I know that in my school there's NPC, AKA, and LTA. Most minority females here don't rush for NPC because they don't feel as if they relate to the majority white sororities. However, a few black girls rush each semester, and mostly end up with bids. I remember meeting a few other black girls during rush last year, and they mostly turned down their bids, saying they'll probably "do the Black Greek thing":rolleyes: That was formal. This semester rush was informal, and the black girls that rushed did end up with bids and most ended up staying. The one girl that did drop did so because she just wanted to be a party girl...

I don't think that my school's NPC GLO's are rascist. There may be a few girls that may be clueless about other cultures... I believe that the reason why so many minorities don't rush is because they simply want to be around members of their own culture and don't feel as if they can be comfortable being the only one in their sorority.

I think that a PWI, much of the study body doesn't get to see the work that is being done by NPHC groups, because a lot of our community service in done in the larger community, instead of on the campus directly. Also, compared to NPC sororities, NPHC groups are smaller, so if you attend a large school, its difficult to see those members out and about on a regular basis. At my alma mater, there were maybe a total of 30 women in all four NPHC sororities, and maybe 30 men in three NPHC fraternities. So our numbers are much smaller than those traditionally seen in NPC/IFC, especially at our school, which has 50,000+ people.

Finally, people tend to gravitate towards people they have something in common with. I know for myself, it was a bit intimidating to be one of 4000 minority students in a total population of 50,000. I don't think that initially (as a freshman) I would have been comfortable enough with myself to branch out and interact with a new group of people. Eventually I did get more comfortable with my surroundings and meeting new people, but it would have taken some time.

Are they really hairy?

-Rudey

Sigma Tau Gamma STG is an IFC Fraternity. My daddy is one. Maybe you mean Sigma Gamma Rho
SGR

I thought Persia doesnt exist. Isnt now Iran?

It is Iran, but most people from there call themselves Persian. At least here in Southern California.

Trying to avoid a stigma? :confused:

//trying her hardest to cut down on thread-jacking, she promises..

No. The name of Iran has only been in existence for a short while.

-Rudey

since 1935

Since 500 BC, the country was Persia - that is 2485 years. In 1935 it became known as Iran and in 1979 the Islamic Republic of Iran - a 69 year short history; hence a short while.

-Rudey

Edited because I just woke up from a nap and am totally delirious.

Re: Minorities in 'white' frats/sororities
 

Just curious about your screen name. Samba is a feminine version of Sambo....

Re: Re: Minorities in 'white' frats/sororities
 

It's also a dance and a cologne (albeit a somewhat stinky one). I wouldn't assume the worst.

So here's my funny "minority" story...

Back in the late 1980's (around 1989 or so), I decided to take a road trip from my parents house in Tennessee back to Palo Alto. I had been out of college for a few years, and I really wanted to see some of the other Phi Psi chapters, knowing that my chapter at Stanford was DEFINITELY more racially diverse than others, especially in the South. So, I was really apprehensive about stopping by Ole Miss and OU and some of the other schools, because even though I am a Brother (fraternity wise), I am also a Brother (African-American wise) as well. :)

Anyway, I pull up to the Ole Miss house, debating whether or not to go knock on the door, and I basically say to myself, "...What the F***..." and knock. This guy opens the door, I introduce myself, and he made me feel SO welcome-it was like visiting a chapter anywhere! I stayed the night, talked to the guys, and I even met up with a few of them in Memphis a few years later as they were trying to start an alumni chapter there.

The bottom line is...I was so caught up in my own worries and insecurity about race that I overlooked the important thing-I was as much of a brother as any other Phi Psi. Now, would I have ever been a member of that chapter? Probably not, but each chapter is individual and chooses their members based upon what is best for that particular chapter. My Cal Beta chapter is not the same as PhiPsiRuss's Florida Alpha chapter, or IowaStatePhiPsi's Iowa Beta chapter, but I am sure that if I were to visit either one, I would be welcome, as they would at my chapter. College life is so short that finding a group that you like and that likes you should be the one thing that matters most...

"...I can't deny the fact that you like me...Right now you LIKE me!..."
Sally Field, Oscar Night 1984

I'm going to be really bold and say something:

As a black member of an NPC sorority, I think others like me need to just be Phi Mu, Tri Sigma, Chi Omega or whatever and not be concerned wth whatever anyone else thinks or speculates about their membership. I sure don't. :)

And in response as to why bblacks and hispanics don't typically join NPC's, I'll repost what I said in another thread.

