Question: How many sorority girls does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer: Six. One to screw it in and five to make the T-shirts.

Before your eyes I've become a statistic -- one more student willing to take a cheap shot at greek life. To my sorority friends, I apologize ... that I couldn't find a better joke about fraternity boys. To the greek community in general, I'd like to console you with the fact that there's at least one non-greek supporter in your midst.

Yes, I support the fraternity system. Not because I think greeks are more anatomically advanced than we non-greek peons. And not because I believe their system really makes the world a better place, but I support greek life because selective societies are an inevitable convention in any social structure, especially college. And frankly, I think ours could be a lot worse.

The fraternity system is tradition at Penn State. According to the Student Affairs Web site, in the 1880s, President George Atherton began advocating charters to increase housing and friendship opportunities on campus, a purpose that is still adequately fulfilled. The greek community has continued to grow ever since it expanded to the 54 fraternities and 25 sororities that exist today.

Greeks aren't a rare species. They can be spotted around campus, easily identifiable by their trademark attire branded with peculiar symbols or catchy slogans like "We score between periods," and "If you weren't there, you weren't invited." Maybe to some these "uniforms" come across as crude or egotistical. But I really wasn't there, so I guess I wasn't invited. And strangely, I'm OK with that.

Ever since we learned to stand up straight, humanity has subdivided itself into groups based on both natural and unnatural criteria: race, gender, religion, sexuality and wealth, among others. Understandably, we surround ourselves with those who share similar interests and background. Walk through the dining commons at dinner and you'll see my point. Segregation by force is illegal, but not when it is self-imposed.

Which brings me back to the greeks, or students who have wisely and voluntarily decided to band together to make a student body of 40,000 seem smaller. You can't just join; you've got to get a bid, suffer through weeks of initiation and pay expensive dues. This may make greeks seem rather elitist. But then again, you can't just walk onto JoePa's team and demand a starting position.

What can you do instead to "belong?" Join a different group, one of the 644 organized at University Park.

Like any other marginal faction, greeks stick together. And like any minority group, there are stereotypes, which often portray fraternity members as drunken predators, and sororities as full of rich megalomaniacs. Calling greeks dumb is as bad as condemning Schreyer Honors Scholars to the "Nerdery." I admit I know some who, to say the least, propagate misconceptions. But take a page from the book of politics -- just because a few fanatics commit crimes does not mean that every Muslim is a terrorist. I am a Schreyer Scholar and not too big of a nerd.

Simply because students aren't born into Chi Omega or Kappa Alpha doesn't make hating members less xenophobic.

The Interfraternity Council does a number of philanthropic things for Penn State. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is the Interfraternity Council/ Panhellenic Dance Marathon. So what if, after they raise thousands of dollars for cancer, frats use the occasion as another reason to drink? I drink for much stupider reasons, like the fact that it's Thursday. And I'm sorry, but I'm the last person who will stand on a street corner in Pittsburgh in the middle of winter holding a tin can. Kudos to them.

The next time that you feel something anti-greek slipping from your lips, reflect on how greek culture subtly infiltrates many aspects of our lives. If you've ever watched the Homecoming Parade, enjoyed a free Natty Light at a house when there's nothing else to do, or even if you own that infamous Jack-chugging poster of John Belushi in Animal House (which I know you do), then you are supporting greeks.

Like Penn State's poster art says, respect comes full circle.

So from Alpha to Omega, don't hate.