Information for Parents
Who Can Join Greek Life at Trinity?
Recruitment and membership intake begins in the first few weeks of both fall and spring semesters. Students who are sophomores with a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible to participate in membership recruitment.
How will my student benefit from joining Greek life at Trinity?
Networking: Greek Life can provide incredible networking opportunities for students after college. Whether through a chapter’s own alumni base, or the national organization, you will find that your fellow brothers and sisters want to help.
Philanthropy: Annually, Greek organizations holds an average of 75 philanthropy events helping to raise over $15,000 for various local and national charities. Greek Life at Trinity prides itself on giving back to the community.
Leadership: Fraternities and Sororities provide students amazing leadership opportunities. Every chapter oversees electing their own leadership who run the organization. These positions help teach students to manage a budget, organize meetings, speak in public and motivate others. These skills help to benefit a student throughout their life.
Sisterhood/ Brotherhood: Greek life fosters lifelong friendships and national networks which can be beneficial while at college, and in the years following.
It is important to note that while Greek Life provides many benefits to Trinity students, it is certainly not required or necessary for any student. With 25% of students involved in Greek life, it is an amazing opportunity, however Trinity provides many other organizations and clubs for students, whether they are involved in Greek Life or not.
How will going Greek affect my student’s academics?
Joining Greek Life provides students with great resources to succeed at Trinity College. Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher to participate in recruitment, and the Greek Life average GPA is higher than the overall college GPA. Greek Life at Trinity prides itself on supporting and enhancing students’ academics.
| Overall Greek GPAs – Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| All-Greek GPA | 3.532 |
| All-Male Greek GPA | 3.516 |
| All-Female Greek GPA | 3.556 |
| Overall College GPAs – Fall 2020 | |
|---|---|
| All-College GPA | 3.388 |
| All-Male GPA (non-Greek) | 3.246 |
| All-Female GPA (non-Greek) | 3.526 |
What are the Financial Obligations?
Students must know that joining a fraternity or sorority is a financial commitment. Current members and alumni of the organization determine the necessary dues for each chapter in an effort to be self-sustaining. Most chapters offer payment plans, scholarships or grants to support members.
Who oversees Greek life at Trinity?
Trevor Beauford, Assistant Dean of Community Life and Restorative Justice and Director of Greek Life
What is Trinity’s Policy on Hazing?
Hazing, in all forms, is expressly prohibited by the College. Trinity College, in compliance with Connecticut State Law (Sec. 53-23a.), defines “hazing” as any action which recklessly or intentionally endangers the health or safety of a person for the purpose of initiation, admission into or affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a student organization (including Greek Letter Organizations, athletic teams, club sports, SGA groups, a capella groups, etc).
- The term “hazing” shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) Requiring indecent exposure of the body;
(b) Requiring any activity that would subject the person to extreme mental stress, such as sleep deprivation or extended isolation from social contact;
(c) Confinement of the person to unreasonably small, unventilated, unsanitary or unlighted areas;
(d) Any assault upon the person; or
(e) Requiring the ingestion of any substance or any other physical activity which could adversely affect the health or safety of the individual. The term shall not include an action sponsored by an institution of higher education which requires any athletic practice, conditioning, or competition or curricular activity. - “Student organization” means a fraternity, sorority or any other organization organized or operating at an institution of higher education.
(a) No student organization or member of a student organization shall engage in hazing any member or person pledged to be a member of the organization. The implied or express consent of the victim shall not be a defense in any action brought under this section.
(b) A student organization which violates subsection (a) of this section,
(1) shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand five hundred dollars and
(2) shall forfeit for a period of not less than one year all of the rights and privileges of being an organization organized or operating at an institution of higher education.
(c) A member of a student organization who violates subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
(d) This section shall not in any manner limit or exclude prosecution or punishment for any crime or any civil remedy. Trinity College policies also prohibit the following activities and situations including but are not limited to:
• Participation in or creation of situations that cause physical harm or emotional strain, such as causing a member or non-member to be the object of malicious amusement or ridicule.
• Forced, required or implicitly coerced participation in physical activities such as calisthenics exercises or games.
• Participation in activities that involve illegal acts such as kidnapping or stealing, or acts that violate university policy.
• Creation of excessive fatigue or distress through deprivation of privacy, sufficient sleep, or decent and edible meals.
• Use of physical brutality or force (including paddling, striking with fists, open hands or objects).
• Forced, required, condoned or implicitly coerced behavior resulting in lewdness or potential ridicule or bodily harm (such as forced nudity or partial nudity, including coercing an individual to dress in a degrading manner as part of initiation or affiliation).
• Forced, required or implicitly coerced consumption of any food, liquor, drug or any other substance.
• Permitted consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol.
• Any other activities that are not consistent with the regulations and policies of Trinity College.
• For Greek Letter Organizations, any activity outside of the approved ten-day new member education period.
Any person who believes he or she has been hazed, or any person who has witnessed, or who possess information on activities that may violate the Colleges prohibition on hazing should report the incident(s) to Trevor Beauford, Assistant Dean of Community Life and Restorative Justice and Director of Greek Life, the Dean of Students, Campus Safety, the Silent Whistle website at http://trincoll.alertline.com/gcs/welcome, or by calling 866-934-4567.
