GreekChat.com Forums - High School Students Being intersted in Becoming Greek

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I hear ya...but I don't agree with ya. I don't think any of us are at a loss for membership this day in age due to perception. I think young ladies now more than ever have the opportunity to investigate their interest. Graham's book was completely biased. It was not a report at all. He gave no statistical data. It was one person's feelings/perception about the Black uppercrust. Many would say his very writing was a violation to begin and thus makes him a wanna be. Somethings we just don't discusss in public. But this is only one sister's opinion.

NPHC does not have formal or informal recruiting. The non- NPHC orgs...you really cannot compare the process to becoming members at all. Culturally it is completely different. We have subjective and objective criteria. We do not have a matching system. And we will never have a matching system in the NHPC, which is the basic set up of the others.

I'm not impressed, as its well documented on this very site by any chapter that brings in large numbers. Its a non-issue to me. And to most who go Zeta as well. As typically we do not have lines in excess of 35. And although we all like to see membership growth, I am more concerned if my Sorors are upholding the principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. BTW, the person who started that thread is not a Zeta either.

Quote:

Originally posted by sigmadiva
True, but it is the PERCEPTION that hooks people, whether it is actually true or not. I've done recruitment, formal and informal, and the young ladies go by what they *think* is true or what they heard. And, since in NPHC we can do a better job of honoring legacies admission into 'their' group, then increasing membership in the other orgs happen. Unfortuantly, the young ladies don't investigate other possibilites. Graham's book is just a 'report' on Black culture based on what people said. Granted, I think his reporting was a little biased. Now, I am about to go off topic, so bear with me.

Actually, it is a loss for all four NPHC sororities because there is no consistent measure to take young ladies. Yes, we all have qualites we look for, but if I recall it was on this forum where someone asked about the largest lines and some of the answers were in the 50's to 100's, which is impressive. Yet, you can not tell me that within those high numbers there were not some less-than- quality people. Sometimes we get so obsessed about numbers that we take people just to say we have 30 or whatever 'on-line'. I don't fully understand the NPC recruitment process, but it seems that each group must meet a quota. From what I've read on GC it is usually in the 20 to 30's. Yes, that system will not fully ensure quality people each year, but it will make that chapter think about who they are taking because if
100 young ladies want in and there are only 25 spots, then the chapter will carefully consider each person. I think if NPHC did something like that then we may not have as much hazing/chapter suspensions/member suspensions problems as we have had in the past.

I understand that everyone is not Sigma or Zeta material. However, it is one thing for a person to not want to do Sigma or Zeta because it is not for them, but it is another thing entirely for someone not to do it simply based on stereotypes, perception, hearsay, or simply being close-minded. There are far less students out there that actually research all organizations before making a decision than those that do. I am not big on large lines either(40+), but when there is no interest on campuses that have active chapters some changes obviously need to be made.

Some members seem to be content with merely existing rather than making a strong showing. I know in my heart that Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. is a true Brotherhood that is one of the better choices for young Black men(although everybody doesn't want to be a Sigma, or even Greek for that matter). I have run into too many Brothers who have a nonchalant attitude about how we are perceived and with how our undergraduate chapters are representing our organization. That needs to stop ASAP. I have rambled on enough and probably have said too much in a public forum, but these things need to be addressed.

Re: loosing potential members

Quote:

Originally posted by sigmadiva

I think the reason this happens is due to perception. On another forum (A Phi A or AKA) someone mentioned the book "Our Kind of People" by Laurance Graham, which chronicles the rise of the Black elite in this country. There is a whole chapter dedicated to the NPHC greek system and throughout the chapter he mentions that the Black elite feel that there are only two sororites that 'count', and let me tell you, if one of your NPHC sorority's color is blue/royal blue, then that is the one that does 'count'. He quotes a conversation with one of his relatives, an aunt who is an AKA, who does imply that woman is considered acceptable in 'high-society' if she is an AKA or Delta, not a woman from the 'lesser organizations'. Needless to say I was p*ssed.

One of my former co-workers always said, when you hear (or read) something consider the source. I consider the source. The source did a mediocre job on his research. How do I know this because Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated could not grown to what it is if we did not have sorors from the elite class .

Re: losing potential members

Quote:

Originally posted by Strive

One of my former co-workers always said, when you hear (or read) something consider the source. I consider the source. The source did a mediocre job on his research. How do I know this because Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated could not grown to what it is if we did not have sorors from the elite class .

