FREE shipping on orders over $150 with code LOFS2024
TODAY ONLY: Spend $100 & get FREE SHIPPING & a FREE STICKER SHEET ($10.95 value)!
Use discount code: SHIPITALL
FREE shipping on orders over $150 with code LOFS2024
0 Cart
Added to Cart
    You have items in your cart
    You have 1 item in your cart
    Total

    The Greek Life Blog

    Gearing Up for Graduation!  Must-Have Fraternity Gifts for the Class of 2024

    Gearing Up for Graduation! Must-Have Fraternity Gifts for the Class of 2024

    Gearing Up for Graduation: Must-Have Fraternity Gifts for the Class of 2024

     

    After four years of hard work, late night study sessions, and Greek life adventures, your college grad is about to receive their diploma and join the ranks of fraternity alumni. This major milestone calls for a celebration and the perfect gifts to commemorate their achievement and prep them for the next chapter. Here are 10 great fraternity-themed gift ideas for the new grad in your life:

     

    1. Fraternity Alumni Crewnecks

    Now that they’ve officially graduated, these cozy Alumni crewnecks perfectly announce your grad's new status as an alumnus of their fraternity. The classic style features their fraternity letters prominently embroidered on the chest so everyone knows where their affiliations lie. Made from a 75/25 cotton/poly blend, this comfortable sweatshirt will become a staple in their post-grad wardrobe. Or upgrade their lounge wear with a super soft Champion crewneck with their crest proudly displayed across the chest.

     

    1. Graduation Cords 

    Available in their fraternity’s signature colors, these graduation cords allow your grad to represent their Greek organization as they walk across the stage. The cords lay across the shoulders of the graduate robe and make a bold statement when paired with their cap and gown. 

     

    1. Graduation Stole

    Another way for your fraternity grad to display their affiliation during commencement is with a fraternity stole featuring their crest or letters. Available in a classic heatseal option or an elevated embroidered crest along with their graduation year. 


    1. Fraternity Engraved Rocks Glass

    For celebrating after the graduation ceremony, gift a set of engraved rocks glasses featuring your grad's fraternity symbol. Perfect for enjoying their favorite spirits, these glasses will be treasured keepsakes from their college years. 

     

     

    1. Rosewood Box 

    Keep their graduation day mementos safe for years to come in a handsome carved rosewood box engraved with their name and fraternity. They’ll treasure this beautiful box for storing cords, stole, photographs, programs and other important keepsakes they’ve collected over the last 4 years.


    1. Peter Millar Quarter Zip with Embroidered Symbol

    As you get ready to close this chapter and embark on your next adventure, be sure to mark this major milestone with apparel representing your fraternity. This high-quality quarter-zip pullover featuring your Fraternity’s crest embroidered on the left chest is the perfect way to showcase your Greek Pride while still looking like a young professional about to enter the real world.

     

    1. Comfort Colors Retriever Grad Tee

    A graduate-themed t-shirt from Comfort Colors makes the perfect casual, everyday piece for your new fraternity alum. Soft, broken-in fabric and high quality direct to garment print of our golden boy Max in a graduation cap and tassel makes this tee a fun way to showcase their graduate status.

     

    1. Alumni Nike Dri-Fit Performance Hat

    This lightweight performance hat announces your grad's new alumni status while keeping the sun out of their eyes. Decked out in their fraternity letters, the quick-drying DriFit fabric makes this hat ideal for athleisure wear, running errands, or weekend activities. Get it embroidered with their name for a custom touch.

     

    1. Brooks Brothers Oxford Button Up Shirt

    Now that your grad is entering the professional world, a crisp Oxford button-down from Brooks Brothers makes a versatile addition to their business casual wardrobe. The comfortable cotton fabric, flattering cut, and timeless style pair nicely with slacks or chinos for an instant polished look.

     

    1. New! Class of 2024 Crewneck

    Of course they'll want apparel marking their graduating class! Send them off in style with a super soft crewneck sweatshirt with their Fraternity printed boldly across the chest along with their Greek symbol. A class gift they can wear with pride for years to come.

     

    With Greek Life playing such a pivotal role in most college careers, fraternity-themed gifts that commemorate graduation are the perfect fit for your new grad. Whether you pick apparel announcing their alumni status, graduation accessories touting their affiliation, or keepsakes engraved with their fraternity, these meaningful gifts will be cherished for years. Celebrate their major milestone in style!

    Rush Back to School!

    Rush Back to School!

    It's almost time to head back to campus! Make sure you're prepared for rush and the new semester with high-quality fraternity apparel from Campus Classics. This back to school checklist will help you stock up on classic Greek gear that’ll show off your fraternity while still being stylish, and true to yourself.

