Written for The Argo by Esmeralda Rivera

As Gretchen Wieners from Mean Girls once said, “Ex-boyfriends are just off limits to friends. I mean, that’s just like, the rules of feminism!” However, such unspoken “rules” are hardly limited to women.

On Thursday, Feb. 9, two Greek organizations partnered to hold a discussion between members and guests. The Lambda Theta Phi Fraternity (Unified Cultural Greek Council) and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority (National Pan-Hellenic Council) discussed the classic unwritten rules established between groups of men and women, comparing the similarities and differences between the two. The hosts prepared a presentation with different questions about friendship and relationships.

Members and non-members alike shared their opinions on the questions, such as dating your best friend’s ex— the unanimous answer being that “exes are off-limits” for the attendees— or letting your friend know that they are in a toxic relationship. While most people agreed with each other, there were some who had differing viewpoints, allowing everyone to hear out the varying perspectives and experiences students have. The conversation was interesting, educational, and even fun for some of the groups of friends sharing and debating together.

Kira Key, the president of the Phi Nu chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc, is a senior majoring in Nursing. She explained that “Guy Code vs. Girl Code is an event between [our organizations], to just kind of bring people together and talk about topics surrounding dating, relationships, red flags, things like that. It’s a chance to get people in a room talking, and be social.” The Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s goals are “sisterhood, promoting community, promoting scholarship and service,” Key added.

The sorority has held events and programs promoting mental health and has donated to many charitable causes, such as domestic violence shelters, March for Dimes, Stork’s Nest (mothers and infants exposed to nicotine use), and more. The organization is open to anyone interested in joining. “The best way to show interest in our sorority is to come out to our events, spend time with us, try to get to know us a little bit,” Key said. They will be appearing at the Yard Show held by the NPHC and the UCGC. For more information, their Instagram is @phimu_zetas.

Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. is currently suffering from a lack of undergraduate membership due to all of the brothers graduating— with the exception of Edwin Cruz-Gonzalez, the Theta chapter’s president and only active undergraduate member on campus. He is a 5th-year student majoring in Health Science and minoring in Integrative Health. He expressed that the Lambda Theta Phi fraternity is “supposed to have a sense of brotherhood outside of school. It’s supposed to be a home away from home.”

Growing up in Camden, New Jersey, Cruz-Gonzalez was exposed to many different cultures and oftentimes judged wrongfully. His fraternity helped him find a sense of belonging at Stockton University. Lambda Theta Phi also has a broad network across the States. Cruz-Gonzalez knows many brothers in the Army. Any interested students can attend Lambda Theta Phi’s events and follow @stockton_lambdas on Instagram. An information night will be held on February 16^th and March 7^th at 8:00 p.m. in Meeting Room 4. The fraternity will also appear at the Yard Show.

The National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Unified Cultural Greek Council will be holding their Yard Show on March 2^nd at 8:00 p.m. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.