New Black Frat at CAL
 

Ok can I say I had TEARS in my eyes when I read where they were founded???!! And if you have sound, turn it up cause the first page has someone singing their "hymn" I guess.




http://thetalife.com/

Not another one :-?...
 

I normally only respond to topics of a political or religious nature, but I have been thinking about this question for a while, and I have even asked it to members of other fraternities......

What is it about your fraternity that your founders saw and did not see in Alpha Phi Alpha that makes it fundamentally different and therefore necessitated the start of said fraternity?

Now maybe this sounds arrogant, but in reality, I think that it is a good question because I would like to know what Alpha Phi Alpha is missing so as to make the fraternity better. Inevitably, the men talk either about national programs (which really are not too QUALITATIVELY different from Alpha national programs, different name and possibly different approach, but same purpose and goal) or they will talk about what the particular chapter on their campus did or didn't do. Now do not get me wrong, there are differences in the cultures of the fraternities, but I just do not see the need to start new ones. This fraternity, Theta Phi Psi, doesn't seem to have anything new to offer. To be honest, there may not be too much of anything new to offer. I mean, if you do not fit in with any particular one, just hang with your boys and do community service. When Alpha phi Alpha was founded, they actually had something new to offer, a brotherhood of collegiate black men, something that was not happening at that time. They saw needs in the campus and the community and they labored to meet those needs. The need was for a brotherhood of black men that would support one another and instill in the college educated black men a since of giving back to the community. A FRATERNITY was needed. Now, with fraternities springing up at every whim (I mean, they were just sitting in a Dennies :eek: ) it almost cheapens the whole fraternal idea. If there is something that you see on your campus and in your community that necessitates the chartering of a whole new fraternity, a brotherhood of men, then go ahead and start one. But to say things like "We need to help people gain knowledge of self" and "represent black people to the fullest" to me doesn't justify starting a whole new fraternity, start a tutoring program or a church or a think tank, but a fraternity? Be you and do you, but does that need a fraternity?

Just tell the truth, you wanted to be in a fraternity and didn't like what you saw in the fraternities that were already in existence. That is what really happens, it really has little to do with a new idea about community service, a new fraternal idealism, or anything. They say that they wanted to be "founders" of a fraternity, doesn't seem to me to be a very high ideal nor a very altruistic reason for starting a fraternity.
Blackwatch!!!!!!

New Frat at Cal message from President
 

I just want to shout the lovely ladies of Delta Sigma Theta inc. I recieved a very supportive email from someone who undoubtedly relfects the organization in a very posive and efficient manner. Now its time for me let the truth be known to people who say things that are derogatory for no reason. In response to a message that was obviously posted by a member of Alpha Phi Alpha or an apparent Alpha groupie, for you to say that you don't see why there is a need for there to have ever been a need for existing fraternities outside of Alpha Phi Alpha demonstrates part of the reason that Theta Phi Psi was founded. Before our organization started Alpha's, Kappa's and the whole greek world were competeing for me as well as my brothers membership. Each organization telling me about all of the supposed great things that they were doing while at the same time doing nothing short of hating on all of the other NPHC fraternities. Every last one of the organizations was preaching how it was all about solidarity and brotherhood yet they continued to speak of the other organizations in a vulgar and offensive matter. Many of people who claimed to be a part of the supposed brotherhood also preached false facts to the public like stating that Frederick Douglas was "a so and so." Well my fellow black historians the problem with that statement is that Frederick Douglas was dead long before any of the black Greek organizations were ever founded.

Secondly, half of the people who were in a recruiting frenzy over all of us don't even speak to us anymore. Is this becuase we have countless interest in our organization or is this becuase we are constanly in the publics eye practicing what we preach.

Thirdly, many of the people who are terrofied of our existence have chosen to go out and publish things stating that we have no reason for our existence. All I have to say about that is obviously we do or no one would be a member of our organization.


Fourthly, if your organization is so profound and so great then why are you worrying about a bunch of new booties on the block that supposedly don't stand for anything. I mean come on your nuts are so big because you were founded decades before us.

Fifthly, (If this is even possible) If the founders of the black greek FRATERNITIES would have been performing the way that many people in many organizations performed today (Acting like they are better than other groups, walking around damn near naked, and dancing around looking in imagionary mirrors) they would have been skinned and hung from a tree.


Lastly, We are creators of a new vision and legacy while others patch and repair we destroy and rebuild. The fact that people will go out of their way to say derrogatory things about us only demonstrates that African Americans still have the house nigga - field nigga mentality also known as crabs in a bucket. In time the cream shall rise to the top and all descendants of Judas (Betrayer of Jesus) shall take their place under our feet as ashses on our as we walk the road to heaven. www.Theta life.com

Come One, Come All........
 

