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The Brotherhood of Lambda Chi Alpha?
In case you all don't know, this summer at GA, a proposal has been made to change the name of our fraternity from Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity Inc. to the Brotherhood of Lambda Chi Alpha Inc. Their goal is to eliminate the word "fraternity" from our organization. They believe that it will help eliminate the negative connotations that fraternity brings with it. They also believe that it will attract more alumni back to the organization because it is a brotherhood that lasts forever and not a fraternity that lasts four years.
Now for my opinions on the subject, I think this is one of the dumbest ideas that has ever been presented to the General Assembly. We are still going to be perceived as a fraternity if we change our name or not. Because of this, we will just look stupid without getting anything out of it. As for the alumni issue, I feel that most of them will be outraged. They joined a fraternity, just like we joined a fraternity. I joined a fraternity because I wanted to join a fraternity, not because I wanted to join the Elks Club or Moose Lodge. If you all were wondering where this idea came from, it was presented to the Student Advisory Committee by one of the greatest Lambda Chi's in history, Doc Dirgali (sorry about spelling Doc). I understand what he is trying to do, but this is not the way to accomplish his goal. To put it in international's terms, their intent is not and will not equal their impact. That is for all you Impact Leadership folks out there. IN ZAX, Clint Hampton, High Phi Lambda Eta 1048 Murray State University |
HMMMMM ! Clint, have to ponder on this for a bit!
I attended the Dinner at the KC Regional and nothing was said about that! Typical KNEE JERK reaction! As best as I can guess! What are they going to do when we have to start allowing women in?:eek: |
Hey...no dissing the Moose! I am a member, as was Brother Warren Cole......
The name will not change the perception...it is the behavior and examples we set that will change perception. |
honestly, this was hotly debated at the leadership conference. the concensus (sp?) was that this was a bad idea. the reasons pointed out were that one, in the deep south, brotherhood is related to a klan, and therefore would make us look worse than being a fraternity. Also, some points were brought up about merchandising, and what that would do to that. I believe that changing the name is putting a band aid on a broken leg. this is meant to change the opinion of "outsiders" and they will see us a a fraternity no matter what. and even if it corrects the problem for a while, then others start doing the same, then its no longer fraternity that sounds bad, but brotherhood, then what do we change the name to next? this solves nothing. to "outsiders", LXA is the same as SAE. the way to change that is through good philanthropy and pr, not a name change. personally, i dont care what non greeks think about fraternities, i really could care less.
p.s. sorry about the rant, but this one really gets to me |
Agreed with what everyones said. I have THE UTMOST respect for Doc, whom I think is the greatest living lambda Chi, but I think he is making assumptions that just arent going to play out. Alums get involved because they have a need/desire for a connection to the bond, and something to contribuite. NOT because of a name change.
If we want to change perceptions...close the low performing chapters and drop some serious coin on public relations campaigns. Anyone heard of the creation of an alum ceremony? Like the idea, but have two concerns. First the name. I think it violates the "symmetry" of things. PM me for that if you dont know. And is that REALLY when they expect us to do it? My chap. wouldnt do it then. Secondly, you cant just "create" a new ceremony outta thin air. Our Rit was researched for months and draws on many sources. The AM ceremony is the condensed TKN init ceremony. I just believe you cant "write" a new ritual. It must be carefully crafted. |
Please PM me as have not heard of any of this!
I can voice my say and they do know me at Hdqs! Of course it may end up as the same discussion that Brother George Spasyk and I had until about 4:30 in the morning before I was Initiated about Associate Members instead of Pledges! In the Words of George, " Well Tom you made some good points but that is the way it is going to be". That was 1966, and the rest is History!:) What 1972? Assoc. Member came into being?:confused: |
Hey guys
Well, as you guys know I am just a mere associate, but my two cents on the mater are that it is a pretty assinine idea. As LXA1048 stated we joined a fraternity, not a Moose Lodge and I completely agree. Even though my tenure with the alpha-mu zeta of LXA has just begun, I KNOW that I have joined the most outstanding and well rounded fraternity/brotherhood imaginable and altering the word fraternity with brotherhood is not going to change that in any way. David |
Sigh....OK, brothers, we are all becoming guilty of name association - again - the changing of the name is meaningless - it is what is contained WITHIN that matters.