    For the Everyday Greek: Being in a fraternity isn’t just something you do, it's a part of who you are. Showing off your greek letters that you earned while on campus is something that most Greeks look forward to after initiation. And the best way to show it off, is through your apparel! Shop our selection of polos, button-downs, pullovers, and other tops to proudly wear your letters to class, the dining hall, the library, and campus events. Our high quality sewn-on letter hoodies & crewnecks have been the ideal source of comfort and pride for over 30 years made with close knit twill stitching and comfortable fabrics that make these ideal for all-day wear.

    Loungewear Essentials: After long days on campus, you want to be as comfortable as possible. Whether you’re hanging out at your Chapter house or spending the day in the library for that last minute cram session. Our selection of soft ready to wear bottoms & our trendy graphic hoodies make the combination for the perfect lounge fit. Made for optimal relaxation! And let’s not forget about our Nike Embroidered Hoodie - the perfect combination of comfort and style with the added touch of your Greek letters embroidered underneath the iconic swoosh


    Greek Lettered Accessories: Complete your Greek style with hats, bags, water bottles and more sporting your fraternity letters. Take your fraternity letters with you wherever you go.


    Official Chapter Event Tees: Check with your chapter's leadership about ordering event tees for recruitments, fundraisers, formals and other upcoming events. Our team of in-house designers will work with you to create exactly what you are looking for when it comes to your event tee. To find out more information check out this link: https://www.campus-classics.com/pages/custom-orders 

    What is a Fraternity?

    What is a Fraternity?

    What is a Fraternity?


    A fraternity is a group of men united by their commitment to a brotherhood based on shared ideals. Each member, or brother, is responsible for upholding the standards and beliefs of their brotherhood. Joining a fraternity is a lifelong commitment; all members are expected to learn and grow, contributing their knowledge and experiences to strengthen their fraternity.


    History


    Fraternities have been a part of American university and college campuses since the late 18th century. The first Greek fraternal organization created in the United States was the Phi Beta Kappa society, organized in 1776 at the College of William and Mary. This society focused on literary and academic excellence. Eventually, students found themselves wanting a more social-based fraternal organization. Thus, the Kappa Alpha Society was established in 1825 at Union College. This was the first social Greek organization and created a precedent of establishment for other fraternities to follow.

     

    Types


    Social


    The majority of fraternities are social organizations. These fraternities emphasize values of brotherhood, fellowship, and friendship. They are present at most universities and colleges and are what most people envision when they hear the word “fraternity.” Although these organizations are popular, they are not the only option when looking to join a fraternity. 


    Examples: Pi Kappa Alpha (Pike), Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp), Kappa Sigma, Kappa Alpha Society, Sigma Chi


    Service


    Service fraternities, although not as common, are still a really great way to get involved with Greek life on campus. Service fraternities focus mainly on community service and involvement. 


    Examples: Alpha Phi Omega, Epsilon Sigma Alpha, Gamma Sigma Sigma


    Professional 


    Professional fraternities are designed for the betterment of oneself professionally. They do focus on brotherhood and do have social-fraternity-like structures like pledgeship, but primarily concern themselves with a certain professional category. Professional fraternities are a way for people in the same professional study to connect and help each other grow.


    Examples: Alpha Kappa Psi (business), Delta Theta Pi (law)

     

    Honors


    Honor fraternities are ways for students of a specific field of study to get recognized for their hard work and contributions to their field. They are a great way to network and advance one’s career after graduation. 


    Examples: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa


    Religion/Ethnic


    Religious and ethnic fraternities are a type of social fraternity whose membership is only offered to a certain religion or race. These fraternities are a great way to connect with your heritage or be involved in local advocation work in your community.


    Examples: Alpha Phi Alpha (historically black), Lambda Sigma Theta (Latino), Alpha Epsilon Pi (Jewish)


    Philanthropy


    One major part of fraternities that is overlooked is their dedication to philanthropy. Almost all fraternities are active in their community, with social and service fraternities having the biggest impact. Many social fraternities have a national philanthropic organization that they fundraise for, not to mention the local service they may do throughout the year. On the other hand, service fraternities’ fundamental principle is community service. These fraternities have a huge impact on their local community.

    Fraternity Recruitment Preparation

    Fraternity Recruitment Preparation

    Fraternity Recruitment Preparation


    Fraternity rush can be an incredibly daunting task for many potential new members, no matter your history or connection to the Greek system. For a lot of people, rush occurs relatively early in their college career–either first semester or early second semester. This doesn't allow for much time to get to know the brothers or the campus as a whole. Thus, a lot of people find the hectic nature of rush to be incredibly overwhelming.