Theta Pharaoh :confused: (?),
Your screen name proves my whole point, your fraternity offers nothing new in theory or deed. On your own website, where you have complete control over the content, you go on about nothing of substance. You never talk about specifics that your fraternity founding was necessary for, other than you wanted to be in a fraternity. You talk about "black people learning Knowledge of self" yet where is that knowledge of self on your website? What news updates have you listed? What about the upcomming election? Who are the candidates of interest to the people of the Berkley/Oakland area? What about resources that kids that you want to mentor can use to better themselves in the educational realm? Don't tell me you guys haven't had time to figure that stuff out, you started a whole new "official" fraternity complete with colors, letters, and everything:rolleyes: . You say you have a new vision, where is it? It's not on your website, but you sure had time to post each person's favorite songs and which women they thought were fine?:confused: Give me a break. Normally I am a nice person, but I really feel that we need to start holding our people to a higher standard, and now I am holding you to a higher standard. If you are, as you state, "creators of a new vision and legacy" where is this new vision? Where is this new legacy? You have a whole website and have even created a new thread here in the Delta Ave. in GC and all I see is fluff, no substance. What new light can you bring to bear on issues that affect our community? And, to my point in posting, why is it a fraternity was needed to bring about this new light or vision that you have? What does you fraternity have that is not anywhere in Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma, or Iota Phi Theta?

Listen, I do not want to come off as arrogant, because my questions were and still are indeed sincere. If you, brother, have truly found something in your fraternity that has something of new substance to offer the students at Cal and the black community that cannot be or is not in the others, then I applaud your efforts and intiative. But if you just got a little arrogant and thought that no one in any fraternity had a clue about brotherhood and service until you came along and therefore you had to start a whole new fraternity please spare the college and BGLO communities the trouble, because there is already enough shortsightedness and self-centeredness to last a million lifetimes.

And since you are new, let me introduce myself to you, so you know exactly who I am...

" To a few, I am the castle of dreams- ambitious, successful, hopeful dreams.
To many, I am the poetic palace where human feeling is rhymed to celestial motives;
To the great majority, I am the treasury of good fellowship.
In fact, I am the college of friendship; the university of brotherly love; the school for the better making of men.
I AM ALPHA PHI ALPHA!!!!!!
Blackwatch!!!!!!

gc acting funky hope my post shows. . . bbl oncei read these senior thesis long azz posts.:rolleyes:


all right I am back.

First let me say I heard about this new "fraternity" a few weeks ago and while I have not been to the website, I heard that it was founded at a Denny's. Also based on Blackwatch's description of the content of said website (member's favorite songs and cute women), your organization does sound frivolous.

Let me say some things to help you ThetaPharoah understand why you will not necessarily be embraced by the Divine 9. Number one, all orgs founded after Alpha Phi Alpha and Alpha Kappa Alpha received flack and continue to receive flack on some level because we were not the first or we left one org to come up with another or we _____________________ (you fill in the blank). Now here it is 2002, and you and your members (how many are there) are here representing yet another brotherhood because the ones that are already in place did not work for you so you brothers were assumably sitting at Denny's one night eating and talking and from this conversation was born an organization which has Greek letters, colors, etc. etc. and called a fraternity. Now pardon me if I sound elitist and even a little condescending, but is your organization REALLY all of that!?!?!? What are you all out there doing in the community? Let me just say that while your intents might have been noble if the fruits of your labor are not evident, expect criticism. IN ALL THINGS, EXPECT CRITICISM. No we are not HATERS, we are critics and we are curious about yet another fraternity being born and what it stands to do in the community and how it will get things done.

Now Blackwatch I agree with a lot of what you said and I want to really ask: How come if there was a sincere interest in one of the existing fraternities on your part (including all members of your org), what REALLY stopped you from joining or attempting to join? Was it really that the fraternity was not living up to all of its principles as set forth by their founders?

Quote:

ThetaPharoah said: If the founders of the black greek FRATERNITIES would have been performing the way that many people in many organizations performed today (Acting like they are better than other groups, walking around damn near naked, and dancing around looking in imagionary mirrors) they would have been skinned and hung from a tree.

Come on with that mess, brotha!! Do you know that ALL orgs act like they are better than the others? For the most part it is friendly competition. Do you know that most orgs/groups/etc. with people in it have their friendly competition? Example, in college, we used to be at a party and inevitably we would want to "rep our city":p so you would hear Cleveland, Columbus, and da Nati yelled out over and over. . . is that not a parallel to the fraternal and sorority calls done while at an event? Sports teams do it as well. Oh and in high school, didn't you used to rep your class year and say stuff like SEeeeeeeeniors and other friendly competitive melee??? :confused: Yes some of what our orgs do can be embarassing and even belittles the overall purpose that we were founded for. But let me just say this, all of our orgs are about business. There are programs in place in all of them that are doing great things, reaching back helping others in some way, shape, form, or fashion.

Finally (because there really is no such things are fifthly or fourthly or thirdly, but I am off duty so I will end there), your organization is in its advent and you can expect to have people curious about your organization and what sets it apart overall from the other orgs in place. I challenge you to enlighten them in a positive way that speaks to the caliber that you purport your members have.

