Hating Greek Life??
 

So, those of us who are Greek around here probably love our orgs and Greek Life in general. But, what's something that irks you about Greek Life. And, I'm talking exclusive to Greek Life. If you also want to help, you could give some possible solutions to your issue(s).

:) PJ

OVERcompetitiveness.

I know it's in our nature to try to be the best -- especially when you put so many people that value excellence into the same situation. However, some of us just don't know where to stop when it comes to competition. Sometimes we overemphasize the trivial, and sometimes we resort to unfair means of competition.

So that, if I had to pick a one thing would be it.

NPC's rules are written in a great spirit of "fair play for all" - if they were followed as written, we might not have the amount of troubled chapters and Greek systems thar we do. But they're not. It would be great if they were actually followed on every campus, and if university Greek advisors were tested on the Green Book rules (and required to pass) before they are permitted to hold a position that has anything to do with sorority rush.

The stupid rivalries. I hear girls talk trash about a rival sorority but no one can actually tell my why they dislike them. I ask for a specific reason as to why they hate XYZ but no one can anwer that. It's like they took someone else's dumb views & attitudes and kept them for themselves.
Then they get annoyed with me when I befriend this same sorority. I just tell them that their prejudice of XYZ sorority is not mine so I refuse to share their view.

I wish some (not all, but too many IMO) Greeks didn't look down on people who aren't Greeks. If I'm like in class or something, I've seen Greeks who talk to their RIVALS instead of someone without letters.

The fact that the bigger fraternities now look down on the smaller ones. They don't realize that the bigger we all are, the bigger and stronger the greek community is.

Oh, and being in an IFC frat full of laid back down to earth guys who just want to have a good time while all the other frats, full of rich preppy spiled brats with everything handed to them, look down on us because of it.

I hate how some fraternities and sororities will look at others and claim that they're not "real" organizations, simply because they're not one of the large ones (or because the members of the smaller org didn't pursue membership in ABC or XYZ).

All organizations have a founding chapter somewhere-- and that kind of arrogance just gets under my skin.

~ Mel.

What irks me is when locals are looked down upon by the large and international organizations. Locals are just as important as the large organizations and contribute just as much.

We may not have as long of a history and we may not be international but its not the size thats important or how long you have been around-its the values and spirit of your organization. Thats why we join these organizations and why they are important to us.

Where I am from the Greek Community as become less of a community-and this saddens me. Its not only the organization that makes being greek special its also the community that surronds you-that we all understand why being greek is important and valued .

Hated how some people kept on thinking that just because we're national or international, we don't have a say on how we run our chapter. The usual "I enjoyed being in xyz because nobody tell us what to do."

I didn't hate anything. I saw bumps in the road and obstacles - that's all and that's why I am still involved with Greek Life.

-Rudey

I hated that greek life was unable to help me achieve total global domination.

You obviously didn't join the right group! :D

Oh yes I did. We are the one fraternity that acheived the most intense concentration of power in American history, but I am still not King of the World, and I hate that.;)

I hate how the easy way usually beats out the hard way, especially when it comes to philanthropy. We need to be spending hours working with the group, not just donating money. It'd be a big step in reversing the negative view of the greek system.

I agree! We need to be working together to better Greek Life rather than spending all our time disliking and talking badly about other chapters. I always envied the schools where the sororities actually got along and supported each other.
I don't know what the solution to this problem would be. I guess there just needs to be more of an effort on everyone's part to actually get along.

Hate is a very strong word so..
 

I'll say I really dislike it when I speak with fellow greeks who belong to an org of NIC/IFC, NPC or NPHC, who don't know the relationship of their org to the national conference or council or even that their org belongs to the council/conference.

Also, with NPC and NPHC members, how can you not know which other orgs are members of your conference/council? NIC I can understand because there are so many members, but 9 and 26? Come on!! :rolleyes:

I blieve that may depend on the pledge program. When I was a pledge, I didn't need to learn about any current NIC fraternities, but I took it upon myself to do so.

When I was pledge educator, they had to learn at least 5 fraternities outside of our campus in each council.

But when the rest of your house disagrees with that, then you got to stop.

I think if you're a member of the D9 and you don't know the other 8, you've problems...

Things I dislike about Greek life....

People treat some MCGLOs as if they stole something from other organizations, or don't respect some of the traditions they are founded on....

When a Greeks don't acknowledge or even try to know of other Greeks that are different from those outside of their council....but at the same time they want campus wide Greek unity :rolleyes:

1. Trashtalking. Sick and tired of ppl talking trash on my organization and everything we do. I dont care what other org's do at my school, just quit talking trash!

