High school Sororities and Fraternities
 

I have a question to all of the black sororites and fraternities. Do you all get mad or offended when you see high school students imitating and trying to be like you.
Because however you know it all high school based organizations look up to some frat/soro
. I am in a organization called Black Motivated Women BMW for short and we look up to Delta Sigma Theta is that a problem? And all of the others have an idle as well.

Miss Jay,

Could you please describe what exactly these groups are imitating?

Replying to what you asked.I mean when you see high school organizations stepping not doing the same exact steps as you do and getting involved in community services. Basically doing as and carrying business as it was a real sorority.

Some women in sororities do not have a problem with it, but some women in sororities do. As for me, imitation can be quite flattering. However, I do hold the principles of my sorority very dear and am extremely proud of it. Thus, when someone mimicks it, it pretty much trivializes the sanctity of being a part of a sorority or a fraternity. There is a difference between imitating and mimicking. When you imitate you are not simply copying from them you are embracing certain facets of another organization and use it for your own because you believe in it. When you mimick you are just taking from another organization and not using any of your own original ideas and principles, you do the same exact things as the other organization; you duplicate. My sorority, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was the first Black Greek Letter Organization to have youth groups, and they are OFFICIAL; Archonettes, Amicettes, and Pearlettes. Archonettes are in high school, and yes they do imitate Zeta in the sense that they embrace our ideals and they look up to us. But the difference is, Zeta created Archonettes. We gave them certain "things" that are patterned after the principles of our organization, however, we do not sanction the use of "things" meant only for us Zetas BUT THEY ARE A PART OF THE BLUE AND WHITE FAMILY. The Archonettes are not a sorority, however they carry themselves as though they are because they share in our national events and programs. Many of them do go on to become Zetas, but some things about a sorority should be held back because of the oaths we take and the level of secrecy. If your sorority is not an official youth group of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. then you should respect their organization and leave it to them to decide exactly how much of "Delta" they will allow you to incorporate into your sorority. Otherwise, some Deltas may not think your sorority is so flattering.

Thank you a soror of Zeta Phi Beta for your reply. It was just a question that I asked because we respect all greek sororities. And know how far to go I was just wanting to know because were I live there are alot of high school frat/sororities. But, when you look at all of them you could basically tell who they are imitating. But, no offense to anyone else reading it was just a question. Thanks

Are these high school 'fraternities + sororities' a fairly new development? I had never heard of anything like that when i was in school, or even until very recently.

Is it maybe a regional thing? (I went to a very hick school!)

Just wondered.

At a lot of high schools, (mine was one) it was against the rules to start a fraternity or sorority. At many schools where they do exist, they are underground orgnaizations.

Well silverturtle I live in TN. And there are alot of them so many that all of the names start to sound alike. There are a few who take part in community service and just about all of them have step teams. Some have good names for what they have done and some are just groups that want to look good together.

Thanks MsJay.. maybe it's just a regional thing then. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com

Phi Beta Fraternity

I personally didn't have sororities or fraternities at my high school but some people I knew from Highland Park HS had something like that. Was anyone here in a high school sorority? I find that very strange...

We never had sororities in our hs, but then again, I went to an all girl's hs, so I guess we were just one big happy sorority :)
.
dzsaigirl-did you go to Highland Park? I went to Ursuline

No, I did not go to HP, but I went to SMU my first year and a half of college so I knew people from there, plus my mom grew up there. Two of my friends at SMU went to Ursuline but unless you graduated in 97 or 98 or earlier, you probably don't know them. This is year 6 for me in college ;) I did the old 180 on my major...

I was involved in a high school sorority called ADK but dropped out b/c I thought it was pointless. There was alot of hazing and the whole thing wasdumb b/c as many of us know alot of high school girls like to backstab and talk talk talk so your "sisters" whom you thought were your friends really werent.

A lot of the high school fraternities, from what I have seen are evolutions of the officially sanctioned high school mentoring programs of black fraternities and sororities. ..

Kappa League. . .Delteens. . .AKAlades, etc, etc. . .

Many of them, again in my opinion, became an excuse to step and haze each other. However, those programs that are overseen by the frats and sororities are mentoring programs and service organizations. The independent frats and sororities are more dangerous because they are often underground and unsupervised.

One more thing, I am in favor of clubs, but not fraternities in high schools. . .one major reason, which is bourgie, but I must say it.. . frats are for people in college. I feel like I worked heard to get into college and be eligible to pledge.

I mean, for black greeks at least, if you think back to December 4, 1906, those men were trying to find a safe haven of sorts for each other. What on earth could a young person in high school need with a frat or sorority that they can't do through the Key Club and a step team?

