I did start a thread in the Alumni Forum
http://forums.greekchat.com/gcforums...threadid=34954

oops!
 

I meant to put my post on your thread -- sorry! I did n't see what three groups you've contacted (unless my addled brain missed it!)

GPhi, are your PMs disabled?

Yes! My PMs are disabled...
 

I could never keep my PM box cleaned out enough -- and when a PM comes in when your box is full, it gets lost. You can send me an email -- my address should be in my profile:D

NPC
 

Hi Jill1228 I was wondering what NPC is

NPC = National Panhellenic Conference.

NPC was formed in 1902 by several sororities and today numbers 26 groups strong. For more info, check out http://www.npcwomen.org.

Hello! I am a 1/2 african american, 1/2 caucasian member of Sigma Sigma Sigma! People see me, and they see the color, so being in a " all white" sorority, has been "different" but I wouldnt take anything back ever. I have never had problems with IFC's or any other NPC sororities commenting on my race, although, i HAVE had many negative comments from NPHC sorority members. I just wanted to let you know that there is another minority out here in a NPC!!

By the way, has anyone else who respinded gotten negative feedback from NPHC??

hey whats up!

I'm a woman of color and i am currently an active member of delta phi epsilon International sorority ( delta iota chapter http://www.geocities.com/dphiequeens )
I can honestly say that joinin D Phi E has been one of the best choices i made during my college years. I was initiated when i was a sophmore and since then the memories havent stopped.

I think that people place a great deal on color and sisterhood should be "deepher" ( deeper lol) then that. My chapter is a diverse one but no matter the color of skin i consider all deephers, delta phi's, dphie's joint to a common purpose..sisterhood..service..self..scholarship..a nd social causes.

When i went through my new member orientaiton we were constantly told about the importance of being ONE no matter what our cultural backrounds and i think that helped greatly in the strength of our sisterhood.

I say go for the NPC of your choice..sisterhood isnt about color and it never should be :)

feel free to instant message me on aim -hpnotiqcal or yahoo messanger - vonbon_thadon

HI CCUSigma123

Thank you for your honesty. I am a Phi Mu at a Mississippi School and I am African American. I was given an open bid to join and I enjoy it a lot. I have never had problems with any of my sisters or others at my school. I just always wonder if there are other African Americans or minorities in traditionally "white" sororities out there who I could ask if they ever wondered, if I sold out or something by joining a traditionally "white" sorority or if I should just ignore steriotypes. I find that I am happy but I just wonder.
:confused:

I'm African-American and also a Tri-Sigma. My mother is a very dedicated Delta. I've honestly never looked at this as a black/white issue. All I know is that these women all accepted me into their sisterhood with open arms. It was just about which group showed me the love and support I was looking for.

FYI: I love all NPHC greeks, they show me nothing but love on campus. Alot of girls of different races feel like certain orgs are "not for them" because everyone in the room is not your race. Not so. You'll never know unless you go out on a limb and try something new.

My advice, whether you're Caucasian and seeking Delta or an African American who's really feeling the Chi- O chapter on your campus, go for it, cuz you'll never know where you fit until you try. :)

Well I would hate for everyone to think that NPHC women are evil towards Black women who join NPC. :(

We have 3 "women of color" in my chapter.. as far as I know they have not had any difficulties, and I think of them as sisters to me, just as anyone else in my sorority would be a sister to me. I never really even thought about it before, honestly.

Nonsense, that's why I said they show me nothing but love.(the Zeta's especially) :)

What she said! And if anyone has a problem (no matter what type of org they are in), it is THEIR problem not yours

The women on here have shown me nothing but love!
No matter what the letter, we are all Greek together!

God, I love this thread.

JillyBean thank you for starting it!:cool:

I dated a woman of the Yellow Race, and she hated her color. I had no clue why, I loved it.

Dated a Black women who thought the same thing.

White people go out and work on there tans.

It just seems that people have no clue about coloring. What One Person, "The Eye Of The Beholder" thinks is much more important.

The reason JillyBean and I dont get along is not because she is Black and Lives in Canada which cost a ton to call, but that she is a roller coaster freak.

I will drink with her, I will dance with Her, I will socialize with Her, but, I will be damned if I am getting in a Roller Coaster with Her!

Colors are all different Period.

