I just re-read the last couple of posts and wanted to stress the difference between race and culture again. There are also countries with high percentages of Latin Americans of African descent (example Panama) and then there are arguments over whether that country is considered Latin American or Caribbean. I think there will always be people who will be very much in favor of one or the other opinion.

To rocketgirl:

You are absolutely correct, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc. is a Latina sorority with multicultural membership. The ladies of Sigma Lambda Gamma are free to do as they please with regard to the naming of lines, etc. Some chapters have all lines named in Spanish, some all in English, some do it as following a tradition, some as to reflect the woman or group of women that it represents. I can't say what will happen with the future standing of SLG as a Latina sorority, what I know is that currently we are just what I have said time and again, and I am proud to be a part of this sorority. The future of Sigma Lambda Gamma is in the hands of every woman who becomes a member, and I most definately cannot speak for all or even most of them. I can speak for me, and I can honestly say that whether SLG becomes Multicultural or stays Latina, I will always uphold the principles and motto of my beloved sisterhood.
A woman of distinction stands for Academics, Community Service, Cultural Awareness, Morals & Ethics, and Social Interaction.
Culture Is Pride, Pride Is Success!

While I understand what you're saying, there is something that Latino organizations are founded on. There is a common bond among Latino-Americans or there would be no need for these organizations.

We're talking about the cultures in the U.S. not necessarily worldwide. So, while there are elements that European Americans share culturally, there are also sub-cultures (British American, Dutch American, Swedish American, etc.) just as Latino Americans share certain common bonds, but are also diverse in sub-cultures (Panamanian American, Mexican American, etc.)

If we start talking about people who don't necessarily identify themselves as American, that's a completely different conversation.

This statement really helps to answer a lot of questions, especially when we consider that other women in your organization feel the same way. Great response!

I agree with preciousjeni...that is a great answer audaz and it definately makes since.

In reguards to the race vs. culture issue. I agree with preciousjeni again. There must be something that binds the Latino culture together because there are thriving Latino/a based organizations.

The point is that of any racial group, as we classify it here in America, is composed of people from different cultures. It seems that Americans have a reverse definition of race than other countries do. If you go to other countries...you're American, because that's where you're from and that's your "culture". French people come here and they are considered caucasian because of their race. See the difference?

Example, look at the common mistake that all black people share the same "culture." There are people considered black who are British, Canadian, American, African, Dominican, Caribbean, and the list goes on. These people would not necessarly share the same culture and/or language. However, in American, if you look black, you're considered black. Period. Nobody cares if YOU consider yourself something else.

Absolutely. The U.S. is a strange place - where the people you mentioned would not necessarily consider themselves part of the same culture, a "black culture" is thrust upon them. So, at some point, it becomes your culture (or at least part of what you consider yourself.)

This is also what makes it difficult to be anything but white in the U.S. As the demographics in this country change over the next few years, it will be VERY interesting to see how we relate to our accepted culture, our assumed culture and other cultures.

It will be interesting. Especially as the minority groups grow. I was watching the news the other day and they said that Latinos are the fastest growing minority population in America and that 1 out of every 7 people is Latino/a. You can already see how it changes politics..look at the increase of minorities in power. It will only serve to help our country to get the input of all groups to make the government truly of the people.

Quoting Preciousjeni:
(N,M) Omicron Lambda Pi
Founding Date: April 13, 2003
*This organization is rather cryptic, but the organization has very early ties to a BGLO.

Preciousjeni would you mind elaborating on this comment? I am not a member of the org, just trying to school myself on multicultural sororities: history, missions, etc.

Also, would you consider Omega Phi Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. national or regional? (They have a newer chapter in Florida now)

***edited because I forgot something***

If you visit the Omicron Lambda Pi website, you'll see how mysterious these ladies are. However, I have spoken to members and I know a bit of the history that I'm not going to elaborate on until they do. I feel that they have that right, not I.

Omega Phi Chi has done a great job of maintaining a multicultural membership (in line with their name and mission). Until the Kappa Chapter was founded in Florida, I categorized them as Regional. But, now I'd say they are National Multicultural.

For Ch2tf:

I can't guarantee that all of the websites are functional (I check them about once every four months but I haven't checked them in a while).

Also, I personally don't consider all these sororities to be "multicultural" in the sense that Theta Nu Xi is, but since they claim to be multicultural, I include them.

FYI - the largest (chapters) organization currently is Theta Nu Xi with 32 total chapters and colonies.