If this sounds mean spirited or nasty in any way, I honestly do not mean for it to sound that way. It is late, I am tired, and I am STILL working on my personal statement. :(

Do only BGLO's have high school sorority-type organizations? KD doesn't....I don't know if any other of the "white" GLOs do....

Or do some high schools have sorority things that are independent of National college GLOs?

My high school never had any of these things.

My best friend and sister was a part of a little sister group of DST. She *loved* it and was kinda disappointed that she didn't end up choosing a school that had a chapter.

I was in a High School "Fraternity". We wore Greek letters, made paddles, had a "pledge period", had a mini ritual etc.

The fraternity, which may still exist, was founded in 1911 I believe so was as old as some of the collegiate versions. And every year it has a reunion for alumni. It even has a scholarship set up in the name of a Brother that passed away tragically.

Other than the intense physical hazing, it had many of the same functions and problems as the college groups. In fact, I would wager that on campuses without a strong Greek System the parallels would be fighteningly similar.

The one advantage was that we had more parties and didn't get in trouble for them.

My boyfriend was in a high school "fraternity" (he went to a large high school in Houston). From what he's described, it's very similar to Dazed and Confused - the hazing is like what happened in the film, and the groups are completely unsupervised. But I have to say he has nothing but fond memories of his times - probably because it's all about being young and stupid, and an excuse to throw high school parties...

I know at one high school they have:

Clubs : ---- Aspiring to be:
_______________________________________
Kappa League ---- Kappa Alpha Psi
Pink Ice ----- Alpha Kappa Alpha
Delta Darlings ----- Delta Sigma Theta
Ice Cold ---- Alpha Phi Alpha
________________________________________
These Clubs have shirts, colors (similar colors as the fraternity or sorority they aspire to become), step routines, probates, jackets, line numbers, line names, fund raisers, interest meetings, dances or parties, regular club meetings, etc.. Pretty much the same as Nationally Organized Organiztions.


:cool:

I, too, was a part of a high school sorority. Now that I look back upon my experience, I realize that it was a pretty silly and demeaning. At my high school, once you were a sophomore you could join. The "sorority" was supposedly for the only very pretty, rich girls. We all wanted to be a part of it, and when the day came when invitations were given out, all my friends and I were so excited/nervous to see if we had gotten invitied. Most of my friends were invited, but some were left out. I felt horrible for them, but I kinda pushed it aside and was so happy that I had gotten invited. We each had a "big sister," but the similarities end there as for the collegiate level sororities. At my high school sorority, we were all hazed horribly. We pledges had to dress as a baby (literally) for a week and our bigs were our "mommies." It was a ridiculous thing, but we all thoguht that we had to go through with that, just because being a part of our HS sorority was a big thing. After we were hazed at initiation, we became regular sisters. There was a lot of backstabbing and internal problems in my HS sorority, but on the outside we seemed to be very tight, albeit a sorority for only the "elite."

I would not do it again. We had a "sorority reunion" last year in my hometown, and it was horrible. Very superficial connections, I guess. All of the girls went on to join real sororities, and to be honest, I would not be happy to call them "sister." Thankfully, none joined Kappa Alpha Theta. Some, however, joined sororities whom Theta is really close with on my campus, and I honestly cannot see them as an ABC/XYZ, etc.

Well I am part of the Kappa League...which is an official high school fraternity organization approved by the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. at the 56th Grand Chapter Conference on August 12-15 1968...We do have a step team with the line numbers, line names and the canes, however we do try to make a difference between the KL and KAPsi...Like for example instead of using the colors Krimson and Kream...we us Krimson and Koal. The League is mostly about what the KAPsi purpose is...which is achievement...I see the League as a way for young men to establish a support system and develop a passion for going to college and making better life decisions and probably pledge when they get to college. We also make sure that we know the basic stuff of KAPsi but we still understand the importance of the KAPsi's Level of Secrecy. However to contradict myself...I don't like the HS fraternities/sororities organization that are only step teams and are not doing any community service. Fraternities and Sororities are all about Brotherhood/Sisterhood and the ability to help their communities out in the time of need.

My 2 Cents,
Fludd

I don't care how long ago these groups were established.

As long as they realize they are clubs and not a real fraternity or sorority. They shouldn't be looked at as interest groups for children, either. Walking around as mini versions of our organizations is silly. Being a Kappa Leaguer now doesn't preclude wanting to become an Alpha when you go to college. So just let these youth groups be mentorship opportunities. They aren't lifetime commitments and have no use for line numbers, line jackets, etc. Maybe give them cute little YMCA-type tshirts and a certificate or something.

