Reed College, located in Portland, Oregon, is a small liberal arts college known for its rigorous academic curriculum and unconventional student body. Despite its small size, the campus offers a variety of extracurricular activities, including social organizations like fraternities and sororities.
Sororities at Reed College are known as “women’s houses” and are unique in that they are not affiliated with any national sorority organizations. Instead, each women’s house is independent and operates under its own set of rules and traditions.
There are currently four women’s houses at Reed College: Eliot House, Chittick House, Griffin House, and The Douglas House. Each house has its own distinct personality and culture, and members of each house take pride in their individuality and autonomy.
Membership in a women’s house is entirely voluntary, and all women at Reed College are welcome to rush and join a house. However, the process of joining a women’s house is selective and competitive, as there are limited spaces available for new members each year.
During the rush process, prospective members attend events hosted by each house to get to know current members and learn more about the house’s values and traditions. After the rush period, current members of each house vote on which prospective members they would like to invite to join their house.
Once a woman becomes a member of a women’s house, she is expected to participate in house activities and contribute to the house’s culture and community. Women’s houses at Reed College offer a variety of social events, community service opportunities, and leadership roles for their members.
One of the key benefits of joining a women’s house at Reed College is the strong sense of community and support that members receive. Women’s houses provide a tight-knit social network and a built-in group of friends for their members, which can be particularly valuable for students who are new to the college or are looking to expand their social circle.
In addition to providing social and community support, women’s houses at Reed College also offer opportunities for leadership and personal growth. Members of women’s houses are encouraged to take on leadership roles within their house, and many women’s house members also hold leadership positions in other campus organizations.
However, women’s houses at Reed College are not without their controversies and criticisms. Some students and faculty members have raised concerns about the exclusivity and elitism of women’s houses, as well as their potential to perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes and power dynamics.
In response to these concerns, Reed College has implemented a number of policies aimed at promoting inclusivity and equity within women’s houses. For example, each women’s house is required to have a diversity and inclusion representative, and the college provides training and support for these representatives to help ensure that women’s houses are welcoming and inclusive spaces for all students.
Overall, sororities or women’s houses at Reed College offer a unique social and community experience for students who choose to join them. While there are certainly criticisms and concerns to be addressed, the women’s houses at Reed College continue to be an important and valued part of campus culture.