When we speak of "joining a fraternity to join a fraternity, not the Moose or Elks..." please keep in the mind that the Elks and Moose are also fraternal organizations in their own right, and have longer histories and larger organizations than LXA respectively. When we speak like this, we are making the same assumptions about organizations you may no little about, as are the people outside LXA making assumptions of us....just be careful. Many LXA members are also Moose, Elks, Eagles, OddFellows, Foresters and/or Masons. Warren Cole was a Moose, and Elk, and a Mason. Jack Mason was a Masonic member. |
Off topic, but
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lifesaver PS: Alpha Mu is lucky to have a kid who is as well grounded and humble as you. Lambda Chi is luck to have a kick ass potential brother. BTW, there is nothing mere about being an AM. Its a hell step above being a new member of any other GLO. |
Hey
Hey Bro,
I went to Austin High School. Its a pretty new high school thats right down the street from New Territory. A lot of my friends live over there, but as for me I live about 3 mins away on Hwy 6. I Fell you on the driving thing. It takes an hour to get to the airport and in the era of post 9/11 the wait and confusion at the airport is another 1 - 2 hours, so it often takes longer to fly than to drive for me as well. Later David |
I would like to apologize about the Moose lodge statement, but in my opinion the two are completely different. With the exception of the Mason's (which I am fascinated with) I don't feel like the Elks Club or the Moose lodge has any deep meaning behind anything that they do. It looks to me like they are just places where old (sorry Tom) people go to drink away from their wives. But my opinions are one sided. If you are a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, I don't believe that you should join any other organization. When you join Lambda Chi you are a member until you die, not until you graduate. I believe that it is against the ethics of Lambda Chi to join any other local or general institution on your campus or elsewhere. Although I am fascinated with the Masons, I will never attempt to gain membership. I am a life long member of the only brotherhood that I will need for the rest of my life.
Don't even get me started on the alum. ritual crap. I may throw my computer out the window. Talk to you all later, IN ZAX Clint |
Clint, I sent you a PM.
Thanks. No offense taken. ZAX |
The Brotherhood of Lambda Chi Alpha
What is wrong with changing our name to reflect what we trully are? I spent two nights this week talking to Doc, EM 270, about all kinds of issues, this beinging one of them. There is a trypical "frat" image which I want nothing to do with. We are a brotherhood and we have something special that no one else has. Why not make it know? It is easier to make changes when you change somethings name.
Don't join a fraternity, join a Brotherhood. |
In my opinion, a simple name change will not do any good. To speak in Lambda Chi Headquarters terms, our intent will not equal our impact. We will change our name to attempt to redefine what our organization stands for, when we really need to define what we stand for through action. In my opinion, I don't care if we call associate members pledges. The name doesn't make a difference; it is what we do with our associate members that make a difference. A name is only as good as what is under it.
The removal of the word fraternity from our name will be the first step in a domino effect. Do you all realize that the idea of going co-ed has been debated on the floor of General Assembly? Do you realize that the idea of opening our ritual to the public has been debated at General Assembly? And these ideas have both been brought up on more that one occasion. Lambda Chi Alpha means more to me than almost anything else in my life. I have learned more in one night’s time than I could ever imagine. I love everything I have learned in Lambda Chi and the bond that I share with all of you and with the rest of our brothers is the most important thing I have. But do you know what, we are still a fraternity. I still like to do stupid stuff. I still like to streak sorority houses. I still like to stay up until 4:00 am shooting paintballs at the ATO’s (no offence to the ATO’s, we have a friendly little war going on). I still like to have FUN mixers. I still like to have a few beverages on occasion. We are a social organization. Our organizations was created to allow fellowship with each other and our nationals and everyone else’s nationals is going to squeeze us all so tight that we lose sight of some important facts. We are in collage. These are supposed to be the best years of our life and we are two concentrated on pleasing the ELCs than actually enjoying ourselves. I honestly do not care what other people think of us (meaning those not in Greek organizations). They can criticize all they want to. Those who are interested will come out. Those who realize what being Greek can do for you will rush. Those who don't understand, never will. My chapter has about 100 active brothers right now and I am completely satisfied with them as my brothers. Our rush strategy is if you want to join the best we will be more that willing to allow you a chance, but we don't need you to survive. I have a feeling that the Greek system that we joined will not be the Greek system that our children will join and that truly saddens me. If I pissed anyone off, please don't be offended. I am just stating what I believe. But feel free to respond with pure emotion. That is all that really counts anyway. IN ZAX Clint |
Clint, I do not think anyone could have said it any better!:)
I still have Purple Green and Gold in my Veins after this many years!:D A big nod to you!:cool: |
Clint,
May I reprint what you wrote to our alumni/active server so that about 130 of us Beta-Nus can read it? Please say 'yes' because I already did. Bro, that's the best stuff I've read in a long time. Most importantly, you brought out issues I wasn't even aware WERE issues! And I'm the president of our alumni association. You also stated the way I think most of us feel, and you said it very well. Are you really still 'just' an active? You come across sounding alot more mature but at the same time realistic and certainly sincere. Lambda Chi is fortunate to have brothers like you. Thanks. In ZAX, Jono BN41 |
im going to make a call now, this fails miserably at general assembly... at regionals in kc, only 2 or 3 guys were for this, if thats the trend in other regions, then this will be killed. No offense to Doc, but this is a bad idea.
