I became an Alpha Angel in 1990, my first year in college. This is when pledging was above ground. I wasn't disrespected at all it was fun. Every organization had them. Many members of Sororities and Fraternities had been members at one time. It wasn't looked at as being a first step to being in a sorority, it was just looked at as being involved in something. Our purpose like most sweethart organizations was to help the men on line. We also did do community service and learned history. Now do I think there is a nedd now for sweetharts, NO.

I don't know about the other organizations, but the information you said below about "all 9 national organizations have policies which forbid their collegiate chapters from making or affiliating with sweethearts because of the liability that they present to the organization" is incorrect. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. both nationally and constitutionally recognizes "Iota Sweethearts."




------------------
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.
Stephen F. Austin State University
http://go.to/sfaiota

It was my understanding that the NPHC had elected to ban auxiliary groups superceding any one organiations decision on its own to have them. I am not saying thisi is fact but what I believed had been the case. Can anyone out there clarify the point?

Clarification- Everyone agreed to the ban before Iota Phi Theta became a member of the NPHC. They chose not to participate in the ban and hence their sweethearts are still a part of their organization.

ZetaAce

hmmmmmm.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I'M A SWEETHEART. WHEN I WAS APPROACHED TO JOIN I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE GETTING A FIRST HAND LOOK AT GREEK LIFE. I WOULD ALSO BE HELPING A FRIEND WHO WAS ON LINE. I WAS TAUGHT THAT WE WERE TO BE "ORIENTATED"...NOT PLEDGED!!!! AND THAT WE WERE NOT A SORORITY..BUT WE WERE TO RESPECT ALL BGLO MEMBERS!!! MY "SISTERS" AND I GREW TO BECOME VERY CLOSE. SOME OF THEM HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME GREEK...AND NOW I WANT THE SAME THING. I'M THANKFUL THAT I HAD THE OPPERTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE BEING A SWEETHEART...IT GAVE ME ALOT OF INSIGHT. BUT, I KNOW NOW THAT GETTING MY LETTERS IS A DREAM I MUST FULFILL. AS LONG AS THE MEMBERS OF THE SWEETHEART GROUP UNDERSTAND THE LIMITS ( THEY ARE NOT A SORORITY AND SHOULD ACT AS SUCH) THEN I SEE NOTHING WRONG!!!!

I don't understand this. If NPHC banned aux. groups, then why are they still around? On my campus, I've only heard of Alpha Angels and K-sweets....why do they exist, if they are "illegal"? The Kappas on our yard recently had a new line of Kappa Sweethearts with red T-shirts, numbers, canes, and everything. A new line all in public. What are the consequences? Does NPHC know that these aux. groups still exist?

Thanks for the clarification ZetaAce!

They have to know, because it's rampant. What about those groups that have their own WEBSITES?? And we went through that drama last year, right, fam?

So, I think they (NPHC) can't give the time and money it would it take to wipe these "bad" orgs out. NOT saying they're all bad, but they are ILLEGAL. Except for the Iotas.

The NPHC has NO AUTHORITY over its member organizations... Each member organization makes its own rules and is responsible for enforcing them... Thus, if the Kappas are having illegal activity, it is up to the national office of Kappa Alpha Psi to deal with it, not the NPHC.




------------------
Bee Jae
Technology Task Force
www.deltasigmatheta.com
www.deltasigmatheta.org

I beleive the NPHC is a governing body by agreement not ooboligation. WHile they set guidelines they all orgs can voluntarily choose to comply with, enforcement of those mandates is up to the individual org. Also, to call auxiliaries illegal is a misnomer, thir mere existance is not breaking any law. Hazing a pledge of an aux. s another story.

I wonder how long they would last if someone instigated a law uit against the lage org that is looking the other way? Even an unsuccesful suit would bring attention to there persistance...

As far as some of the sites on the net, certain groups have supposedly incorporated themselves in an attempt to legitimize their existance although they are still heavily associated in practice with the NPHC org in most circumstances, whether their site or charter acknowledges that.

This thread should help you.
 

As you can see a search is crucial.

:mad: I must say, all this talk angers me. As a proud member of Iota Phi Theta Sweethearts, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, it is apparent that all hearts, angels,etc. are not the same! And just like there are loud hearts, angels, and diamonds, there are loud sorors! And I know that compared to our bruhs, the Ques, loud isn't even the word! I resent the fact that I, as an Iota sweetheart can't get respected, even though we are there to support an organization that is part of the pan-hell, but continuously has to fight for respect, as well as my main reason for joining was to help them plan COMMUNITY SERVICE! Ugh! Wake up people! Iotas were the one who helped me get to where I am today, as one of your Sorors! I really resent the fact that upon finding out that I was heart as well as a Delta, my own sorors shyed away from me! I do not get the same treatment as a heart. When the find out that I'm a Delta, they congratulate me. Now can you say the same? I am one of your sorors, who is also an Iota Sweetheart, who obviously is an upstanding member of my college community, or I wouldn't be a Delta, and it hurts my heart that someone would treat me that way just because of a decision that I am proud of. I bet you would be congratulating me if I was defending my sorority against those who oppose greek life in it's entirety. So guess what? As a heart, I am recognized nationally, just as I am in Delta. :(

are you equating delta with sweethearts?:eek: :confused:

Soror, there are many Delta women who were a member of an aux org. While I personally never had an interest, I can't fault sorors who do/did.

