You know what? HONESTLY I believe that you, smiley, will get more flack from those outside your sorority. For example, people from other "WGLOs" and your black friends and relatives.

No, I can't believe that was what I just read. How do you explain me, then? Or the fact that not a single black person I know has received an athletic scholarship (but are at Ivy League schools--which don't give athletic or academic scholarships, and have received merit scholarships to the best colleges in the country), but I can think of about 20 non-minorities who are going to school to play football? Give me a break. Non-minorities "sometimes don't go to college."

Anyway, that's not the reason why there aren't women of color in some NPC chapters (and before anyone starts whining, I'm in an NPC group). Until about 1950, there were discriminatory clauses in most (if not all) national sororities' bylaws (except the NPHC groups). There are some schools today where a black, Asian, Jewish, or Latina female will get cut from all of the sororities during the FIRST ROUND of recruitment. There are plenty of minorities in college (there could be more, but hey). The NPHC groups were founded to provide a similar experience for black women who were SHUT OUT of other groups, or attended HBCUs. There's just not that much interest among most to join an NPC sorority, especially after such a long history of racial segregation. It's a painful history, but in order to make a truly educated decision about whether to join an NPC or NPHC group, it's something one has to realize.

Smiley, I PMed you. :)

If you do decide to be a part of a sorority, do it because of the sorority rich heritage and tradition. Not because the sisters are nice to you. I pledge Zeta Phi Beta because of what it stood. You really need to read up on sorority history.

Don't join sorority and realize that it was not what you really wanted.

I will e-mail you about choosing a sorority. It is written for the NPHC, but you can use it for any affiliation.

Good Luck on your search. Keep me inform about your decision.

Re: Re: Re: hmmmm...
 

I don't know of any Greek orgs that NATIONALLY state that they will not accept people of XYZ race, so we will just stick to the chapters.

Whoa whoa people, don't go ape$hit on me. That is the way it is where I'm from. I think it's stupid as well, alright?

Geez, I knew I shoulda deleted that right after I posted it because I knew someone was going to take it the WRONG FRICKING WAY. That's the way it is where I grew up and where I go to school now as well.

I'm glad for the guy who was in a gang and turned himself around and got a 4.0 and is in med school. I didn't say people can't escape it, but from where I'm from they often don't. The success stories from Chicago are the athletes.

Don't give up on Greeks
 

Smiley,
Don't give up on Greeks just because of the discussions here. As with anything, good or bad, realize we are only a small representative of the Greek world as a whole. And what we are representative of may or may not be what your school is like.
I grew up and still live in the city of Carson which is a suburb of Los Angeles. At one point we were the most racially diverse city in the US with, give or take a few points, approximately 25% each Asian, Black, White, and Latino. When I was in kindergarten through 12th grade there were times when I as a Caucasian was the minority in my classes. I now attend and work at California State University Dominguez Hills which has been recognized in higher education as a diverse University. We are known as a Hispanic Serving Institution and we've been recoginzed for serving African Americans. Again give or take some percentage points we're still fairly mixed up with about 30-35% hispanic, 25-30% black, 20-25% white, with Asians and declined to state or multiracial making up the mix. Anyway, because of this background it's almost inconceivable for me as I read about Greeks at other schools where it may be a problem to be a "minority". I just don't understand the concept that race can even play into being chosen for a sorority or not and yet I know that in other regions of the country there are still issues about race and whether someone should be accepted or not. And I also realize that in some schools because I am a fat woman I may not have been invited in to a sorority, in other areas that wouldn't have played a factor. I joined my sorority as a 32 year old. most sororities with formal rush would probably have dropped me from the very beginning and yet at my school where the average age is 28/29 it's not as unusual to see sororities with women from 18 to 30-something. It all comes down to the cultural of the school and the women in the sororities.
All I can say is look at all the groups, NPC and NPHC. Check out their websites, get to know the women in each of the chapters if at all possible, see if you can strongly support their philanthropy or not. Go to all the recruitment events, see how each of the sisters treat each other and interested women, look at what type of bond they have and then choose the one that is best for you. Ignore race as you ask it to be ignored for you. Ignore whether they are know on campus as the pretty or fat girls, the ones who like to party or the brains. What you are looking for is an organization that after you have graduated you will want to still be a part of (hopefully as an active Alumnae) and will always be proud to say "I am a member of XYZ" not "I was a member of XYZ while in College". Being Greek and being in a sorority is for Life not just the 4 years in college.
I hope you will continue with the decision to join a sorority, you truly won't regret it.
Carolyn

