Congrats! I see you are a neo. Anyway good luck with what you and your chapter are trying to accomplish, especially in the deep south. I commend you for stepping up and trying to do things differently. I have no problems with the multicultural orgs, heck if you saw some of our chapters and didn't know they were NPHC, you might think we were a multicultural org. Anyway, one of our mantras is "dare to be different." Since we are the youngest and smallest of the sororities in the NPHC (although not young...founded in 1922 or small...85,000 members since inception), we have had to shout to be heard and work to broaden people's minds so we dared to be different in the beginning and we're still doing it now. Just don't give up! It ain't so bad being the underdogs (or in our case underpoodles...get it?...our mascot is the poodle...sorry, I couldn't resist that one :)). In fact, it's one of the best decisions I ever made.

And I could quote you forever, Soror! :)

I like what you said and how you said it. This might be my new signature. ;)

Go ahead soror. I ain't mad at ya. :D

thank you! it's good to know that even if we meet resistance on our particular campus, most greeks can respect what we're doing. i've gotten nothing but support from this forum and i really appreciate it!

Add another + for Your Post!:cool:

If one wants to call it a cross over, they are morons.:mad:

That seems to be the problem isn't it?:rolleyes:

You Feel What You Feel Best with and that is it!:)

Never feel bad about the GLO you join and for waht reasons, it is yours only!

People are ass wipes, not the GLO You belong to!;)

Whooo say it say it say it!

I have done a little research on the subject of stepping and I have read that Phi Beta Sigma started to step first. Wouldn't the other Greek Organizations in the Divine 9 technically be copying off of the Sigmas or because you all are in the same council, it's ok to do this?

Let say by a MIRACLE another organization was able to join NPHC. Would it be ok for them to step, have calls and handsigns since the are now apart of the council?

LOL @ bolded

Let me just say....
 

Being a member of a service GLO longer than I have a NPHC this is something of an irritant to me. I find that most of the anger or ill feeling comes from a general lack of knowledge. Many of us (OPA) choose to use those terms because they most accurately state the feeling of the process we just underwent. To this day me and my omega phi alpha pledgemates(or whatever pc term you want to use) call each other line sister. It accurately describes the bond we feel with each other. We don't do it out of disrespect or anything....its just what it is. Unfortunately we aren't allowed the benefit of publicly displaying our pride in our organization, bond with each other without getting looks of contempt from uninformed D9 members.

And now that I'm a D9 member....I still call my Omega Phi Alpha sisters soror, line sister, etc(sands has never been applicable). I have jackets and para for both organizations that I display proudly. And yes there are some things that are unique to Sigma Gamma Rho that I will not duplicate for Omega Phi Alpha just because its all greek. I don't agree with that

Through my reading and research, slaves who played the drums were not allowed to play African beats because they were a form of communication. As well as other instruments. All they had left was the stomping and clapping of their hands that was thought as gleeful dancing to the Master. As time moved on, African traditions were lost, and moves were eased and evolved.

After emancipation, formation of HBCU's and development of HBGLO's, during a pledge period, generally a cadence and movements that were similar to that of the Black Church movement.

As time went on, evolution became a grander scale as moves were precise through the 1970's and beyond.

Stepping is not the same as it was when I was in school in the late 1980's. Moreover, the cadences are different. The stepmaster was always the Dean of Pledges when I was in school. Now, we have Membership Intake Processes... So, things change. Oh well.

As far as non-NPHC organizations having all the items acquired because of the trials of a pledge period, well, hey, things change.

Overall, what I am trying to say is that like what was said before, not all the founders of the organizations in the NPHC started each organizations' traditions of handsigns, calls, and symbols. Some were started many many years after the founding of the organization. Within the Divine 9 or the Elite 8 at the time, one organization started to display something to the public first. Another organization looked at that organization and must of said, I love how they are displaying their unity. We should do something like that for our organization.

Or I could be wrong (which is possible :) ) and an agenda item could of came up at a meeting of the NPHC and they talked about what each organization could do to show unity within the council. Then as a whole, all organizations came up with these ideas. If these traditions were not created by the NPHC, then I believe someone was copying off of someone else at one point.

I have been to step shows for latino, asian, and multicultural orgs and they gave a brief history of stepping and honored the NPHC. All MG orgs that I have been around have a very high regard for NPHC orgs and give them much respect for creating such a strong council. MG orgs are young compared to the IFC/Panhel/NPHC. It might take more years for them to develop their own signature traditions. Who knows what may happen 50 years from now. NPHC orgs might start saluting... :D

I agree that a lot of it has to do with ignorance. Like you, OPA was fairly new on campus when I joined. Several people who are NPHC members asked me why I joined OPA and not one of the NPHC sororities. Mostly because of demographics and location, I've never called my OPA sisters sorors. But I will call DSTRen and other OPA/DSTs sisters/sorors.

I missed this post before. Good stuff, I just need to add my opinion.

The thing to remember is that our traditions are clearly stated in our P&T. So for folx to label anything else traditions is not correct, imo.

And even using the definition above it is a matter of timing. To someone who came into the organization post calls, handsigns, the current way of stepping, etc. they may be considered traditions. To those who came in prior to those things, they are not.

It's sorta like the difference between fad and fashion. :D

All the right moves.
 