ORGS:

Alpha Chi Lambda
http://www.geocities.com/axlambda

Alpha Delta Rho
http://www.uiuc.edu/ro/angels

Alpha Theta Gamma
http://www.alphathetagamma.org/

Beta Phi
http://www.geocities.com/betaphitest/

Chi Sigma Upsilon
http://www.angelfire.com/nj/csu93

Delta Chi Phi
http://www.geocities.com/deltachiphi/index.html (website down)

Delta Gamma Pi
http://www.deltagammapi98.8m.com/ (Alpha Chapter)

Delta Lambda Delta
http://www.deltalambdadelta.com/

Delta Omega Rho
http://www.deltaomegarho.com/

Delta Sigma Chi
http://www.deltasigmachi.ourfamily.com/

Delta Xi Nu
http://www.deltaxinu.org/

Delta Xi Phi
http://www.geocities.com/~deltaxiphi/

Delta Zeta Xi
http://hometown.aol.com/hautedream/Welcome.html

Eta Omega Tau
http://www.pinknblack.org

Gamma Delta Chi
http://gammadeltachi.tripod.com/gdc/index.html

Iota Psi Phi
http://www.csufresno.edu/StudentOrgs/IOTAPSIPHI/

Kappa Theta Lambda
http://www.kappasisterhood.org/index.html

Lambda Fe Uson
http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Clubs/divas/

Lambda Phi Xi
http://lambdaphixi.com/

Lambda Psi Delta
http://www.lambdapsidelta.org/

Lambda Sigma Gamma
http://www.lambdasigmagamma.org/

Lambda Tau Omega
http://www.seaquin.org/

Mu Sigma Upsilon
http://www.musigmaupsilon.org/

Omega Epsilon Society
http://www.omegaepsilon.org/

Omega Phi Chi
http://www.omegaphichi.org/

Omicron Lambda Pi
http://www.omicronlambdapi.org

Phi Gamma Theta
http://www.phigammatheta.org/

Sigma Alpha Zeta
http://www.sigmaalphazeta.org/

Sigma Chi Delta
http://www.geocities.com/hsuxihoneys/

Sigma Iota Sigma
http://www.sigmaiotasigma1994.org/

Sigma Omega Phi
http://www.sigmaomegaphi.org/main.html

Sigma Theta Psi
http://www.sigmathetapsi.org/ (under construction; see geocities.com/sigmathetapsi/)

Tau Epsilon Nu
http://www.tauepsilonnu.2ya.com/

Theta Chi Omega
http://www.uta.edu/student_orgs/tco/

Theta Nu
http://theta_nu.tripod.com/thetanusorority/

Theta Nu Xi
http://www.thetanuxi.org

Theta Rho Upsilon
http://life.calumet.purdue.edu/TRU/index.htm

Upsilon Kappa Delta
http://www.upsilonkappadelta.org/

Xi Gamma Lambda
http://www.xigammalambda.com/

Zeta Chi Phi
http://www.zetachiphi.com/

Zeta Delta Phi
No Website Available

Zeta Sigma Chi
http://www.zetasigmachi.com/

Zeta Sigma Phi
http://www-scf.usc.edu/~zetasphi/

Other Organizations for Further Research (These aren’t confirmed MCGLOs – I’m just remembering to look them up)

Omega Xi Phi – California Regional
Kappa Lambda Xi - http://kappalambdaxi.tripod.com/
Phi Gamma Chi - http://userwww.sfsu.edu/~phichi/herstory.html
Alpha Psi Sorority
Sigma Phi Iota - http://geocities.com/sigmaphiiota1012/index.htm
Alpha Pi - http://www2.sjsu.edu/orgs/alpha_pi/

oh my goodness. i mean i knew there were a lot of multicultural orgs...but to see them listed out like that is...i don't even know. the thing that gets me is that people are still founding new orgs. why do people not want to join the existing organizations?

It would be crazier if we listed all of the multicultural sororities that actually died out within the first 2-3 years of existing.

I read some people say that some sororities that claim to be multicultural aren't really multicultural. What is that based on? Is it the membership or the programming? It wouldn't be fair for us to judge their sorority based on the pictures they post. Couldn't a sorority that is a majority one race but they do multicultural programming be a "real" multicultural sorority?

I really think that a lot of people have founderitis. I personally would give much more respect to someone who founded a chapter of an established sorority than someone who founded their own sorority. I REFUSE to believe that someone couldn't find what they were looking for out of ALL of those sororities. To me it just makes them look too lazy to research what is already out there and putting the time and work into expanding another sorority. It's kind of self-serving...

I have to totally agree with you there. Not even within the Latino GLOs, but GLOs in general. We get dozens and dozens of poster every year posting here for the first time asking: how do I create my own GLO? And they insist up and down that no other group has what they want, but they've only looked at a few orgs, or just even at the other chapters on their campus. Or just within their own governing body. Hey, if NPC doesn't have a group you think is right for you, what about the many other groups out there?