2. Gossip. WTF! If you date anyone in the greek system all your business is public knowledge. Within 24 hrs your story comes back to you and totally distorted. Going through an issue with an ex right now, shes so INSANE!

3. Groupies. I mean some girls love my chapter, but I had it to death when other girls are such groupie whores. Show some self respect.

Amazing.

A lot of the same thing is mentioned!

I did not know DSSTAN belonged to a smaller Fraternity until he said so.

I did not know that many belonged to anything smaller until I was told?

I did not know until I was told that there were MCGLOS until I was told.

I did not know there Were AGLOS until I was told.

So, what does this say?

It says, that we all learn everyday.

Are We all cookie Cutted out for certain things, no

That is why, new groups come aboard everyday!

What is best, what is oldest, LXA is not the Oldest, but I still Love it and Respect other Greek Organizations. Old or New.:cool:

PIKES get over the trash talk when you have chapters who do silly and stupid things.

We all do.

Stan, get over your small National syndrome.

As long as you have respect for Yours then we all will!

Just give respect when it is given back to you-All of you!

Hate becomes a very strong word!:(

I believe "hate" drew people in, but I specifically said what "irks" you about Greek Life.

WTF.....

I never said I hated my Nationals......If your chapter had 20 and the rest had 60+ you'd have a slight problem with it. When there were 20 IFC frats and all had 60+ (early 90s), things were much easier for SDSU Greeks.

You didn't know there are MCGLOS?...

I have no problem with the orgs themselves, but those in the chapters here that choose to patronize on the smaller GLOS

Look, I'm done reading your moronic, non-sensical, error filled posts that have no relevance to anything. Just stop addressing me for fucks sake...I'm tired of having to try to understand your posts without having the flashbacks of looking over my 9 yr old cousin's English homework pop into my head.

FFS John, can he not be a mod so I can put him on ignore?

ETA: I LOVE the guys in my small chapter, but because of our small size we don't get the respect that the other houses here get no matter WHAT we do on campus. That's MY problem.

Definitely! We have made baby steps so far by helping a sorority that was in trouble but I like to think that we would be that helpful & friendly regardless of what a chapters situation is.

I think it should be mandatory that we learn about other sororities & fraternities that are NOT on our campus. I learned by looking them up, looking at websites, and LEARNING! Most of the time, you only learn the names of the houses on your campus.

I'd also like to see better relations with the NPHC, cultural, & locals. I think it would be great to be involved with other sororities on our campus. We would get to know their organization & they would know ours. Hmmm...
I think I'll have to think of ways to organize this kind of stuff.
If you have ideas, let me know.

ditto for the above -

btw - not knowing about other fraternities and sororities other than the ones on your campus isn't too bad if you go to a huge school with the majority of the groups, however, it is a HUGE issue when your school only has 2 or 3 of each (like austin peay).

it was really weird coming to school here and at first the members of other sororities and fraternities would be all like, alpha gamma what? is that a local?

grrrrrrrrrrrr...

ttt

The first thing that irks me is when you're talking to a GDI, somehow being a Greek comes up, and they say, "No way are you a Greek!" as if it's a social disease or something. If they only knew how unbecoming that is!

I agree that there needs to be a firmer push towards Panhellenic thinking. When I was a pledge, we had a fairly long pledgeship, and Junior Panhel, which really taught us a lot. We ALL knew all 26 NPC sororities, what their pins looked like, which were on our campus, and which weren't. Now, there's just not the time - there's barely time to push your own sorority's policies, let alone Panhellenic's.

The third would be that, by senior year, most greeks are burned out.

People who think that service & professional GLOs aren't real GLOs. Yes, we are different kinds of GLOs with different focuses, but we're GLOs just the same. :)

Sort of along the same lines: people who think that unhoused GLOs aren't real GLOs or are worse than organizations that have houses.

Re: Hate is a very strong word so..
 

Had this happen this past weekend. Met a neo and the person didn't know about the other orgs in the D9:mad: :rolleyes: :mad: :mad: :mad: :eek: WTF???

Re: Re: Hate is a very strong word so..
 

I blame the prophytes.

The sad thing that I've noticed on my campus is that when a chapter has been in trouble with either hazing, low numbers, or low grades, the other organizations turn a blind eye and deaf ear.

It's not until the chapter is threatened with closure that suddenly there is a wave of public support. And then the chapter closes and the campus is sad... for two minutes.

I mean, those are things that people notice over time. Lower numbers or consistant low grades just don't suddenly appear one semester and the chapter is threatened.

I guess the lack of constant support within the system is what bugs me. You all are greek together, always. Not just when shit happens.

