frathole is a fratty.net guy. I doubt he's here trying to do anything constructive. Imagine that coming from me??

Seeing more and more posts, You dont seem to get it?

If there are no Members to have fun with, there wont be any fun will there?

SigmaChiGuy , no Dude, couldnt agree with you more!


:cool:


Stoopidity do reign!

I wish more people understood this concept. :(

This summer going to convention I finally understood the business concept of the sorority to its full extent. It is still hard for me ( and I am treasuer) to explain to sisters if they do not ever pay dues cannot be apart of the organization. It is a shitty realization because it is a sisterhood/brotherhood, you have to put in the hard work to reap the rewards but its shitty to have it come to that.

I agree that the concept is very difficult to grasp sometimes. I remember as a freshman wondering why the execs would get 'bent outta shape' about certain things. Then as I came up through the ranks, served as an officer myself, I saw that other serious 'business' side to the chapter, and found myself sometimes stressing over the same things. What I eventually realized was that the chapter itself was the greatest example of the lesson of balance that college and Greek life ultimately tries to teach. Balance is the bigger picture. The balance of responsibility with fun. Too far into the 'business side' and we forget that the product of our 'chapter as a business' is an enjoyable experience for all of our brothers and sisters. Too far towards the other 'just want to have fun' side and we loose grasp of the business engine that provides our fun experience and sometimes why we are even in college, for our education.
I bet if we took a look at our rituals most would likely make some reference to balance. It's a key component of maturing.

Greek life exists to enhance college in all ways, both in the fun experience, and in the learning experience. It helps to teach that lesson. But it's not always the easiest one to learn.

A few thoughts...

Why were most GLOs founded? Were they founded to be a great group of men/women that like to hang out and have a good time, or were they founded on values such as Scholarship, Service, Integrity, Brother/sisterhood, etc.?

I cannot speak for every GLO out there, but I know that my Fraternity was founded with the expectation that her members would excel academically. Part of our Creed says "I believe that I am honor bound to strive manfully for intellectual, moral and spiritual excellence." I don't see how making below a 2.0 is honestly striving for intellectual excellence.

Frathole, when your Fraternity's founders sat down together for the first time, I can promise you that they did not say to each other "Hey, let's start a Fraternity that can be mediocre... the status quo." They founded your organization because they believed that they were called to be above the status quo…and they wanted to start an organization that recruited like-minded men.

You said that “being in a fraternity is a lot more than just having letters” and I believe you are complete right! What does being in a Fraternity mean to you? Think about those letters…think about what they mean…and then re-evaluate what being in your organization means to you. When you said “Your house says who your friends are, what you do during the course of a week, where you are going to come back to once you leave, what you did when you were a pledge, even to some extent what kind of person you are.” I unfortunately couldn’t disagree with you more. It’s not your house that should be saying this…it’s your Ritual…it’s the values and reasons with which your organization was founded!

You made the comment a few times that these things will take the “fun” out of Fraternity life. What fun are you talking about? I really am interested! I’d like to know more, because I have a HELL of a good time in my chapter…and we still strive to do well in school. We don’t have to have a 4.0 chapter average…hell, we don’t even have to have a 3.0 chapter average…but we do have to answer the call to strive for Intellectual Excellence. As the ending line of my Fraternity’s Creed says: “To the fulfillment of these beliefs, of these ideals, in the noble perfection of Phi Kappa Psi, I pledge my life and my sacred honor.”

I’d challenge everyone to remember the oaths that you each took at that solemn moment when you each became Brothers and Sisters in your organization. Think of what you said you would do. You weren’t just aimlessly repeating after someone…you were taking a vow that you would strive to uphold the values of your organization. Just a few things to keep in mind! I’m sure this has been heard before…but I felt that I had to say something.

Interfraternally,

Luke...

That is a Great Post along with many others, but I fear they fall on deaf ears from a Butt Wipe who could care less than to do anything other than start trouble!:(