If they're too lazy to take the time into educating themselves, there's no way that they're going to be able to start a GLO themselves. Founding a GLO is NOT for the lazy!

Girl - this is the problem we've been hashing it out over. If your membership and programming is geared toward one culture, but in name you are multicultural, how does that make any sense? It's like me looking like a woman and sounding like a woman but telling everyone to call me Mr. preciousjeni. It confuses potential members (not to mention all the other Greeks out there who are trying to understand the multicultural phenomenon.)

I agree with the "too lazy" sentiment. When people have come onto GC talking about founding a multicultural sorority, I often PM them to offer them links to some of the larger MC orgs - to help them along the way. Without fail, they are totally surprised at the selection.

By the way y'all - that list I gave was JUST sororities! There are still fraternities out there!!

I think with the multicultural vs. not issue...well it's confusing for everyone involved. You have some organizations that are multicultural in membership and programming. Those are the ones generally considered multicultural by their members and by the general population. The confusion is an organization who is geared towards a particular culture and their history is towards that culture, then how can they claim multicultural, especially since nobody was claiming multicultural until the recent growth and popularity of true multicultural organizations.


I agree with the founderitis issue. There are sooooo many organizations and I can't imagine that there isn't an organization already in existance for them. I agree with the self-serving issue...I think people just want to pick their own colors and be called founders.

HUGE Co-sign on that!

But at the same time, how many of the NPC and other organizations were founded because there was a part of the collegiate female population that DIDN'T fit with the recognized organizations? That's not to say that the 21 different organizations aren't fabulous, they are, but as culture and time changes, some may fall by the wayside, and others might come forward as a new and innovative society. I agree that immediately saying that there isn't one out there for you is hastey, but discouraging a founding may discourage the next great sorority.

Tau Delta was supposed to be something completely different (and if I told you, I'd have to kill you), but when the rechartering happened in 85, we found that out of the 2 sororities that could be reestabilished, Tau Delta fit our founder's ideals the most. So we had the best of both worlds..something with a basis in history and alumn support, and something that could be updated to reflect the new culture on campus (differred rush, one rush period only, anti-hazing, diversity,etc.) and the personalities of our founders. You just never know.

I'm don't think there should only be one multicultural sorority or one NPC organization or one NPHC organization.

But what I am saying is that why over the course of less than 20 years have we developed over 40 organizations that state that they are multicultural. Yes change occurs and yes people do have different goals, but I can't believe that over 40 orgs are necessary.

The other thing that is such a bother....how come some of these orgs have very strangely similar colors, purposes, ect to the larger more established multicultural organizations. If you want to be your own org because you don't like what we do, that's fine, but be your OWN org...don't bite.

I understand what your saying, but all of the panhel sororities were started before the internet boom. It makes no sense that people would think to start a sorority without throughly researching what is actually out there. I would bet anyone that just like preciousjeni said, most people who want to start another org didn't take the time to properly research all that is out there. Some stop at one or two and assume they can do it better than someone else.

Also panhel sororities appeal more to the "majority" of the population. When you create a multicultural or minority organization, you are only going to have interest from a small part of the university's population. Most universities can sustain 5 or 6 panhel sororities, but how many can sustain 5 or 6 multicultural sororities? Some can't even sustain one. I don't understand why people won't try to join forces so they can make an established sorority stronger...

Good point

Bwahahahahahahahahaha!! So true!

[rant]

To all the new orgs, please follow this advice. It is bad for Greek relations when you COPY ENTIRE SECTIONS OF WEBSITES and steal elements that clearly belong to another organization...

Mmmhmm...

And then ya take the open perp of another org into your fold and make that perpson president of a chapter. Not a wise move.

UGH!

[/rant]

Oh soooo true. I mean just look at rush. I went to Michigan where NPC rush had probably over 1000 girls. If you added all the MGC and NPHC greeks on our campus, male and female, who attempted to rush, you have about 100 people. Now when I say MGC, I'm talking about Asian, Latina/o, and multicultural and a total of 15 organizations between the two councils.

iAlso, for multicultural orgs, because we're so young. We don't have women who come to campus as legacies. I know my grandmomma wasn't rollin around talkin about being a Z-Chi.

Anyway....just to close...I agree :)

Darn those people suffering from founderitis...

LMAO...I know what you're talkin about...

...walking to the corner with her own issues....

check ya pm when you get a chance ma'm

Well, maybe one of these days soon there will be a consolidation between all Members of Greek Organizatins.