Sweetie, you have gotten a lot of "warm fuzzies" on this thread.
You have also received some information that has been heartfelt.
Many will disagree with what I'm going to say, but "OH WELL..."
EDITED TO ADD THIS IS THE SOUTH!
What is important to you?
Short term-consider the "attitude" of the Greek System as a whole, the campus and the general region. Example-there is RUMORED to be a black member of a high profile soro at LSU (...but she doesn't LOOK black :rolleyes: ). This information is not put out there for all to know. WHY? You tell me? Could it be that some INDIVIDUAL members of fraternities and other sororities find this BIG NEWS? That's not a comfortable position to be in. Whether it's true or not, the very idea that this RUMOR exists is troubling. Personally, I wouldn't want to be the focus of this kind of attention. Diversity is great, but a full Greek life means you will come in contact EVERY DAY with people who may not be as open minded as your sisters. If the fraternities are diverse, then you know the Greeks as a whole are progressive thinkers.

Long term-Who KNOWS where you will end up north, south, east or west. Do you see being active in a GLO in your later years? Your "acceptance" in one region doesn't automatically translate into acceptance in another.:( I wish it weren't so, but it is. I strongly recommend you look into all possibilities. It may be a breeze for you and I'm sure the experience, as many have pointed out from their personal knowledge, could be beautiful. Things ARE changing as you see from these responses, but Greek Chat is comprised of an exceptional group of people, many do not share the same level of love and respect for ALL mankind. Not everyone is a Tom Earp, sad to say... As so many have said, examine the reasons why you want to be in a GLO. Then, decide what level of involvement you may consider in the future. Who will you be involved with on a social level? In order for ANYTHING to change, people have to keep chipping away at the old dogmas.
When all is said and done, it really WILL be a mutual selection and if you find one (NPC, NPHC or other) that suits you, you will be happy. I hope I didn't offend anyone-my apologies if Idid.

Re: Re: hmmmm...
 

To answer this question, hell no! I am unsure of the history of KD's membership policies, but I know that if I found out that we excluded people because of race/religion/anything else unecessary, I would seriously reconsider my membership. Being a decent human being with morals is more important to me than being a sorority member. If I knew of a chapter that discriminated? You better believe I would let someone at Headquarters know ASAP!

if that particular sorority was truly in your heart, you should have checked out other schools that have it.

Re: the right to choose
 

i got a question, why would you be hesitant to say you're black? oh and by the way, HBGLO's aren't exclusive to one race. i'm asian, and i'm in a black fraternity.

this confused me ? :confused:

I am just wondering why this thread was even brought up?

It is and was so outdated for a thread!

Smiley has not been on it, why are you? Why are you bringing this up?

I for one, and just my opinion, is let it go because the person who posted it is not responding!:confused:

I agree, there was no need to bring this up... but SINCE we're here...

Starang, Phi Mu means a LOT to me, a WHOLE WHOLE lot... but I wouldn't choose a school simply because of a specific sorority. I would choose a school based on location, price, major- but not just because they have Phi Mu.

This is one difference between NPHC and NPC that I'm having trouble with... I can understand having a love for your org. as a whole, but does the CHAPTER not make any difference? I'm sure all AKAs are lovely, but you can't tell me that an AKA from Small Midwest U would always 100% mesh with an AKA from Huge Southern State? Different people look for different things in their sisterhood, and I think being comfortable and friendly with your sisters (wherever you fit in) is on the TOP of that list.

Yes, GLOs are forever, but you join them in college... and that is important too.

Either way, I hope Smiley found a home :)

I'm not sure of the numbers (I'd have to ask mybest friend who is in the NPHC), but a fairly good-sized chunk of NPHC members joined as alumni, which seems to be why there's so much emphasis on the organization versus the chapter.

if that particular organization was truly what you wanted, there are ways of getting it at your school. that's what i meant.

i understand all that, the chapter does matter. but if XYZ was what i truly wanted, then forget the beef and all of the pettiness that i'll have with a particular member. i come thru the chapter, i pledge the organization. different people might not get along, but in pledging the organization, we believe in the same ideals.