Greek life at the University of St. Francis is on the rise, and it’s an exciting time to be part of it. For years, USF didn’t have the big, traditional Greek scene you might find at larger schools, but things are changing. With the impact of Covid fading, Greek life has made a comeback here on campus.
“I joined when Covid was still a presence so it hindered a lot of people’s willingness to join. I feel like since it has passed a bit, people are more than ready to be involved again," Alpha Phi President Vanessa Mclain said. “Our main focus is on our values and being an active member in our communities, which is why I feel more students are interested in Greek Life. There's that element of meeting new people, and potentially making connections and friends.”
With the addition of the university’s first-ever fraternity, Zeta Psi, it feels like we’re entering a whole new chapter.
While USF has always had a handful of honor societies and small social groups, it didn’t really have the same Greek life culture that many other schools do. But that didn’t stop students from pushing for it.
Slowly but surely, the idea began to take root and in 2012, USF drafted a Greek Life policy and expansion bulletin to make it happen. Fast forward to the 2014-2015 school year, and USF welcomed its first Greek organization—Alpha Phi. The momentum didn’t stop there, as Alpha Psi Lambda joined the community in 2017.
One of the biggest recent developments is the addition of Zeta Psi, a fraternity with a rich history that dates back to 1847. The arrival of Zeta Psi on campus is a huge step for USF, as it is the first males only chapter on campus. Zeta Psi is all about brotherhood, personal growth, and community service according to USF Chapter Founder and President Jason Hartsfield.
“We really put a big emphasis on brotherhood,” he said. “You have a lot of different personalities coming together with philanthropy events, community service, especially with rush week we get to bond with the pledges and each other.. It’s pretty dynamic and seeing all those guys come together is a pretty cool thing."
While the introduction of Zeta Psi is big news, it’s really just the beginning. One idea that’s being discussed is the creation of a Greek Week — a time for all of the Greek organizations on campus to come together for a Q-and-A, informational meetings and other events.
“This week is going to be used to display ourselves to the students on campus who may be interested,” Mclean said. “I feel like it will really boost the knowledge of Greek life on campus so people can learn how beneficial it can be to them!”
There’s also talk of developing a Greek Row—a space where fraternities and sororities could display their own banners, letters and more. It’s still in the early stages, but the idea of a Greek Row is definitely something that could take USF’s Greek life to the next level.
There’s also the potential for a Greek Life Board, which would oversee all Greek organizations at USF.
This board would consist of all the Greek chapters on campus and give students more opportunities to lead, plan events and build a lasting legacy for Greek life at USF.
With sororities like Alpha Phi and Alpha Psi Lambda already established on campus, the introduction of Zeta Psi feels like a natural step forward.
Greek life at USF is expanding into communities that support one another, give back and make the college experience even more meaningful. Fraternities and sororities alike can give students the chance to grow as leaders, develop lifelong friendships and make a difference in both our campus and wider community.
With exciting possibilities like Greek Week, Greek Row, or the establishment of a Greek Life Board, there’s no doubt that Greek life at USF is only going to keep growing—and it’s exciting to be a part of that growth.
“I think the school has definitely been opening up to the idea of more Fraternities and Sororities alike,” Hartsfield said. “The development of the Greek board I think is going to set a standard for Greek Life and that it’s growing.”
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