Other BGLO's
 

I just wanted to know if on your campus there is an organization called Gamma Sigma Sigma? If so, are they doing a call and stepping? We have them on our campus and they do our sign. It has caused a lot of anger and confusion on my part to deal with them. Sorors, please offer some words of wisdom for me.
Thanks.
Keitha

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Until the Dawn 'cause aint no Stars on the ground!

Is this a new black greek sorority? If they do our sign, what's their call? What state do you go to school in?

(I'm asking all these questions so I can figure out if they only exist in a certain region right now...cuz I know they aren't in IL)

It's my understanding that Gamma Sigma Sigma is a National Service sorority founded in the 1950's. I've been told that they have several hand signs each representing a different thing and used for different reasons.
Soror, I've only been down for a year now. But I've heard soooo much of the drama between our sorors (as well as other NPHC sororities -- They're call is Weeee-Ooop. Other Sororities in NPHC have beef with them over the call and their colors, etc...) and the sisters of Gamma Sigma Sigma. All of it just makes my head spin.
I would tell you not to even sweat it. We know why our hand sign is so special to us and no one can take that away from us. Besides when we worry about little things like that, it takes away from the bigger picture. Some times you just have to ask yourself "What would Vivian do?" lol
Sisterly,
SoloRHO
PEACE:
Proper Education Always Corrects Error

I like that, "What would Soror Founder Vivian do". Let's not sweat the small stuff. Personally, I am too much into our sorority, our purpose, and our history to really care what other organizations are doing. I just love Sigma Gamma Rho!!!

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BE POSITIVE!!!

Let me get this right...they do your hand sign, my Wee and Delta's oooop.

Sounds like they are having the best of three worlds http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

lol sisterfriend Anydaynow. It does seem that way doesn't it?

First I have to say that you knowI am gonna be using that "What would Vivian do?.....lol (ya'll don't laugh it me if I go out and get some WWVD bracelts made)

But it do sound like they are trying to get the best of three worlds, but just let it all go sorors and sisterfriends. I just wish that they would have admired us from a far and not duplicated us.

What part of Ill are you in soror, I'm in NW In. send me an e-mail.

Also I found your graphics page and it is nice, I don't know if you cheack out my site, but I might have one or two graphics you missed......I know I found some new one's on your site..

but it is at http://www.iun.edu/~sgr


[This message has been edited by blu_theatrics (edited July 17, 2000).]

Gamma Sigma Sigma
 

I was surfing the web one day and ran across a website with information about the group.


I believe (don't quote me on this) Bethune Cookman College has this group on their campus.

You can check greekpages.com!

Niccole

Here in TN, Gamma Sig's are paired with APhiQ!!!! However, it depends what campus you are on. Some chapters are all black and have the call wee-opp, but we not have the RHO sign. Other chapters are all white and are all about community service.

There is no suuch thing as APhiQ!! Alpha Phi Omega, maybe.

OKay...
 

You go get those bracelets made, soror! I won't laugh! :D

TRSimon

It's all good, though. Service is service, and this org is a service sorority.

HEy sorhors,

At my campus TSU ( Texas Southern University) we have Gamma Sig's I really don't pay attention to them :rolleyes:
but i know that they are paired with the Alpha Phi Omega's.




#1 VALLEY GIRL
RHOVIVAL
Spring 2001
Audacious Alpha Lambda Chapter

*waving to SoloRHO*
Here's their national page http://www.gammasigmasigma.org/ and I found some nice pictures (complete with the handsign). I can't figure out how to copy them since I am unable to use HTML. here's the addy http://members.tripod.com/~APQGSS/newgindex.html
go to the "gallery of photos" and look under "Founder Day Weekend 1997" the second photo has a decent shot. I'm sure if you browse you will find more.

Hello Ladies of SGRho...

I noticed this thread and I wanted to present myself if anybody had questions about my sorority. I'm open to answering anything. You can send me a PM if you'd like.

Yes, Gamma Sig was founded in 1952 and we ARE NOT a BGLO. However, we have chapters at HBCU's and I see a few were named already. I attend Georgia State which is a PWI, but my chapter (one out of just a few) do participate in the handsigns, calls, etc. We do consider Alpha Phi Omega to be our brother fraternity and the all-male AA chapters do refer themselves as A-Phi-Ques.

