Greek Decline
 

Is it just me, or is there an overall decline in Black Greek life? Especially at the college ranks? In the northeast I feel as though we're slowing fading away.

What steps can be taken to bring back Black Greek life and then take it to the next level?

Are you referring to the actual numbers of Black Greeks, or the frequency and quality of programming?

the actual number of members per chapter

I think I posted a thread like this at home (haha). Anyhoo, yes I do. I think people around the world are just not on greek life, because of some of the stigmas that are carried with it. No one wants to give their life away, no one wants their butt beat, no one wants to take orders, so on and so forth. I noticed this the last year that I was on campus. Unfortunately, the hazing incidents of the past do not help.

Re: Greek Decline
 

Most historically BGLO's international headquarters are putting moratoriams on undergraduate membership intakes.

There may be more African Americans attending college than ever before, however many are disconnected with the historical power of the BGLO movement.

Moreover, many young matriculating African Americans have difficulty passing the initial paper screen in terms of grades, GPA and positive extracurricular activities, i.e. the debate team, the math club or the science group and cannot be allowed to advance any further in their BGLO of choice.

Many other traditional or non-traditional greek lettered organizations followed the GPA requirements of their university, which was a 2.0. HBCU's have higher GPA requirements and many of the historically NPHC BGLO's also...

So when you are talking about the University of California at XYZ, and the African American student population is less than 2000, and those that are interested in an organization are 500 and those that would seriously apply are 100--then out of those, there are only 10 that actually can pass the initial paper screen at Rush--much less be favorably voted on... Then that is why there are fewer and fewer undergraduates involved...

Besides the requested monies for individuals are rather steep, too. And many of OUR families are not indoctrinated in the BGLO culture and do not understand its significance. And kids don't explain to their parents really what is going on--really... So what happens is the parents have their sons or daughters begging for what seems excessive to join, when that is not actually the case... Most historical BGLO's are not about that... At any rate, much of that information must be clearly explained...

Much of what I am saying is a result of my Graduate Advisor stint from 2 years ago. So these are my observations...

I think qualified men and women are wising up and don't want to deal with hazing.

I think the other reasons are valid, too.

Interesting comment. Why then was it far more interest and higher membership when hazing was public and condoned? My thought is that when you took the pageantry and public display and acknowledgement out of the pledge process, people don't get to see what it is that they pledge for, so all that they know is rumors and drama about hazing, paper, and how hard someone pledged.

IMHO
 

If you take out the community service aspect of BGLOs (because as many BGLO members and non members say - you do not have to join a BGLO to do community service), I think the folowing may have something to do with it:

In our community in general (and think on all socio-economic levels and not just what you're familiar with) many of today's students are probably the first in their family to go to college, so they probably feel a lot of pressure to succeed and do well. Therefore (and most likely based on what they have HEARD that a person has to go through to join a BGLO) they may not want to jepardize their GPA or major in order to join.

Also, some students have not been exposed BGLO members or chapters so therefore they probably do not see the impact or significance of joining a BGLO in today's world. Yes, they have heard about what BGLOs have done on a national scale in the past, but what about today as a whole? Now add that perception on top of all the rumours, heresay, and events that DO get national attention (i.e. hazing, etc.) some students and their families just to not see the benefits of joining.

And finally, I suspect that today's AA student are probably concentrating more on succeeding in the same ways/terms that their white counterparts have been succeeding since day one (collegiate connections that will benefit them in the future in terms of internships, job hook-ups, etc.). They may feel that BGLOs don't offer these types of benefits.

This is a good question. Maybe more non-members will chime in on why they didn't join in undergrad (besides the fact that there was no chapter or an inactive chapter on campus). This may shed some light on this question as well.

Re: IMHO
 

This IS the trillion dollar question. A GC soror asked this question just a week or so ago. ;) I hope someone can enlighten us.
:confused:

the reason for the decline at my alma mater
 

Overall numbers have somewhat declined at my Alma Mater... But, I know why the number have done so at UAB and might share them..