    Although there is no way to know what exactly to expect during rush week, there are some ways to be prepared. 


    Research


    One of the first things to do if you are preparing for fraternity recruitment and rush (or even just considering it) is to research. First, research fraternities as a whole organization. Do they sound appealing? Keep in mind that you also don’t have to join the “stereotypical” fraternity. These fraternities are social organizations with philanthropic involvement, but there are other fraternities that may interest you more. There are social fraternities, service fraternities, honor fraternities, religious and ethnic fraternities, and professional fraternities. 


    Once you've researched Greek life as a whole, it is really important to research what specific fraternities are at your university or college. Getting to know what fraternities are at your school is crucial to getting prepared for recruitment. Is Greek life huge at your school? Are there lots of fraternities to choose from, or are there only a few social ones? Get to know what your options are at your school in order to be as prepared for rush as possible.


    It is also crucial to figure out when exactly your rush is. If rush is the first thing during fall semester, then give yourself more time to research each fraternity and your school's recruitment process specifically. If your recruitment isn't until the winter semester, then you have more time to get to know the fraternities and their brothers, as well as acquaint yourself with the recruitment process. 


    Discuss


    Another big part of preparing for fraternity recruitment is to discuss the process thoroughly with multiple people. First, talk to anyone you already know in Greek life. Do you have a family history of Greek life, or are your friends involved? If so, talk with them about their experiences. Although you can’t guarantee that your specific experience is going to be the same as theirs, they may provide great insight to help you better prepare for recruitment. 


    Another great group of people to discuss rush with are people on your campus. A lot of student advisors and counselors (even residential advisors) are very open to discussing Greek life and may provide great information regarding the experiences on your campus specifically. 


    Conclusion


    In conclusion, the best thing to do when preparing for fraternity recruitment is to research and discuss your different options when looking into fraternities. Although these organizations are great for some people, stereotypical social Greek organizations are not a perfect fit for everyone. Knowing what is best for you and your college experience is the most important thing, and there is no shame in not choosing to join a fraternity.

    Fraternity Sweetheart

    What is a Fraternity Sweetheart?

    What is a Fraternity Sweetheart?


    Fraternities and sororities have a history of using the term “sweetheart” to reward individuals that are most involved and dedicated to their chapter. In short, a fraternity sweetheart is a sorority woman chosen by the chapter to represent their fraternity and become a part of their organization. 


    Becoming a fraternity sweetheart is a big deal at many schools across the nation and is a big commitment–fraternity sweethearts have a year-long commitment to the fraternity and participate in a multitude of the fraternity’s events. Although there aren’t a set of rules to becoming a fraternity’s sweetheart, there is an unspoken requirement of dedication to the fraternity. This means that a true fraternity sweetheart is taking the role because she genuinely enjoys the brotherhood of that fraternity. 


    Additionally, a fraternity sweetheart is generally someone who is very outgoing, kind, and involved on campus. For a lot of fraternities, choosing a sweetheart that already has a great reputation on campus is a big deal, because it shows other students (who may or may not be involved in Greek life) that there is far more to the fraternity other than the social scene. If a well-rounded and sociable woman is their sweetheart, the fraternity is far more likely to have a better reputation.


    Becoming a fraternity sweetheart is different at every school. There may be a chapter vote, campus vote, a competition, or even just an appointment of duties. You may have to be in a certain sorority to become a specific fraternity’s sweetheart, and you may even need to be in a certain sorority family. There isn’t a universal list of requirements, so it may take research depending on what school you attend.


    The most important thing to consider when looking to become a fraternity’s sweetheart is how much time you’ll be able to commit to the organization. It is very common for fraternity sweethearts to be active in their fraternity’s philanthropic events, fundraisers, events, and parties. Depending on your school or fraternity, you may even attend their house dinners and have other duties. Keep in mind that these activities all may range from just a few hours a week to a few hours every day. 


    When looking to become a fraternity sweetheart, you should make sure that you discuss the role thoroughly with both the fraternity of your choice and your sorority. The fraternity will tell you what exactly is expected of you, and your sorority sisters may even have advice or past experiences to share. Additionally, make sure that you are doing proper research and that you are well-prepared for the role. It is easy to feel a lot of social pressure in a role like this, and it is important to remember that yourself and your academics come first. 


    Overall, being a fraternity sweetheart is a huge tradition at many schools. If being a fraternity sweetheart is really important to you, make sure your voice is heard and that you prove your dedication to the fraternity!