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It's sad that we have to worry about such a thing as a name change to begin with.
Theoretically, they want to help, and by all means that is apprechiated (sP? i'm sorry i just woke up:D ) but certinly it's unnessesary after all this time. But what i'm more worried about is that we fear change as a group. The name thing to me is just pointless, and thus i do not like the idea. But when it comes to other things, like making the ritual public, i think that's passe in order to please the public. So what if they know anything. Are we afraid that if they don't know something, they're going to try harder to shut us down around the nation? I don't think so at all. The ritual and the morals and the ideals are all now inside, breeding, fustering, and manifesting around us due to our individual actions. WE know that, WE act as MEN, WE act as GENTELMEN, and we thus try to be just, moral, safe, and we all try to make well rounded choices. If we all actually tried to follow the ideals and morals to the letter, we'd be amazing, the public wouldn't care anymore. .... but like someone else said, WE"RE COLLEGE STUDENTS!!!! we can't be perfect and we're far from it. Making things public and changing names and changing image to fit in the system on campus are one in the same thing. They're trying to settle!!!! you don't settle for anything. you son't settle for "A Girl" in order to just have a "Girlfriend" do you? no! it's the same in your everyday life!!! Don't settle. be the best you can with what you have. You are a Brother Of Lambda Chi Alpha, which is a Fraternity, not a Frat (you don't call your country a cunt now do you?). Be not ashamed of your individuality in a group full of men. Do not be ashamed of your group mentality, but do not fear change, it will be change that will help us survive (other things besides the ritual and the name change, didn't want to go against my theses there;) ) my tired two cents in ZAX Jacob Lee (aka Sonic) University of Rhode Ilsand HZ 1268 |
Jono,
Feel free to put anything I write anywhere. I only speak what I believe so I have nothing to hide. Yes I am an undergraduate. I will probally graduate in a year and a half which isn't bad because I am only 21 years old. As for this motion passing, I really doubt it. The only people who are really for it are Doc and the Student Advisory Committee. Almost everyone else at the our conclave was against it in Indianapolis. Speaking of SAC, does anyone else find it strange that they are the ones that are supposed to advise the Grand High Zeta from the undergraduate perspective, and they are appointed by Internationals. Doesn't it seem strange that if we are going to have a member on the Grand High Zeta that the undergraduates should be the ones to choose who it is? The Grand High Sigma is the chairman of the Student Advisory Committee. Any way just another thing to talk about. Talk to you all later, Clint |
For Clint (I gotta meet you someday),
This is what I wrote to my chapter and alumni on our server. Marcus, It's been a long time since someone has peed purple green and gold on the server, and I love you for it. I also know how fired up one can get from attending one of those events. I've been to a couple General Assemblies myself. It's all good, my brother. Doc Dirghalli impressed me at the one in 1976(?), and he's the one with the proposal now to change the name. I don't quite understand the rationale. We'll get to that in a minute. First I just want to say that the email I sent was written by one Clint Hampton who is an active and the current High Phi at Murray State University. He expressed his own viewpoint and for someone his age, I thought it was very well said. It also opened my eyes to an issue I hadn't known was in the works, and I thought it was a quick way to convey that to the general brotherhood. In your 'rapture', shall we say, you may have taken a few of his comments in a way he didn't mean them to be taken. Keep in mind, I excerpted that from an ongoing banter on greekchat. I am very impressed with the state of the chapter at Beta Nu. The brothers there have recovered from some trying times. You guys have put more meaning back into Lambda Chi Alpha than I ever hoped you would. That's a good thing and I for one appreciate it. This whole issue revolves around the 'perception' of 'fraternity'. Now I'm up here in New York, right? Do I see on the evening news that some chapter of some fraternity raised $2000 for charity? No. Do I hear that my nephew's chapter of TKE at Rutgers raises $20,000 every summer (in memory of...) with a golf tournament and now have 5 high school scholarships going? NO. The general public hears that a