As for the Male NPHC Greeks, UAB... which has a student body of over 17,000 has only around 900 Black Males. This past year, the sad truth is that the overall cum GPA of UAB Males was only 1.7

That has had an across the board effect on all NPHC Greeks at UAB. I'm the Grad Advisor for the Bruhs at UAB. We had major interest in Omega this past year (22 young men showed interest). Out of those 22 who showed interest, only 7 had a GPA over 2.5 (sad).

On the Female NPHC side... at UAB, the Delta Chapter is on suspension and the AKA's are/were (not sure of the status right now) on a moratorium. With there being 7 times as many Black Females on the yard as compared to black males, added to the fact that the overall cum GPA of the sistahs last year was 2.7 (a full grade point over the fellas), having a good body of prospects to chose from isn't a problem. But, since a high volume of the sisters are interested in AKA and DST, we have a overall drop in female greek numbers as well.

I'm sure other campuses have these unique (and some familiar) problems..

Re: the reason for the decline at my alma mater
 

Hijack#2: :eek: DAYUM! :eek: (where have YOU been? What NO events?) ;) :D :p

My freshmen year at UMass Dartmouth there was one BGLO, Iota Phi Theta. They has only 3 members, two of them were going to graduate at the end of the year. They never held any info sessions so I pledged this other fraternity for 2 weeks and dropped because it wasnt for me. Towards the end of that year Sigma Phi Rho came on to our campus. I watched them from a far and talked with some of their guys and I decided they werent for me either. I think I should have went to a bigger school that has more diverse so I could have more choices. My school has around 8000 students and the African-American population is about 8-10 percent. The majority of this 8-10 percent are Cape Verdean and many of them dont consider themselves black. Going into this fall Iota Phi Theta has now dissolved and Sigma Phi Rho has around 6 or 7 members. Many of my teachers in high school and middle school were apart of BGLO's. They encourraged me to join, but my school didnt have that much to offer for BGLO's. I thought about starting my own but I didnt think my school could handle that, because of one folding and the other with low membership.

I think a lot of the interest and non-interests have lost the value of what it means to be in a BGLO. What is usually seen by the uneducated population (those ignorant to what BGLO's is supposed to be about) is people stepping, a feeling of being clickish, lack of approach, and the community service projects being a front for publicity. A lot of people feel that they can do that and network without "pledging" and being hazed.

Money is also a big part of the equation. We are in a recession right now and becoming a member can be quite expensive.

The BGLO diaspora has obviously changed its focus and noticeably so being that we are in a new millennia. I wonder how BGLO's plan to change the old "face" of its organizations and make them look more attractive to good ,quality prospects......

Plus, do BGLO's realllly want to know how non-members feel or even care about their organization(s)?

I am an Interest but I would hesitate to answer this question for the very reason stated above. I think that people don't really want to know and if they did the reasons would be dismissed.

Re: IMHO
 

I think that one of the reasons that the number of greeks are declining on undergrad chapters is campus "politics." Some people are turned off to greek life or turned down by their org. of choice because of random foolishness that, sometimes, hold no merit. There are issues of rumors, assumptions, he said/she said, etc. This is ruining the very essence of what BGLOs were created for. Instead of uplifting one another, it seems that collge women, and women in general, find any little reason to tear one another down. There are also issues of how members, both male and female, sometimes "change" when they finally make it. This turns some interests off from seeking membership.

As far as the grad level, with most orgs., intakes are very few and far between. Some people are not lucky enough to know members or come in contact with them. Therefore, intakes pass them by and they never achieve their dream. Beside that, I know of a lot of men and women that feel that UG is the end all and be all of gaining membership. They feel like they are going to miss out on vital aspects of membership. Of course, it may not be the same, but how can you claim to GENUINELY want membership, but not respect the org. enough to continue to seek membership beyond your UG years?

Why didn't I pledge as an undergrad?
 

In a nutshell, when I was most eligible to join (had a 4.0 accum and very active in the college community), there was a moratorium on intake at that time. I transferred to another school, and by the time the moratorium was lifted, my priorities were on building my career and finishing my degree, not pledging.