---------

Speaking as a Black member of an NPC sorority:

Ok, we can all agree that NPC's are HISTORICALLY white organizations although not entirely (I'm evidence of that). All I think people are trying to say is that you should qualify it with "historically" instead of just white because that gives the impression that the org is specifically for whites. Hence the reason why I don't say "black fraternity/sorority", because it unfairly limits the organization.

And also, while I think diversity in our chapters is important, I do not feel it's appropriate to "target" minority women for that specific reason. I'm a Tri Sigma because my sisters felt I would make a good addition to the chapter, NOT because I would make it "diverse". I think sometimes that we as a conference need to let our organizations speak for themselves and not look at diversity as this quantitative thing that can be measured by the number of faces like mine on a composite.

And on the subject of why multicutural organization exist, people have different needs. Yes, NPC/IFC's serve a myriad of non-race specific causes (Children's Miracle Network, Make A Wish, etc) and that's great. Our organizations are changing as more and more women of different races go through recruitment. The values encompassed by NPC's are those that are shared by a universal group of women no matter their color.


THERE are many men and women who would prefer to join something that was FOUNDED on the core values of their culture and building their community up. As all encompassing as NPC's mission is, it cannot specifically address the needs of the hispanic/black/asian communities in the specific way that multicultural or orgs historically based in those cultures can. Those orgs exist to honor build and address the needs of men and women in those communites and for them to keep their "ear" to what goes on there while working closely with people of their own race. There is nothing wrong with that.

Again, I love being in the NPC, it encompasses all types of women and charitable causes. But some women prefer to address the needs of their specific ethnic community and with the broadness of the NPC, she may be more likely to be able to so in an NPHC or multicultural org.

Simply put, the NPC/IFC cannot address the issues and causes SPECIFICALLY facing African Americans, Hispanics, etc. so that's where these organizations come in and I respect them. They have a very important and valid place in the Greek world.

I dunno. When I first saw this thread I was like huh? Because I never think about the fact that some of my sisters are black. I just think of them as crazy Sarah or Amy with the cute Burberry bag. Just my sisters.

Oh, I can see how it happens, especially when the NPHC chapters at your campus might be all African-American. Sometimes, and this is even more true when you're only a freshman or sophomore, you aren't 100% aware of the fact that not every Greek system is exactly like yours. I've had plenty of NPHC members tell me that my organization was just for white women...au contraire!

At my undergrad, there were a lot of people--Greeks and non-Greeks--who thought Kappa Alpha Theta was a nationally Jewish sorority because of the fact that the vast majority of sisters were Jewish, they co-sponsored several annual events with Hillel, and they had mixers with AEPi. They obviously aren't, but that was the frame of reference my classmates had to go on.

This post makes me all warm and fuzzy-like :D

Good Post.

But that's not the case at my university. We have VERY diverse chapters within our council. So they were just pulling stuff outta their arse in my opinion.

I'd have to agree, and I like the perspectives I'm seeing here. Perhaps I am too concerned about reasons for this or that.
I also really appreciate the story about visting another phi psi house, that one shouldn't be apprehensive.
I think I was just trying to point out, that while it's great that some don't view respective brothers/sisters as anything but that, apprehension is still there for others, like me.
Like I've said, my sisters love me and we joke and it's all cool. I realize, although I think more so now that I've asked other opinions, it may be an insecurity. It's a growing up process. But I don't believe that it's not an issue for all people either. I suppose it doesn't matter. You go where you feel comfortable, and if that issue makes you feel that uncomfortable, then you just wouldn't go there.

And also,
I made this name a long time ago, when I was a big bossa nova nut. So 'samba' is in reference to the dance.

I think... and I know I can't be very educated on this subject because I only know about large southern schools... that it also depends on the size and locale of the chapter. When I was an undergrad, there was this completely cool mixed girl in my chapter. All of us saw her as just that... cool, outgoing, and the kind of person you always wanted to be around. But, being in the south, there were the ones who certainly made snap judgements about a chapter that would *gasp* let in a person who was not completely white. And on the flipside, there were judgements about her for not *gasp* embracing her culture by joining a historically black sorority (believe it or not, it's just as much of a stigma as far as what could be wrong with this girl if she "couldn't get into" one of the historically black sororities). Chances are, someone who is not completely white in a historically white sorority is going to feel uncomfortable at times. Unfortunately, there are still many many many people who are stuck back in the traditional race roles of sororities/fraternities.

It's all about the love... :)


"...Why can't we all just get along..."

