Thank you!

How come I've been reading Wesley Pipes as Wesley Snipes? :o

I think that's the whole point of his name.

Girl get your mind in the gutter.

awwwwwwww i have tears in my eyes! (well maybe cause of allergies...) that was such a great story.

i definitely liked that you can comfortably say you were interested in other orgs before you had your mind made up. some NPHC greeks are not so forthcoming. i mean, while i DO believe there are those "i've always wanted to be an XYZ" and believe that, i think it's just as OK to say "i was really interested in XYZ and then saw it wasn't what was for me and i'm glad i am an ABC."

saves the other org(s) a half-@ssed member for the future you know?

great thread, Rashid

Agreed.

I loved this post, it was honest and entertaining. Job well done.:)

Senusret, that was a really good story and for a lot of NPHC GCers here it epitomizes the true and proper way for an aspirant to pursue one of the NPHC orgs. I'on like the way you talked about "Wesley Pipes" tho' :D but different strokes for different folx.

[hijack]Btw, how did I get labeled as a "Wesley Pipes", that cat is the antithesis of my org, though I definately could see him as a "Viking" A-Phi-Que, he would fit that org (or faction thereof) like a custom-made shoe *lol* :D [/hijack]

Believe it or not, based on your story, I think that this thread would make a good sticky for this forum as an example of how would-be NPHC Greeks should properly pursue such an org.

Maybe I should tell the REAL story involving my 14-year quest to be a member of uh.....Wesley Pipes (good grief *lol*). I'on know, we'll see.

Thanx for sharing anyways....

You don't know your history then. Now it's not a real issue but in 1911 it was. In 1911 the Founders of Omega were summoned to have a private meeting with then President Thirkield after they had run afoul of the administration by announcing themselves as a fraternity on campus before they were officially recognized by placing placards all over Howard's campus. In that meeting President Thirkield asked them why they didn't join the fraternity already on campus (Beta Chapter of APHIA). They registered their objections with him. At that time one of the Founders related to him the quip about social clubs vs. fraternities. In his later years one of the Founders said that he and another Founder were approached by the members of APHIA when they were students at Howard. He said they "turned them down flat." They had very different understanding about what a fraternity should be. (My understanding is that APHIA did originate as a social/study club and later morphed into a fraternity,in which all members didn't agree with this transformation. Correct me if I'm wrong!)

Best Thread!
 

I know it's been brought up a time or two already, but I just had to emphasize.... THIS THREAD RULES!

We love you, Rashid!!! It was the best. EVER!

In 1905, there was a social/study club at Cornell University that was established as a means to retain black students at Cornell. The previous year's freshman class ALL dropped out. The men in the social study club first and foremost wanted to serve the students by providing both academic and social support. NOT a "social club" -- social support. It was a study club with social leanings.

Since the beginning, there were members of the social/study club who wanted more, namely to be a fraternity. But not just a social group of college men, in whose fraternity houses several of them served as waiters. But to use the concept of a fraternity as a vehicle for social change. See, they saw what good that "white" fraternities did for their members socially, academically, and professionally. They wanted to emulate this AND inject service and social action into the mix.

But there were some who did not agree with that notion. On December 4, 1906, after a year as a social/study club and a slow evolution into a society with greek letters, colors, and an initiation, the men voted to become Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. The few men who did not agree with the notion walked away -- including the founder of the social/study club.

By 1911, Alpha Phi Alpha had 11 collegiate chapters and one alumni chapter. If your founders were not looking for what APhiA had to offer, then so be it. If they just didn't mesh with the members of Beta Chapter, that's fine too. You will not find me bashing your organization's genesis or it's rich history. But to say that Alpha Phi Alpha was merely a social club is incorrect and somewhat insulting.

So....I know my history. Now, tell me on what page, in either Dreer or Gill, may I find the passage about the conversation with President Thirkield?

Thank you! :D

I'm spent after reading this thread. Great story, Rashid!

This line made me laugh and laugh.

Great thread, Brother. :) This was the most fun recruitment story I've ever read!