Why would the attack you?

Because people fear what they don't know.

Yeah. Alot of our greeks don't know about APO, and I saw some of them reacting negatively when they saw the flyers hanging up. I just asked the NPHC advisor to send all of the greeks a notice letting them know what APO was about and that they are candidates for membership, etc.

Man, I know exactly what you all are experiencing right now expecially at an HBCU. As mentioned before we went through the same thing at JC Smith. The greeks would act as though we were not important. Our Dean of Student Life at the time did not give us any credit because she denied many of our programs which we planned. I remember when she put us under the same rules as the NPHC and when Smith got rid of her everything changed and we went back to our own structure and were not governed under the NPHC.

NPHC relations
 

If there is a bright side to trying to form at the same time as Gamma Sigma Sigma, it does mean that there are two groups trying to get to what they view as a correct niche in the Student Activities structure. And, IMO, the correct position in the structure is more or less identical for APO & GSS. I don't think *either* group wants to be grouped in the "Fraternities - Sororities - Social Fellowships" type of student organization. If you think that you can get categorized as a "Service Organization", I think that might be best.

The school may still want some of the rules regarding F-S-SF to apply to APO & GSS, such as no one may pledge on academic or diciplinary probation, I wouldn't fight too hard on those (not that you really can fight some of those things). But for example, I don't thing either APO or GSS wants to be in a position where the InterGreek or PanHellenic Council gets to vote on whether you are allowed on campus.* In some ways it is too bad that neither Kappa Kappa Psi or Tau Beta Sigma (Band Fraternity/ Sorority) aren't on campus, because the niche that they would have would be a place to start. (In the most general sense as a Greek Letter Organization that has fellowship and yet like APO & GSS can have members who are also members of an NPHC group)

Again, this is where suggestions from the chapters at HBCUs are more useful, because at non-HBCUs the administration wouldn't even consider putting APO in with AKA.

To sum it up...
In my opinion, you don't want GSS to be viewed as your "sister" organization, but in dealing with groups such as the Student Activities office and the NPHC, they may be a good ally.

Randy

*Oddly enough, the chapter I initiated at needed a vote of approval from our Interfraternity Council to get on campus. However this was 1929. :) (See http://www.contrib.andrew.cmu.edu/~aphio/history.html for more information)

I'd just like to echo this. Some of our reponses may be overly technical or depressing, but I hope in the end they've been helpful (or least not hurtful).

You have hit the motherlode here though, there are a high number of people on here who have been involved with extension, HBCUs, the mid-atlantic and various combinations thereof...

If you were asking about suggestions on interacting with Religious student groups on the campus of Oklahoma Baptist University, our suggestions would get a lot more general. :)

Just wanted to thank everyone for your support thus far. We've been very active, and have been building a good relationship with our Regional Staff. For any brothers in the area, we're having our PG Ceremony on Nov. 29th, and our public campus "coming out" show Nov. 30th.

The show on the 30th will be at Saint Augustine's College in the MLK Union at 8:25PM. For information about the PG Ceremony, please PM me or contact the Region III Director.

I wish I could be there, but Delta Phi will be celebrating one of our members coming out Friday night. Goodluck and congratulations.

We will see yall next semester though.

Congrats!! :D I'm excited about the return of the 25/52 fam as the Gamma Sigs will also be making their return to campus and probating tomorrow!!

Congrats to the new Petitioners!!!

Congrats! I'm a bit too far away to make it down.

I'm curious, why 8:25 PM? Seems like an odd time, and the one time I have seen an odd time like that it was 7:25 PM for events at Zeta Phi at Howard. 7:25 PM being 1925 military time. (And yes, the Gamma Sigma Sigma group did things at 7:52 PM, and I think the Alpha Phi Alpha at 7:06 PM.)