In hindsight, I'm kinda glad that I didn't pledge as an undergrad, b/c in the 1990s, I sensed a strong spirit of disunity in NPHC orgs with the whole pledging/intake debate and the underground pledging and subsequent hazing, which IMHO created worse results than the hazing incidents in the 80s and the pledging was public back then.

Quite frankly, my not pledging was vindicated when an eternal pledge became a classmate of mine and he told me that he dropped line when he received bruised and cracked ribs. I could only think "It could've been me".

As far as greek decline as a whole, I agree with the other opinions on the thread. But I think more importantly that the NPHC orgs are going to have to redefine their orgs and their images in order to attract quality members. This isn't the 70s, 80s, or 90s and the images, politics, and attitudes that was so prevalent and popular back then isn't going to mean much to prospectives in the 21st century. I think what students are looking for now are orgs with empirical evidence of substance, not just empty rhetoric.

Starting in 2006, and going through 2014, 7 of the 9 NPHC orgs will be celebrating centennial or golden anniversaries. That would be an EXCELLENT opportunity to give a new look and appeal to an old org. Because it appears to be long overdue.

Question: is the BGLO decline only for NPHC orgs or for all Historically Black GLOs?

If the answer is NPHC only, have you considered as a reason for the decline the rise in non-NPHC Black GLOs, Mulitcultural GLOs, and even Latino or Latino/Black GLOs, thus diluting the monopoly NPHC has on the Black student "market"?

Re: Why didn't I pledge as an undergrad?
 

You know.....that's a good point.

I think non-NPHC fraternities and sororities have never been stronger.

I need to think about it more though.

Re: IMHO
 

Oh...well. This is my reason. I was at my HBCU for five years and three of those five they were on probation. These were not consecutive years either. They would have a line...go on probation. Have a line...go on probation. I wasn't dealing with that drama but I also didn't let the actions of ONE chapter cloud my perception of my org of choice.

Being on greekchat I see quite a few AA going to multicultural, Latino and the predominately white sororities. There is an interesting thread in the RUSH forum where a young lady asked AA who did not go BGLO why they chose the org they did. They came out the wood work! I didn't realize we had so many AA in the WGLO here on greekchat.

Re: Why didn't I pledge as an undergrad?
 

I've seen this happen on my campus. The school I attend is anti-Greek. However, we do have quite a few historically LGLOs that operate without the school's permission. There is one active fraternity and it has two active members that are African-American. There are four active sororities. Two have members that are AA. While this might now seem like a lot it is for the size of my college.

Re: Re: IMHO
 

There sure are. Every day I encounter more of them.

<----- off to go read the aforementioned thread.

Re: Re: Re: IMHO
 

It's the thread called controversy

Same question
 

I have wondered about this myself.

Alternatives
 

I realize I am going to get struck by lightning when I say this, but being an active member of my school's SGA and traveling to other schools, I have found that many students are:

1. Had/Have intentions of pursuing their organization of choice on a grad level because they:
A. Don't get along with or like the members of the organization of their choice on their campus.
B. Have majors in fields that make it IMPOSSIBLE to realistically pursue their choice organization on an undergrad level (Health & Engineering fields come to mind).
C. Feel a closer connection to the older grad members than the younger undergrad members.
D. Organization of choice is not on choice campus and remember, we are SUPPOSED to be going to school to get an education.

2. There are more than the Divine Nine organizations for African Americans to choose from. Many of the Traditionally White organizations are looking to diversify their membership (not just to have color) and African American students are considering ALL organizations... not just the D9.

3. Organizations like Sigma Rhomeo, Sigma Pi Phi, Beta Pi Phi and others are growing, providing an alternative to D9 Orgs. But because there are people who do not consider them "real" orgs... then there issues aren't taken as seriously as ya'lls.

That with some of the reasons RedefinedDiva mentioned seems to be some of the reasons for the apparent Greek Decline. Then again, I also think it depends on what area of the country you are from too.