Thank you


**yall know I don't do long messages so you betta have read EVERY word because there will be a quiz.:p**

Ok, round two.
 

I would like to start by asking the question that if we were a white fraternity does anyone think that other white people would care as much as some of you appear to? What all of you must understand is that no matter how high you hold your greek letter organization over your head you typically have developed your views based on what your chapter has socialized you into believing. Each Greek organization in the NPHC varries from campus to campus, and on our campus none of the frats fit the criteria for what we desired in a fraternity. Next I can't help but address the false accusation that there was no reason for us to start an organization. Well I am from Oakland where only 28% of African American students passed the high school exit exam. I am from a place that is among the top five cities in the country for murders this year. I am from a city in which over 75% of the black families do not have fathers in the home. (Or a male figure at all for that reason) So obviously there was still plenty of issues that needed to be addressed. Our website is always under construction and just because we don't boast about everything that we do in the community, that does not mean we don't do the service. If you went to the site and read my bio to show support and not to look down on me, you would have read that I have won the Ri'chard McGee hubbard award given to the Bay Area's most outstanding young leader. If you were a member of the community you would know that we are all "active" mentors and on top of my horrendous schedule I obigate myself to Castlemount High school (One of the lowest achieving schools in the country) at least 15 hours a week. As for the rest of my brothers they all work individually with inner-city kids on the weekly basis. Just because you throw out a bunch of qoutes at someone (that none of you wrote) in order to try to impress them with your education does not mean anything. If that was the case we could do the same because we do attend the top public institution in the country, and I assure that academically we are all worthy to be here. Next, if you were to examine our purpose one of our goals is to improve communication outside of the black community with all races, creeds and colors. We plan and throw events constantly with other organizations that are not African American. What group in the NPHC has that as one of its goals? :confused: We are going to be a part a new developing multi-ethnic umbrella organization that will help us to achieve this goal even more. As for the Alphas most of them are still my homeboys and we have no problem with them as an organization, but don't get mad because we stood alone and did what was right for us. As far as self-education is concerned I don't feel like there should be a "black cap" on anyone starting a community service based organization. Any black person who truly loved and embraced black pepple would not care how the work gets done as long as sombody does it. As for our goal of working to educate urban youth, this is mandatory to become a Theta. You must be a mentor or youth advisor of some sort. Like I said earlier, the same thing what HATERS are attempting to do to us is the same thing that happened to every black greek organization after the Alphas and the A.K.A.'s were founded. I don't expect my fellow greek bretheren to care for us, Im not little Kim but, "If I were you I would probably hate me too." Even though it is our intention to only add to the greek community and give people more choices as far as organization selection goes we have to endure the hating. But in all honesty this is exactly what we expected from many greeks. I can't emphasize enough how little I care about that because all of the real people who think indepently of the "Im superior" :D mentality flood our message bord and my inbox with major love and those people are my family. All of our real Greek hommies still love and look forward to planning events with us. Also to the person who is trippen off of my chat room spelling. I hope that you will be in graduate school with me next year at HARVARD. I mean give me a break. Remember that in spite of any negative feeling that any of you have about us we will always love you and I'll be sure to pray for you before I go to sleep tonight.
Holla back;)

*sigh*

What to say, what to say? More power to you for feeling the need to start your own organization but, I'm not impressed. Comparing the stated purpose of Theta Psi Phi to the content of the site, I have a hard time believing this organization is committed to self-education, or education of any type simply because of the sheer number of grammar and punctuation errors.

Second, you have a community service coordinator, but NO community service projects, upcoming or otherwise, are listed on the site. Again, that doesn't reflect well on the organization's commitment to its purpose & mission. Yeah, I know, just because it's not advertised does not mean it's not being done. But as an organization looking to expand I would think you'd be more eager to let people know exactly what it is you're about on your own website rather than trying to defend your organization on a sorority message board.

A third point of concern is the the lack of a professional image. It's fine to provide visitors with brief biographies of the founding members, but to have "shout outs" and personal statistics of the people who are most important to the organization's expansion & growth right now severly diminishes the perception of credibility. Honestly, as the site stands, it DOES look like a glorified dating service, as someone mentioned in one of your FAQs. If you want your organization to be taken seriously, it is imperative that a solid, polished and PROFESSIONAL image be conveyed, ESPECIALLY if it's one that's being transmitted worldwide like it is now with your website.

Since you're a very young group with no track record of exemplary projects or notable members, your image is EVERYTHING to you. It is IMPERATIVE that you put your absolute best foot forward. My suggestion is that you take a GOOD look at your website and compare it not to the websites of the D9 organizations, but of your fellow up and coming organizations. Compare the image that they have put forth with yours. Network with them, learn from their mistakes. Learn for YOUR mistakes. Most importantly, LEARN FROM CRITICISM.