So, if anybody has anything to ask about Gamma Sig, feel free, either here or by PM.

Always in Service...

Handsign
 

My husband is an Alpha Phi Omega and I have not had any MAJOR run ins with the Gamma Sigs that I have met. They seem to be nice enough.:) I looked at the pictures on their website and it does not look like they are doing our handsign. It does not matter anyway, I mean there are only so many handsigns you can come up with before they start to be duplicated.:rolleyes: A handsign is not what attracted me to this illustrious sorority anyway!! It was all about that GREATER SERVICE, GREATER PROGRESS!!!:D

I just wanted to add...

I noticed that someone made a comment about the white chapters of my sorority being all about service. That's totally not true at all...my chapter is small, only 6, and all black women. We did almost 300 hours of service this semester and averaged 45 hours per sister, and I'm very proud of that. In order to stay active in Gamma Sig each chapter member has to do a minimum of 15 hours per semester. No matter what the color, all Gamma Sigs are about serving our communities. And my chapter definitely does that.

Also on the duplication...to each his own in terms of opinion. I'm seeing the sign that is similiar to SGRho fading out, at least where I am. There is one that we all use, but again it's by region. The call...it doesn't have anything to do with either Alpha Kappa Alpha or Delta Sigma Theta at all. But it's all about perceptions. I have had sisters had thier letters torn off their person (at Ohio State, no less) by members of other sororities because the colors look to close to thiers, or the call, and other stuff. Gamma Sigs have gotten into verbal/physical confrontations with other greeks over little things like this...I know everybody has pride in their organizations, and that's cool. You should. But we shouldn't be getting to the point where we want to start fighting amongst each other. There's a big community out there-we should be focusing on what we can and should be doing for them rather than fight about calls, signs, and whatnot.

I admire all the sororities of the Nine for what they've done for black women and the community. Many Gamma Sigs go on to become members of AKA, of DST, of Zeta, and of SGRho and continue to excel in service and also stay active in Gamma Sig.

Sorry this got so long. Feel free to PM me if you have a question.

Always in Service....

Re: Other BGLO's
 

Like other sorors have said, there are only so many hand signs one can put up before there are duplicates. It is NOT serious enough to be getting angry. This organization is not even NPHC. Let it go, or calmly talk to a member, learn something about someone different from you, and move along. It will be okay.

Really.
TRSimon

Re: Re: Other BGLO's
 

hummm..this whole discussion leads me back to the pinky. we could have kept that since it doesn't really matter. it becomes confusing to the outside when we start duplicating hand signs and others things (look at the whole ashanti thing). next we'll be using the same colors and letters. it can end if nationallly we chose to NOT permit these things to flourish.
my 22 dollars

Re: Re: Re: Other BGLO's
 

1. I hope you take this discussion to the listserve where sorors could discuss this further. I think it would be a thought provoking debate. If this were an NPHC organization or something, I could see filing injunctions and the like in light of the pinky situation. Do we need to spend money we could be using to help youth at risk suing Murder Inc., who I doubt will be around or using the sign in five years? :rolleyes:

2. I hope you at least take part in the processes in place to change things. It is nice to let the words flow on internet bulletin boards, but it is even nicer to handle business through the proper channels.

:D
TRSimon

As far as Ashanti goes, I saw that discussion begin on the WR list serv. I think dialogue is a great place to start before you begin the writing process.

In terms of my doing my part, I have voiced my concerns about a few things [not always pleasant], sat on committees, and wrote recommendations. Oh yeah and paid dues :) I am not sure beyond that what I can do.

Lastly, some of the issues we are dealing with in 2002 are not necessarily issues we [BGLO's] have dealt with in the early 1900's. Therefore there may not be written protocol established so talking [or posting in this case] always helps because someone reading can point you in the right direction.

Hi Ladies,

I've been following this very interesting discussion and I never noticed how Ashanti/Murder Inc. use's the SGR hand sign until you ladies mentioned it. So I go to www.murderinc.com and sure enough there are pics...

http://www.defjam.com/murderinc/asha...5552_thumb.jpg

My questions is do you ladies think that labels like Murder Inc. (or Roc-a-fella-) are ran by fellow Greeks (or greek aspirants)who have decided to pattern their label like a fraternity/sorority (hence the hand signs)? Ok, maybe I am going out on a limb here, but I'm curious to know.