At my school, the membership in all of the Greek orgs as well as other student orgs went down the past few years. Not because people did not want to join, but in a lot of instances they did not have the time or money. Since the economy has been less than impressive, the college students found themselves jobless and I believe that accounted for the lack of participation in a lot of groups who required membership fees.

I also agree with Rainman, there is a lot of politics on various campuses and he said/she said drama thats keeps a lot of people out of the orgs that they could be valuable members. When I came to college I knew nothing about greek life or even the names/reputations of the different orgs. I had heard of a couple, but then again, you cannot join based on stereotypes. During my second year in college I decided to rush XYZ org and with a 3.5 GPA, on-going community service, membership in several different student orgs, and a good reputation around campus I did not get into that org and I think it had nothing to do with my not matching the long-term goals or that org.

Re: Alternatives
 

A. I'm not coming down on you, OthelloSTreet, but IMO...that's some BS. Do these people realize that the VERY people they don't like or get along with WILL become their SISTER OR BROTHER? :confused: If this is the ONLY deterrant, as one of our former upremes said..."We don't need you."

B. I'm not buying that either. As long as there isn't distance learning going on...I don't buy that either. Heck, my lss were Health and Engineering majors and they did fine. :D It's called being ORGANIZED, DETERMINED, etc.

C. Puhleeze. Folks don't feel closer to their parents at that age, so I know this is STRAIGHT UP BS. :rolleyes: LMAO

D. I think that HK already stated this, so I guess he or she cannot seek their choice if it isn't there.

Come with some better EXCUSES. :D

Miss Priss, NO, I don't think the organizations want to know what the non-members' perceptions are nor care, so to speak. The organizations have their jobs to do. There are many that the organization serves who are quite pleased with the services rendered. :D (IMO)

Re: Re: Alternatives
 

I didn't ETA:

I can ACCEPT "I didn't have the grades" as a better rationale.

:o

Another thing with this... why flock to Grad when our organizations were founded on the collegiate level? You mean to tell me these young ladies and men have soooo much in common with the older Grad members? Puhleeze...as a member of a graduate chapter, I don't have too much in common with my chapter members. and I'm 30 years old. :eek: :p

Something not mention
 

I truly believe that a big reason is also how the organizations approach the non-greeks. Sometimes they think so high of theirselves that they disrepect the future. When young people want to know about and organization and ask someone they tend to get shruged off or told something rude. You have to think that with out the non-greeks their can't be greeks. Then non-greeks feel they have to be perfect to get into an organization because they tend to believe that they have to be stuck up or classy or rough and a number of many things that discourage non-greeks. I want to be and AKA but I am nervous to approach one because people are in my ear telling me don't let them know just go to thier events or don't ask they get mad when you ask. I have seen a couple of examples when my friends would walk up to a sorority member and ask a question. They told her she is not greek material. She cried because her heart was set on it and I told she can do anything she wants just pray and be strong. Someone please reply(NOT DISREPECTING ANYONE THAT IS IN AN ORGANIZATION)

People join when the time is right for them.

I don't care when anybody joins as long as they remain active whenever they join.

Interesting topic
 

This is a very good topic, and there are a couple of things that I have observed from other GDIs at my school.

#1. More Blacks are pursuing majors in the maths and sciences, which does make it impossible to even consider pledging and graduating in 4 years. With the hectic schedules that many engineering and pre-med students have, it is difficult enough to stay afloat even w/all your time dedicated to school. Let alone trying to pass all your subjects, while dedicating all of your time to an org.

#2. Many of the UG chapters don't seem to have very much to offer. At my school the avg. chapter GPA for BGLOs is around 2.5. I think only one org. even breaks the 3.0 line. This is compared to an avg. chapter GPA of around 3.5 for WGLOs. That fact might be a deterent for a student w/a 4.0. Also, many of the UG chapters are not doing very much community service or quality campus programing. So many blacks students seem to feel that they can join the Student Government or Black Students Association or the local NAACP, and still get to network w/other dedicated students while also participating in community/campus involvement. Lastly, going Greek is known for building bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. However, when you see chapter members fighting with each other at parties, stabbing each other in the back or stealing from the house, it makes all the bonding stuff less believable.