pledge of some fraternity, somehwere in the country died during hell week. They saw Animal House. They watched FOX's episode of "Undeclared" which was SO ridiculous even I wrote to the writers of the show. I was very disappointed in that because they had the potential for taking the high road and they chose not to. And I told them so, too. What does this come down to? What's it all about? Image. Doc Dirghalli thinks we can change the image of 'fraternity' by changing it to 'brotherhood'. I doubt it. His intentions are noble, but it won't work, and I hope it won't happen. Even Ayn Rand wrote in 1954 that you can't change the nature of something by changing its name. Did racial discrimination go away because pc people say african-american? Did sexual discrimination go away because some people say gay instead of faggot? Well nothing will be accomplished by a change in name. The whole thing is absurd. You can not change the nature of something by changing the name. What you can do is stop people from doing counter-productive things, especially within you own organizations. It looks like Beta-Nu is doing that and I'm glad. A 'brotherhood' sounds like a union, which I abhor. I'm not a union man. I joined a FRATERNITY and I did so 30 years ago come April 29 (Mel will tell ya) and I want the delegates to vote NO! Jono |
SENT ALONG
Clint, I too just sent this along to the Brothers Of LX Z well the 200 e-m that I have gotten!
It seems that International is trying so hard to be Politically Corret that they have forgotten wha the True meaning of LXA really is!:( |
That's Not the reason
Hey guys,
I'm a brother at Texas A&M and am on the 2002 Student Advisory Committee. I'm gonna try to give my view as one of the authors of this legislation. I'm gonna admit up front, that the reasons that we gave at the Regional Conferences sounded like we were ashamed of being called a fraternity. We made the mistake of forgetting that the actives and alumns dont have the same information that we do, and so wouldnt see things from the same perspective as we do. To say that we want to change the name to brotherhood because we are ashamed of the word fraternity, and dont want outsiders to see us like "Animal House" is wrong. If someone is going to pigeon-hole us then that is they're fault for being closed minded. For me, the name change is for us, not them. The one thing that makes us different from the other clubs and organizations on our campuses isn't our mixers and crush parties or our focus on scholastics or even our service activities. You can get all these things elsewhere. But the one thing that no one else has is Brotherhood. It's the force that ties all the other aspects of who we are together. Take away the chance for leadership, excellence in academics, service to the community, and the great social events, and though diminished, we could still exist and be Lambda Chi. But take away the brotherhood and, even if you keep all the other things, we are just another club. We wanted to put a spotlight on the aspect of who we are that we consider the most important and are the most proud of. No one is saying that changing the name is supposed to change who we are. It's a purely symbolic gesture to exhalt this quality. I realized the other day that with all the awards given by HQ for service and outstanding chapters, there isnt one that rewards brotherhood. I agree that brotherhood is something that is hard to measure, but I think we should reward those chapters that have achieved what sadly, many of our chapters don't have. We have put a huge focus on our AM program, but I think we forgot why that was changed in the first place. It was done because we realized that you dont have to beat each other up to build brotherhood. It was all based on brotherhood. Perhaps this name change is more like the step they forgot when they started the AM program. And as for other fraternities, if they want to follow suit and change their names as well, I say more power to them. Maybe if we do it the others will look closely at their own brotherhood and want to put more emphasis on it as well. They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. Now as for the alumni aspect. After going back and reading the legislation I realized that we didnt say why. We just said they would, which sounds pretty stupid. The reasoning behind that was that with a greater focus on brotherhood, along with some of the programs envisioned by Tom Helmbock(Ex VP), that more brothers would see the brotherhood as more than just four years. It wasn't intended to impact the current alumni as much as those to come. The senior ritual that is being tested this semester is all part of that plan. I honestly havent seen the