D D D D

Media will print the 5 bad things about greeks but not 1 of the 500 good things we do!

Ok, I am not involved in the American greek system but the similarities to europe are big - also in terms of problems we face.
That's why I answer to the poll as well ...

I would go for E as well even though my tendency was first to blame the media.
But there are always reasons behind negative reports, unfortunately.
Of course, the media could cover the positive things but that is not how the media work. News about peace are not interesting and not selling - so news are always about wars and crimes even though the other situation is far more abundant. So, we can't honestly blame the media for what we made them into by consuming just this form of news.

I guess, helping to remember the principles of our founding fathers would help a great deal. If we have solved our problems and media still continue bashing us, then we can blame them but not yet....

Take care,
Matt

fascinating one of the bros(well now alum) from my chapter is doing his masters work on a very similar concept.

i'm going to have to go with D. misrepresentation. watch any movie where there are GLOS in there and you'll see a bad stereotype. I even saw one movie where they invented a greek letter!



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No funny squiggles, just bold letters: TKE

D. We'll never be taken seriously if we are always looked at as a standard joke

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Katey, ZA chapter of AGD
"Could I have been anyone other than me?"-Dave Matthews

Gonna have to say "F"...It's very hard to defend your organization if your university doesn't support you.

Question #1
What do you see as the biggest problem/threat to Greek Systems today?
A. Decline in members recruited.
B. Hazing of any kind.
C. Alcohol abuse.
D. Misrepresentation by the media.
E. Lack of focus on the organization's ideals.
F. Lack of support by University officials.
G. Other problem (please specify)

i must say E. With a better focus on our ideals we can eliminate all other problems. If each Greek organization on my campus were focused on our ideals, whatever they may be, I am sure that we would recieve support from the university and recruit more members as well as correct all other problems we face!

"once a phi sig, always a phi sig"

i'll have to go with d, the media attacks the greek system on the national and local level, i know the unversity paper at my school is very anti-greek

Definitely D, everyone has pretty much summed it up.

Second is A, amended to say "decline in dedicated, quality members recruited." Like Lexi said we need more than warm bodies. If you find yourself lowering your standards to fill a house or make a quota, it gradually, painfully and surely rots away your chapter.

D cause it leads to E and F, and it makes my mom worry more about me..........

I like this one better than #2

I have to say D. Can I amend it to say TV in general, though? The other night I was watching TV and this ad comes on for "Sexy Sorority Sweethearts Exposed!" And it was a VHS tape, where a bunch of TOTALLY wasted women were... doing not so appropriate things. None of them were wearing letters, so you couldn't even tell if they were sorority girls. The word "sorority" was really just a means of advertisement. Some men hear it, and the first thing they think of is hot, ditzy girls who want nothing more than to rip off their clothes. Thus, the tape is purchased by the masses of sick people out there that want to see that stuff. Many, many times, I also hear stuff on the news about "A sorority at ______ did this... or a Fraternity at ______ did that..." It's like, if one Greek was involved, suddenly it's the whole Greek System's fault. It's just... ridiculous. And then people hear about this and it leads to lower membership/recruitment rates, and the only people that rush are those that want to get in trouble and drink 'til they puke! Therefore, I think answer D leads to all the other statements on Pike4life's list. Sorry for the long-windedness. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks to everyone who has answered so far...but I need MORE opinions from fellow GC'ers who haven't replied yet!!!

I'm going to say E because many of those other things seem to be symptoms whereas re-evaluating the principles we were founded on is something pro-active we can do for ourselves. Fraternities and sororities have survived for centuries and changed a great deal in terms of purpose AND popularity. We must continually redefine ourselves in order to remain relevant to the young college student. Only by examining ourselves and our behavior and not lending credence to the 'Animal House' image will we ever manage to change anyone's mind about who we are.

I'm going to say E because many of those other things seem to be symptoms whereas re-evaluating the principles we were founded on is something pro-active we can do for ourselves. Fraternities and sororities have survived for centuries and changed a great deal in terms of purpose AND popularity. We must continually redefine ourselves in order to remain relevant to the young college student. Only by examining ourselves and our behavior and not lending credence to the 'Animal House' image will we ever manage to change anyone's mind about who we are.

Value Based Actions

That is what the Greek Community needs. If the members of every house lived by their values, or atleast strived to live by thier values, set forth by their founders, then many of the problems facing Greeks today would disappear. Always remember that Greeks are held to a higher standard than the average citizen, and you knew that before you decided to go Greek, and there should be nothing wrong with being held to these standards. We should also hold ourselves to a higher standard. We wanted to be Greek, so do your job, live a value based life, and hold yourself to that standard. It is a day to day struggle for me to strive to live by my standards, but never forget the values of your organizations.

Just a little food for thought.

G

I think that there is a totally different movement that is destroying our greek system... (inter)national headquarters. To me it seems like our great GLO's are being hurt by all the emphasis of business that our national organizations push on the chapters. We are not a cooperation, we are fraternities and sororities. They attempt to run everything like a money-making business. With all of their fundraisers (for nationals), leadership seminars, and consultant visits, they are leaving out what is most important to all of us in greek organizations. Our purpose in fraternities and sororities is to promote brotherhood and sisterhood. That is what our organizations are to us. Nationals completely ignores this aspect of our organizations. They are more than willing to teach you how to react when a brother is a drunk, or is damaging the fraternity, but they never address how to react when a brother has just lost a father. They seem like they are only out to cover their own ass instead of actually care about their brothers and sisters.

Their focus on business has pushed away so many people. It has weakend the bond between us all. National Headquarters are taking away all the fun of being in a fraternity or sorority. Instead of being at a fraternity house, you are at a fraternity establishment dedicated to ideals that nationals really doesn't care about anymore. Well not as much as that check that gets sent to them every semester.

Clint


Sorry, this is just a topic that gets me going.

Now that I look at it, this may be E.


[This message has been edited by LXA1048 (edited June 22, 2001).]