketplace, or walking across the quad, it is likely I will run into another Alpha. Greeting one another with enthusiastic waves, hugs, and warm conversations always brings a little extra joy to my day. Through these connections, I have been able to find my own community within the larger Occidental one.
For anyone who is looking to join a special community on campus, or if you’re already interested in Greek life, make sure to connect with us to see what Alpha and the other Greek organizations are all about. Most of the Alphas, including myself, would never have expected to find themselves in a sorority. But, as it turns out, we’ve become much more than just another organization at Oxy - we've become a family.