I was encouraged to enter Greek Life by my father. They didn't have a chapter of Phi Sigma Kappa at my school so I ended up helping found a chapter of Sigma Nu.

Just because you can't find a house you're happy with is no excuse! You can always help start one...

Funny Side Bar to all of this!

One of my Brothers # 54 is that low to some, has a son, we rushed him thought he was in the bag and went SPE, our mortal enemies across the street! He did not want to be known as Rambos Boy! Da go figure?

Everytime there is a big time thing like homecoming he screws up and if cannot find his Dad, he comes looking for me!

I do not mind for the simple fact, that if he did not join my Fraternity, at least he he joined a Greek Organization!

He was very instrumental in helping to keep both Chapters from being kicked off of Campus beacuse of the Bull Shit that was going on!

Well folks do that tell ya something?

Work together or we all suffer!:)

Wow - that wasn't just an isolated incident??? :eek: How selfish of the parent to limit the child's options like that... "I don't care if you're valedictorian, you can't apply to Harvard because they don't have a greek system..." (I know Harvard does have GLO's that are not recognized by the school - I'm taking it as an example.)

I keep thinking of how parents use their kids' playing sports to live vicariously thru them. Kid hates the sport but only does it b/c he/she doesn't want to disappoint parent. Or really wants to play soccer when dad says he will only pay for football.

The PARENT has to remember that it is the COLLEGE STUDENT that has to live every day on campus!!! If Susie wants ABC and Mom wants ZED, then tell mom to enroll in school and try to pledge herself!

(((Okay, okay, I know easier said than done. I'm just tired of parents trying to tell their child what will make the CHILD happy.))

The child is now an adult...let them make their decisions. If the "new adult" feels happier in ABC or no GLO at all, parents should respect that decision and their child.

This came off as very funny to me! Lynn, you crack me up!

My family did try to influence me...not to rush...but once I did, and they saw how much I liked it, they conceeded gracefully.

So true! Guess that wouldn't work if the parents is allready a greek, but great point!

aeph_alum-GET THIS!
Neighbor #1 Has One son and two daughters. Son was sent to college to get degree and have "opportunties". OUT OF DADDY'S MOUTH- Yeah, we sent the girls to State U----figured they'd meet some guys and get married. (Mom was a local XYZ) Mom had told me in the past that by them being legacies to______it put them in touch with rich guys!:eek:

Neighbor #2-Daughter is as brilliant as a 40 w bulb. But, she is a ABC at a big southern college. This was a developed plan from the age the girl could read...well, HOLD a book. Why? So she could meet the RIGHT guys.

This is on my STREET!

Question-The ones of you who never discussed this or weren't encouraged to persue a GLO, who lives in the South?

Maybe I should ask whose family is Democrat! JUST JOKING!:D

LMAO! Good one, I have to remember that one.

I did, although my parents were not native Southerners.

My parents are really excited about the prospect of me joining a sorority.

Although they live eight hours away from my school, and therefore obviously cannot get to know the different sororities very well firsthand, I know that they'll find a favorite somehow and encourage me to go for it. I think they have the same attitude as JustAMom... which is great!

However, in the end, I know it'll be my decision and my decision, only.

When I was in grade school and high school I never felt any pressure to go for a particular house although Fraternity life was a common enough subject among family and friends of the family. I suppose it was taken for granted that I would follow suit since almost all the men in the family were DEKES since Noah got off the Arc. When I went to college it was suggested that I look over the whole system and see where I felt most comfortable. I did this and found that there were lots of good solid houses with guys I got along with real well, but right from the start I knew where I wanted to pledge. I suppose a lifetime of subliminal conditioning works like a charm. My only worry was that the guys might not think I was good material. I was lucky and the fit seemed to work both ways so when I got my bid I signed so fast you could hardly read my signature (not that I was anxious or anything!)
As a side thought, one thing that impressed me was that I was away from home, not clear across the country but far enough, and at initiation and a smoker/banquet later I couldn't believe how many of not only my family but my dad's friends and my grand dad's friends from (I think) six different chapters covering something like sixty five years showed up and participated. Here were my grand dad's group calling me brother and meaning it!)
Later I discovered that this is more the norm than the exception and that the network of brotherhood draws alums great distances for such events.
There is a somewhat more contentious situation among the women of the family. My mom and her sister are DZs, my sister is PiPhi, my dad's sister is PiPhi, his aunts are Thetas and Kappas, and his great aunts are PiPhis. Mom's aunts are Chi Os and her great aunt is Kappa. THis is getting confusing, but I think I got it right. Anyway its a real Greek alphabet soup and my sister felt that she was under pressure from all sides. (Actually she told me she liked the concentrated attention and damn near open warfare she caused just by going to college!)
It was a lot of fun for us, but our same age cousin ended up at a university with no Greek system so he felt a little left out and he would have been a great brother in any house.
Anyway, our parents always talked up fraternity and sorority life and wanted us to go for it, but any pressure we felt came off as positive and open to our making our own choices. Dad was happy with how things turned out but I have to believe that Mom was at least a little disappointed that her daughter didn't end up as her sister as well. But, she is happy with having a greek daughter. All in all we are very happy with the role our parents and family played in the whole process.

dekeguy, what a WONDERFUL post! I sure hope my son will be able to share a story like yours one day!