I've seen children trying to brand themselves and coming to different yards and pretending to be members. Even having beef with actual members of what they deem a "rival" fraternity or the "rival" fraternity's youth group. It's dumb when adults do stuff like that and even dumber and more detrimental when children do.

The groups for young ladies that Delta sponsors are not designed to be a mini-Delta or have those little girls walking around like "future Deltas" in any way. Any Delta(s) who is(are) modeling our nationally mandated mentor group as a pledge class or interest group needs to have that group removed from under her (their) mentorship.

^^^ I agree.

They shouldn't be clubs -- they should be "programs."

I am pretty glad that APhiA doesn't have a national youth auxilliary. Each chapter has leeway to create the type of program that is necessary for their community. In DC, my alumni chapter has a Beautillion, but one of the other chapters has a leadership summit of some sort.

Not to mention, we have a national relationship with the Boy Scouts, so there you have it.

That's even better. :)

I was actually in a real program that wasn't attached to an org, but happened to have a lot of Omegas and Delta working on it. (The leader was an Alpha Chapter Que.)

And it was literally just a Rites of Passage Program. Afrocentric, community based...really great stuff. And even though looking back, I can see that elements of what we did had parallels to a "process" the superficial parts were taken out. No jackets, no shirts, no calls, no stepping. In fact, the only thing I have from that experience is a little piece of kente cloth and a notebook.

But that's all one really needs as a teen, isn't it?

In fact, sometimes I wonder if we'd have the same number of members in NPHC organizations if wearing para and stepping were outlawed, but that's another topic.

I am apart of the Kappa League in Chattanooga, TN. We step, but that isn't what the Kappa League emphasizes. Neither is the emphasis on jackets (which we don't have), kanes (we have), or line names (we have). Our emphasis is put on Brotherhood and Community Service. We took two and a half months to get to know 11 people that we barely had ever talked to. Only seven made it through the process of us being on line. We've put in work at the Ronald McDonald House, numerous Shelters, the Community Kitchen, and of course, at our school. I know that doesn't justify why some would waste their time to join another frat, but it happens. It's just not goona happen with me.

Every generation has its idea of "cool" and "fun" and every generation has people who think that "cool" and "fun" are unnecessary. :)

Bad. All bad. Horrible even.

You said it, right? :p

You should be no generation's idea of "cool" and "fun." Children are to be seen and not heard. ;)

Define the word "Child." You arguing with one you call a child doesn't make you anymore of an adult than I. Thank you.

:confused:

(I personally don't think this poster is really a KL but if he is, that's even funnier.)

And that is the result of doing something you're not accustomed to, cupcake. I mean...Why act hard on the computer? Nobody really cares.

I rest my case. On so many levels.

I'm glad we don't either.

And I'm also glad I wasn't in a high school sorority.

Looking back to all the Marjorie Sharmat books I read in junior high, the "sisterhoods" she wrote about was based purely on superficial reasons -- i.e. nobody but sorority sisters sit at the Chi Kappa table in the cafeteria. If I had joined an organization like that before becoming an adult, I probably would have been turned off from Greek Life in college because I'd think that all sorority girls were like the ones I read about as a 13 year old.

Finally, I can't help but haha at DSTCHAOS and cupcake. What's up with all the food references lately? ;) :D

Stew and a cupcake for dinner!!! :eek:

Haha, I loooooved those books back in the day.

Hey! I was having the same debate with my class in one of my classes also...Dkr. Kontroversial couldn't say it any better and I agree wit him 100%! And also...I want to say one thing...fraternities have many definitions...Kappa League, Sigma Beta, SOS are fraternities simply because it is a group of people who share a common purpose, interest, or pleasure...IT DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN GREEK ORGANIZATION!! Even Boy Scouts counts as a fraternity!

Just because something "counts" doesn't mean it is meant to be labeled and categorized in that way.

Teresa Heinz Kerry "counts" as African American, but does that make her a good representative of African American life?

Sorry to just barge in, but that's not really fair. No one person can be a good representative of African American life any more than one person can be a good representative of Caucasian life, or Hawaiian life, or Earthling life, etc...

One person can be a good representative only of a group which has certain intentions, or practices, or characteristics. Like, 'he's a good representative of Presbyterians, or Professional Swimmers, or XYZ Fraternity'.

But, all this is neither here nor there. None of this has anything to do with my feelings towards high school fraternities and sororities, which is the subject of the thread. My HS had the Key Club, which seemed fraternity-like. There were several sororities, but only one of them had Greek letters (and there were 4!); the rest had English names, but what difference does it really make. I wasn't in one, but I don't see why the girls who were in one shouldn't've had that opportunity if that's what they wanted.

All this just to say that I have no real opinion about HS sororities and fraternities. :rolleyes: Whatever.