If we were all the same, damn what a boring world we would live in!:(

I think it is wonderful to have women of all shapes and colors involved in the Greek community. By knowing other women, and men for that matter of different races, religions, etc (any way you can be organized into groups), we are make ourselves better than we were to begin with. I have encountered many women and men in different NPC and IFC groups that are "colored"---from various races, I mean.
At my college chapter, there were and are still several members who are African-American....fabulous sisters! At Sigma Chi, there are several Turkish men who are brothers; in ATO, I have know of several African-American brothers, and last year, UNA's chapter initiated many Japanese brothers. I myself am dating a Kappa Sigma man who is from Pakistan. I have met so many wonderful brothers and sisters from other countries, races, and cultures, and have come to realize that there is plenty of room in the Greek system for people from all walks of life!

Side note: I just was thinking about this and thought it funny.....(in response to Tom Earp's comment about white people just going out and getting a tan....)
Actually, I'm a caucasian woman, whoo strangely enough has no ability to get a tan at all. The freckles I have are tan enough for me! But, perhaps in a joking manner, I have been ridiculed for NOT being tan.....I think nothing of it, and am content with my "Snow-White" look, as I call it.....I guess you could say I am the opposite of color....
Just an interesting take on the conversation here......

Flip side of the coin?
 

I have a curiosity question....

We are talking about Women of Color with membership in NPC, how prevalent is it to have Women of "limited" Color in a NPHC group? (caucasian member in a BGLO?)

When I was at IU my freshman year, a girl on my floor became an AKA. She was the first Caucasian soror the IU chapter had ever had, and it was pretty big news. (this was in 1991-92)

Her room was full of AKA stuff and she wore her letters all the time. She was very proud to be a member!

Race has NEVER been an issue in my chapter of Zeta! I come from a very multi-ethnic background (my father is mixed and my mom is white)... I also have sisters (in Zeta) that are Asian. Also on my campus we have an African American Delta Gamma, An Asians (I hope I am saying/ spelling that right) in Alpha Omicron Pi, as well as ASA! I hope that gives you some words of confidence!!

Keeping it real...
 

As a Black woman who attended the University of Florida, a predominantly and historically white institution, I had lots of friends and acquaintances of all races and ethnicities...and yes, I had several Caucasian friends invite me to events at their respective houses and encouraged me to consider their sororities as viable options...however, i always seemed to note that if i was not the ONLY non-Caucasian person at a given event, I was one of maybe two, at most. and of course, it was not because of any kind of discrimination, that was just the way greek life on campus was. there were a handful of minorities that pledged PC or IFC orgs, and there were quite a few non-minorities that pledged historically Black orgs. i encourage everyone to do what they deem is best and most suitable for themselves. i pledged a historically black organization primarily because of the difference i percieved-- when you pledge a historically black greek letter organization, it is expected that you are active and financial for LIFE, because it is a lifelong commitment; furthermore, NPHC organizations were founded at a time when blacks were systematically excluded from higher education and beyond just being about brotherhood and sisterhood, the DIVINE NINE organizations were founded to capitalize on those who were fortunate enough to obtain higher education and then use it to better serve our own disenfranchised communities(since American society wasn't showing us any love politically, socially, or enconomically--a to some degree, this persists even today), as well as mankind in general. i know for my own organization, SIGMA GAMMA RHO, my founders founded our organization on the predominantly white campus of Butler University as a means of insulation and encouragement, as well as for community service and high educational attainment--keeping in mind that they were in the heart of KKK territory at the height of the depression AND the university did not support a black organization--but they made it happen nonetheless. and i know all NPHC organizations encountered similar scenarios in founding or in expansion. that is why i chose to pledge a historically black organization-- the purpose is different(to me) and the commitment is different (to me). while NPHC is definitely social , we have a social obligation to the uplift of our people, and society in general--that's why i chose a historically black organization over, say, a PC organization. also, i wanted to be around women who could understand my experience and identify with me culturally. i wanted sorors who could feel my pride--and my pain--as a strong african american woman; i could only get that from a black organization, so i joined one. i have since graduated, i am still active in my sorority in grad chapter and i serve as the undergraduate advisor for the Omicron Theta chapter at FL International Univ-- and i don't regret my decision one bit. And while I encourage everyone to do what is best for them, I definitely encourage African American women to look into historically black sororities--the experience, I believe, is one that is second to none and is unique to the black experience.

Re: Flip side of the coin?
 

LOL @ limited color.

I've met women and men of all races/ethnicities in all of the NPHC groups. I just think the difference is that we don't brag about them all the time to show we've met our diversity quota,lol. They are our Brothers and Sisters, point blank.