Here are some facts. The calls were developed for identification reasons while crossing campus at night. Not until the early 1990's were women safe walking on college campus at night--much less an HBCU. If she was a member of the D9 sorority, she generally make the call if she recognized another member to be safe in numbers. Calls were either answered or not. And remember, the cell phones were little duffle bags back in that day.

Now, calls with handsigns are made all the time. During parties and picnics and strolls. Anytime.

At least for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. none of these actions are "official ritual" sanctioned by our International body. And I will be the first ear piercing, high pitched sounding member of my Sorority that will make a call when overcome with sisterliness in a public setting. And since I had deep in my heart for my letters for nearly 2 decades, I feel I can have right to call and sign it whenever I feel it within discretionary limits. As an adult, I know what those are.

However, handsigns, calls, or jackets does not make a GLO. We of the D9 will unilaterally agree that is has to be in your heart first, before you can make the "call"...

Now that is an interesting fact and does make sense.

Exactly. there are time when they are appropriate and there are times when they are not.

We're used to it. Elvis, Eminem, Justin Timberlake and a few others readied us for such madness. But thanks for asking. :D

What's so wrong with them wanting to use that term? I mean really. YOu defend the "biting" but knock folks for being original. That's what is really wack.

This whole thread points out one thing that any member of BGLOs needs to do to enrich their understanding of this movement and grow in maturity as a Greek:immerse yourself in the history of Greek-letter organizations, in general,and spend quality time talking to members 30+ years in membership,esp. those with 40-50+ years.Many of the so-called traditions that current BGLO members swear by are foreign to them, or barely recognizable.

Per the "stepping" tradition, one (the strongest?) formative influence on this BGLO tradition is barely ever mentioned:the military. To this day, the "step show" at Omega Psi Phi Grand Conclaves (national conventions) is called the Marchdown. This goes back to the fact that what is generally referred to today as stepping is grounded in military marching and drill routines.I think this is especially true still for the Ques in many respects.

For me as well, OPAs are sisters unless they are also Deltas. It's just the tradition of my OPA undergrad chapter to use "sister". Other chapters it's "soror". My chapter uses "pledge sister" and "pledge class" whereas other chapters use other terms. It's just a chapter preference.

Shanita,

I have really grown tired of you stalking my each and every post on every Greek board I go to as well as Facebook. It's not cute. Your mission in life is NOT to sniff after me and post your comments after everything I say.

Since you seem to have a problem with everything I type, by all means ignore me as I've ignored you since GreekPeeps.

For whatever reason that you're bitter and miserable, please leave me out of it. I generally LOVE my life and enjoy passing the time on message boards.

LEAVE ME ALONE.

Thanks.

such hostility. :confused:

I agree.

That's the only influence I talk about the most. I see African roots but the military roots of stepping (and "pledging") are what stick out to me.

Don't be so dramatic. ;)

Exactly!

Thank you! Marchdown that is the term I have been wracking my brain to remember. Yes, the Ques did Marchdowns in my day!

Right. I always considered the past way of pledging to be based on boot camp--preparing you physically and mentally. But most of the stuff that got added on was just ridiculous.

Wow. This post is what seems "bitter and miserable." I made an observation, based on what YOU wrote. Look at the number of my posts that reference, or quote yours, and re-evaluate what you just posted. Do the math. I do not stalk your post. However, I will call BS if I see it. And I saw it it in bright, flashing, flaming-even neon colors.

REALLY. :cool:

I can't help it. :p

Shid, take it to PM.

Ducky, do not respond here.

ETA: I am too late.

LOL.

This thread needs some spice.

^^^^Instigator. :D

Per this thread about current "traditions" I have a suggestion for y'all:take this squabble offline and have a "wreck session." The "green" is the way to settle this!:)Roo!

LOL, but I don't fight. And I certainly wouldn't entertain fighting a man.

Yeah. Too late. :o

This is a scene from Howard Univ. in the 1950s. Pictured are Ques and a coed. Note the "beanies," a fairly common item for Black Greeks at the time. This is a tradition but would current members of BGLOs today understand this? (Personally, I like the style.)

http://groups.msn.com/NPHCArchivePho...o&PhotoID=1471

is that what would really be happening?

:thinking:

Ouch, but yeah.

Wolfman's the real instigator. Talking about a wreck session. LOL.

wow...

With all due respect, I have nothing more to say to her. And I appreciate you and her prophyte providing suggestions on how I should handle her, but neither of you know the full scope of her juvenile antics when it comes to her stalking me across multiple message boards and on facebook.

She clearly doesn't like me.

She clearly has a problem with anything I have to say.

She clearly is a bully -- I have let her know such in PMs on other message boards before. And I let it go there.

When people like her attempt to harass, intimidate, and provoke people on the internet, they do it because they feel safe in their anonymity.

So no, I will not PM her. I would PM someone who I respected and demonstrated at least a modicum of sincerity or decorum in their actions.

She has neither. I don't respect her. I will never respect her. I haven't even read the remainder of her posts on GC, and I see there are several -- I don't care. There is nothing about her that would make me rethink or feel badly about how I handled this situation.

Again -- miserable, and I don't wish to be part of her company or anyone who thinks like her or sympathizes with her cro-magnon lack of self-worth. I have a great life and wish happiness to anyone who wants it.