I think you missed the point. Yeah, LOC has prominent graduates.....who cares? If you search most colleges and Universities you will find prominent graduates. The point was the circumstances in which student A has a 2.5 in Hypo Nuclear Electrical Engineering and student B who has a 3.0 in Swimming Pool Management both study hard except student A also plays Basketball because an athletic scholarship was all he could get, works a part time job to survive and volunteers at a senior center where his grandmother is a resident. Whereas student B just studies and plays video games in his dorm room. The bottom line is Student A has more on his plate and still maintains a 2.5 GPA. let me ask you...Who would you choose to be in your chapter? Who's work ethic would you like to see applied to the frat?

"Who Cares"
 

First of all, I was defending my school in reference to your "who cares" comment.. My school was basically being referred to as trash, I won't allow that.. Unfortunately, those students are hard to find, especially in my environment..

Also, just the same, who in college does not have a full plate, as a real college student that is... That's life! get over it.. "Who cares." But you know what, I know people in my chapter and surrounding chapters that are in the same boat, but because they have so much on their plate they are not able to dedicate much time to the organization... Did you bother to think about that! Do you want someone solely because their "stats" are good? What good what that do the chapter? I would want someone who can handle their educational duties, but still be active in the chapter as far as putting in work for the chapter and the organization as a whole where need be..

I have varying opinions on this topic. Let me begin by saying I don't think the GPA requirement should be raised. However, if I have two interests with similar credentials and one has a 2.5 and the other a 3.8, will it make a difference? I'm not gonna lie.. of course it will. I worked hard to get my GPA to a certain level before I applied for membership, and I think if the person really wants to be in a particular org., they'll do what's necessary. 2.5 in my opinion isn't a lot to ask. You're spending somebody's hard-earned money to be going to school anyway, and I would say that even if you're not interested in being greek, a C+ avg. would be a feasible goal.

But I do agree with looking closely at what classes a person is taking or what their major is. If somebody has a 3.8 but that person with a 2.5 is taking more challenging courses, then of course that should be taken into consideration. Grades fluctuate so much depending on the course, the level, the instructor, etc. And a 2.5 at Harvard is not a 2.5 at my school, which is not a 2.5 at the school up the street. That's just the way things go.

But if an interest is teetering around a 2.5 already, what will happen during/after the... umm.. "experience"? No, grades should not be all that matters, but I also don't see the point of bringing somebody into the chapter who might be inactive the next semester because that 2.5 slipped a little. Just my opinion.

I learned early on not to speak out of turn, which means I am very comfortable conveying that info. about your school to the general public. I happen to know, personally, one of the higher ranking administrators at your school, which is how and why I can speak intelligently about the topic. And no, I never referred to your school as trash, although they are in need of some serious housekeeping.

And yes AKA2D, it is sad but true that many of our HBCU's have and will continue to be plagued with financial troubles and the rumors to follow, but once again I learned early on not to speak out of turn.

To directly address Mr. Sazon, unless your name is Dad, my name to you is NOT son. So give me the respect that I deserve. Also, if your a graduating Senior (future tense) and I graduated (past tense) one could reasonably infer that I crossed before you so show respect. You don't have to like what I say, some of it I would also take offense to as well, but YOU WILL RESPECT ME!!!

It's fine to address the high schoolers, and I've heard of, seen, and been a part of many great community service projects regarding high school children and helping to prepare them for their upcoming college years. The problem I see is that ALL chapters go through spells of prosperity and adversity that don't always alloe the chapter to participate on the same level consistently. Have you ever met a child that only needed a part time mentor??? (Don't answer that!) Have you ever met a college brother that had the time to mentor a troubled child whenever that child needed him no matter how long? (Don't answer that either!!)

If you, my fellow leader possess the ability to recognize the potential in an aspirant and successfully guide them, and show them the light THE RIGHT WAY, they too will prosper and continue in the same manner that they were first introduced to ALPHA. Then you won't have to mentor part time HE'LL BE YOUR BROTHER AND YOUR BURDEN FOR LIFE!!! (and that's one load that I will gladly carry!!!)

What do you call a Civil Engineering major that pledged with a 2.7 GPA??? I don't know what they called me then, but now my co-workers call me boss!

Re: "Who Cares"
 

Obviously, you either didn't read my comment or you didn't understand. I made a comparison of two students. Student A, who has a belief in hard work and Student B, who doesn't particular care to go out and VOLUNTEER with the extra time on his hands. Student A who with all of the many things he has on his plate, still manges to give back to his community, or Student B who uses his spare time selfishly. I GRADUATED from college an GRAD SCHOOL, so I know most college students have alot on their plate! The point is not ALL of them do. You mena to tell me that you actually looked at this example and said that Student A doesn't have strong work ethic? You actually referred to his hard work as STATS? If you would except student B... Then I'm Glad for two reason's: one that you didn't try to pledge BETA ALPHA Chapter and Two I didn't pledge at your chapter.

I'm open to All comments, let me hear them!