Like CrimsonTide4 said, you are GOING to have critics. That's not going to suddenly stop when you get 10,000 or 50,000 or 200,000 members. In MOST cases your critics are not "hatin" on you. As a side note, WHY is it that when someone makes a critical comment about someone or something they're labeled a "hater"? My personal view is if one feels "everyone" is "hatin" on them, that person has some self-esteem issues. But I digress. Criticisms are made so you can GROW and DO BETTER. Your biological family did/does it so why are you expecting anything less from your African American family?

While you're praying for your "haters," :rolleyes: pray for guidance and solid leadership. Pray for strength. Pray for the courage to realize that the energy you're spending to defend your organization to people whose opinions you don't seem to think matter can be better spent improving your organization so that the organzation's accomplishments will speak for themselves.

Re: New Black Frat at CAL
 

For some reason I can't get the site to download completely. Anyone else having the same problem?

This will be brief because I have to head in to teach my HIGH SCHOOLERS.

I went to the website and let me just say that it is a deluxe BP page with a little bit of info about the fraternity. Nothing on it makes me say "Ooh these brothers are going to do the damn thing!" Nothing on your website made me say their vision is outstanding and going to really flourish. Your page looks more like you are advertising the dating marketability of your members moreso than the mission of your organization.

Kudos for getting to Harvard and your 3 associate's degrees. However, if you are going to be a Harvard man can you at least proofread and edit your webpage as you would a paper that you are turning in to any of these presitigious institutions of higher education.

What my fellow moderator said is on point especially that whole haters angle. No one is a HATER. I have my letters and my organization is standing on a well earned, 89 10/12 years' legacy of SISTERHOOD, SCHOLARSHIP and SERVICE. :D

What programs are the TEN of you doing in Oakland to get the crime rate down? What are you doing to improve the quality of life in Oakland? Are you working with the other orgs, not just Greek Lettered, to improve the quality of life in Oakland? That is great that you want to bridge the gap between organizations on your campus and that is indeed a unique vision but hell our Black student organization was doing that in undergrad as well and we did not become a fraternity.

Comparing how white folks feel about new orgs versus Black folks is hadly the same but hey to each his or her own.

In conclusion, think about how your image is being communicated via your website to thousands of people who do not know you and will only come to know you based upon the information found on your website. Anywebsite is open for CRITICISM not "hateration". Elevate your vocabulary and eliminate that word because no one is a hater when they state their opinion, they are a CRITIC.

**thinking to myself** I know I said this very same thing in issue 1 of D*mmit Why?

Re: Re: New Black Frat at CAL
 

ladygreek,

I am also having the same problem :confused:

Gina

Try

http://www.thetalife.com

Re: Ok, round two.
 

Seriously not trying to HATE here, but since when is UC-Berkeley the "top public institution in the country"?

I just wanted to congradulate ThetaPharoah on starting something new. It takes great vision and even greater courage to be a leader and not a follower. To say that there is no need for new organizations is not only pompous but its also limiting the coalitions that can be mad between the divine nine and locals to work together and do good for the community. But I guess that its good to have so much confidence in your org., that you can't possibly phathom people finding a home outside of it.:rolleyes: I admire the dedication. As a non-greek, I believe I am capable of offering a different perspective, a positive one. Look at it this way, many orgs., dare I say even in the divine nine have been started on less than noble causes but as these orgs., grew, they expanded to fit those needs and have become some of the most respect organizations today. Give people a chance to grow, locals dont have 89 years of experience but imagine what gap they could fill if given a chance. Locals won't replace the NPHC but maybe if given a chance and maybe even a little help they can do things that the NPHC can't or wont do. Basically, we should all be working together instead of worrying what your frat was founded on because as long as you have strong, positive black folks getting together doing positive things in the name of whatever than whats so wrong with that???

P.S. Are you all sure thirdly isn't a word? I am not saying that it being used over and over again is grammatically correct, but surely its an adverb that can be used at least once in a while.:)

Round 3 (ding)
 

First I would like to thank newbee for the support. You truly represent what all of this is "supposed" to be about. I must also say that honestly in spite of what some of you say we have done more this year than many of the "devine" organizations. (At least on this campus) Or should I say those organizations that are not on probation or have at least 2 members. Mr. and Mrs.Critic/Hater, whatever. And to the person who questioned Berkeley being the top public institution in the country. It has been that way for at least 20 years so what in the world are you talking about, please check the Princeton Review. As for the first two reponses to my last post I actually think that you have "some" valid points and I am with out a doubt the last person who probably feels that I have something to prove to anyone, but I will undoubtebly take the useful things that some of you have said into consideration. I said it once and I'll say it again, I don't expect some of the people from the "devine" organizations to love us because to many of the frats (Especially on this campus) we are the most substantial threat to them gaining members. If you guys don't discredit us we will UNDOUBTEBLY become the biggest frat here and then we will have no choice but to expand. Besides all of this, the murderers of my LORD came back to worship him after his death, so why should I get all bent out of shape :eek: about your "criticism." None of you realize who we are yet but in 20 years you can tell your kids that you had the pleasure of "critisizing" us.
P.s.
Like I stated in the previous post, the website is still under construction and maybe, just maybe, it will be just as excellent and efficient as some of the "devine" orgs chapter websites. Oooops my bad, thats if your chapter has a website. :(

Re: Round 3 (ding)
 

Hmm...you are so quick to call someone a "hater" for what they post, yet each of your posts seems to have more personal and direct attacks than anyone else's.

