interesting thread
 

Alpha Phi Omega is so much different from national social fraternities and sororities. I think it is because, for the most part, the members are able to create our own chapter policies.

While we do have national bylaws, a board of directors and sectional and regional governing bodies, each individual chapter is allowed to function on its own. Because we have that kind of governing process, really the active members are allowed to dictate what happens in their respective chapters with relatively little outside influence. We don't have traveling consultants to come check up on us probably unless the chapter is facing serious charges.

So you have some Alpha Phi Omega chapters that look and act like social sororities or social fraternities (even at co-ed campuses). Some function like clubs, but you can't really apply the same label to Alpha Phi Omega across the board.

Sometimes I feel like Alpha Phi Omega is comprised by a bunch of locals that fall under one national body.

But as campus dynamics change, so do GLOs. Especially ours.

(Incidentally, while there are many alums who have a lot of respect for Alpha Phi Omega nationally, I bet that the majority hold in higher regards the chapter that they were a member of in undergrad.)

I have heard everything from sib/sibling, sister, brothersister, etc.

Some people care, but I don't get caught up in it. Personally in undergrad. though, I wouldn't call a female member "brother." But that is my choice.

I called all my brothers "brother" regardless of gender while in my undergraduate chapter. :)

Re: interesting thread
 

Very well said. The problem is that we ARE labeled across the board and some people don't seem to understand that, like any organization, it can differ from campus to campus. I don't like the blanket labels that are placed on us.

Re: Re: interesting thread
 

While it's fine for every chapter to have its own identity, I think that going too far in that direction places the identity of the national group in jeopardy.

IMO, if you mention Alpha Phi Omega to someone on a campus and their first thought is not "service" then that chapter is doing something wrong. The service component should always be first and foremost.

Re: Re: Re: interesting thread
 

AMEN!

That is probably true, and to some extent, I agree with it. However, I don't think, practically speaking, our chapters are going to change anytime soon and act cohesively under the same identity.

Honestly, IMO, there is no reason for it. Our chapters are responsible with their "power." The chapters aren't facing a lot of hazing or discrimination charges, so I think it works fine the way it is.

If service is still getting done, but students don't like membership policies, Alpha Phi Omega is not the only service-oriented organization on campus anymore.

Your point is much easier to understand as an alumna. But if I were still an active, I wouldn't want things to change.

Re: Re: interesting thread
 

Granted that each Chapter is going to be different, but the common label comes from what and why it was started.

Service or Social. Founded under the principle of Being a Service Organization following the Boy Scout Tradition. It has since become Co-Ed many years ago and will stay the same.

Remember, certain Social GLOs started under different Flags. Say Farm House and AGR.

Unless APO has changed its position since I was an Active Member, it is and will never be known as a Socal Organization and this has nothing to do with any Chapter or Campi.

While I do not know the Ex. Director personaly, I know of Him and I will limit My comment to only that.

Policies...
 

33Girl, sorry I didn't find this thread sooner. Miss checking Greekchat for one day and everything goes to heck in a handbasket. :)

I think the other APO brothers on here have well covered it. Only question I have is whether being on the IFC (and or IGC) means that people are not allowed to be both APO brothers and brothers of a social fraternity at Rowan.

Were I working to extend to a campus, I would definitely have staffers help the Colonists (Petitioners) convince the Dean of Students that APO doesn't belong on the IFC, but if Dean of Students insist, then you live with it.

Some of the larger state schools have a plethora of greek councils. I've seen IFC, NPC, NPHC, ethnic non-NPHC (which includes both black that aren't NPHC, hispanic and asian) and in some cases a complete *other* category that takes APO, GSS, KKY, TBS (Band Fraternity and Sorority) and anyone else that doesn't fit into one of the earlier categories.

Personally, I'm most comfortable with APO on a service council with Habitat, Circle K , Alternative Spring Break and similar groups. However YMMV for your APO chapter.

Randy

Re: Policies...
 

That is interesting about Deans of Student expect this as it is written in each Code of all of the GLOs overall Organizations.

I dont rally beleive that They In their infinite Wisdom can dictate to any National Organization.

Each Organization has its own agenda and is set out in Their By Laws

There art a definte destinctions among all of the "Grek Letter" Organizations isnt there?