Soror Strive,

I am amazed at the lack of viZion of some folks...clueless.
"Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations - to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day."

83 years later we have:

800 + chapters serving their respective community

150+ Stork's Nests serving and fostering better prenatal healthcare to low income pregnant women around the country

175 + Amicae groups assisting chapters in the promotion of our tenets.

An International Headquarters (national historic site) that we have OWNED for nearly 50 years... located on Embassy Row in Washington, D.C.!

Chapters in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Caribbean...My chapter will be visiting the Caribbean Sorors in St. Thomas. WE ARE WORLDWIDE!

Youth groups for girls 4-18!---Our little sisters need our guidance now more than ever!

Foundations and centers all over the country...I cannot wait to visit the Zeta-Sigma center in Atlanta! I love the Zeta Recreational center in Florida too! The Stork's Nest house in Arizona will bring a tear to your eyes!

And still...our guide remains the same...S L, S, S, and FW!

Soror Finerwoman 10-A-91, I thank you for opening a neophyte's eyes. I am glad that "elitism and socializing" does not "overshadow the real mission" of Zeta Phi Beta.
However, I must say that Laurance Graham needs to look up the word elite. Elite means a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence. Someone needs to send this definition to Laurance Graham because Zeta Phi Beta could not have grown to its present state if we did not have sorors who use their elitism positively "to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns".

Quote:

Originally posted by Finer Woman10-A-91
I hear ya...but I don't agree with ya. I don't think any of us are at a loss for membership this day in age due to perception.
NPHC does not have formal or informal recruiting. The non- NPHC orgs...you really cannot compare the process to becoming members at all. Culturally it is completely different. We have subjective and objective criteria. We do not have a matching system. And we will never have a matching system in the NHPC, which is the basic set up of the others.

I'm not impressed, as its well documented on this very site by any chapter that brings in large numbers. Its a non-issue to me. And to most who go Zeta as well. As typically we do not have lines in excess of 35. And although we all like to see membership growth, I am more concerned if my Sorors are upholding the principles of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. BTW, the person who started that thread is not a Zeta either.

Well I think we (NPHC) are at at loss since we have had to change the way we recruit/rush. I came in the 'old' way, i.e., on-line for 6 weeks, which was changed to 'paperwork'. i.e., the student is a potential member until paperwork is cleared. My suggestion about the quota is that we need to do more thinking about who we let in. If we have to fill a specific number then maybe we'd do more thinking about each person because each position will be valuable. Now, whether that number is 25 or 10, we need to think about it. It was proposed on another forum that the GPA requirement should be raised, but as was mentioned, not all schools/majors have the same level of difficulty.

And, we (NPHC) are at at loss due to perception. I don't think AKA would be in a law suit right now if the people involved, whether AKA or not, realized that hazing is not part of the recruitment/rush process.

I hope you ladies don't mind me weighing in. This is a very interesting topic. I have always been interested in Alpha Kappa Alpha. My initial interest, although superficial at first, began when I was a little girl. When I went to college, my interest was still there. However, I looked at all of the organizations and their programs. I must admit that I was quite impressed by the history and programs of Zeta Phi Beta. In the end, I knew where my heart was and what was best FOR ME, AKA. Back to the topic, it's completely possible to know what organization you are interested in in high school. Right before I left for college, I was at a gatheriing and we started talking about sororities. I found that as badly as I wanted to become an AKA, another young lady wanted to become a Zeta. In the end, we both became sorors of the organizations we were interested in.

That too was very well put.
What about if the high school student liked what the org. was about and not just the "Name" of the org. and has decided?
What if the high school student feels that their mind can't/won't be changed?
I believe that it is possible for a high school student to feel that way.

I guess what everyone is saying is that it is entirely possible for you or for any high schooler to feel that way but still do you research. Don't make a LIFE LONG Commitment blindly. There is so much to know about the the D9 orgs., not to mention all of the multicultural organizations, religious based, service oriented, etc. In the end, your choice will have to come from your heart. Just remember the tired but true cliche that love is blind, so also have your mind at work in this decision. Don't let stereo types of these organizations fool you because you might be highly dissapointed or even highly surprised. Also think about the real reason you want to join now, it will help you find the right organization for you and also prepare you for that long journey into sisterhood. Feel free to post why you want to be in a sorority on this site. I am sure you will get some positive feedback. But remember to be discrete.;) No one needs to know what org you are interested in and that goes for on the net and later on in college. Be careful and good luck!