You do understand why people are so critical of your org, right? Please drop the defensive posture for a sec and see what we see. None of us here go to UC Berkeley. All we can see of you is the website we are offered. That little tidbit is downright juvenile. Sorry, but it is. I mean, before the site even loaded, I got some corny guy crooning bad R&b to me. My first impression is this: Bad R&B, bios that reek of personal ads, and elementary web design. Not a great start. You may very well do tons of community service and have a great impact in your city or university. But no one other than you guys will ever know, because that info sure isn't readily available to the general public.

I think that if you were truly unconcerned (as you stated on NUMEROUS occasions) about what other people thought, you would not be here attempting to shoot down other's opinons and dismiss them as "haters." Rather, you would be out trying to build your org from the ground up or at the VERY least have a website that shows more than just your taste in women and someone's singing ability (or severe lack thereof).

I don't fault you or your brothers for trying. But really, this whole thing looks like smoke and mirrors to me. My philosophy is show and prove.

Why do you keep spelling Divine- "Devine"? Am I missing the sarcasm or something? :rolleyes:

Round 4
 

Obviously some of you will have your impression already entrenced no matter what I say, so I will just get back to my presidential duties and work on uplifting my community and my brothers.
Peace:cool:

Re: Round 4
 

Well, good luck to you cuz you know you're going to need it. I think you got alot of useful feedback from the posters, even though you may not have liked the way you received it. Being a member of the Divine 9, I still don't understand the "devine", but oh well, I guess it was just over my head.

Re: Round 4
 

Hold up Mr. "Theta" slow your roll!

Since you are getting so "big and bad" in this thread why don't you go over to kazodiass and do the same thing? Because we are(and have been) talking about it there for weeks. I'm sorry, but I can't picture my founders seeing the vision over a lumberjack slam.

What bothers me is that if one of the 4 frats wasn't for you, then fine, but don't DIRECTLY bite off of the EXACT organizations that you claim you want to break away from! Don't call yourself a "pharoah" or pose in the "ivy stance". Create your own!

And since you seem to be telling folks why the D9 wasn't for you, Let me post for you from the Kappa's the real reason you founded this fraternity, feel free to go to kazodiass and respond:

QTE


Let me give you the history (and I use that word loosely) on this bullshit of a fraternity...

Last year, DURING KAPPA WEEK at UC Berkeley, my chapter hosted "Blind Date". It was pretaped, but one of my neos commented as the tape was playing and had mad jokes on one of the contestants who was PLAYING himself on film for the whole Black population at Cal to see.

After the film, the dude on film (who was in the audience) tried to get crunk and yell out from the audience that he was "misrepresented" by the film. Of course, Mark (my neo-host) klowned the shit out of him and the dude tried to say "come see me without your homies!" He was ignored and of course, did NOTHING, and the show continued.

That night was the INFAMOUS NIGHT OF FOUNDING at where..... DENNY'S! Him and his disgruntled group of friends got together and decided that they were tired of being played. Thus, the first incarnations of Theta Psi Shizit.

-MK (how clowned are you to publicly ANNOUNCE that you were founded at Denny's in Emeryville...)

Last round
 

First of all your facts are all backwards. I was at the Kappa Dismissed game with my brothers, so to say that the frat started because of that is proposterous. As for me not doing nothing about a scrub who is really white but claims to be black there is not a dude on that campus who could even make me think of fear. It bothers me that people try so hard to spread false facts in order to justify their negative actions, but I guess all men evolve from sin. Besides the kappa event was in Febuary and we began in the previous November, you do the math. I would also like to encourage any greek who see's me and feels the need to post false fact like they know me to confront me in person. Im not hard to find at all, I evolved from the streets with roaches and rats. (Evolved being the key word) Im pretty sure that I am on their mind a lot more than they are on mine. This will indeed be my last response because some things just must be accepted as a lost cause.
Peace
and I will pray for you all

Re: Last round
 

save the "find me on the streets" mumbo jumbo for someone else and like I SAID, please go to kazodiass to respond.:rolleyes:

this thread is too darn funny!

The "New" Frat...to the "boys" of Theta whatever....
 

