(Not So)
Big Fat Greek Life A look at Otterbein University’s local Greek life chapters By Megan Roth
Photos courtesy of Matthew D'Oyly and Aidan Tansey
G
reek life organizations across the country are known for being boisterous, large and too often controversial. At Otterbein University though, local chapters with smaller group sizes on average create a much different experience. “Students wanted to be part of their small-knit community,” says Matthew D’Oyly, director of events and conferences at Otterbein and a Greek advisor to Sigma Delta Phi fraternity. “They wanted to follow that when it came to Greeks as well.”
When Greek life first appeared at Otterbein in 1908, D’Oyly says that students wanted to create their own societies to bond together without being associated with larger schools. Otterbein has six local sororities, six local fraternities, two national fraternities and three National Pan-Hellenic Council chapters. The local chapters exist solely at Otterbein, while the national chapters connect to larger organizations with chapters at colleges and universities across the country.
“If you ever see anyone around the country with your letters,” D’Oyly says, “they went to Otterbein. They were part of the chapter that you’re a part of.” The local chapters offer an experience distinct from national chapters through a naturally tighter-knit community due to their smaller size. D’Oyly also emphasizes how close the members remain from generation to generation due to the chapters’ small memberships. “Our entire alumni that has been through a chapter is maybe in the 700s,”
Members of Otterbein Greek life
16 March/April 2022
www.westervillemagazine.com