Now I really feel that students who come to college w/the intention of joining an org. are able to see past the negatives on their campus or work through the difficulties of their hectic college lives. However, students who ordinarily may have gotten to college and then decided to go Greek, are choosing other alternatives that work much better for them.

Marie

reasons at my school...
 

What I have noticed as an interested non greek...

guys
1)Not enough guys interested in BGLO life, they'd rather be thugs
2) Guys that are interested don't have the GPA
3) or they have no interest in being hazed by another guy, too much pride to be humble on any level.
4) only 2 orgs are active, some are waiting for another popular one to come back.
5)money

girls
1) members are catty, giving girls a hard time who exceed minimun requirements, but letting in old friends who barely have 2.5's.
2) interest have less than steller reputations on campus
3) people who were interested are tired of BS like pre-pledging, then getting passed over for membership
4) they think grad is easier to get in (yeah right!)
5)money

Non of the above applies to me, my time just hasn't come.

Re: Interesting topic
 

Like 2D stated earlier, I don't buy this one myself. I know of many friends from UG that majored in math and sciences and still had time to pursue membership. Damn near every single member of XYZ fraternity on my UG campus were either Engineering or Mathematics majors and they pulled it off. It takes time management and complete dedication in your goal. Trust me, it can be done.

Re: Interesting topic
 

AKA2D I do see and respect what you are saying, but I think Marie may have said it better than I did. Especially with number one. Not everyone can be THAT organized in undergrad to fully commit to the goals of that organization along with the majors they have along with other OUTSIDE commitments that people on campus may not be aware of. There are people in organizations that have "float" or "easy" majors that don't do anything for their orgs. and people see that too.

Now I didn't mean to imply that just because your major is more "challenging" then others that you can't pledge an undergrad chapter. I am saying that a B. S. or a B. A. in some degrees are not the same as they were maybe four or five years ago. Many schools are updating and changing their degree requirements for some majors, therefore making them more rigorous now than they ever have been. This is done in part to receive the Accreditations and make their programs worth more on paper. I think that some students who can do undergrad and balance the responsibilities that come with it with their studies should definitely do it. But to the others who KNOW THEY CAN’T, then they need to be fair to the organization, other prospective and themselves and wait until a “better” time comes along.

As far as the disagreement about being closer to older and grad chapter members, well, that is how many people get their first impressions of what the org is supposed to be about. That is what a "lifetime commitment" is supposed to be right? Join undergrad if you can (and Lord knows there are obstacles in the way to prevent that from happening if you know what I mean) and stay active in Grad. I think the question is are people doing that now? I know of people who spend X amount of dollars just for the “right” to wear three or four letters, which I think is Ludacris and they don’t give a damn about what the organizations are supposed to be about.

I guess that goes to say that the perceived “Greek Decline” is two fold:
1. The prospectives not being interested or able to devote the time they know the org of their choice needs.

2. Actions by the current members who make the org (because they are members) unappealing at times.

Neither or which should be a deterrent, that is true. But I think people do what they feel is best in their current situations.

Some students with more difficult and intense majors (engineering, pre-med, etc.) may have the perception or have heard that "when you pledge a BGLO your GPA drops". Obviously, they won't know the "real deal" until they apply and get accepted, but some students don't want to risk it (especially if they are the first person in their family to go to college). If an individual's first priority in college is the get an education, they may not want to jepardize that for ANY reason.

Not saying that this is the END ALL of reasons, but just something to ponder.

Rain Man, I forgot about non-NPHC orgs, Multicultural orgs, etc. We just have NPHC on campus at my HBCU (except for KKPsi and TBS) so I don't know the impact (if any) that these orgs have on campuses where they do exist among NPHC orgs.

Being a non-greek HBCU grad. The reason why I I'm not greek is 3-fold.....

1) I was an athlete.... that may not seem like a good reason, but my sport is heavy into travel in the Spring. With rush being mandatory.... I was never in a position to go... without trying to plot not being missed by my coach or team. It didn't work out.

