Condoleezza Rice, Babe Ruth, Ronald Reagan, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Neil Armstrong, Coretta Scott King, Jesse Owens, Thurgood Marshall, Frank Sinatra, W.E.B. DuBois and Warren Buffet.

What do all these incredible and inspirational people have in common? They were all sorority or fraternity members.

These last few weeks at the Ohio Union have been very exciting. Fourteen-hundred potential new members have spent the last two weekends experiencing the recruitment process held by the Panhellenic Council and Greek organizations. As a member of the Greek community, I can say that my college experience has been far more enriching than I thought possible by immersing myself in this wonderful community. For the women who just joined a sorority, members of Greek organizations and for those who want to learn more, here are just a few ways the Greek community could transform your college experience.

1. Leadership Development– Sorority and Fraternity life present many opportunities to step up and hone leadership skills. Many sororities and fraternities offer the chance to attend leadership workshops and conferences. In fact, over 1600 students attended a sorority and fraternity leadership development program last year. You could start small by joining a committee and then maybe leading it, or you could be elected by your peers as a leader on an executive board. The Greek community as a whole also offers the opportunity to be a leader for any of the governing councils that oversee the 68 organizations currently on campus.
2. Community Involvement– An important aspect of being a part of Sorority and Fraternity life is giving back to the community. Sororities and fraternities advocate for service projects and trips, philanthropic causes and community outreach. The Greek community last semester performed 55,308 hours of community service and helped raise over $ 500,000 for various philanthropies. 
   
3. Academics– Going Greek means that you always have a study buddy and people that will motivate you to stay focused academically. Here at Ohio State, Sorority and Fraternity Life require that an individual’s GPA be a 2.5 or above to join any Greek organization. The Greek chapters on campus place a high value on scholarship which can be seen in the fact that the GPA for the Greek community as a whole is consistently higher than the all-student GPA. This previous semester the Greek fall semester GPA average was 3.31, while the undergraduate average was 3.10. Some of these organizations also offer help finding and paying for tutors if their members are struggling in a particular area of study. Being surrounded by diverse and driven individuals is a great way to motivate yourself to be the best you can academically. 
4. Personal Growth– Joining a sorority has allowed me to meet so many interesting and unique women that have changed the way I view the world. I get to see everything from 140 different perspectives instead of just my own. I have surrounded myself with women who push me to be better in every way. By joining a Greek organization you open yourself to new ideas, people and perspectives.
5. Friendships– Let’s be honest, college can be hard; we’re all trying to figure out how to balance our academics, transition into becoming more independent, finding friends or making a large university feel like home. Joining a Greek organization gives you a support system and people to lean on when the going gets tough. As cliché as it sounds, it truly gives you lifelong friends that you’ll share lifelong memories with and will treasure for many years to come. Above all, the friendships you will gain from this experience will truly give you a place to call home.

For more information about joining the Greek communities here at Ohio State visit The Office of Sorority and Fraternity life at: http://ohiounion.osu.edu/get_involved/sorority_fraternity

The American Red Cross Club has taken a heated sports rivalry and turned it into one the most well-known philanthropic events on campus: The Blood Battle. Since 1982, Ohio State and University of Michigan have competed each November before the rivalry football game to see who can donate the most pints of blood to the American Red Cross.

You’ve seen the club throughout campus carrying out the mission and passion of the American Red Cross by hosting blood drives and other events during the school year.

Last year, not only did we win on the field, but we also beat That Team Up North in the Blood Battle. This year, we’re looking to defend our title! You can help Ohio State win by donating blood at any drive on campus throug November 25. Go to http://redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code “Buckeyes” to find a list of drives and to schedule a donation. Most drives also accept walk-in donations, but appointments are preferred.

The American Red Cross Club at the 2015 Ohio State vs. U of M football game.

Joe Wornimont, VP of Communications, says, “On top of our Blood Services work, we volunteer on the Chapter Services side of the American Red Cross as well.”

The club hosts disaster preparedness seminars where they try to find creative ways to educate people about disaster training. One such event is the Zombie Apocalypse, where students and kids are taught helpful skills, such as how to put together an emergency kit. This year, they will put on their second annual Zombie Apocalypse Party during Sibs and Kids Weekend.

They also contribute to Holiday Mail for Heroes, a military outreach. This program is an opportunity to write a thank you card to current military servicemen and women overseas.

The American Red Cross Club holds biweekly meetings in the Union throughout the school year. Anyone is welcome at these meetings. To become an active member of the club, you need to collect 15 Buckeyepoints (volunteer hours) a semester. Contact VP of Communications Joe Warnimont (warnimont.6@osu.edu) if you are interested or if you have any questions.

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