I feel beyond offended....very much so. Perhaps my offense is misplaced...but to me.

The Wolf Pack is more than just a sports team. Period. The closest school that has a similar (and probably older and more Nationally recognized) culture is probably USC (California).

Okay, I agree that being a member of the Wolf Pack is not a Fraternity....but it's more than just a school or a sports team. The insinuation that being part of Pack Nation is just a sports team is what offended me. Ask any other Nevada student or alumni/a and they'll tell you pretty much the same thing.


To me (and some people who are even more of "Bleed Silver and Blue" than I am and I'm not quite there yet.) we live by the creed "We are NEVADA".

It's hard for me to explain this: UNR students in general don't say "I go to UNR." We say "We're part of the Pack Nation" or "We are Nevada" or "We live in Pack City" and it simply isn't a school or a college or a University....it's beyond that. That's not just me saying that....then again many people in Northern Nevada especially are fiercely proud of the State and its Flagship, some to the point of idolatry, I think. (which isn't cool, in my book)




PackPride could probably explain this better than I could because I haven't lived in Reno all that long and she definitely has. I don't know why the school culture is like this....it's just been that way for as long as I can remember as a child and I heard of it even when living FIVE HUNDRED MILES AWAY. I moved to Nevada from another State for the sole purpose of working long enough to get residency to attend Nevada. I'm from California....which has some of the top schools in the Nation including in my hometown. There was a reason why I chose an Out of State University and left all that I knew in California and put in the year for residency. It was the only place that I felt was MORE than just a school....it's a way of life.

I've thrown the idea of paddles and letters out the window. It's not my place to attempt to use them for any reason.

I'll update the thread if I am invited to membership in a Community GLO in some time in the future....but I'm going to put it on the shelf for now. Just wanted to say that.

Then if that is so special, why would you want to change it (or rather, piss on it) by trying to give it Greek letters?

Penn State has a very famous cheer that you've probably heard...WE ARE...PENN STATE. No one has ever felt the need to change it to "Pi Sigma." Those four words say it all.

If your school is that rich in tradition and heritage, saying "I am part of the Wolf Pack" should be enough. Unless it isn't. But if it isn't, don't offend those at your school AND those in Greek orgs simultaneously.

I get that you're new to UNR (aside: I don't know if you're from NorCal or SoCal; regardless, you should have had some exposure to various college cultures, but then again, perhaps not). I get that you're jumping into college life. I get that you're really disappointed that you were not selected for membership in a GLO.

What I don't get is the zealotry you're expressing and espousing, and the infatuation bordering on obsession with Greek life. It's incongruous with your stated age.

Don't tell me that what you're describing (or attempting to articulate) is unique to the Wolf Pack. It's not. It may be your first experience with college culture, but it's Not All That.

I was still so disappointed about not being able to pledge a Collegiate Sorority. It's something that I looked forward to since I was a child....and to not have the opportunity crushed me more than I'd let on before tonight.

Being part of the Wolf Pack is enough. Just the way it is. I was even messing with the Law of the Jungle when I mentioned letters and paddles....and rereading the Law and knowing that I really screwed the pooch with my blatant violation is beyond shame to me. I really let down the Pack with those words.

Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back -- For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

I think everyone just needs to take a step back. I think misscherrypie was just trying to articulate that Nevada is like a family (like a sorority/fraternity). Giving it Greek letters was just a fun thing, not meant to offend anyone.

Southern California.

So, your question is: Why does my University culture and belonging mean so much to me? Simply because I was raised without much of an identity and never had very many friends or close ties to bind with, even now. I've always wanted to belong to an organization.


What do you mean by stated age? Are you wondering why I'm 28 and so stuck on Greek Life? I don't have an answer for that question. I really don't.

I'm making an effort to move on now.

Thank you for trying to say what I couldn't put into words. Still, the letters weren't appropriate at all. And I apologized for that.

I'll tell a story:
When I first moved to Northern Nevada and was waiting in line at the store: someone didn't have enough money to pay the bill and was short. He was going through his wallet (which was a Nevada one) something furious trying to see if he'd missed a bill or something, and the guy behind him, pulled out his wallet and paid the difference. The guy that he helped looked at him and said thank you....then the other guy said "We have to help each other. What year were you?"

It's that kind of bond.

MissCherryPie, it sounds a little like you are having a hard time ajdusting to college. It can be like that. You might want to talk to someone at the student counseling office. If there is a non-traditional student support group, you might want to check it out.

You are 28. You are a nontraditional student. I loved nontraditional students when I was a TA. They were always the hardest workers. Adjusting to school is a little tougher for them (you), though. It takes longer for nontraditional students to find a social niche. Besides talking to a counselor, I would strongly suggest finding a group that is activity oriented.

From my undergraduate days, off the top of my head, my first thoughts are the marching band, solar car team, cross country, theater, water polo, student newspaper, college radio, madrigals, jazz band, the group that raises money to build wells in poor countries (Engineers for Water?)... whatever you school calls the community activity board might also be good. That's the student group that brings in bands and movies and entertainers.

