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In February 2025, one of the most popular posts on the ӣ������ Instagram feed featured students taking hammers — and a set of superhero Hulk hands — to an old car on the Russell House lawn for the annual Theta Xi Car Smash. This year, the beloved tradition served as the grand finale for Mental Health Awareness Week, one of many events organized by fraternities and sororities to support their classmates and build a stronger community.
This is the new face of fraternity and sorority life at Lenoir-Rhyne — where community service and deep bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood go hand-in-hand with fun and tradition.

A VISION FOR GROWTH
Walter Kennedy, coordinator for student engagement, joined the Office of Student Life in 2023 and took on the role of supervising fraternity and sorority life with a mission to strengthen existing organizations and expand opportunities for students to join new ones.

“I joined an alumni chapter of Phi Beta Sigma after I’d finished undergrad, and the community spirit of what they were doing inspired a passion in me,” Kennedy shared. “What they stand for — brotherhood, scholarship, and service — those are the key points of fraternity and sorority life. That’s what has guided me in this role at LR.”

Fraternities and sororities have been part of the university’s culture for more than 90 years. Throughout that time, the fraternity and sorority scene has evolved and the current era has brought positive change. Social norms, safety protocols, and even the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic have redefined what it means to be part of these organizations at LR.

“There’s been some effort to get away from the term ‘Greek’ because there have been negative connotations in the past, so we’re still under the umbrella of fraternity and sorority life,” Kennedy explained. “But we have adopted the phrase ‘Greek Life Culture’ as part of our identity — it’s a little more concise and fun phrasing and adding the word ‘culture’ also indicates our more modern approach.”

While social events, formals, and parties remain part of the experience, the focus has shifted toward building strong friendships, fostering philanthropy and developing professional connections that last a lifetime.

“Dean [Harry] Titus and I have worked closely to make sure we’re strategic in our approach to growing fraternity and sorority life so our students feel like they have something they can be a part of,” Kennedy said. “These are connections that can stay with you through a lifetime.”

LEADERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP
Unity among organizations is a key factor in their collective success. Officers of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) have worked to build a supportive and collaborative environment.

“Leadership is the art of bringing people together, fostering unity and collaboration, and guiding fraternities toward a common goal with integrity and vision,” said IFC president Ben Winkler ’25, a business management and marketing major and member of Pi Kappa Phi (PiKapp).  

“The main goal of NPC is to spread love, so all of the sororities at the end of the day can come together and be sisters even if we're not part of the same sorority,” shared NPC President and Delta Zeta (DZ) member Amber Baker ’27, a criminal justice and biology major. “I hear stories from alumni about how connected the sororities used to be and that makes me want to bring that level of connection back.”

Many students who are now active members and leaders in fraternities and sororities at Lenoir-Rhyne never planned to join a Greek organization when they first arrived at college. However, after meeting and getting to know members of the organizations they ultimately joined, they found a sense of belonging they hadn’t expected.

“I was never interested in sorority life. I was on the swim team at LR, but after I left the team due to injury, it was challenging finding my social group here,” shared sports management major Taylyn Adams ’26, president of Delta Zeta. “I had a friend who introduced me to a few girls from DZ, and I immediately felt a connection with them. It just felt like home. Suddenly, I had this family that brought me in.”

As a commuting student, Winkler shared how joining his fraternity allowed him a connection to the campus that he wouldn’t have had otherwise. “It’s challenging to really hook into the social scene here when you live off campus. Sports and even some of the majors come with a built-in community. I’m friends with a lot of athletes, but they’ve got a sense of brotherhood with their teammates — that was the kind of connection I wanted, and I found it in Pi Kappa Phi.”

For others, fraternity life was an essential part of their ideal college experience. Mike Gerbitz '26, a member of Pi Kappa Phi, who came to LR to major in computer science with a cybersecurity concentration after several years in the U.S. Navy, shared, “I decided when I came to college that I was going to get the full college experience. That implies fraternity life, joining different organizations, and having fun — the old mantra of ‘work hard, play hard.’ That’s what made me want to join.”

Brotherhood has been more than just a social connection for Gerbitz. It’s filled a gap in his life. “It’s the closest I’ve come to true camaraderie since I left the military. I’ve been looking for that, and I found it with the fraternity.”

Among the members of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) — which officially describes itself as a female fraternity — inside jokes and natural camaraderie are evident in their interactions. Some were surprised to find themselves in a sorority, while others had long admired Greek life but took their time finding the right fit.

“I have been watching Bid Day videos on YouTube probably since middle school,” said psychology major Haille Benton ’26, ZTA president. “So, I came into LR knowing what I wanted to do, but I didn’t join a sorority my first semester. The more I learned, the more I wasn’t 100 percent sure if I fit in. But after meeting and getting to know the women in Zeta Tau Alpha, I found a connection I hadn’t felt before. It’s like being in a family that’s not your own.”

For others, Greek life was a legacy they weren’t sure still existed in modern sororities. Emberlin Holt ’27, a nursing major and vice president of ZTA, explained, “My stepmom and my aunt were both in Zeta Tau Alpha, my stepmom here at Lenoir-Rhyne. I saw the lifelong friendships she made — she’s still friends with Zetas she went to college with, and they go on dinner dates and coffee dates. I wasn’t initially interested in Greek life, but one day, my friend Ansley popped into my dorm room wearing a ZTA shirt and convinced me. I fell in love with everyone and knew these were my girls. Twenty years down the road, I know I’ll still be going on coffee dates with them.”