I really don't know where to begin....at first I just laughed at your site because I thought it was really a gag...then when I began to read the threads and realized that you guys were serious I was like WHOA!!!
I guess the first thing I should say is that the negative feedback that you are receiving is you own fault......look at your site....it is like a reject from Blackplanet......regardless of if it is under construction or not you should have used tack and a sense of class in your presentation of yourselves and your organization since you seem to want to be taken seriously......As a proud DYNAMIC DIVA of DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC I can say that I know for a fact NONE of our Illustrious 22 founders would have put that kind of mess together to represent themselves or our organization.
I'm sure you've heard the steak on a trashcan lid theory...no matter how good something is, if you present it wrong or without taste then no one is going to be able to see past your presentation.....sure anybody off the street has a right to say "Hey today I'm starting a frat or sorority" but it takes a OUTSTANDING group of people to start an organization that is going to be taken seriously in the community(DST is 200,000+ women strong)......judging from your web site YOU didn't take your organization seriously so why should anyone else......You lost me with that dude singing.....can on now be for real!!!!!
AND ANOTHER THING......
when someone criticizes you it does not mean that they are "hatin"
it means that they don't agree with you.....knock the chip off your shoulder and LISTEN to people........some of the ones you were ready to argue with and "pray" for were also saying some positive things about your "organization"......now I have to ask you this.....Why start a "fraternity" as opposed to a civic group like the 100 Black Men......since you claim you hadn't seen anything appealing to you from the 5 frats of the D9 then why go greek......you can certainly do good in the community without being a "greek" organization.....I don't even think you know anything about whats behind greek life....its not just about colors, letters, and calls.....its so much more...I can't even begin to explain....Delta really changed my life........
well anyway...I sure you'll rebut this with some sarcastic comment but while you're on your knees praying for the Alphas or whoever ask God to give you smoe enlightment, guidance, wisdom, a true vision, humblness, a sence of direction, and grace.....because I'm KNOW my founders possessed all of these qualities and so many more....#9 "Heavy Content"

This is hilarious!!! I know somebody had to have made this up just for laughs!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Re: New Frat at Cal message from President
 

Let me first say that I am not a member of any BGLO but I do feel like you really ought to do your research on these organizations before you go along posting comments about Alpha Phi Alpha or any other BGLO. Seriously, how much research did you do? Are you trying to achieve parity among these groups or totally stand for something else? If that was the case, why didn't you start some other type of fraternal organization (non-greek)? It seems to me that you are looking at the exterior of these organizations. I mean, the calls and hand signs and things of that nature are all cute and all but these organizations all stand for something that is so obvious to Red_Robin. Hey, if you wanted to do for the community, what was wrong with joining the NAACP or an organization such as that. And I very seriously doubt that any black fraternity requested your membership when you can't spell because. (With all of the grammatical errors I've noticed throughout your postings, you should probably be focused more on an english course than greek anyway!) And BECUASE of this, among other obvious flaws, you would never make it in these organizations. Quit hatin' on the Divine 9 (or devine...ignorance is blissful isn't it?). Do your research! Do your research!!!!!!

this is so silly, i'm laughing at this corny song being sung flat (just being honest), come on this is a joke right (right?), lol. IF you want to be taken seriously, BE SERIOUS. Starting a new organization is not the problem, because if its not quality it won't last. And certainly anyone of quality would not be interested in such a ridiculous organization (you do want quality members right?). If you're really serious (i'll give you the benefit) then i suggest you revamp the Image of your fraternity because it makes whatever vision you have look and "sound" bad. peace and good luck.

Re: Last round
 

It sounds like you are more involved with rats and roaches. I'm sorry that you had a rough life but this is college. I thought that we were on a totally different level now. And just a word of advice from me to you, before you request that anyone does "the math" you should do spellcheck or find the word "proposterous" in the dictionary for me. Please, stop making a fool of yourself among these people ( The Divine 9 ). You didn't make the list!!!!!!!

Re: Re: Last round
 

CTFU. CTFU. CTFU @rats and roaches.

I still can't get the page to fully load. Is anyone else still having this problem?

I'm not sure what kind of internet connection you have, but I have dial up and it takes a WHILE to load.

UC Berekely IS one of the top public universities in the nation. I guess it's a matter of opinion whether it is number one but it's definately in the top ten. Check the rankings.........

I can stay silent no longer
 

My post somehow got erased, so I'll get to the point.

To Theta Pharoah, congrats on you and your bruhs starting a new org, best luck in all your endeavors, great points on your posts, and most importantly, don't EVER feel that you have to justify your org to anyone. It's your org, do as you wish with it.

To Reiki, great points made also. I agree 1973%

To the NPHC naysayers, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Who are you (or anyone, for that matter) to feel that it is your place to validate any org? Furthermore, who asked you to do so in the first place?

The following items were brought up, to which I say, "SO WHAT??!!"

- Founded at Denny's. Jesus Christ was born in a stable and his humble beginning reaped much fruit in his 33-year life. I don't recall any NPHC org being founded at the Waldorf-Astoria or some such glamourous surroundings. Pick a more mature argument than that to laugh about. That's trivial.