My problem is when sorors cannot put it behind them, esp when they wear 'heart 'nalia after they have been initiated into a sorority. Remember our Sweetheart Song,"...and her first love is DST!" This acknowledges that sorors may have been sweethearts (traditional, old skool or new school) BEFORE they pledged, but now they have put away those things and should be embraced as a soror.

I took that solely as we had/have a love interest of various organizations, but we, of course, always put Delta first. I am an Omega's Sweetheart--not aux., but actually-- I would never put Omega Psi Phi before Delta Sigma Theta. I feel as though it is a true conflict of interest, and as I stated before, it will never knowingly persist at my campus. Not ever will I accept someone who was/is a groupie. Many have tried, ALL have failed at Mighty TAU, we're not called mighty for nothing.:mad:

Soror, you opinion on this is a valid one. It is just not a national rule. Like many things, there are campus and regional variations. I can appreciate that on your campus things do not work that way, on others they do. I know many, MANY older Sorors (And I mean 15, 20, 25+ years in Delta) who were members of auxiliaries. I am sure you would not see them as any less a Soror. That should extend to more recently initiated Sorors who were in auxiliaries. As long as se puts DST first, and is a woman of strong character (not an example of the stereotype you are describing) I would expect all Sorors to embrace her just the same.

Now as McCoyRed said, I do not understand continuing to wear auxiliary para after becoming a Delta. To me that is NOT putting Delta first. I see those things as part of a former life that should be resigned to nostalgia. Like everything else, that is just my opinion.

And I think I mentioned it in an old post in this thread but I was a Kappa Sweetheart back in the day. They neve disrespected me or degraded me becauseI would not have stood for htat. They knew that and that's why they want me around. They were some of my closest male friends and still are.

I think I have said this before. I WAS an Alpha Angel, back in the day. My freshman year. It was all about helping some positive black brothers while they were on line. Was it fun, hell yeah! Do I think there is a need for sweethearts, aux., etc (its all the same) now, NO. Now there are some that sleep with there brothers, but I think for the most part most are not like that. Now do I still consider myself an Angel. NO. That was left behind when I pledged Delta. Delta is my first love even before I was an Angel, during and will always remain. Do I have pleasant memories of being an angel? yes. Do I think someone should not be a Delta because they where a sweetheart? NO. Just leave it behind. I would never wear a Soror shirt with something saying Alpha Angel. I think there are more importanmt things to focus on like rasing the GPA instead of whether someone was a sweetheart.

:eek: No I never said that Delta Sigma theta is equal to being an Iota Sweetheart! I simply said that is disheartens me to know that someone would judge me, especially a soror on who I am or was...:rolleyes:

I don't understand aux groups, and I don't know why one would want to be in one.

My question is.....Soror, why did you think that you needed to be a sweetheart in order to understand Greek Life, especially Delta? (This is what I got out of your post).

Oh no Soror...I simply joined the group because I was very close to a lot of the fellow hearts and iotas, and since they had always shown me love and support, what better way to help than to help them help the community? I wasn't even thinking about joining Delta Sigma Theta yet.

I'm totally with Snoop on this one. I feel as though you don't need to join another org. to learn about Greek life. AS a matter of fact, they always boast about being NON-GREEK. You could've helped them plan their comm. service, and participated w/o being a sweetheart. I get shown love by a lot of people outside of my race/gender, but I'm not going to try to be associated with/fit in with them by any means necessary. I am me. And just refuse to be associated with any org. that does not represent strong women!! I just can't go the flunky route. Being a member of such org(s). is indicative of other characteristics about a person, be the true, or solely speculation. It's just not MY thing, or something I'd condone persisting in MY chapter.

