Do You Consider Yourself Greek?

WCUgirl · #1 09-08-2005, 09:46 AM

This question is for TBS members, too.

My undergraduate chapter was very adamant that Kappa Kappa Psi is NOT Greek. Even though they wore letters and had a ritual, they were not Greek.

I think it's just that they didn't want to be associated with what they perceived as "Greek life." Well, I don't really know why, but that's the only thing I can come up with.

What about your chapters?

blkwebman1919 · #2 09-19-2005, 02:49 PM

I consider myself Greek, as do the Brothers I do know. Just try to tell us otherwise!!!

Not to speak for the ladies, but I would imagine that most think the same way...

We used to have this dispute with some (not all) Divine 9 members (back in the day) about our "Greekness" (or "Greekdom" if you will) and it usually stemmed from a "narrow-minded" view of what Greekdom actually encompasses. Suffice it to say, we won...

In this case, AXiD670, I think you hit the proverbial "nail on the head". The frats and sorors drawing the line between the "191946 fam" and the rest of the campus Greeks are very likely trying to distance themselves from the negative perceptions of Greek life (on their campus).

I think it depends on the "Greek culture" of the campus you were made in...

It's as simple as this. We are a Greek-Lettered Organization, therefore, we are Greek (as much as any other Greek-Lettered Organization).

Measi · #3 10-03-2005, 03:49 PM

I consider both organizations Greek. I also consider them as an alternative viewpoint to the traditional Greek Council organizations.

Empress0105 · #4 10-12-2005, 04:26 PM

Yup I sure do!

LIL'JUICEY · #5 11-04-2005, 04:22 PM

mos definitely!

AmatoryMusic · #6 10-20-2006, 12:45 AM

every chapter is different. we consider ourselves greek compared within ourselves, but outside of KKPsi, we aren't greek, but no other organization seems to hold the fact that we aren't "truly" greek against us.

but up the road about ten minutes is Grambling, and they are about as "greek" as they come.

PrettyBoy · #7 10-20-2006, 01:33 AM

At my chapter social greeks consider KK Psi and TBS greek just not social greeks.

SIGMAtivity · #8 11-02-2006, 11:28 PM

If you have letters, a ritual, a charter, a pledge class, etc. .... there is simply no other way around the fact that you are Greek.

Nevertheless, there are different classifications of Greeks that people like to place KK Psi and TBS in but I still say that they are definitely Greek.

Social Fraternities and Sororities say that we are not greek because we are selected by other standards... like 1. exceptional service rendered to the band and it's program. 2. consistently excellent musicianship 3. outstanding band leadership and the like. These qualities being the basis of membership give the socials the impetus to place us in the "honorary" category.

On the campus where I marticulated, KK Psi and TBS were a phenomenon and a force to be reckoned with. People had to recognize and repect us. All of the leaders on the campus passed through the hallowed corridors of the Music Department to take place in Band Practice. After practice was over and the business of the band was handled, you could not find an organization who could socialize on the level of KKPsi and TBS.

Personally, I think that the designation of "social" versus "honorary" amounts to little when you observe the behavior of the organizations out in the "world" of the college campus in which they exist.

CentennialRoc · #9 02-25-2007, 08:23 PM

I think it depends on the chapter from my experience black members are more apted to be considered Truly greek due to thier initiation process where as their white counter parts dont care to much. I personally dont think they are greek they are the equavilent of Beta Beta Beta the biology club thet are there to serve band and band alone.Most dont do any service outside of that and thier membership is supposed to be honorary from my understanding.

Handskillz · #10 03-05-2008, 07:57 AM

From an outsider's perspective, Kappa Kappa Psi is a Greek Lettered Organization (apparently) and they are a band fraternity. Who has the right to tell them that they aren't Greek? =\

Lynx 4_12_06 · #11 04-03-2008, 04:09 PM

I am actually a female in Kappa Kappa Psi because our school doesn't have TBS. But i went to a Psi probate at another school and I was thrown back by how much the school seems to care about Psi. We have Delta Omnicron and Sinfonia at our school as well and it's a fight to try to stay ahead because we are such a new chapter, but I will never allow anyone to try to tell us we are not Greek. Just because we are a SERVICE fraternity and not a SOCIAL fraternity doens't mean anything. We are and forever will be Greek. Amen

MysticCat · #12 08-06-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshsx1

I asked my friend if her sister was in a sorority (which I knew she was) and she was in KKPsi, a law fraternity, and some other honor society. I then said 'that's a lot of Greek' and she got offended. So I guess to her, KKPsi wasn't in anyway a GLO.

But two of my other friends who are in KKPsi both consider themselves Greek.. just in a different way.

/2 cents

I think that's what the OP was getting at -- how some KKPsi members/chapters try to draw a distinction between themselves and "the Greeks" while others do not at all:

Quote:

Originally Posted by WCUgirl

My undergraduate chapter was very adamant that Kappa Kappa Psi is NOT Greek. Even though they wore letters and had a ritual, they were not Greek.

I think it's just that they didn't want to be associated with what they perceived as "Greek life." Well, I don't really know why, but that's the only thing I can come up with.

What about your chapters?

It's an interesting campus-by-campus phenomenon, and I've seen it to some extent among all the "music Greeks."

pshsx1 · #13 08-06-2009, 04:28 PM

I'm going to ignore the abundance of ignorance and post about the actual topic since it's here...

I asked my friend if her sister was in a sorority (which I knew she was) and she was in KKPsi, a law fraternity, and some other honor society. I then said 'that's a lot of Greek' and she got offended. So I guess to her, KKPsi wasn't in anyway a GLO.

But two of my other friends who are in KKPsi both consider themselves Greek.. just in a different way.

/2 cents

pshsx1 · #14 08-06-2009, 05:20 PM

I was talking to my friends who are Sinfonians and they feel that KKPsi and TBS are GLOs and Phi Mu Alpha is an honor society. I find it a tad odd that they can't see eye to eye.

ETA: And I also assume they were trying to throw that as an insult as well.

MysticCat · #15 08-06-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pshsx1

I was talking to my friends who are Sinfonians and they feel that KKPsi and TBS are GLOs and Phi Mu Alpha is an honor society. I find it a tad odd that they can't see eye to eye.

Of all the things I've heard, I've never heard that approach. It is odd -- especially considering that KKPsi and TBS call themselves an honor fraternity and an honor sorority, while Phi Mu Alpha is very clear that it is a social fraternity.

In my experience, Sinfonian chapters will say that are not "Greek" if the campus culture is such that they don't want to be seen as "Greek" because of negative stereotypes. Otherwise, they'll say they're Greek, but, as you say, in a different way perhaps.

Then, of course, there are the campuses where Phi Mu Alpha is IFC -- there they won't see a difference beyond what would be seen with Farmhouse, Triangle or Alpha Gamma Rho.

ETA: I won't ask what chapter your Sinfonian friends are from, but if they think Phi Mu Alpha is an honor society, their probationary member program was sorely lacking and their FEO completely failed them.