ritual so I dont know what it is in it, but it sounds pretty cool. That was my main reason for wanting this name change. It wasnt because Im ashamed of the word fraternity or of who we are, but the opposite, that I'm proud of who we are and want to share it with everyone. Now as for the comments on the Student Advisory Committee. Since Regionals we have been attacked by brothers as being biased, unrepresentative, and even unbrotherly. I take all of these as personal attacks. I am a brother just like every one of you and deserve to be treated as such. I have a deep love for this fraternity, and would gladly give all I have to save it. Everyone on the Student Advisory Committee is the same. We wouldn't have applied for this position and given up our time and money if we didn't care about the fraternity. We are one of a handful of fraternities that actually has undergraduate representation on the Board of Directors, and if you remember from the other legislation, we are trying to add a 2nd member. If you want to talk individually about SAC feel free to e-mail me. I hope all the undergraduates who were at Regionals apply, it is an awsome opportunity. I guess that's it. I doubt I changed anyone's mine about the name change proposal, but I wanted you to know why I support it. Just a side note, just because SAC says we support something, doesnt mean we had a unanimous vote. We go by concensus. The name change however was one thing we were all dedicated to. In ZAX, Brian Stevens DM 191 P.S. Sorry for any spelling or grammar stuff, I'm not an English major. |
Brian, know one is finding Fault, It is just that some of us would like to know what is going on! I think there have been some strong thoughts on this as there should be! WE NEED To Be Kept informed! While the Active Zeta Runs the day to day, it is the Alums that make things help grow!
I have been one of the first and most vocal on the Digital Thread of International Site! I am still and will always be a member of LXA. I keep in contact with Both on a Regular basis! I beleive in the Principals of LXA and firmally beleive in Both. I can Tell you some storys! Just to show you, I got E-M from A Brother FROM W. Onterio who is living in Aussie Land! Is that Brotherhood or what? Send Me an PM or E-M and will call you! hoyotomas@aol.com |
Brianaggie, youre totally right that you and the rest of sac should be treated as brothers and with respect. However, I think that most of the membership has a justafiable belief that sac is being uprepresentative of the membership on this issue. I say that because at regionals, sac members were for this, and out of all the members attending, only 3 or 4 supported this with sac. So when the membership sees this, in their mind that is being unrepresentative of the general membership. Now, I agree that we have the best brotherhood out of all fraternities, however, we are a fraternity with a great brotherhood. now, I was told that the consitution would be changed from fraternity to brotherhood, therefore not being simply symbolic, but an actual name change. If you want something symbolic, why wouldnt you pass a statement putting an emphisis on our brotherhood but still keep the name fraternity? Now, I can guarantee you hardly any chapters will go by brotherhood, they will keep using a fraternity as the name, and for a good reason, rush. High school guys want to join a fraternity, not a brotherhood. if a guy comes up and asks if were a fraternity, are we supposed to say no, were a brotherhood? to the average rushee, theyre going to think were not a fraternity, members at the local chapter level will still use fraternity no matter what is proposed, so will everyone else. Now, my question hasnt been, and probably cant be answered. You even said that the name change was for us, not outsiders. we know what were about, and since we know that, i dont think we need to change our name. In my opinion, deep down this is either for the approval of outsiders, or to hide some guilt for some. as a member, i know who we are and what we stand for, a name change wont do anything but cause problems. but we'll see how it does at general assembly.
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Re: That's Not the reason
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Listen. I appreciate what you do for the rest of the undergraduates. I appreciate the idea. i really do. I just disagree with the name change. I think there have to be other ways to increase the sense of brotherhood both within and between the zetas. I am not sure what they are, but lets continue to research ideas. For that, I applaud your ideas and energys. IN ZAX, lifesaver |
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