Rodney King

Lots Of Reading
 

Of course I had to put my now deserved 19.25 in.

As an African- American female (and Native American) I can see the many points that people are making and so many of them are relevant to the way that my school works.

BUT with my school also being in the South I think that there is more discrimination in the NPC so you usually dont see alot of minorities trying to join their organizations.

I also dont understand, no offense to the NPC ladies here - how your system works. I dont get how it is fair to pay a fee, pick 3 and then hope you get the one you want?

I pledge my frat (Co-Ed) b/c I researched it and found that I could honestly add to the organization and grow within it. And whatdoyaknow - my first semester as a brother and already I am holding a position. ;)

So if an NPC lady would like to explain to me the progress more in depth I would greatly appreciate it....

But my frat is awesomely diverse - men and women from all different creeds who are also members of the NPC, NPHC and IFC - so we are kind of like a big melting pot and I enjoy that!

I'm am a minority interested in spring recuitment for a historically white sorority. i havent really told many people outside my very best friends and family and they totally support my decison and tell me i need to be at a place that i feel comfortable and not somewhere where i am exepected to go.

And your friends are exactly right and I think that you are bold in making the decision to NOT do something that was historically black.

My thing is - and I have admitted this - that I did look at some of the sororities in the NPC - but I just wasnt okay with the fact that I might not get into the sorority of my choice and that I had to pick 3 and even after I rushing I may not get in...

Whereas when it comes to the frat I am in now and the NPHC sorority that I may decide to pledge - they are both organizations that I researched and decided that it was something that I wanted to do...

What would I do if I wanted to Pledge Delta Zeta or Kappa Delta (the two I was looking at...) and I picked them and Alpha Omicron Pi....and I researched all of them and figured that I would/could fit into either of them and then didnt get picked for any? Isnt that like a slap in the face?

I dunno = thats why I want someone to explain this to me....

I have researching alot about historically white sororites and i am just now starting to better understand. as you may know researching sorority info in general is a lot of reading but at my university, which is in the south, the system of picking pleges in "white" sororites isthe same as u described, pick three and maybe you'll get your first or second choice....i know many people that didnt get their top sorority and pledge the second choice and are today very happy they did. and then there are the stories of those simply picking the second or third choice for the sake of just being in a sorority. as for me i didnt go through formal recuitment at my school but i am going through spring informal recuitment and its with my top sorority so that gets rid of the worries about me having to pick and second or a third choice becuz if the dont accept me then thats fine no hard feelings i will go from there....

Good Luck to you! :)

I have read alot of these posts and I feel that it is a shame that some people would feel that they would have to hide the fact that they dont want to be apart of a historically black sorority or fraternity. I mean I feel like you just do what you feel comfortable with because being greek is hard work, harder then alot of people think, and so I feel like you better love that orgainization because you're gong to be doing alot of work in its name. For me personally though it also bothers me when they say that cpc/ifc groups are "white greeks" and nphc or other multicultural councils are for "black, asian, or latin greeks." It's just so sad that people have to label our orgainizations in such a way. I know for myself that i have been approached by several people who are not black but who are interested in membership in my sorority and the first question they asked me was "if i pledged do you think i would be accepted?" I just found that so disheartening that people would feel that they wouldn't be accepted because of their race. Ok that's it. I appologize for my long winded response.

Thanks for that information - it is much appreciated.

Re: Lots Of Reading
 

Alpha Phi Omega can't even enter into a discussion of NPC OR NPHC membership policies - mainly because we do not have selective membership. Anyone who wants to pursue brotherhood can. Not everyone succeeds, but the fact is that it's pretty hard to deny someone membership for intangible reasons (unless they are obviously divisive to the chapter).

NPC rush fees are often under $20 - if they are more, they include on campus housing for the days of rush. The reason a nominal fee is charged is to prevent people from going through rush who have no intention of pledging or are there just to rip apart the Greek system. Why should the sorority women have to waste their time with people like that?

I'm sure that there are ladies interested in NPHC who have put in as much, if not MORE, in terms of time and also money (for appropriate clothes for interest meeting) pursuing the org they want as any fee charged for NPC rush activities. And they might never make it either. I just feel like you're saying "NPC rush is a ripoff" and that is not true.

I dont know why you would feel that I was saying that the NPC was a rip off when I clearly stated that I didnt understand and someone has already responded to my question with an appropriate answer.

In no way was I comparing my organization to those of the NPC, IFC or NPHC - I was just saying "this is what I did to find my org - how in this system can you do the same?"