Ebony magazine did a story a few years back on White people in NPHC organizations. Verrry interesting.

Talk about "can't win for losing"... If we point out the diversity in NPC organizations, we're bragging. If we don't point out the diversity, some folks still want to call us "white" sororities. :mad:

How did I know my remark would be taken the wrong way. NPC organizations are historically/traditionally White organizations. Can't deny that. Of course now the membership is diverse. What's the problem?

One black, Asian, or Latina member in an NPC chapter does not diversity make.

Re: Keeping it real...
 

I have to adress this comment. I've noticed that some members of NPHC groups on this board continually say that a big difference between NPHC and NPC/NIC groups is that their's is a life long commitment. This really bothers me when I hear this/see this because ours is a life long commitment too. NPC/NIC members take their commitment to their org, seriously. If we didn't we wouldn't still be around. Yes, we have members flake out on their commitment as I'm sure NPHC orgs have members flake out on their commitments. In a perfect world we'd be able to retain 100% of our membership. But the world isn't perfect.

well said Lady Pi Phi!

It helps when your chapter is only 18 members at the time...(not quite half my chapter was non-caucasian, I thought of us as a great place to be)

THANK YOU!

I have a feeling this thread is about to get messy. :o

Why would it get messy??

i was gonna ask the same question. Its a fair discussion and fair points have been made.
I'm a woman of color in an NPC and i read all posts and havent been offended.
discussion should continue..

It's just starting to look like the beginning of the end of several threads that I've seen. So far it has been pretty civil, but I'm starting to see a few things that are gonna get nit-picked to hell.

ETA: I'm not saying discussion shouldn't continue. I'm just saying don't be surprised if this thread goes to hell in a handbasket.

NPC/NIC orgs try to represent the make up of the campus. IF a school has very few minorities, then the orgs will be overwhelmingly white. If a school is diverse, then the GLOs will be more diverse. You have to also take into account foreign students and new immigrants who may not be familiar or even interested in being in a GLO (which could be why GLOs on some more diverse campus have less diverse representation).

I think it's insulting to imply the NPHC has the corner on "lifelong membership". The NPC certainly strives for the same goal and, arguably, is quite successful at it.



I take issue with this too. Look at examples from just a few NPC creeds:

"... To lend to those less fortunate a helping hand. To be unto others what we would they would be to us." FM

".... To place scholarship before social obligations and character before appearances; to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive'..." CW

"...I promise temperance and insight and courage, To crusade for justice, To seek the truth and defend it always ...." DZ

"I believe in its high ideals which lift me up beyond myself. I believe in its earnest drive for good scholarship, moral character, and genuine culture..." AF



My arguement is, if you want to say joining the NPHC is a "uniquely black experience," that's fine, go for it. But it's not only untrue but also unfair to imply that the NPC doesn't strive to uplift its members and the community OR to imply the NPC doesn't require membership for life from its members.

I don't understand how, especially in a forum like this, we strive for equality and try to avoid stereotypes... somehow the NPC is left out EVERY TIME, and the sterotype of a bunch of giggling, immature, white, blonde, former high school cheerleader girls who're just in it to meet fraternity boys and get drunks continues.

Look at all the advances NPC women have made in the last 20, 50, 100 years. We are not the organization(s) we were when we started -- and to tell you the truth, I'm not sure we were ever organizations that fit the stereotype.

I'm just saying, if we're going to leave the sterotypes at the door, let's leave the stereotypes at the door.

applause! :)

Whenever discussions of race come up everything will be nit-picked. We all have assumptions about each other. The only way to find out if there is any truth is to ask, discuss and move on.

I think women of color in NPCs are uncle tom sell-out negroes.

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Ooooh. You gonna get it!

I'm gonna go ahead and laugh b/c I'm assuming you aren't serious :)

I *think* what Bluethunder was saying was that NPHC organizations' focus was community service because we saw and still do, see a need to assist our (Black) community because no one else was/is doing so. While NPC organization may have a philanthropy (?sp) or two, NPHC orgs have 5 - 10, check out our National web sites.

And I also feel that while the creeds are very noble and should be attained, its just that they were written at a time when a. my great-grandmother could not go to a PWI and b. if she did, she would not be asked to join.

I am glad there is integration of NPC and NPHC, beacuse if you are about sisterhood, then love and respect has no color.