Students
Societies
Whittier's 10 local fraternities and sororities (better known as societies) have been an integral part of Whittier's traditions since the 1920s, when the earliest societies were founded as literary groups. Over time, with an increase in both the number of groups and overall membership, a social component was added, tempered with the primary focus on scholarship, leadership, and community service.
Today, there are five societies for women: the Athenians, Ionians, Metaphonians, Palmers, and Thalians. Four societies are open to men: the Franklins, Lancers, Orthogonians, and William Penns. Only one society, the Sachsens, is co-ed.
Scholarship
Academic excellence is a tradition and priority for the society community. First and foremost, society members are students. We pride ourselves on academic accomplishments and are working hard to reach and maintain high scholarship standards. Through a new series of programs and initiatives, the Inter-Society Council and individual groups are assisting members to excel as students. In addition, many of the societies host group study sessions, library time and academic monitoring. With the implementation of the grade monitoring program, the society system has come full-circle with its programs and ideas.
Leadership
Equally important as scholarship is leadership. Society life offers its members endless leadership opportunities not only within the Society community, but in the broader campus community as well. During the 2006-2007 academic year, 15 out of 19 of the Council of Representatives positions were filled by society members, and currently, 14 out of the 19 COR officers are members of a Society. The last three COR presidents have been members of our distinguished community. Together with the Dean of Students’ Office, we sponsor and participate in a variety of leadership programs such as: Society Development Days, Campus Leadership Workshops, Local Fraternity and Sorority Conferences, and New Member Leadership Workshops.
Service
Each year, members of the society community contribute hundreds of volunteer hours and raised dollars to local and national charities. We take part in a wide variety of philanthropic events and encourage other within our community to participate. Throughout the past year, we have participated in events such as: AIDS Walk LA, Relay for Life, campus blood drives, St. Matthias’ soup kitchen, breast cancer awareness, campus clean-up events, and have served as tutors and mentors to a wide variety of children in the greater community. Additionally, each society pursues individual service projects throughout the year.
Becoming a Society Member
Each fall, there are a number of opportunities, such as the Student Activities Fair during fall Orientation, to meet with current society officers and members to learn more about the individual organizations and begin the process of selecting and joining. Those interested in joining a society are also HIGHLY encouraged to attend all open houses and rush during the fall.
Bids are given out at the end of fall semester, with new member education occurring during the January interim session. To be eligible to join a society, a student must have completed at least one semester at Whittier College and have a 2.0 cumulative GPA.