Agree. I've often said, with my tongue only partially in cheek, that the country's largest fraternity is the Marine Corps. Obviously, it's not really a fraternity, but . . . Semper Fi! and all that.

misscherrypie, I'm really glad you're feeling such a bond to your campus community. (Though given the part of the world I'm from, I'm having a little trouble dealing with the Wolf Pack-in-Nevada part of it. :D) In my ideal world, that's how it should be for everyone at every school, and trust me -- lots of us from lots of different schools understand exactly what you mean about the campus spirit. It's not unique to UNR. Celebrate that and don't feel like you need to apologize for it.

As for the Greek aspect of it, I for one wasn't offended. I can't say I really saw the point in assigning Greek letters, but I just think it was part of where you are in the grieving process, and that's what it seems to me you're doing -- grieving that something you really wanted just may not be in the cards for you. That's okay. Give yourself some time to grieve that, and then look to see what great opportunities are stll there for you, or what opportunities you can create.

BTW, another avenue that might be worth exploring -- I don't know whether you are a religious person at all, but if you are, I'll say that in my experience campus ministry groups -- whether Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, UU, Hillel or whatever . . . -- offer great opportunities for fellowship (not unlike brotherhood or sisterhood), fun and service to the community. Just a thought.

For what it is worth, Acacia (1904), FarmHouse (1905) and Triangle (1906) are all NIC fraternities - none of these fraternities use Greek letters.

Back to the discussion.

As a brother in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (originally, and often still, just Sinfonia), I did think of that and almost commented on it in my post above. There is also Ceres, a (non-NPC) sorority.

Really back to the discussion.

This is just weird.

A great activity for someone with a lot of school loyalty would be, if it exists on your campus, the organization that provides tours to prospective students and their parents and assists visiting alumni.

Also, since it looks like you like to write, how about the school newspaper? That seems to be the sort of place where age wouldn't matter, and a different perspective, that of the nontraditional student, could even be something they would like to branch out into.

Yikes. I originally included Ceres in my original – and much longer - post. It seems I inadvertently edited them out. :o

Now really, really back to the discussion.

Yeppers.

Shellfish...great idea! The best tour guides show their school pride. Better yet, at some schools they pay their guides.

Yep.

So, I joined the Alumni Association of Girl Scouts of America (which I had no idea existed) and plan to be active in my council area and meet others who are also Girl Scout Alumni and two orgs on campus. One of the orgs has many of the same activities that I was looking to participate in: Philanthropy, Socials, Study Groups and fun and is co-ed. The other is one that combines Girl Scout and Boy Scout principles and is a new service org and is attracting some other non-traditional students...I am planning to run for secretary of that org.

I'm satisfied with this: as between School, the University Spirit Group I already joined, Ambassadors (If I'm accepted....I did apply for membership consideration), Activities with the Alumni group, and the two orgs I mentioned....I'll be a very, very busy person. Which I look forward to and was what I wanted.

Thanks everyone!

Neither did I - that sounds fun! Enjoy!

That's great!!! Enjoy yourself!

Thanks, I will.

It wasn't something that I was originally looking for. I was looking for information on how to volunteer with the local Girl Scout Council (because the Scouting Movement is something that I really believe in and remember participating in with joy as a girl.) and saw something on the Girl Scouts of America website about the Alumna Association. Along with many, many local members. :p

The unexpected things we find....especially when we're not seeking them out.

I'm so happy for you! I've also joined a club (OSNA) and set up a meeting with the head of volunteering at the local Ronald McDonald House. I'm going to keep busy with that until Informal Spring Recruitment. I'm glad we've both found something that will make us happier for our time at school.

Best of luck to both of you, enjoy! (:

Hi. First of all, I want to wish you the best of luck and happiness in your journey. You seem like a young woman with a lot going for you.

However, I'd like to point this out, as I think it speaks volumes about the emotional place from which you come:
The sense of belonging is one of our most core and fundamental needs. We're social animals, and we need to have a group, a family, a pack, a tribe, whatever. We need that. I suspect that there are deeper issues in your past that have undermined your sense of belonging in the world, and that is why you crave so deeply a sense of identity and belonging, whether it be your university affiliation or Greek letters. We ALL have different hot buttons or "issues" that we face, but I think it's helpful to at least acknowledge the source of them in order to grow in spite of them.


Secondly... as a Bruin and native Californian, this whole thing hurts my soul:

Ditto to everything the LAblondeGPhi said above.

Also, and forgive me if this has been said already...misscherrypie, have you hung out with a bunch of 18-21 year old college women lately?? How about the young men that hang out with those 18-21 year olds?? You have life experiences that they haven't a clue about! You have much to offer your university. Explore your options!

In the end, I chose to submit a pledge agreement with Beta Sigma Phi. After doing research and really appreciating how I can grow and offer my talents as a sister, considering the strong possibility that I will be able to graduate next December and may end up moving out of the area to attend Grad School, that was how I made my choice.

Best possible outcome, and one that I'm glad that I went into with eyes open after much thought and consideration.

Congratulations to you and to Beta Sigma Phi - so glad you found your home!!!

Thank you! I am extremely happy and glad as well!

Congrats to you and Beta Sigma Phi.