Well, first and foremost, if I offended some of you, I do apologize, I did not mean to touch "soft skin." ;) Okay boss, you get my respect for pledging before I did, but I will not bite my tongue for no one, call me hard headed, or what else, blame my grandmother.. Nevertheless, I am also familiar with the poem "He's not heavy, he's my brother," oh so well, so spare me the history lesson.. I work hard for my chapter, extremely hard, so I expect for everyone else to do so as well, so when I hear talk of GPA, it bothers me because I feel a 2.5 is too low.. A college student's first priority should be school, aside from personal, financial, or physical/mental problems they have.. Student's not in these categories have valid reasons for not achieving high GPAs, but students not in these categories have "no excuse." There are tutors, instructors who will stay after hours to help, as well as other sources of help. if you major is too hard, work harder.. I don't care what school you go to, a 3.0 and above is not hard to attain with the right attitude.. My reference to stats was figurative, I do apologize that you were not able to grasp the concept, I will try not to let it happen again.. I meant "stats" as far as what they do, the production they get out of their time such as community service, grades, extra-curricular activities, etc... I won't even get personal such as saying something like "Then I'm Glad for two reason's: one that you didn't try to pledge BETA ALPHA Chapter and Two I didn't pledge at your chapter." Because that point can be disputed endlessly for both sides... I am also open to comments, because conversations like these often times lead to contructive actions... Bring it on..

Sazon

I wouldn't mind if it were raised, but think about all the brothers that would not have made it... we don't know, unless we research, what gpa's frat like Martin, Thurgood and others had... now I would like to think they high gpa's but what if they didn't... would that have taken away from what they accomplished... would that have kept them from the house of alpha? Now obviously their has to be a certain level or standard, but sometimes that has to be looked at objectively... ya dig!!

My thoughts....AGAIN!
 

Okay, let me break it down. Presently, I'm the only one in my chapter. Because of the vow I made to Delta, I choose not to throw in the towel. Along with that, I attend a big ten school, work full time, church full time, etc...it's very DIFFICULT to maintain a 2.5!!!! And no, I'm not majoring in Aerobics, I'm a Computer Information Systems major. It's no PUNK!!!

How can you say that despite all of what goes on in people's lives, they should still be able to maintain a certain GPA? That is your strength not everyone else's. In all honesty, I'm happy with the C+ that I got in Calculus and the C that I got in C++. The stuff is HARD!!! And you also can't judge ones dedication through academics. I know a LOT of smart sorors who don't do NADA!!! I know a lot of smart sorors who would have dipped on their chapter if they were left solo. In conclusion, the minimum GPA requirement should not be raised.

I'm out!

delph...
 

i don't know you but i love you already!!!

Re: My thoughts....AGAIN!
 

Well said! Ditto!

Well - Roundef Individual
 

As said earlier in this thread...

One must choose a well - rounded individual that they believe will be an asset to their organization. There is not a "magic crystal ball" :D that will tell you how a prospective will perform once they are a member of your fraternity/sorority.

Now, In the interest of brainstorming some solutions, I'm going to play the devil's advocate herehttp://www.plaudersmilies.de/devil/goodnevil.gif........
Should BGLO's reinstate the use of Interest Groups? Could these types of groups give fraternity/sorority members an idea as to how a prospective would perform? Back in the '50's, during college, my mom was a member of the Ivy Plegde Club. She stated that, under the direction of the AKA members, they had to perform weekly community service activities, fundraisers, etc. By using such groups, they were:

(A.)Instilling in the prospective an idea of the amount of committment it takes to be a part of a sorority.
(B.)Give the current members an idea of the work ethic that a prospective posses.
(C.)Fosters a spirit of sisterhood between all the ladies (current and prosp.) starting from day one

What is everyone's opinion of the use of these types of groups?By using these types of interest groups, could BGLO's elinimate hazing, ( or lawsuits and liability issues) as well?

Re: Well - Roundef Individual
 

Keep on talking Honeykiss, I like your thinking!

Hey Sazon, are you feeling alone in this room???????

It's hot in here
 

Anyway...here's my .08 cent....

I think the GPA requirement should be raised on the local college level just a tadbit (I know each college has its own rules)....I'm not saying to a 3.0, but above a 2.5. Our national requirement should remain the same (Sorors...its not just a 2.5 overall -- its another part to that).

Reason: That's the minimum requirement to be active with 'us'...AKA. I've seen many young ladies who are selected with a 2.5 who become inactive after the semest they cross because of grades. And with us, that means NO participation. Some of them never return.

Hopefully, with a small cushion, sorors could remain active (financially/physically) and pull up their grads at the same time.

On the grad. level -- I think there should be a requirement as well; however, after so long, I don't think grades should matter. Also, if you obtain a graduate degree those grades should be looked at (I know...don't end a sentence with at! -- most graduate programs require you to have a 'B' or better average).

And before I get jumped on for wanting it raised....I have been to all types of schools from an HBCU undergrad (Dillard)...To a middle size non-HBCU (Illinois) to a top 20 law school (Vandy). And I know that schools vary...but a lot of schools take that into consideration in their grading system. For instance: Vandy's C+ is a 2.3; therefore, in order to be eligible to pledge, you just have a 2.3...not a 2.5. Most greek organizations (I don't know about all) follow the school's rules.

Wonderful! EVERYONE CAN learn. I tell my students that ALL the time! :D

What I'd Like to See
 

I've already said that I don't think the GPA should be raised but how about REQUIRING community service for membership? I know we all look for those people but where I pledged too many young ladies have never helped another soul or believe that joining will be their way of doing community service. I would like to see more people who are already involved because these are the peopel who REALLY work. Not to say those who have never done anything don't work but a person who has a 2.5 and is active in his/her community is more likely to continue to be active AND maintain their grades during there "journey" and once their "journey" is completed. I too have seen many a soror cross and then be inactive, the very next semester or be active one semester and stop because the owrk is too hard. Let's keep it real, a GPA doesn't say how dedicated or committed one wil be.