When it came time to join Theta Xi, current president and English major Dorian Eskridge ’26 shared it just came naturally. “The very first person who talked to me on campus — someone who wasn’t a friend from high school — was a Xi. My name quickly became known in the organization. They saw my potential for leadership, and when the brothers got to know me they invited me to join. I was drawn to our values of reliability, trustworthiness and commitment to our education and to philanthropy. We have traditions that are decades old that we pass along to new members. I love being part of that.”

FOR THE COMMON GOOD
Philanthropy has become a defining element of Greek Life culture at ӣ������, helping to break stereotypes and reinforce the values of service and leadership.

Psychology major Avery Webb ’26, president of Kappa Delta (KD), emphasized the personal growth she has experienced through her sorority’s philanthropic work. “I’ve had so many leadership opportunities from working closely with our philanthropies. It has allowed me to build confidence in young women of the Girl Scouts and raise money for Prevent Child Abuse America. In the process, I've also grown as a woman and built confidence in my own abilities to solve problems and lead and inspire others.”

Like Kappa Delta, most fraternities and sororities at LR partner with national non-profits to support their philanthropic missions. Zeta Tau Alpha focuses on breast cancer awareness and research, while Theta Xi set a record in spring 2024 fundraising for Habitat for Humanity.

Delta Zeta works with causes associated with hearing loss and the Deaf community, including cooperation with the North Carolina School for the Deaf in nearby Morganton, North Carolina. That philanthropy has nursing major Kayleigh Farrell ’28, finance officer for DZ, thinking about her career focus. “As a nurse, I want to work with children, either in pediatrics or labor and delivery. Helping kids is part of my heart, so working with the School for the Deaf, raising funds to get hearing aids for children, and helping families really cemented for me that I wanted to be part of this organization.”

Unlike most fraternities, Pi Kappa Phi operates its own non-profit, The Ability Experience, which supports children and veterans with disabilities through fundraising, awareness campaigns, and hands-on accessibility projects.

Members take particular pride in their annual fundraising efforts, many of which center around long-distance biking. “Philanthropy and your commitment to it is a big part of your growth as a person,” said Alex Barr ’26, an exercise science major and president of Pi Kappa Phi. “In March, we do a 24-hour bike-a-thon on a stationary bike in the Cromer Center. It’s fun, but it also really makes a difference for the people we’re serving.”

Participation in this event has made lifelong memories for at least a few Pi Kapp members. “I had the overnight shift in the bike-a-thon in Cromer last year,” shared engineering physics major Jensen Pace ’27. “We usually rotate about every 30 minutes, but I decided to keep going. I was on the bike for about three hours. I was so tired, but I kept thinking about the people we were helping. All the brothers cheering me on helped too.”

In addition to philanthropy, LR’s fraternities and sororities place an emphasis on academic excellence. This is reflected in the growing membership of the Order of Omega, a national honor society for fraternity and sorority members who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The spring 2025 induction class included seven new student members and four honorary faculty and staff members. Membership in the Order of Omega provides students with additional leadership development opportunities and networking connections.

“I’ve always felt drawn to leadership roles,” said sociology major Elizabeth Willis ’25, a former president of ZTA and current president of Order of Omega. “I went to the ZTA international convention in 2024. While we had one of the smaller chapters there, it was amazing to know that we still had a presence — that people already knew our chapter and our university. Connecting with bigger institutions and forming those bonds was incredible.”

THE FUTURE OF GREEK LIFE CULTURE
Another significant development in LR’s Greek life is the arrival of National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) organizations, drawn from among the nine historically African American fraternities and sororities known as the Divine Nine. Kennedy has worked closely with students to help bring these organizations to campus.

“My own experience with the National Pan-Hellenic Council helped us get started," he said. "Because I have relationships with alumni chapters within the Hickory and Charlotte communities, I reached out to them to say these are the chapters that our students are looking forward to joining at our school, and we would love to brainstorm how you can become part of our growth at LR.”

Alumni involvement is a key part of fraternity and sorority life across all councils — IFC, NPC, and NPHC. In NPHC organizations, this involvement often extends beyond mentorship, fostering lifelong commitments to service and leadership.
“I wanted to join an NPHC organization because I saw the members and alumni out in the community doing good things. You don’t usually see mass groups of people doing community service like that,” shared exercise science major Myles Cotton '26, a charter member of Kappa Alpha Psi and president of the NPHC at LR. “Plus, the closeness of the brotherhood is like a blood relationship. I wanted to be part of that. I chose Kappa Alpha Psi because of my childhood coaches who were members, who took me under their wings — I want to pass that along.”

As a founding member of LR’s second NPHC sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, business management and entrepreneurship major Jada Norris ’26 was also drawn to her organization’s commitment to community service. After learning about the impact of NPHC sororities on other campuses, she and Marlesia Walker ’24 sought to bring that culture to LR.

“Sigma Gamma Rho really stood out to me because of all of their virtues, with the seven pearls and what they stand for,” said Norris. “Having that sisterhood and standing for the involvement in the upbringing of Black women — I love that about my sorority, as well as the philanthropies, which focus on longstanding issues in the African American community, from improving health outcomes for Black women and their young children to promoting swimming lessons for underserved populations.”

For Norris and other NPHC members, building something new is both a challenge and an opportunity. As they work to grow their membership and increase their organizations’ visibility, they share the same goal as all of LR’s fraternities and sororities: strengthening the community.

“It’s not easy, but I’m excited to grow this organization,” said Rubens Joseph ’26, an exercise science major, offensive lineman for the Bears football team and charter member of Iota Phi Theta. “I want to show that fraternity life can be different — that being part of the right group can make you better than you are as an individual. I want to dare to make a change in the community and on campus. I think fraternities and sororities in general get stuck with a stereotype of being a party group, but we’re all about promoting community service and connection.”