I can say that Greeks in general work in all industries. Now if they chose to model a label after their fraternity/sorority it would be quite interesting :)

Sounds good, but still a cop out. The majority of your orgs don't do handsigns, have calls, line #'s, step, etc, yet a few chapters do. They decide to do things very similar to established NPHC orgs and then ask that no one care. Ask 90% of the membership of Alpha Phi Omega what is an APhiQ? Q has nothing to do with APOmega. It is specific to Omega Psi Phi (with a fraternal significance) The same with the Omega brand. Why combine another sororities call when a call has nothing to do with your org? Why do a hand sign when most of your membership wouldn't recognize it? WHY? WHY? WHY?

A Phi Que
 

To my knowledge, when the Alpha Phi Omega first came to Historically Black Colleges, we were nicknamed A Phi Ques by the campuses, not ourselves. Think about it. . .if generations of black students had been conditioned to believe that the letter Omega was "Q" by 1947 (when APO first came to HBCU's) why should my brothers think any differently? Add to that the fact that Omegas are members of our Fraternity anyway, it makes a lot of sense.

Now today, in 2002, there are a lot of black people who had Alpha Phi Omega on their yards when they were in college. When I first crossed and wore my letters to a high school function, my teachers all said "Congrats! You're an A Phi Que!" Even though my chapter says APO, I had to respect the fact that A Phi Que is how most people would know my fraternity. I can't even order para from certain stores unless I say "A Phi Que."

My Fraternity has traditions. . .some are ritualistic in origin, others we picked up along the way. Our leaders encourage each chapter to have their own traditions, and on the yards where it makes sense, we adopt those traditions.

Re: A Phi Que
 

Thanks brother. I think that's what I was wanting to say on that.

Always In Service...

Sorhors and Fellow Greeks,

When I was an undergraduate at the University of Delaware we did have Gamma Sigma Sigma and, of course, they were an all caucasian sorority. However, I noticed that when I attended the Greek Picnic in Philly in the mid-80s that many of the gamma sigma sigmas were African American, but they didn't have a call, formally pledge, step, etc. however, they were about doing community service projects and many of them went on to be members of the big 8 at that time because Iota Phi Theta wasn't part of the NPHC.
Anyway the brothers of Alpha Phi Omega did have sweet hearts called foxes and they did step. However, on predominately white campuses they were all about the community service. It is very interesting that greeks in general are having such a hard time dealing with stepping on another organization's toes by maybe using a sign or call or steps from another organization. I commend the young lady that shared information about her organization and I agree with Sorhor Bluereign and others for saying that we really shouldn't get all bent out of shape because some service organziation is using the sign or a sign similar to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. I didn't pledge my organziation and yes, I pledged in the spring of 82' just because we have a hand sign. I became a member of Sigma Gamma Rho because we really live up to the motto of "Greater Service, Greater Progress."

Stay blessed

Serioussigma22:cool:

Call, pledging and stepping
 

I just want to add that I became of member of Gamma Sigma Sigma in 1981 and we have always had the same call, we did have pledge lines and we did step. Maybe we didn't do these things at the greek picnic in Philly, but we did do them.

Your point is a good one SeriousSigma. I'm also a part of a NPHC sorority and I didn't pledge either organization because of the call or the handsign. It's all about what you're doing to help those less fortunate than you. Gamma Sig's all over do a lot to help the communities they are in. Let's focus on the good that all organizations do, whether they are historically black or white. That what's important.