2) When I arrived on campus, the sorority I was interested in was serving out the last year of a suspension. They were back on campus the next Fall and by Spring the presented a line 100+. Not to knock a 100+ line, but in seeking to be apart of something exclusive,
at that time, the politics made greek life unattrative for me.
3) Choices.... With my sport, scholarship and rush.... things never seemed to come together. I came to the conclusion that if it was meant to be, it will be. I went on to play in the NCAA's, graduate and get Grad. Assistanship and earn my Master's. Still a non-greek HBCU grad, but happy with my decisions


:confused:

In many of the non-HBCU schools, the intake for BGLOs are usually small. However, from what I've seen & heard, when such a school has a large intake, rumors start to fly about the nature of their process.
Therefore, many the students in these schools intentionally try to ensure that their intake lines remain small.

Plain and simple, its not a big thing to go greek anymore. Alot students can care less about a AKA, and Delta, etc. I hope I'm not offending anyone, just keeping it real. I often say that today's college students do not realize the importance of the D9. It's either that, or they simply don't care.

Alot of things have changed over the years. One friend once told me that "there isn't a great need to join the black fraternities and sororities as it was in the 50s, % 60s....there are new and more refreshing options of organizations to choose from now...etc"

Well at my school there is a citywide chapter. This coming year there will only be 3 AKAs on my campusand 4 from the other school- all of whom will be graduating. In fact most of the BGLOs chapters are citywide except for Delta who will have a whopping 19 in the fall!!

Since most of the BGLOs dont recruit because their noses are in the air a lot of blacks dont know alot about them or what they stand for. Plus their programs are not posted until a day or two before except for their website which only the really interested know about. If the chapters did more things on the campus that were not just for interests, non interested black students might become interests. If the programs are good they will appeal to those who were ignorant to the greek world. The eliteness of the organizations are good- but if no one knows about them except for a few legacies then why would they want to join. They just need to be more active and more visable. The AKAs on my campus are NEVER seen except at their programs who only interests know about. If I ever become greek I will definately want the whole school to know about my org and also want my programs to be well supported not only by my interests. People need to look at the orgs and be like "they are realy doing big things, I need to be doing big things too."

nachural

I kinda think this is true too. During the 50's & 60's, the ONLY social outlets that Blacks had were provided by the then D8 - cotillions, balls, debutante parties and dances, and other groups like the Links, Jack and Jill and the Boule' (Sigma Pi Phi). The definition of being an elite Black back then was to be a member of one of these groups. Now, you can be an elite Black and not have to move in a D9-based social group. I mean it is still impressive to be part of the D9, but NOT necessary as it once was.

None taken....

I don't know if I would agree, especially among the HBCUs. I wish we could poll those UG chapters represented on GC to see how many females attended their rush either this upcoming semester or Spring 2004. If what you are saying truly IS the case, then we will see that sororities, especially would have no more than "20" females attend their rush as opposed to the 300+ that have historically attended. :confused:

Othello,
When we say LIFELONG COMMITMENT, it means to your ORGANIZATION, NOT the members. See, I can stay in my chapter for "x" number of years, then I move. Once I move, I leave the chapter AND the members of that chapter behind. With the move, I learn new members (of the next chapter I join) and I become acquainted with new endeavors that THAT chapter is involved with. So you see, the LIFELONG COMMITMENT is to ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA, not the members.

As an interest I will try to give my opinion on a local and national level. Locally at my university greeks and greek life is discussed constantly. I honestly feel that if all the blacks on my campus were polled and were asked if they would go greek if they would be guaranteed membership into the org of their choice atleast 85% would say yes. However, as has been said before not all of the orgs of the D9 have always been on campus.
Also I think another problem on my campus and probably on others is among other things a combination of envy, rudeness, jealousy, and pride.

