The Non-Jewish Minority

By Ryan Morgan

        Keg stands, pledge bros, big sis’s, bad decisions, jungle juice, and now it time to PAARTTAAYY! This was my perception, of the Greek scene here at USC before I decided to pledge myself. When trying to choose a fraternity I was overwhelmed by the number of choices I had. Having grown up Jewish I my first intention was to check out the “Jewish fraternities.” However before I could make it West on 28th street, I was persuaded to go East and ended up pledging the first frat that I checked out, which happened not to be Jewish. Being one of the only Jews in the house I never felt ousted, but was always curious to see the other side of the flip-coin. I wondered what it felt like to be an gentile in a Jewish fraternity.

        Although it appears to contain a large part of the student body, Greek life at USC only comprises 35% of the student population, 19% of which are sororities and the other 16%, fraternities. Of all the student-run organizations encompassing USC, only about 5% are Jewish. Two main fraternities and sororities dominate the Jewish scene, Sigma Delta Tau, and Alpha Epsilon Pi. What kind of people would pledge to join a Jewish organization? How much do the ideals and principles associated with Judaism affect them in their every day lives? So I took a step down the Row and decided to go out and interview two subjects, neither Jewish, and asked them to summarize how their lives have developed as members of a religious-oriented group.

        Jessica Ruggles, a sophomore majoring in English and theater, recently pledged Sigma Delta Tau (ΣΔΤ) a sorority based on Jewish ideals; nonetheless, one does not have to be Jewish to join. As a girl who grew up without much of a religious affiliation, she was very open to the ideals of others. There are, however, some aspects of Jewish culture that have found their way into Sig Delt tradition and into her life. One example is food. In Greek life on campus at USC, each house has a Monday night dinner where the chapter will get together to enjoy a meal, always followed by a ritual chapter meeting. Because Sig Delt is historically Jewish and is currently using Hillel as their dining room and meeting space, the food brought in is kosher. For instance, when serving hamburgers is always served on the side so each individual can apply the dairy product if they please. Another aspect of Jewish life that has made its way into Jessica’s life is Shabbat. Because Sig Delt is founded on Jewish ideals, they cannot require attendance at events taking place during Shabbat. This really only affects certain social events, and many unofficial events still occur on Friday nights. These two aspects really are the most noticeable parts of Jewish life that have made their way into Jessica’s. The women of ΣΔΤ are each unique in their own way, but they all believe in what their letters and symbols stand for.

        Johnny Cirelle, a sophomore majoring in communications, joined the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon Pi (ΑEΠ) in the Spring of 2007. Growing up as a non-Jew, the religious affiliation of the fraternity he sought to join was not important for him when selecting a fraternity. Before joining AEPi, Cirelle knew the fraternity's religious orientation but continued to pledge because he felt that he related well with the other members. In no way has he ever felt pressured or singled out because he is not Jewish, and he says he is constantly invited and often attends Jewish events to broaden his understanding of the Jewish faith. Even though the majority of its members are Jewish, AEPi accepts guys from any religion and any race. For instance, there is currently an African American student converting to Judaism with the support of his fraternal brothers. Therefore, joining a Jewish fraternity allows one to gain knowledge and experience of Judaism, while feeling comfortable and without any pressure to pick up or practice the faith.

        Even though I did not ask Jessica or Johnny how fast each could shotgun a beer, it was easy to notice their contentment in their decision to pledge their chapters. So whether you are Jewish or not, don’t be afraid to wander down frat row and ask around. A house with a religious orientation has a lot to offer in its own way!