Without an orientation course called "Black Greek Protocol and Etiquette 100", I'm afraid that the subsequent courses isn't going to mean much to a prospective (albeit its a step in the right direction).

RainMan,
As far as I'm concerned, there is no need for a course in "Black Greek Protocol and Etiquette 100." Those who want to know etiquette and protocol will figure it out the same way as all the rest of us. They will experience and observe the behaviors and resultant positive or negative reaction of those around them and practice the common sense that their parents' taught them.

SC

While I hear where you are coming from, it does both propective and members alike a great disservice and creates a lot of needless aggravation and "tension" (Read the "Embarassing Rush Moments" thread).

Learning by "atmosphere" is confusing, frustrating, and extremely unnecessary.

ETA: Cynically speaking, what does discretion mean to me?

"Do as I say, not as I do".

I am a product of INROADS. When I was in INROADS, we were told that when you go into a new job, you observe and learn from your observations. Then you act accordingly. This applied to dress and other things. What is the difference between learning by atmosphere in a professional environment and in the Greek environment? Most of your actions as a human being are learned by "atmosphere."

My mother taught me a very valuable lesson as a child. Whenever I would talk about how things that happened at school were unfair, she would tell me, "Life is not fair, get used to it. Those teachers have their diplomas. They got theirs, you gotta get yours, and you have to go through them to get it." Greek life is no different. Don't like it? Don't aspire to it.

Myself also being a semi-product of INROADS (hated it; didn't even want an internship from them), I can say that at least to a certain degree, you was given orientation sessions on etiquette and protocol via the TALENT POOL. Most of these prospectives are given by word of mouth via the campus grapevine etiquette and protocol rules that by human nature often gets these messages warped and distorted and by the time it gets to the prospective, the etiquette rule winds up sounding ridiculous because someone in the grapevine didn't get their facts straight. That is why I don't trust 2nd, 3rd, or 4th hand protocol info.

What you learned in TALENT POOL is not always indicative of what you will experience when you get to the actual job. Similarly, what you learn "through the grapevine" is not always indicative of what you will experience when you get chosen to become a member of any org. THAT'S why you were taught to OBSERVE your surroundings and act accordingly. Talent Pool couldn't teach you everything, because every job is different. Teas, informationals, rushes, etc. cannot teach you everything, either.

I'll put it like this:

Over 175,000 Alpha Kappa Alpha interests made it to the other side. Over 200,000 Delta Sigma Theta prospectives made it to the other side. How is it that (with only TWO orgs represented) over 375,000 people can figure it out, yet there are still people complaining about what they don't know and what they can't figure out? I think it's just perfect. The people who can't figure it out just don't make the cut, plain and simple.

Rainman,
Learning in *any number of environments* can be confusing or frustrating to some. You watch, you learn, you use your good sense with the pursuit of a sorority or fraternity - as when one is operating in the professional arena or any number of other arenas.

I would go so far as to say that the mistakes that an interested person would make if that person has been raised with a little decorum, common sense, respect for authority, and carriage is different from those who really haven't had much of any home-training. The former will make a mistake or two (as we all have) and probably bounce back; the latter will make such a crazy mistake (such as wearing "club" clothes to a Rush) that she may not be able to bounce back. And that's fine because sororities and fraternities are not for everyone. If the person has not even been raised with enough sense and decorum to not wear "club" clothes to a Rush then well...maybe she's not ready to represent the sorority 24/7 if she were to become a member. My mother and father taught me that first impressions last forever and to err on the side of being too conservative when you just don't know.

SC

Soror, I agree 108%! :)

SC

workshops I would suggest from what I've noticed:

1. Remember who brought you in, and who brought them in, and who brought them in,... 101 a.k.a RESPECT and CHERISH your 'older' sorors.