Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands (Post 2513719)

Oh trust me, I do me just fine. I just don’t do 70 year old Claus with a C-cup. But hey, you do your weird ass far away from me.

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands (Post 2513775)

LMAO! CG agreed with dude, then lit him up with added history of her own Zach either left out on purpose or forgot about, then snatched her history back from dude, reclaiming it as hers, all in one post LOL!

What’s Lavantine mean?

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek (Post 2513772)

Ahem… So, first off, I’m first generation ethnic Greek here in the States. My mother’s side is directly from Greece, so my grandparents came over with her, settled in the Midwest, and built everything from scratch. She was old enough to bring all of our real tradition with her, so when people talk about Greek life, I always laugh a little because for me it’s not just letters, it’s literally my bloodline, our language, our faith, our food, and our family values that survived for thousands of years.

You’re right, Zach. Historically, the Greek alphabet didn’t start in like some vacuum. Like you said, it did evolve from Phoenician scripts, which were heavily influenced by Egyptian hieroglyphs. So technically, the letters sororities and fraternities wear today trace back through Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East before they ever showed up on a sorority or fraternity tee. That’s a fact, not just my family pride.

But for the record, I’ll mention what you didn’t, Zach. The Phoenicians weren’t African, they were Levantine, but their writing system was shaped by Egyptian scribes on African soil. That’s how culture works — trade, travel, mixing ideas for centuries. So if you trace your “proud” Greek letters all the way back, yes, you’re gonna hit the shores of the Nile. If you wanna call it Afro-Mediterranean, that’s fine. But it still goes through us — my real, ethnic Greek roots.

So like, this alphabet and all this cultural knowledge physically ran through MY family line. Ancient Greece didn’t just borrow Phoenician symbols, we built an entire language and identity from it.

So, my Greek family line literally carried that alphabet forward. Just sayin..

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek (Post 2513786)

Omg! I was actually agreeing with him! I swear, you are such an instigator, lol. I was just adding that it’s more accurate to say Afro-Mediterranean influence than to pretend it was like an African to Greek pipeline with no Levantine link.

So, Levantine just means they were from the Levant, which is the eastern Mediterranean coast, so like, modern Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The Phoenicians weren’t African, which is what I was telling Zach, but their writing came out of trade with Egypt. So in basic geography: Levant. Influence: African. If that makes sense.

Originally Posted by Zach (Post 2513769)

On a separate post, since some folks over here are fascinated with genealogy, here’s a free history snack. If you trace your line back far enough, you’re going to hit Africa whether you like it or not. That’s not an opinion, that’s just genetics. Modern humans originated in Africa, migrated out, and spread around the globe. So that proud Viking DNA you’re bragging about? Congratulations, your distant cousin is probably rocking braids on the Serengeti 60,000 years ago.

So when people act like their way is the “norm” and ours is the “other”, it’s kind of funny. Culturally, biologically, and historically, we’re all more connected than half y’all want to admit. You don’t have to like it but it’s the truth. Technically, everybody came from us. We are the standard, the traditional, and the original. So as far as the Greek system is concerned, first on paper means nothing when the real first people are your ancestors too. The same “originals” you excluded from your organizations are the reason you exist, biologically AND culturally. Just spitting facts.

We are The Divine Nine. You came from us.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Originally Posted by jolene (Post 2513716)

You do you!

Originally Posted by honeychile (Post 2513465)

I can't speak for every chapter, but mine in PA is very much into veterans' affairs, helping the less fortunate, and patriotic endeavors. The chapter I checked out here seemed to be very much into ladies' teas, lunches, and parties. I suppose there's a sorority-like aspect to it, but IMHO, patriotism should come first.

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 2513407)

Just as before, if there is a chapter who wants to admit a transgender woman, or a fraternity chapter that wants to admit a transgender man, they will find a way to do so.

Originally Posted by Kevin (Post 2513844)

Absolutely.

I remember back when I was advising my chapter, this exact issue came up as we had some trans kids going through recruitment. Our guys weren't really concerned about anything other than whether those individuals were of high enough character to belong.

--it was a proud moment.

Originally Posted by naraht (Post 2513891)

It is basically a question as to which Nationals are willing to pull a charter over a chapter admitting someone who is trans of the gender of the GLO. Some are, some aren't.

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 2513899)

The hq really doesn't have to know.

Originally Posted by naraht (Post 2513900)

And... we're back to the 1960s, where national fraternities went looking through the yearbook photos of their chapters...

Originally Posted by Cheerio (Post 2513904)

Not trying to be funny, but what does this mean?

I also recall that some universities omitted yearbooks during the 60s and 70s due to lack of student interest.