I don't understand why this gets so much debate. I WAS an Alpha Angel, I was never disrepected by any Alpha. I was never asked to sleep with anyonw. In fact we were told by the Dean on the Sphinxman line that if we slepp with any Alphas that would be on us and that was not going to make us Angels. We would be ruining our name not them. I didn't join to learn about greek life. I joined because I had friends that were Alphas (one of which later became my husband) and I had friends that were on line. the Alphas on our campus were very positive black brothers, dedicated to being involved in the community and uplifting our black community. They were the ones celebrating black women. Every year they did a tribute to black women were they honored various black women on our campus. Now keep in mind this all took place when pledging was out in the open. It was pure fun and nothing more. Now I'm sure there are those that did sleep with their brothers, but them being a hoe would have happened regardless of a sweetheart organization. I don't hink being a former member of a sweetheart organization, speaks to anyone's character. It doesn't make you less of a Delta or any other Sorority that you pledge. Let's face it, there are some Sorority members that was never part of a sweetheart org and their character is very questionable. Their are those were the biggest hoes on their campus. Somebody please explain to me ow being in a sweetheart organization, is representative of not being a strong women? Am I considered weak just because I was a Alpha Angel? If you went to school in the 90's you probably won't understand what the roles of sweethearts were during pledging. Also lets face it the black woman has always been the backbone of our men. If you know anything about the history of other organizations, you would realize they hold the black woman in high esteem. Lets not forget that the Sphinx guarded the pyramids.

Red6-

I never understood why this got such debate either. Or why it often turns into an opportunity for SORORS to disparage other SORORS. I find many do not have the ability to see that their belief or definition of who or what a Sweetheart is may not be accurate or universal or correct depending on what time frame you are talking about. Or location for that matter. As you stated your character is your character no matter what organization you belong to- sweetheart, Delta, United Way, Girl Scouts- you are who you are. And you decide how you will carry yourself or let people treat you in all settings.

Just because you do not understand something or someone else's choice does not automatically make it a bad thing. I get challenged on my choice to join a Sorority by those who do not understand it but that by no means makes it a bad thing. Because they want to attribute snobbery, and the characteristics of a follower, to joining an organization does not make it true. Now, I am by no means comparing being a Sweetheart to being a Soror, I am just saying I see it as equally wrong to paint all people with one brush in this circumstance as it is in any other. And I think some would be surprised at which Sorors they admire on one hand but dis on the other not realizing the were Sweethearts once upon a time.

There are those that would make the same arguement about pledging. That being in a greek organization is being a flunky. This reminds me of that if you didn't pledge pre-intake than you are not as good a soror as I am debate. I entered college in 1989 when a few of you were probably still in junior high, so to not understand what sweethearts were back in the day is understandable. Its kind of like this, if you aren't a Soror, you could never really truly know what being a Delta is all about. Again I left Alpha Angel behind me when I crossed the burning sands (should i dare say that) into Deltaland. And would never refer to myself as an Alpha Angel. But does being a Angel make me weak or a lesser Delta or put into question my character? No.
To play Devil's advocate (because that's what a 6 does) there are some sweethearts that pledged harder than those in a Sorority.

I do understand what you are saying. We do have a lot of arguments that are on the same vain. I also recall the time of pledging being above ground. (Just a touch- I came in right as it was called to an end- entering class of 91) And on my campus they took a while to catch up to the new standards as we were in the boondocks. I also left my sweetheart days behind. If anyone asks I WAS a sweetheart, not am.

In orde to adequately be coined a groupie/flunkee, there must be two or more parties (i.e., orgs.) involved. How can I be a Delta, and a Delta groupie? It just doesn't work that way. At most one could suggest I am a follower--which is not the care, nor one of the accusations I had about sweethearts. Just to reiterate, I am nowhere near being a follower!!! My point is, you can't compare sweets to sorors. and why wold anyone be groupies to a MALE org. which has a main purpose--understandably--of promoting brotherhood. Because we all know DST is to promote sisterhood, and uplift women since we are afterall women ourselves. I tell all males interested in being Delta flunkees the same thing. Associate yourself with something that promotes what you are first. Public Service is great, which all orgs. promote, but be a strong woman, and affiliate yourself with orgs. for strong independent women, not women who are male flunkees.

Don't forget the Pyramid Club
 

First and foremost I never compared Delta to any sweetheart organization. I never said they were on the same level at all. But my question is, Is a Soror that was a former sweetheart a flunkee or follower? No. I'm assuming and I could be wrong but when I first went to college a few of you were still in junior high so you never had the opportunity to see first hand what sweethearts do or in my case did. Also in e can argue that Delta does have groupies, they are called girls that are interested. Or back in the day the Pyramid Club. Were I went to school, I found that many sorors had been sweethearts as with many members of other organizations. It wasn't looked odwn upon, because the greek community was close and it was something that most did their freshman year.
Some may think that those who pledged are followers and flunkees. Its jus a difference of opinion. But I would hope that questioning a Soror's character in any case would not be acceptable.

Your sweetheart experience is that of the minority. Your reccount of it sounds pretty positive. However, if you wanted to pledge a sorority, why didn't you channel your energies and interests towards supporting the programs and so forth of the sorority, as opposed to focusing on having big brothers and supporting a fraternity? This would be the issue that I would have for young ladies who claim that they are not groupies and had a good experience. Despite popular opinion, sororities were not founded to get closer to men or be a subsidiary for any fraternity. If you are interested in membership, do things that are conducive to that interest...not things that are centered around a fraternity.

