To an organization where all eyes are on each member, image is key. The way an entire group of people in Greek life can be judged based on one member is the way my Panhellenic community functions. This is why modes are vital to big organizations like sororities because perception of their image is everything. In Greek life our community is based on the sharing of letters, each member in your organization is considered your sister, each sister identifies under the organizations greek letter or title, thus this sister reflects upon yourself. Each member of a fraternity or sorority through these organizations learns the importance one member can make and the difference they can create. While each individual member follows the same rules under the Panhellenic council for sororities, each organization coexist under these governing bodies and all the same values are shared.

 

My organization, Delta Phi Epsilon, is under the Panhellenic council community . A group of seven sororities at Florida International University that sets standards for these organizations of young women. Under our letters our group is used to influence and shape the lives of the members. The goal is by graduation these councils mold each organization to shape the young men and women within them to be ready for the world with experiencing these relationships and responsibilities.

 

Greek life utilizes modes every day in their image. From girls walking around campus in shirts or letters, showing they are a part of the sorority also uses visual and linguistic modes. This merch, from stickers to clothing items, backpacks and anything that shows you are a part of that certain organization not only shows people looking at the member that they are a sister but creates the exclusiveness of being able to hold the title of the member of the organization. You will not see another person besides your sister wearing or having the same logo as you. These modes influence the desire for many interested girls in being a part of these organizations by seeing what they are missing out on. Another point in my research was from the article “Trends, Vibes, and Energies: Building on Students' Strengths in Visual Composing.” This article encompass’ the key points of my research. The author explains how visual composing is vital to sororities. She outlines three principles in which she discusses the process of capturing this image. The principles are as followed: “ Principle One: Be Cool, Principle Two: Stick to a Vibe, Principle Three: Keep it Exciting and Unexpected.” These principles are used to influence the image of an entire organization and the research shows how the public image is important (Kurtyka 5).

 

These organizations are used to influence its school and community to be better and do better. Each organization holds many philanthropies that encourages its members to give back to this awareness and create this sense of pride for their organization. Many student body leaders as well are also apart of Greek life. From the article Attitude Changes and Self-Perceived Skill Gains from Collegiate Greek Organization Membership the author uses the perfect example of the Panhellenic councils utilizing these modes to “Greek membership offers opportunities to take leadership roles within the organization, to speak publicly, and learn how to negotiate the group dynamics of working with other students in pursuit of goals and projects that non-Greeks may not be as encouraged to take.” This quote speaks to exactly how the membership modes impacts its members and people around the community (attitude 818). To lead by example in your letters the 2-3 textual Greek letters represent more meaning to something to an organization. The discipline of these bonds built within these organizations, from sisters to having a big sister and little sister shapes us. These emotional ties to our letters make a deeper meaning for the members of the community. The organizations in my community under the panhellenic council all have different letters and values. With my organization my letters are special to me because this sorority wanted me and I personally saw myself with. During recruitment the visual modes they used looking at the royal purple and pure gold gear and the recruitment video, all these visual modes impacted the way I viewed my sorority. These modes left me trusting this specific group of girls to call my sisters. As myself and the rest of the girls in this organization share a title, the bonds we make are special and the future of the community must keep a certain standard of a Greek lifestyle to continue and we look for people that have these capabilities while recruiting.

 

Recruiting is vital to keep Greek life to its best, we have to pick the best that will carry our letters. Recruiting is a time where the Panhellenic council utilizes all its modes the most. Recruitment is all the time; the way potential new members see organizations from an outsider perspective is going to influence their opinion about an organization. For example, each sorority has visual modes of colors and these colors represent and leave an underlying association with that sorority. It is a common saying in greek life that your when you are apart of an organization your blood now bleeds that color. For example another organization under the Panhellenic council, Phi Sigma Sigma, their colors are Kings Blue and Gold (ΦΣΣ History). To a sister under this organization the visual modes of these certain colors have a deeper meaning to them as it represents the title in which who they are.

 

In my research, I found one article about visual composing in sororities. The article examines visual modes used by these organizations through Tumblr, YouTube and the crafting of their public image. The author explains how “This video, however, has the purpose of marketing the sorority, crafting a group rather than an individual identity, and tailoring a representation of sorority life” (Kurtyka 3). As the point I have made before reflects, this image reflects over an entire organization of members and especially during recruitment how new members see a sorority is vital.

 

One-way sororities can recruit 24/7 is through social media. The FIU Panhellenic Instagram page is a perfect example of the way all modes are utilized to recruit. Visually the Instagram contains pictures of girls in each sorority on different posts with linguistic captions relating to the post. One post from May 30th is a picture of two pretty, happy girls with the text “come join us at our first Panhellenic social, Meet the sisters,” with the caption explaining to not miss the chance to meet some sisters from each organization on campus. This post visually shows two girls having fun at the beach, while also incorporating text a caption to explain the event (Panhellenic). This post is used to encourage prospective members to go to the event to see what Greek life is like. This image represents the fun and social part of sororities attracting viewers that desire excitement in sororities.  Sometimes the Panhellenic Instagram posts about recruitment and signing up to join a sorority. Spatially the square layout of Instagram also influences the gestural interactions with the viewers of the page. The Instagram likes, comments and highlights encourage engagement with viewers, to see who is interested and interact with the viewers. These Instagram pages must look appealing to potential new members to make them want to be in a sorority under the panhellenic sorority and also for school students to see how greek life is.

  

These modes also subconsciously affect the members within the Panhellenic council. The value of letters, visually linguistic, gesturally all create a self-standard for the members to up hold. The image must be kept up by its members in the community as it reflects on the sorority. These organizations give self confidence in being more social to be more open, the way they are viewed is important to the future of the Panhellenic Council.