#1. I still think one of the best things I've read about problems with Greek life is the first post in this thread:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...er+true+values


#2. Escalating costs (on at least some campuses) -- we can talk all we want about how important it is for members and new members to meet their financial responsibilities to their GLO, but I think sometimes we're paying a price and losing some excellent prospects. With college costs soaring, on some campuses Greek life either is or appears to be financially out of reach for some students from middle-class or working-class backgrounds. I'd like to see ways to make fraternity and sorority membership more affordable for (and therefore available to) undergrads who would be interested, and who would be valuable members, but who find the cost a real barrier. (Sometimes it's not just the national and chapter dues plus room and board; it's the "extras" that can be financial killers.)

What really IRKs Me is that National Greek Councils all work together for The Betterment of All Of OUr GLOS. Then with the trickle down theory, when it gets to individual Campi, it is strictly dog eat dog! :(

There is not helping each other as We dont want anyone to get ahead of us as We may be the next to fall and wont get any help!

Solodarity of GREEKS on any campus is BS isnt it!


Escalating Costs for Knowledge on Campi is cutting into the Population of GLOs especially when GLO Costs are raised and people cannot afford to join. True, dont You think?:(

It is called dimishing returns! Not enough Members to pay the bills, raise the cost and then not get anymore new Members! No New Members, then dwindle and the Chapter is gone.

Others dont join because they dont like the GLOs there or cannot afford it.

1) On a personal note: Having to defend being local to people. People assume that local= founded yesterday or that local= we want to be national. There's nothing wrong with locals that do that, it's probably an easier transition and the national sororities have a long and storied history, but our sisterhood has stood alone for 85 years now, we've got the sorority thing down, thanks. I about blew a gasket when I read in another post that someone said "is that a budget sorority?". Not cool.

2) On a chapter note: KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER ORGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CAMPUS. We have one NIC chapter (alpha sig) and I believe 4 NPHC sororities and 2 (perhaps 3...don't know what Phi Beta Sigma's status is currently) NPHC fraternities here. We know PLENTY about our local organizations as we all came about in the same ways, but I think it is important to recognize, respect, and know a little bit about how the others do things, if nothing else to maybe get some tips on how to run our things a little better (note: not ritual, the "business" side).

-people who think being in a fraternity is for four years and four years only

-the fact that people see it as a division between people and not as one whole greek community

I hate it when people assume that, because you're in a large national sorority/fraternity, you must be a spoiled-rotten rich kid. Granted, I don't pay my own way in my sorority (school is my "job" and my parents won't have it any other way), I know plenty of girls that DO have to provide their own dues. And honestly, whose business is it anyways??

What irks me:

in my chapter
Two things, one being that no one wants to extend themselves to be any better. Yes, we've won all our awards and been recognized by the NIC, but I look at the guys we have and what we could accomplish, it would be amazing.

The other is that we so often change things for the sake of change, rather than looking at what is positive change.


in my Greek community

The ineffectiveness of IFC to police dirty rush tactics. Yes, it's summer, but we do have an IFC rush chairman to hold people accountable. A lot comes from a lack of rushees not knowing what is legal, which stems from no one telling them that. And it has to be something that is done every year (another thing that seems to be a problem).


in the larger Greek world

How little help most chapters get from their inter/national/general organization. That and unreal expectations for some chapters.

Example: ADPi at Nebraska is the only NPC group without a chapter house. Obviously this is a huge disadvantage, and has meant that for the entire time I was in undergrad, they averaged at most 20 girls a year. The past three, they didn't even go through formal recruitment. And yet, their HQ was demanding that they be at total, and reach quota, things that weren't going to happen. Finally, and I don't know what changed it, but at somepoint in spring/summer 2005, the chapter, the international representatives and alumna group got together to say what can be done to repair this chapter. They finally agreed on what were appropriate goals, and ways in which they could be achieved. Still going through informal recruitment, they hosted a recruitment week starting the first week of school (after formal recruitment had ended) and from what I've heard, they've increased their numbers to almost 60 girls.

For years the chapter had floundered, bordered on shutting down and finally with help from above, they've become much more successful, all with a little help and patience...

I've seen plenty of other examples where that hasn't been the case and National representatives leave chapters to wither and die...

What irks me is the fact that some greek organizations believe that any membership your organization acquires is membership you're taking away from them. A lot of people don't realize however that not every greek org. is for everyone. Members of XYZ might never join ABC or vice versa.

This has been seen to may times in the past and will be seen in the future!:(

No single Chapter of No matter what GLO or Conference dont realize that Each is it stongest and weekest link.

Local Chapters on Campuses will never beleive this and blame everyone else. They will never look at the Bigger Picture.:(

what IRKS me

everyone saying what IRKS them and not saying what they could do to make things better in their chapter, greek community, or nationwide.

[B]So how about....What do you think YOU as an individual can do to change the things that Irk you?