With all due respect, the "stepping stone" is having a tight GPA, doing community service, talking to the members of that sorority (if possible), and supporting their programs. Affiliation with a fraternity cannot help you in terms of pursuiing membership in a sorority.

Soror, it is interesting that you're so bothered by this discussion. It is good for you to feel proud that you are nationally recognized as an Iota Sweetheart...it is good for YOU. However, what you CHOOSE to do is an individual decision. As your soror, I am only obligated to be LOVING and SISTERLY toward you as a person and as a fellow member of DST...not respect you as a sweetheart. In my OPINION, your membership in DST supercedes and cancels out your sweetheart membership. I do not doubt your love for Delta, but I hope your love for Delta is not being shared with that for Iota Sweetheartdom. "ALL of my love, my peace and happiness...I will give to DELTA...."

As I said before, I love my sorors and wouldn't disrespect them b/c they were sweethearts...I just choose not to acknowledge that aspect of them. I see you playing devil's advocate, however, pledge "harder" is so relative...and pledge "harder" for what would be the question.

Re: Don't forget the Pyramid Club
 

I know about the Pyramid Club. I know people who were members of the Pyramid Club back in the 60's. I don't see anything wrong with being a "groupie" for the organization that you wish to pledge your devotion to. So, there's nothing wrong with being a DST "groupie" in my opinion. I don't see the analogy between the Pyramid Club and a sweetheart organization.

Re: Re: Don't forget the Pyramid Club
 

My point is that one can not question the womanhood of someone they do not know. To say that someone is a flunkee and a follower for something they have chosen to do is judgemental. Again I would never say that I am an Angel, that is in the past. I agree with ChaosDST that Delta supercedes that. My point is not o agrue Delta vs. Sweetheart. Which is more important, because I already know this. My point is that Soror's character is being questioned.
How many came in with the minimum GPA? I had a 3.5, does that make me a better Soror? Should I say those who came in with the minimum GPA, didn't have good study habits and they were probably to busy partying? I would be making a generalization. Truth be told there are some people in Fraternity's and Sorority's that are followers. In my experience we have to be careful when questioning someone's character.

Re: Re: Don't forget the Pyramid Club
 

I'm not saying their is but some would say that we do have groupies. I'm not even saying its bad. hell some of us were groupies. There are thise that are so far up our azzes we have to remove them before we take a chit.
I love Delta. There was no other choice for me. Being an Alpha Angel is not even secondary to me, because in my eyes, I am no longer affiliated. But to say that those Sorors or woman that are part of these organizations are followers and groupies are pushing it. There are also organizations such as Alpha wives, etc. (Of which I could have belonged to). What do you think of them?

I feel this discussion will not come to a conclusion, so yes, being a Delta does supercede being a sweetheart, but it does not supercede my friends who are still hearts and Iotas, BECAUSE THEY ARE MY FRIENDS. But I love being a Delta. I just dislike being judged and not respected on a individual choice that I am not ashamed of. I don't ask for your respect. Because I carry myself the way I should, I will get it. That's all sorors. It's not that big of a deal.:rolleyes:

Re: Re: Re: Don't forget the Pyramid Club
 

I wasn't the one that initially used the term groupie...I was using it to make a point. However, we are making quite a few generalizations here. Some of them ARE groupies...I may go so far as to say that the vast majority of them are groupies...but we have some that aren't. My REAL point is that these organizations should not used as a stepping stone to a sorority. Again, I don't think there is an analogy between these organizations and organizations designed for the wives of fraternity men, such as Women of Omega (or whatever they're called now). Although many of these auxiliaries may have been intended for wives and sweethearts of fraternity men, that is usually not their purpose today.


Just my opinion.

We're just having a discussion, not saying that this is a big deal. I wonder why people can't have a discussion without someone eventually saying that. It's not a matter of whether or not you ASK for my respect. My point is that as sorors we should respect one another. That does not mean that we have to accept EVERYTHING one another has to offer. Meaning, I won't disrespect you because of the fact that you associate yourself with your friends, the Iota Sweethearts. My comments were actually intended to be positive...apparently you took them otherwise, which is interesting because this issue is not that big of a deal :rolleyes:

Thank you soror for saying that. No, you don't have to like everything I do, but I would appreciate the respect that you should have for me as a soror. My sentiments exactly, ChaosDST.:cool:

We are repeating ourselves, soror, this is true, but like said before this is a discussion, and some are missing the point we either didn't make, or need to word differently. I know that iota sweethearts are recognized by the natinal chapter, and every iota that I met has given me nothing but love before of course, Delta superceded. So I can't speak for other auxillary organizations, but I know that's not true in my case.