According to Ohio State’s “Greek Speak,” a guide to important sorority and fraternity terms and definitions, the word “deactivate” means “the formal process by which an initiated member disaffiliates him/herself from the chapter.”

Although students join Greek affiliations with the hopes of feeling more connected and involved, the choice to do so might be a regrettable one.

Ryan Lovell, senior coordinator of Greek life at OSU, said making the decision to deactivate can be due to a number of reasons, spanning from financial reasons to personal ones.

“Sometimes when you get into your organization, it isn’t what you thought it would be, or you’re not getting the experience you wanted,” Lovell said.

Although Lovell said he understood some students’ reasons for deactivating, he encouraged students to think before they actually make the final decision to deactivate.

“Chapters offer alumni/alumnae groups that you can become involved with, no matter where you may live,” he said. “There are experiences and opportunities that you can have for the rest of your life. When you join your chapter you say ‘for life,’ not just for your undergraduate life, and when you deactivate you can’t get those experiences back.”

When joining a sorority or fraternity, it is important to also remember all of the responsibilities associated with the group.

Members are required to maintain a minimum 2.25 grade point average, attend regular chapter meetings and participate in scheduled community service events.

Mandy Jones* got what she wanted when she joined a sorority. She made lifelong friends, experienced new activities and lived in an environment with her fellow sisters. She also got a lot that she did not expect.

“I think initially when you join a sorority you think, ‘I’m going to have 100 new best friends.’ But that’s not the case,” Jones said.

Jones’ frustrations, as well as financial burdens, are the reasons she has chosen to deactivate at the end of spring quarter.

Although deactivating, she said she did not regret her decision to join and did not mind telling people she “bought” her friends.

“You always hear people who are in sororities or fraternities ‘buy’ their friends and I used to take a lot of offense to that,” Jones said. “But really I don’t care to admit that in a sense I did buy my friends. I got what I wanted out of the experience so that’s all that matters. Had I not joined I wouldn’t have made such close friends.”

Jones added the positive aspects of Greek life far exceeded the negative ones.

“I will have the friends I’ve made since being in a sorority (is) forever,” Jones said. “The girls I have become close with will be the girls standing next to me when I get married and I wouldn’t change any of it.”

At the request of the source, this name has been changed.

Sara Clifford can be reached at [email protected].