- Website. They are undergraduate students, yall. Give them room to breathe and grow. I trust indeed they will change and modify their site as the need presents itself. Let them portray themselves as they see fit. Darn!!

Overall, I think this whole issued was handled poorly and immaturely. For orgs that boast 80-90 year histories, I would anticipate better from this. They are less than a year old. Make allowances for that. I know other folks made allowances for you. Or did you forget that because you were founded so long ago? I know, selective amnesia. It's all good.

Again I ask, how can the NIC have 65 orgs and the NPC 26 orgs and none of them get bent out of shape when a new GLO arises? Oh, maybe because they started in the 1800s and know which battles to fight and which battles to let go.

My 1973 cents.

In response to Rain Man.....
 

I am one of the "nay sayers" that you spoke of and I STILL stand behind my comments about "Theta" 1913%!!!!! If Theta Pharoah and the other members of his organization wanted to be taken seriously then they would have presented themselves in a serious manner....being an undergraduate is not a reason or acceptable excuse to be immature or to do things in bad taste. I am an undergrad.....My organization's 22 ILLUSTRIOUS founders were also undergrads, they introduced themselves to the world when they participated in the women's suffrage march as their first act of community service. This is because they were about business and about standing for something positive.......PLEASE don't make excuses for the "Thetas"......If you present yourself like mess or junk, then don't be offended when thats how you are received......Theta Pharoah had alot to say about what was wrong with the existing BGLOs but he has yet to say how they are going to make positive changes in the greek community.....he has classified anyone who doesn't agree with him as a "hater"......he believes he needs to pray for everyone else when he should be praying for guidance and wisdom for himself so that maybe one day after some hardwork and dedication his organization CAN stand proud amongst the Divine 9.

Re: I can stay silent no longer (dramatic, aren't we)
 

All the ranting & raving you've done, and do, about NPHC members having condescending attitudes toward non-NPHC members and here you come with one. I swear, it never ceases to amaze me how many people condemn members of the NPHC organizations for having dismissive, sanctimonious attitudes, yet those SAME critics have the same attitudes about us. :confused: :rolleyes:

We need to be "ashamed" for expressing an opinion about a website that's public information? "We" need to be AKSED for an OPINION about a website that's out in PUBLIC DOMAIN?? Man, please. You have GOT to be kidding. Using your same logic, who asked YOU to give your opinion :rolleyes:

About the Theta Phi Psi website, I'm about to get strictly academic. I'm going back to Intro to Business. That website is a marketing tool. It's my opinion that they are marketing themselves very poorly. It appears that others feel that way as well. Their student status DOES NOT excuse poor design. Honestly, I know 13 year olds who've designed sites better than that, but I digress. Even if you put the site design aside, the spelling and grammar errors are inexcusable. Those types of errors diminish the credibility of the organization, much the same way that those same types of errors would lessen a reporter's or a newspaper's credibility. As you so cleverly pointed out, they are college undergraduates. As such, their writing, spelling and proofreading abilities should be MUCH better than what's presented on the website. Someone on another message board mentioned an analogy dealing with serving a steak on a garbage can lid. For all we know, Theta Phi Psi could be doing big things, but you can't tell by looking at their site.

If you'll take the time to read and consider the comments made, the issue expressed in most of the replies is not that the organization exists. The issue is the presentation. It's crappy. Plain & simple.

It's AMAZING to me how quick we are to make excuses for something just because it's new and because someone put forth "an" effort. I was always taught to put forth my best effort. Lord help them if this website reflects their best effort.

As for this being handled "poorly and immaturely," well, let me ask you something. Is it immature because most of the replies are criticism, constructive & otherwise? Or is it because most of that criticism comes from members of NPHC organizations? Would the commentary be less immature if these same comments came from people who are not members of any GLO at all?

From a non-NPHC perspective...
 

I wanted to post on this earlier, but then Theta Pharoah left, so I didn't. However, after reading Rain Man's post, I couldn't help but to reply.

RM,

I wanted to post to you since I'm not in an NPHC sorority. I hope that maybe this will have an impact on how you feel. But who knows, maybe it won't.
First of all, everything that has been said thus far about the Thetas is indeed the utter truth. I don't think that the criticism is based on the fact that they started a new org or started it at a Denny's (as you said RM, who cares where it started, that's not really important). But it's the site and what's on it that makes me feel that they need to grow up and get it together if they want this org to succeed.