Envy: A lot of college students (esp. 1st gen.) are surprised at the respect and deference alloted to college students. Instead of simply taking the situation(s) for what they are, they turn completely against anything that is remotely greek and spread their frustration and discord to their friends and so on.
Ex. My best friend (who is now greek :), but wasn't when she told me the story) told me about a highly anticipated university sponsered event on her campus. Well people were lined up around the corner waiting to be let in for the start of the event. It happened that the some of the greeks in SGA helped approve this event so they were sort of the door people. Well right before the start of the event a good number of greeks from various BGLOs came to the entrance asking to be let in and of course they were in the process getting the best seats in the house. They went right past people who were waiting for atleast an hour. My friend was at the front and took the situation for what it was, but some indivuals behind her were visibly heated. One even went up to a few members at the door and said "We've been waiting here for over an hour just to see you let your sisters, brothers, and your friends in."

Jealousy: because greeks are often have certain priveleges that outsiders disagree with the "I'm going to prove I'm just as good as you" and/or "I'm going to prove I don't give a d*** who you think you are " attitudes have become a popular attitude for those who are newly exposed to college life or to those who disagree with "the way things are" atmosphere has grown. Many non-greeks who have seen people they considered friends or associates "change" often take these attitudes as well. I've overheard people comment, "We used to hang out freshman year but ever since she became an ABC she thinks she's better than somebody."
Ex. I knew a sisterfriend (never a friend of mine by the way) whom I was formely introduced to my freshman when attending one of the first sorority sponsored events I'd ever attended. Well unknow to me she had what I will kindly refer to as a negative name for herself. I truly believed that either she was told she wasn't making a good name for herself or had an epiphany one day and realized that her actions were making her look bad. Mind you I don't take counsel to unfounded heresay, I visually saw what she was like. Well 2 years from when I first met her, she came to an event this summer looking a step above horrible, snatched food from the snack table, walked around the entire room liked she owned, and my friend overheard her muttering, "I can eat the food ABC bought I ain't no IG, the IGs can't eat the food...they want me to act like them..." Then she showed up at another event that I had dragged my roomate to and gave my roomie the evil eye when she saw that my roomate was talking to two members.

Rudeness: Although I am an interest (and I hope I'm not offending anyone) I have noticed some cattiness among some fraternities and sororities. I do think a few, a small few let membership go to their head a little. However, I do think the decline in desire for membership in this case is in part due more to people not understanding how excited one can be when they finally are a member. I also think TOO many non-greek have delved into the affairs of greek members and overall greek life. Why does a non-greek know when XYZ is having a "coming out show" (hope I'm not being politically incorrect) and practically all the names of the new members? Why do they know which orgs are having a probably with each other? Why do they know who was not accepted for membership and exactly how this unaccepeted person was told he/she wasn't accepted. All of this puts a damper on the true nature of the orgs and it makes people not want to pursue membership.

Ex. my favorite cousin was at a club meeting on a day after this huge greek stepshow. The members of the club were commenting on who they thought did the best and the girl commented "Yeah, they were good but their attitudes are foul...So and so told me that she saw a girl go up to this one member and as for a flyer for an event an the member said there is one on the floor pick it up." Now I don't know if this is true and like I said I'm not quick to believe heresay but I can tell you no news spreads like bad news.

Fear: I feel a lot of people are afraid of rejection. I think a lot of people have heard the horror stories of individuals actively pursuing membership and supporting ABC's events for a long time and still getting rejected for some petty reason. Nowadays I feel many believe that obtaining membership has been put on such a high pedestal that its unobtainable. Many people here that they have to look good, they have to be popular, they have to be involved in organizations like student government or political/community service groups, they have to pay an astronaumical intake fee of $1000 more or less (not to mention the money they have already spent on gas driving to events, or buying raffle tickets, or any other activity that one has to pay to enter...etc.), they have to be extremely nice to the members even if by chance they are rubbed the wrong way, and they have to have a GPA of ATLEAST 3.0 (although 3.0 is borderline anything above that is even more preferable) even though the minimum national gpa says it 2.5 (unless you are friends with a member). These are not my personal opinions.

Ex. my freshman year my ex roomate told me her mom was an ABC but she would never try on our campus because she is fat and she doesn't think that she would fit in.

Pride: Some people have heard that they have to be a "do girl or boy." Short and simple and add the fact that they might not get in and you get a "Hell naw" reaction.