Public scrutiny has been no stranger to the Greek community during the past year. 

In June 2014, Mark Hagen and Nick Scott, alumni of Iowa State University and the Sigma Chi Fraternity cofounded GoGreekNow, a database meant to help combat this problem. 

GoGreekNow is designed to improve communication throughout the national Greek community and provide a “transparency” to organizations that are historically known for secretive and exclusive behavior. 

Hagen and his team chose a staff of all-Greek alumni in their mid-to-late 20s who were familiar with the recent issues within the Greek community. Hagen, like many Greek alumni, continued to discuss the problems he saw in his college organization as he began his professional life.  The team came up with GoGreekNow as an answer to many problems. 

“When GoGreekNow first began it was a really ‘interesting’ time for the Greek system,” Hagen said. “There were some really tragic incidents that became big news nationally.”

Hagen felt that he could help combat these headlines by creating more transparency in the Greek community and promoting the beneficial aspects of Greek life. 

“We wanted to make something that was inclusive for multicultural, small, large, traditional, and all types of chapters,” Hagen said. “They can all interact and be a part of GoGreekNow.” 

Hagen said that many incoming students have little to no knowledge of their options when they decide whether or not to rush. Few know what is unique about their campus’s Greek system or the individual chapters on campus.

“Many go in as legacies of a specific chapter and rush a Greek organization only for that reason,” Hagen said. “The majority has no idea what Greek life is about and what the chapters are involved with.”

Kelsey Schmitz, a sophomore studying history and anthropology and a member of the NC State Kappa Alpha Theta chapter, said a huge problem with recruitment is that many students come to campus with preconceived notions of certain chapters.

“All the information in one place sounds like a great tool for the recruitment process,” Schmitz said. 

Hagen said GoGreekNow attempts to break down the invisible barrier and help students make informed and educated decisions when joining a Greek organization. 

“The website is essentially a centralized platform for sorority and fraternity members,” Hagen said. “It provides a place for Greek members across the country, current and alumni, to interact.”

GoGreekNow allows Greek organizations to share events, ideas and network on campus with people from all different chapters and backgrounds. 

“GoGreekNow is also designed for incoming students to have a less threatening way to learn about the Greek opportunities available to them,” Hagen said. “They can learn about Greek life, their options, what would be a good fit, before they go through rush.”

GoGreekNow started growth in the Midwest and Southwest, tested on beta campuses, and has spread to universities all over the country on more than 50 campuses. 

Hagen said the informal recruitment methods of fraternities are often the reason that students have limited knowledge about Greek life. He wants to keep students from going into the rush process blind and essentially cut through the communication barriers that exist on campuses to ensure that a student can find a chapter that is a suitable fit.  

Schmitz said the Greek organizations at NC State already do attempt to combat some of these communication issues that Hagen claimed plagued the Greek community. 

“Every year we have a different ‘sister sorority’ that we work closely with and have sisterhood events,” Schmitz said. “With Greek life, you get out what you put into it. There is definitely no shortage of the different Greek chapters interacting on campus.”

According to Hagen, GoGreekNow has an extraordinary potential as a social network and alumni engagement tool.

Hagen said the website and its future app are free for everyone—another step at his attempt to make the Greek community more inclusive.