Speaking from personal experience... as a founding member of my chapter and member of a fairly young organization, I have to agree that IF the Thetas want to make a GOOD impression to the public, they need to do better. I'm sorry, but the website they created is pure crap. Just as Kelli said, "plain and simple" the website needs A LOT of work. Yes, they are in undergrad, but to that I say "SO WHAT?"
After my sisters and I established our UNDERGRAD chapter, I became the chapter's webmaster. Now at that time, I was a novice (I had about 6-8 mths experience), but I made DAMN sure that our website represented the sorority in the BEST light possible. First, we made sure that we gave information about our principles, our goals, what we did on campus and what we planned on doing on campus, etc. Second, I made sure that it looked tight!! I wanted it to represent everything that we are about. So regardless of their class standing, they CAN pull off a nice site w/out much design experience. My biggest problems with their site were the song in the beginning (just play a regular song...no need to get "fancy" when the rest of the site is seriously lacking) and their bios. I'm sorry, but that was the most ridiculous thing! Why is all that necessary? Ok, if they want bios, cool. But they really made themselves look silly by telling their: fav artists/ song, most attractive woman, relationship status.....the list goes on. This is NOT important. No one wants to know that! Their site should NOT be a place to try and land themselves a date! It really did seem like a version of Blackplanet when I read all of that.

Their site tells nothing about what they do in the community that Theta Pharoah boasted about several times in his posts on here. If that is the biggest thing about their fraternity, then I would expect it to be ALL over the site. Instead, it reeks of nonsense that would not make anyone interested in wanting to join....unless they are desperate men thinking that if they joined, they could get women ( :rolleyes: ), status or whatever!

As I said, everything that has been said about the site, I agree with. I know from firsthand experience that if he wants his org to go far, he's going to have to do MUCH better than that. I know that putting up a well designed, informative website was important to me and my sisters when we started our chapter. If he feels the same, then he needs to do something about that...and quickly! The more people that see that, the more criticism he is going to get about it.

Re: Re: I can stay silent no longer (dramatic, aren't we)
 

Good point!!

I am not a member of a GLO and I feel the same way as most others who have posted.

The site is trash.

Should we hold our tongue or say otherwise simply because they "tried"? NO.

They obviously feel that their org is to be taken seriously. Well...with that website representing them, it just ain't gonna happen.

Rain Man, I think you should take of your anti-NPHC blinders and look at this objectively. The criticism is pretty universal, NPHC, GDI, and otherwise. From what we have seen, the org is just lacks depth, class, and professionalism. Notice I said FROM WHAT WE HAVE SEEN.

I agree 100% with ZChi4Life. The website is their presentation to the world. If that's what we are meant to believe their org stands for, then I remain unimpressed.

HELLO!!! GREAT point!!!

OK, I see your point....
 

.....regarding Theta's website TO THE EXTENT that IMHO they should have held off on displaying their mission/purpose OR displayed how their mission/purpose is being executed on their website via upcoming events and/or pictures.

As far as their website goes overall, for a Black GLO, it is somewhat typical from what I have seen on other GLO sites. I think that they would have been better served just saying that "we were founded to be a brotherhood of men just kickin' it and having fun" at least until such time as their actual mission/purpose could be demonstrated on their site. That way, they were being honest and realistic and consistent with what was displayed on their site. As for the BlackPlanet thing, I don't surf BP so I don't know really anything about it. Unfortunately, I cannot get sound on this computer, so I couldn't hear the crooning (Librasoul, do Black folks "croon"? I only thought old White folks like Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby actually crooned *LOL* :D ).

So, after re-reading the Theta website....
My only concern is that this frat was founded with a serious mission up front rather than letting it evolve as the org grew when I don't see any such evidence supporting the purpose. I don't doubt that Theta isn't Takin' Care of Business (TCBing), we just don't see it.

HOWEVER,

I still stand by my discontent for folk complaining that it was founded at Denny's, and that the organization as a whole is crappy. As far as the visual presentation? That's debateable. As far as the org, to be fair, same thing.

Thus, how do I feel now after the replies?

Frankly, I am humbled.

I'm curious to know if these guys are still active. I didn't see them listed on CAL's registered student org's list. Havent seen them on campus either.

In all honesty, all of the orgs are businesses that provide a service. This service is brotherhood or sisterhood, longevity, sense of pride, what have you. Even a non-profit must still fulfill a need to make a 'sale'. If you indeed want this organization to succeed, it shouldn't duplicate what is already been done or re-invent the wheel per se. I don't believe in discrediting your efforts, but cliche as it sounds... be seen and not heard. Just think about it, even the newer members of any NPHC org uses/should this as their personal mantra. I gladly STILL do in certain eschelons of my dear sorors.

I come from a family of business owners, in order to plant that seed of a great thing, a legacy that can carry on once you are long gone takes more than just a good idea. It must show its worth through the tests of time, people graduating, maintaining active and financial members, recruiting new members year after year after year after year, growth, etc! The work of the d9 is never done, nor should it be. Sustainability is the core of any "great" business, organization, family, you name it!

Enduring criticism, harsh and negative comments, and pitfalls is what you accept when undertaking becoming great and facing the greatest...If you feel this org can do it, you'd better get to offering something that there is a need for in this genre. This is business as much as it is a sis/bro hood. The sooner you grasp that, you could be one miniscule step closer to whatever it is you are trying to do.

. . . .with all the hullabaloo this guy caused, i wonder why the page is not there anymore. . . .