Here the fee for NPC here is NOT $20.00 - its like $50.00.

As for NPHC - you spend the money for one specific organization (well most do) everything you do is in preparation for ONE organization and all your money goes to that ONE organization -

So basically in the end to respond to you - I was not attacking NPC - I wanted someone to explain to me how it worked b/c I didnt understand and it wasnt something I PERSONALLY could have been comfortable with - I wanted to see someone elses view on the matter and that has been done. Now I understand and I still find it disturbing - but then again thats why its not for me, but I definetely give props to those who go thru it and found the home and sisterly love that they wanted and needed.

I just wanted to put in my comment of alpha phi omega, that I feel that no matter how much 'research' you try to do, I find it hard to choose a sorority based on what you can find by what other people say, or stats on their membership and fundraising. Choosiing a house is so incredibly personal, I know for me personally, I can't see anything other than how I feel when I'm with the sisters as influencing my decision. I never quite understood how someone could choose a house before you even met them.
It's like choosing a boyfriend. He can have tons of money or hard working, but doesnt mean he's right for you till you see each other for a bit.

I suppose the question is what is research? Not just alpha phi omega, either, bc I've seen this on the rush forums before so I'm curious.

And can some one please text me and help me on how to create a signature?

I guess thats another difference then - this whole house thing. I looked at the organization as a whole - and you are completely right - every chapter at every school is different - BUT - I looked at what the organization had done over the years at my school - what the organization does sectional, regionally and nationally. That is what was important to me. Once I realized that the ideals and principles that the frat was founded upon was something that was already in my everday life - I joined the brothers for a few events and decided to pledge - I guess its pretty much the same way you do it - but we dont have a house - - -

I think you just answered PrettyKittieJ's question. :)

PKJ - sorry if that sounded harsher than intended - but the fee for rush doesn't guarantee anything and that is stated right up front. The experience of rush itself is what you are paying for. I don't know what exactly goes into that $50 or how many houses are involved, so it's hard to tell if that's low or high.

And yes - in NPHC everything is for ONE org - but my point was that for some ladies they never make it into that ONE org.

I think that part of the reason more emphasis is placed on getting along with the women in THAT SPECIFIC CHAPTER in NPC is because you usually have to live with them at some point. I didn't pick my group for its philanthropy or national rep, I picked it because those were the women I felt the most comfortable with and who I thought I could give the most to and vice versa.

Sometimes you can't. anyone can say " I want to be a part of ABC or XYZ" Fraternity/ Sorority". I've know a few friends of mine that has done that type of scenerio. that's why it's always good to get the information and also visit a house you're interested in before you make up your mind about which one you want to rush.

The money that goes towards paying for recruitment pays for things like:
drinks and snacks for break times
supplies- everything from rush booklets, bid bubble sheets, money towards paying for the software, personal supplies that Rho Chis carry (tampons, kleenex, tylenol, etc. etc)
rental fees if a shuttle is needed, or if a room has to be paid for
etc. etc.

Panhel isn't making a profit off of rush!

Thank you KDDani, I was about to clarify that myself.

The thing is, I know that I did research different sororities before I went through. I knew that ZTA's philanthropy was Susan G. Komen and that they held Big Man on Campus every year. I knew that the KD's worked with Girl Scouts and the Chi O's had a wing-eating contest Make-A-Wish. I also knew someone in almost every sorority. The thing is, as much as I knew and thought that ABC sorority was where I wanted to go (they were founded on a few things that I really cared about), I was most comfortable in the Delta Gamma room with those girls. And I still am, even though I have friends in all different sororities. I think we're trying to compare apples to oranges here. I personally like the idea of keeping your options open until you're completely sure where you're comfortable, but I understand the thought that you should be completely committed to the sorority or fraternity that you want to pledge before pledging. BUT both systems are different, and that's the beauty of neither of them being purely white or black anymore... you can be a part of either system that you feel more comfortable with.

Well maybe I can help you understand the NPHC thing a little more. We aren't just joining a chapter, I understand that this is the same in the NPC but it's a different mindset, and most of us know and respect the national body as a whole. The chapter is our means of introduction and entry into the organization. We don't have houses, for the most part, so living with one another is not really a concern. Getting along with one another and being able to work with various types of women is important to us though so yes some of us may be turned off by the chapter but very few of us would let that stop us from pursuing the national body which we are committed to forever (if you are thinking along very traditional lines in the NPHC).