Then there's Wesley Pipes....smooth, suave, sophisticated Wesley Pipes.

They, quite honestly, ran the yard at St. Wilona's. Even though I NEVER was attracted to Wesley Pipes, I still thought it was important to do my research and verbalize not only WHY Brian Pumper, but why NOT Wesley Pipes.

Did their history speak to me? Nah....I went to their website and nothing moved me about their founding and the subsequent decades.

Did I identify with their prominent and more historical members? Again...no. Not at all. I either wasn't familiar with their prominent members in the first place, or if there was a particular prominent member I knew, there was ALWAYS a Brian Pumper who overshadowed him in that particular field of endeavor.

Did my values line up with their national programs? Well.... what national programs? True, they're supposed to "do stuff" but information on national and chapter websites was sooooo vague, that I wasn't convinced that this fraternity had anything to do with the community at all. Perhaps it was just a public relations issue....

And finally, did I feel comfortable with a room full of them? While some of them on my campus were nice..... nahhhhh, I really didn't look up to them as mentors or have any sort of kinship there.

Overall, I felt LEAST impressed with Wesley Pipes on all levels. It is an opinion that has stuck with me over the years.

This is too funny. Are you testing your new book on us, Senusret?

I was waiting for this all day!!! I think I agree with Pinkies Up in that you might be testing some new material on us. I don't mind though, very interesting, indeed! Gets me through some of the more monotonous days at work.

I agree this is a great thread. Anyone have any ideas as to the identity of Wesley Pipes? (I have no clue)

I'm thinking maybe Kappa Alpha Psi?

Well, it's interesting to note that of the remaining 4 fraternities, theirs was the only web site where I was unable to find a listing of their notable alumni.

Then I revisited Mr. Marcus.

Since Mr. Marcus was my first love, I really wanted to be SURE that I didn't have any lingering feelings for him.

Honestly speaking, Mr. Marcus is a great organization. I love their history and rich traditions. I like the fact that they have their very own culture. When their members finally grow up, they are real gentlemen. REAL gentlemen!

The problem is they don't grow up until 55, LOL.

But no, seriously..... the one thing that I had against Mr. Marcus was that in my experiences the membership of today was so far away from the ideals of the organization, both what they portray on their website and contemporary literature as well as the more historical aspects.

Their programming is on point, theoretically -- but all I saw was the parties.

In a crowd full of them at a step show, I saw ONE that was like me..... while everyone was being "owt" there was this one Mr. Marcus wearing glasses and sitting with his hands folded.

Did I want to pledge to be around people who were nothing like me? Did I want to pledge to fit a stereotype that was not in line with my values?

To this day I have the utmost respect for the organization and the members who continue to make its history -- but when I revisited the issue, I was one hundred percent certain that Mr. Marcus was not in my heart.

That only left Mandingo and Brian Pumper.

Agreed.

this story here is a trip! LOL, wow I've counted so many puns and innuendos! I didn't know what the names meant but I figured it out :eek:

"Hasn't that joint been built yet?" *DEAD* you know you wrong for that!

Keep the story coming, don't make us wait any longer!

That is my impression as well.

As a die hard 27-year member of Mr. Marcus who doesn't fit the so-called stereotype, I think I understand where you are coming from but with a superficial view you will miss the beauty of Mr. Marcus. Mr. Marcus exemplifies what a college fraternity should be about:a real, robust brotherhood where the values and bonds of fraternity are sacred. You have to have depth and passion. It's not for the self-inflated, faux elitist or social butterfly. It's for real men--I say this as an occasional loving critic of the goings on in Mr. Marcus. Once a Founder of Mr. Marcus said of Brian Pumper,' it's not a fraternity;it's a social club.' But alas, there is a fraternity for everyone's tastes. Be the best BP you can be!

Hmmm...........


Great thread Pham!

Did you hear that noise? That was the point sailing way over your head.

In another life, I would have been a Mandingo, and a great one!

In completing my research of NPHC fraternities, I finally came to Mandingo. If you recall, one of my coworkers was a new Mandingo at DC's state college. He took me to my first collegiate NPHC event. He didn't care that I wasn't interested in his org.

When I was in college, I befriended a grad student -- also a Mandingo! We ended up becoming VERY close over the years. We kept in great touch as he continued grad study, and I visited him out in Ohio last year.

Wherever I went, Mandingo men were always cordial, kind, respectful.... they had a tight bond with their official sisters but also seemed cool with ALL sorority women.

I never once felt uncomfortable in a room full of Mandingos.

Their national service program, their public mottos, their traditions...they were all in line with my values. How they looked and acted was representative of the kind of person that I was (and am).

But when I read their history, I just wasn't moved like I was when I read the histories of Mr. Marcus and Brian Pumper. When I looked at their roster of prominent members, once again -- as in the case of Wesley Pipes -- there was a Brian Pumper who outshined their member in any given field of endeavor. And much like Lexington Steele, could I really come back to my family and friends with...well.... only goodness, when I could come back with greatness?

That was an intense internal battle I had.... if I was looking for my "home" as so many NPCers say, then why couldn't I find my home with Mandingos? I was shown nothing but the utmost brotherhood from them. I was 99 percent certain that the Mandingos would accept me just as I was.

But something just didn't feel right in my soul. Just because I could be a Mandingo doesn't mean I should be.

And that left only Brian Pumper...... but why did Brian's history move me so? Why were Brian's prominent members a universe apart from any other fraternity? What was it that made me so comfortable around other Brian Pumpers? And what was it about Brian's national programs that fell in line so personally with my own values?

Amazing.