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Movies like "Animal House" and "Old School" depict greek fraternities and sororities as wild, binge-drinking party houses; but while U greeks admit that they like to have a good time, they say there is more to being greek than the stereotypes portray.
Lori McDonald, the U greek adviser, said there was a time in the 1950s when many greek organizations probably fit the stereotypes of drunken rich kids portrayed in the media today, but she said greek organizations have come a long way in the decades since then.
An important aspect of all the greek chapters at the U is service, McDonald said, and every chapter takes on a charitable organization for which it raises money during the year.
"Greeks are one of the top contributors nationally to philanthropies," said Nancy Nazarinia, president of the Panhellenic Council for sororities.
Nazarina said many greeks go beyond their mandatory chapter service requirements and volunteer or work for organizations all over campus.
While greek students make up only two or three percent of the student population at the U, she said, 35 percent of the board directors in student government are greek.
More than one-third of the candidates who ran in the student government elections last spring were greek, and the BLOC Party, which won the majority of seats when election results were announced, was 37 percent greek.
Both Student Body President Jake Kirkham and Vice President Toby Collett, elected as part of the BLOC party, are members of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Kirkham said he thinks greeks tend to be service-oriented.
"I think (greeks) just come to the U with that intention," he said.
Beyond service, U greeks say being a part of fraternities and sororities allows them to develop a bond with their fellow greeks and tap into a powerful network of contacts.
"It's just about finding a group of people you can hang out with and relate to," Nazarinia said.
Kim Bowman, vice president of the Sigma Chi fraternity, has personally reaped the networking benefits of being a member of a greek organization. He is working as the campaign manager for Thomas Wright, a candidate for the Utah House of Representatives and a fellow Sigma Chi member.
"It's no coincidence that the majority of people in leadership positions in the country are greek," he said.
