I sincerely disagree with this article about student athletes not being able to go greek. The reason is simple the student is exactly that above anything else. The only reason a student is in school is to graduate. The graduation rate for greek students is much higher than that of students who are not greek. As far as being an athlete, a greek, and a student, it all falls into the hand of that individual being able to prioritize his time in school. If the student is on scholarship his/her priorities should be school,sports, and greek. The thing about the greek system is that one gets out of a fraternity/sorority as much as they put in. The greek organizations have certain requirements that they expect their members to attend, yet i do not believe there is one organization out there that would not allow a athlete to participate in their sporting events or keep them from fulling their duties as an athlete. Once the student graduates the chances are against them as far as going Pro therefore they will need the connections that greek members get after school as far as finding jobs. The main reason my brothers and I joined a fraternity is the reep the benefits that come after graduation.

I personally believe so because going greek can only make students a well-rounded person. My sorority sister is a great student-athlete (one of the best in the nation), she is a good student academically, and she is the president of the Rho Theta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. I believe if the student-athlete has proven him or herself to be a responsible student who has time management then they should choose exactly what they want to do outside of collegiate athletics. Sororites and fraternities are another way student-athletes can network and meet people who will probably help them in the future. Also, it is a way student-athlete's can meet students who are not student-athletes and feel as thought they are normal students.

For years, there was a justifiable outcry from people that student-athletes aren't really a part of the student body, what with the tradition of athletic dormitories, team-only training table meals (21 per week), certain student-athlete only courses at some institutions, and such. The NCAA outlawed such practices in the name of integrating the student-athletes into the campus environment.

Integration of the student-athlete into the student body means just that. They should not be excluded from anything that the general student population sees as part of student life. This holds true whether the student-athlete is on scholarship or not.

I realize that not all greek students engage in behavior made famous in the movie Animal House. And I think a coach does have the right to prohibit a student-athlete from participating in the fraternity/sorority keg parties, if the coach (or department) has a no-drinking policy for the student-athletes. But activities which do not run afoul of team/department rules should not be restricted, unless they would cause a student-athlete to miss class, practice, or competition.

So, is the goal to go to college to be an athlete or to be a student? As my friend, Associate Coach John Baxter at Fresno State says, "the term is student-athlete, not athlete-student."

Greek life is part of college life. Many life-long friendships and networks are made by these associations. To take this away from the current student-athlete is wrong. They are taking away from their college experience.

Especially since coaches never approve that their athletes get paid for being on their team.

Do the other departments that have students are scholarship prevent them from certain activities, such as greek life?

My greek experience is still relevant as I type this response. I met my wife through my fraternity, and my frat brothers are more than that, they are life-long friends and companions.

If coaches or school restrict student-athletes from this part of college life, then stop calling them students, and put professional in front of their title.