So, why not start trying to work on that now? Well, maybe it has started becomeing a reallity that you do not know about.;)

One never knows does one?:)

Tom could you elaborate please? Do you mean on a nationwide level, as in a collective umbrella for all governing councils? At FSU we have a Greek Activities Council that functions over all 4 councils in attempting to bring them together, but I dont know if you meant something like that or something completely different...

Are you referring to MCGLOs or all GLOs? And do you mean that we have one international council or are you talking about the MCGLOs merging/absorbing others??

I wonder if that type of merger can ever take place.

Continuing the conversation... :)

While I'm not surprised, I am a bit frustrated. I know it's late, but I just found out that the NMGC just accepted Gamma Eta Sorority as a member. This is a self-proclaimed "Latino-based multicultural sorority." The NMGC also includes Mu Sigma Upsilon which calls itself a "multicultural minority Greek sorority" and it is constitutionally bound to a Latino fraternity.

Another similar organization, Sigma Lambda Gamma is a member of NALFO (which makes more sense to me) as it considers itself a Latina-based multicultural org. Though SLG seems to have three identities rolled into one: some members say purely multicultural; some say purely Latina; and other say a "national sorority" that is neither Latina nor multicultural. But the sorority was undeniably founded by Latinas.

What I'd like to know is why a council (NMGC) specifically founded for multicultural organizations takes culturally-based "multiculturals." It's already hard enough for MCGLOs to explain the difference between a "multicultural GLO" and a "Latina/Asian/AFAM/etc.-based multicultural GLO" because they are different.

It is not an issue of recruitment or publicity because people will be attracted to the org they are attracted to, whatever that may be. It's an issue of identity.

In my opinion, and it is MY opinion, if you want to convert to another type of organization, do it...but drop the single-culture programming focus, single-culture line/pledge names, etc. and state your intentions. It is just creates more confusion in an already confusing Greek world!

Thoughts?

I think this is my biggest confusion about the NMGC. I never understood why it was comprised of multicultural and cultural based organizations. I agree that some organizations have multiple identities based on not only the person, but the campus. I think that it really is confusing to people not of that organization. I would love to see a council of ONLY multicultural greeks because I think that would be of great assistance to multicultural greek organizations. I think that would help with the already confusing identity of multicultural greeks in today's greek world.

I agree with your opinion 100% Jeni. It is also my personal opinion that organizations that are of a cultural base should state their intentions and be clear. I have seen organizations that say they are multicultural, yet a quick look at the webpage tells of their true identity. I think it is unfortunate that being multicultural is used as a ploy for membership on some campuses instead of a true identity. To me, in order to be honestly multicultural, it has to be reflected in everything, names, purpose/missions/mottos, programming, everything. I sometimes wonder what the Founders of the organizations that claim multicultural in the face of all things looking single cultural base would say. Even more than that, I wonder how people who pursue a single culture organization that is claiming to be multicultural feel when they realize that it is not multicultural.

Girl, you and me both. I am personally against Theta Nu Xi joining the NMGC because of the reasons stated previously. But, a TRUE multicultural council that has solid foundations would get an audience with me.

I agree 100%. I never understood this flip-flopping of some LGLOs. In my opinion, when it's done, it's strictly to attract higher numbers, and well....no further comment! :D

Does Gamma Eta have a website? I know they were founded as a latina sorority but I don't know much about them.

I can't seem to find anything. But, I did find an article that backs up what I was saying about them being a Latino-based MCGLO, just as I said. I can't search right now but it should be easy to find.

That is a situation which truly dismays me, and was recently discussed on a national level. The proper term, which is what I personally, and my home chapter, use, is Historically Latina with Multicultural Membership. It has just taken some education, apparently, to keep everyone on the same page.

It's not really my business but I'd say that's a fair assessment. It honors your founders while reflecting the present circumstances.

Based upon what I've seen from chapters of your sorority, sounds like a great way to put it. I do have a question - why is it necessary to add that you have multicultural membership? I am not doubting that you have a multicultural membership, I've seen it at several schools. But I think in today's society, all groups have a multicultural membership. I think that is where the split occurs - some people emphasize the Historically Latina part while others are emphasizing the Multicultural Membership part. Both may be right, but by emphasizing one over the other, it can indicate two different directions.

You know, I was thinking about that. I see NPCs claiming their diversity/multiculturalism but we don't confuse who they are. Perhaps the difference is in the type of group. When culture-based orgs say that they have "multicultural membership," especially when it's true, it can be tempting to swing to far into the other direction. There must be a good solution.

Well, our membership has been multicultural since the 1st line of Alpha Chapter, so it is something which we have recognized for nearly ALL of our history. The other fact is, if you read our mission statement/vision, we are for the service of ALL WOMEN, which can get lost under the title Latina Sorority.

Gamma Eta site