bump!
 

Sorry, I needed to bump this because I have the same problem at my school.

I'm in an APO interest group at my school, and also colonizing a multicultural sorority here at the same time. My friend in a local at a different school wants to tell me that APO's just a club of girls who call themselves "brothers," at her school but not a fraternity. Another girl in my sorority interest group here doesn't believe it's a fraternity because I wouldn't be allowed to pledge the sorority if I was in a fraternity as well.

I hate that BS. I've read some posts by other GCers who say that orgs that aren't NPC/NIC are "fake." Who are they to dismiss the history and traditions of other GLOS if they don't know what the hell they are talking about? To me, if it's a GLO, you pledge, you have brothers--it's obvious! Social Greeks believe that their orgs are the only ones that can be "real." F*** that!

*Danielle*

Agreed!

Is there any info we can give that would help? Only suggestion for the woman in the multi-cultural is to ask her how many fraternities would allow you to join in the first place. :) I'm not saying that co-edness and non-mutual exclusivity are synomyms, but they might be to her...

As for your friend at the other school. See if you can get one of the brothers over there to talk to her one-on-one. that may help with some of it....

Randy

Re: bump!
 

What you have here is a combination of arrogance and ignorance. There have been threads in the general forum area on this topic.

I find the attitude by many social greeks that 'social GLO' are the only 'true' GLO as the height of arrogance. Social GLO are but one aspect of GLOs. And I feel from a historic stand point, the social GLOs grew out of the original GLOs. The original GLOs were mainly supper discussion groups. Those in honorary, professional, and other GLOs are just as much greek as the socials.

I find the attitude by many social greeks that being in a social GLO prevents them from joining ANY other GLO as fairly ignorant. The restriction is only on being in ONE social GLO or ONE type of professional (ie one business GLO, etc). Our Founders were mainly members of social GLOs and didn't want to establish a new GLO that would affect their membership.

Tied with this is the attitude by some social greeks that you somehow can't be involved in more then one organization to be silly. You join socials for what they give you. You join professionals for what they give you. You join APO for similiar reasons. No GLO can provide it all. By being involved with multiple organizations, you are a more well-rounded individual. My father was a member of a social, and 2 professionals (business & law). As an adult he's a member of Elks, Rotary, a sailing/yacht club, a golf club, and probably a few others I'm not aware of. To me that's normal. To join only a social and refuse to join any other organization while in college seems silly and foolish.

Alpha Phi Omega is a FRATERNITY in every sense of the word. When we attach labeles of "service", "social", "professional", we begin to deviate from the true ideal of fraternalism. APO encompasses ALL the aspects of what a so-called social or professional GLO is supposed to embody. Through our cardinal principles of Leadership, Friendship, and Service. I truly feel, and can say without reservation, that Alpha Phi Omega is at the pinnacle of the fraternal system.

I as well am a social Greek as well as a (newly intiated) brother. Here my sisters sometimes tease me for being in a "wannabe Greek" organization.... but then I point out that it was my choice and if our organization wasn't going to do service I would find one that would. So... the conversation stopped there.

I think that APO isn't even lumped together with other clubs, it is seen as its seperate entity. Letters aren't common but people are starting to wear them more and more (mostly because we are rebuilding our chapter). Other social Greeks seem APO as an organization with no house... and alot less risk rules. I don't think it is as big of a problem here because the chapter is being rebuilt, and there are distinct seperations

I became a brother because I believe in what Alpha Phi Omega stands for. I have no desire to be a member of a social fraternity. I do not feel the need. My brothers is APO are good enough for me. I did not pledge because I needed acceptance. Many people pledge social because they feel the need to belong, or they feel it will make them popular. APO is not based on the premise, be proud of our Blue and Gold. We are a unique organization that has no peers. (no offense to Gamma Sigma Sigma).

I ain't offended. :p You did what was best for you and obviously, you knew this fraternity was the best. :D Can't hate on that!

That's not a very nice, or very truthful, comment to make. It's also an insult to your brothers who are also members of social orgs. There are many people out there who are members of both.

not an attack
 

I did not say all or most persons that pledge social organiztions. And I did not attack them. And it is truthful that many people pledge them to feel a sense of belonging, or to become popular. If you are in denial that people pledge for those reasons I am sorry. But some people do.....I am not attacking anyone for their social organizations. I considered pledging one, but decided to help re-charter the APO chapter at my school. Not because I felt a need to belong, but because of what the chapter of that fraternity stood for.........I am sure that is the reason most people pledge....

Re: not an attack
 

Making the statement that you did is like saying that people join APO because they couldn't get into a social org or cut it once they got in. And there's many people that may join APO just to have letters and to belong somewhere. It may be true in a few or some circumstances, but it's not true across the board, so it's not good to make such a broad statement. You said "many people" and are making a judgment on all social orgs.

Sorry, it just came across as very insulting and disrespectful towards social orgs and their members.

I will also say I am slightly offended. Social Greeks join for more reasons than "belonging"... you might not have meant for it to be all or most... but if you were listing reason people join social greek... then maybe you should think of other reasons. Also know that the social greeks on our campus do alot of community service as well. I think 3500 hours in 10 social greek organiazations in a year (no more than 40 members in each... and most are arounf 20-28 like mine :) )

I dunno I just think that you made an assumption that might be ok on your campus but on other campuses things work different

I said those are reasons, not the reasons. I considered pledging social because I found the ideals of the organization similar to those that I live by so I am not assuming those are the only reasons to pledge. Those of you that are offended need to open your minds. I am not knocking you, or your organizations. You also have to realize that each campus has different chapters. And because I did not think the social organizations on my campus did enough for the community does not mean that I feel that way about every chapter. I can not make that statement as I have not been to every chapter. You ladies need to loosen up. I am not here to attack anyone, or their organization. You have not heard my say anything other than some organizations on my campus did not do what I felt was enough in the community, and that is why I busted my tail to get a chapter of APO on MY campus....

Whatever happened to "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant."

People are so pressed to be "heard" that they don't listen to what's actually being said.

NOBODY likes to be told to "loosen up" -- I don't even know why people say that anymore. It never works!

If I'm coming off snarky, I'm sorry. I just get really sick of people in general wanting to have the last word instead of taking the more brotherly route of mutual understanding.

No, your not coming off snarky. I have heard much worse. Not really worried about having the last word either. I also felt no reason to apologize. I believe I made it clear that my goal was to state a couple of facts. Not to attack, and about not wanting to be told to loosen up, that is your business. I can not help if "no one" wants to hear that. I can take constructive criticism when offered. Maybe we all need to work on that. And remember that opinions are like derrier's, everyone has one. But, we do not have to agree with each others...

And by the way, I meant no offense to you. I have read many of your posts. I think you are highly intelligent, and make some very insightful points.....