Oh, and Yes there can be cross overs that are built in about Social, Proffesional, Service Groups about being Members.

What made the DoS put them (arbitrarily) under IFC? They are co-ed so really they could have gone under NPC. However, THAT never would have happened because NPC would have cared way too much to allow it. Plus NPC has policies outlining who can and can't be full members of a college panhellenic.

You know a thought occurred to me as I was reading some of Jackie's comments.

What better way for the University to force change in the social fraternities than to have a member of a non-social fraternity leading the governing body? It smacks of University interference all the way. The University couldn't get the social fraternities to do what they wanted them to do so they brought in an outside group to do it for them. And yes, that's what APO is to IFC.

If I was an advisor on that campus I'd be screaming right now...

Question: do APO chapters carry insurance policies? If they're having mixers and socials and stuff they certainly should.

Actually for a few years we were unheard. I was the first brother to run for any type of umbrella group position on campus. The school isn't doing this to hurt socials. They school has tigher rules in place than the IGC, IFC, and PanHal groups on my campus. What I'm trying to do is volunteer myself in service to the greeks on my campus to help us all show Rowan that we are perfectly able to self govern. Once we have done that, our school(which is suffering from major greek rights losses at the moment( will hopefully back off. When we have organizations being kicked off campus for horrible acts of hazing, parties where kids are hospitalized, problems with fighting between organizations that end with massive amounts of hurt kids in the ER and cops being called, than it's obvious that groups are running wild and need the reins tighted.

Brothers at my school are able to join another group on campus. THe problem is most groups will not take them. In keeping with the boyscout traditions I am doing my duty. All greeks are striving towards self governing and greek rights at rowan, the problem is that strong undergraduate leaders haven't stepped up in the past. This year I am but one of a group of people striving to improve the greek life on my campus. The IGC president cuts himself in so many different ways that i feel badly for him, because he gives his whole self over to the pursuit of Greek life and balance between school and student. The woman in charge of PanHal works her butt off for the sisters on my campus, drawing no distinction between any group. I do my very best for all the Fraternities of Rowan University.
Keep in mind there is no rotation of organizational leadership for the IFC, it's an open election every year which each fraternity votes for whom they want to lead them. They didn't have a problem with an APO doing it.

33girl, thanks for the link. This quote is interesting:

While some female Brothers may not like the term (because they are looking at it as a 'gender term'), many perfer to keep it as it means ALL members, male and female, are addressed with the same term and thus we are all on the same level. Using separate terms for male and female members would destroy that feeling.

I don't understand how referring to people as something other than what they are promotes unity -- which is what I think this person was saying. Women and men are different, and I don't understand how acknowledging that indicates that people aren't on the same level.

Would you refer to non-white members as white, because to differentiate would mean that people aren't on the same level? I know that doesn't have the same historical context (or does it?) but I think it's similar.

thanks
 

Been kinda interesting to learn about all these new groups; in
many ways the idea of fraternity has been watered down a bit,
but on the other hand, the makeup of the higher education scene
has changed a lot, too. Alpha Phi Omega will always be the Boy
Scout fraternity, for me anyway; I cannot figure out by its new
looseness the purpose for its existence other than a shingle and
greek letters. I guess everyone in college oughta have a chance
to belong to something, collegiate or not, and with this mindset, we have indeed accomplished that.
In mentioning fraternities who began with a rather narrow or a
specific purpose, add Triangle, Theta Xi, Delta Chi, Acacia, plus
the Zebes, AEPi, Phi Kappa Theta, et al. And do we dare mention the mormon groups with several chapters of the same outfit on one campus, like BYU. Perhaps it was due to the competiition and desire to survive that evoked the wider audience. And Phi Alpha Delta operates as a social on some campi although made
up of historically pre-law students. By the way; you all may know
of others...all interesting...in this passing parade."
It is hard for us older folks to embrace the total picture, but we've
passed the torch. I recall when many GLOs rejected the teacher
colleges and trade schools, now both considered a part of the academic scene. Change is affected by the young and us oldsters
will stand by to help when asked. But Alpha Phi Omega is still the
boy scout organization...I loved scouting and still do.