And to Doggystyle, why don't you ask you frat brother, H. Patrick Swygert, president of Howard University, to answer your questions. Afterall, if I'm not mistaken, he is an A-Phi-Q, also.




njgamsig81

I know that it was not the intention of any Gamma Sig to imitate another sorority. I also think that NPHC Greeks fail to realize that many members of Gamma Sig are also your frat and sorors. Gamma Sig is an all together unique group we are so diverse in what we do on every campus that it is hard to label us anything. True, some of my sorors would not recognize a hand sign or a call but there are many that aren't black that would. The most important thing to me is service and I joined Gamma Sig in order to do it with others who feel the way i do. There are many social aspects that I miss out on as a Gamma Sig on my campus but at the same time if I want to do them I will join a social sorority. I appreciate the attitudes of many of you in this forum because I have literally had to fight other black women/men over what I am. I need y'all to know that I respect your organization and each of you as a person and that's all I ask back.[/COLOR]
Notorious #4
Spring 2000
GAMMA SIGMA SIGMA NATIONAL SERVICE SORORITY

Re: Call, pledging and stepping
 

I serious doubt that when I see Brother Swygert at the Conclave in July, that he will introduce himself as an APhiQ. I don't think that Bill Clinton has ever introduced himself as one either. When Brother Swygert and I were members of the same grad chapter, Mu Omega in Philly, I never heard him say, "after I leave this meeting with the Ques, I'm going to hang out with the APhiQues".

I understand your sentiment. Its what your used to and what you know. I respect that. I'm not sweatin' it, wouldn't fight over it, nor lose any sleep over it.

Re: A Phi Que
 

That is the best answer that I have heard and I can respect that. If the Omegas on your campus are cool with that, I have no problem. Many traditions start without people knowing why and its understandable. My point is that the english letter "Q" is not equivalent to the Greek letter Omega (which is actually a "W"). It has a meaning specific to Men of Omega and has no significance outside of those privy to it. That is why it is inappropriate for others to use it.

Brother, I would never tell you what to say or how to refer to you org. Good dialog. Intelligent debate never hurt anyone.

Gamma Sigs: Please stop saying "I joined for the service, not social". If so, you open yourself for criticism every time you take on a trait of a "social" org and then complain about the treatment that you receive.

Sorhors and Fellow Greeks,

As members of the divine 9 we don't need to worry about the small stuff! They are a service organization and many of their members are our sorhors and frat brothers. Members of gamma sigma sigma and alpha phi omega know that they were created to provide community service. If they have line names, hand signs and calls that sound like the divine 9 what are we going to do sue them for having information that seems similar to ours. I will restate my original comment as follows: I joined Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority because of the community service, my sororities principals, true sisterhood, and the fact that during the greatest time of oppression for African Americans my sorority established new boundaries on an historically caucasian university when the klan and other white supremacist groups resurged in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio in the years 1920 - 1922.


Serioussigma22 :cool:

I said that I belong to a SERVICE sorority and there are many social apects of your organization that I don't partici[ate in. The difference between me and you is that at the end of the semester I have to turn in a certain amount of hours and that's what keeps me alive. I joined Gamma Sig to do service with agroup of people that iknew were going to do service also. I konw that my chatper will have to do SERVICE because that's what we are required to do. I give of myself every week in the name of service and that's why I became a Gamma Sig. I don't appreciate you telling me why I joined my sorority because that's something you can not reallu speak on. There is nothing wroing with a service greek participating in social activities I'm saying that I know what comes first every time. On my yard an NPHC Greek said to me that they wouldn't be doing any service in the fall semster because they had too manu step shows to participate in. ISH like that is the reason I am a Gamma Sig..because we dont' have that option. I am about thru with this issue I just ask that you don't try to tell me my intention as a Gamma Sig because you don't know what is in my heart.
Notorious #4

Pump your brakes!
 

Notorious,
It is quite unfortunate that general statements be made and they apply across the board to Pan Hell. General statements were made about Gamma Sigma Sigma and you did not take too kindly to them. If someone did say something like that [that they would not be doing community service], they are definitley not acting in accordance with the principals that all of us in the Divine 9 adhere to. It is my hope that individuals don't believe all we do is step because that does not begin to scratch the surface. But unless you are a member of one of the Divine 9 organizations, all else is truly speculation by that of outsiders. I hope that you joined your organization on a strong foundation and not on the fact that you were interested in an NPHC sorority [first] and got turned off by something stated. If it's in your heart, nothing could change it.


Greater Service, Greater Progress.

To clear up one thing. Women do not join Gamma Sig because they are turned off or down by NPHC Sororities. I joined Gamma Sig for the pure motive of doing service in its name. What's in my heart reamins in my heart and being a Gamma Sig doesn't change that at all. FOr the time being though I choose to be only a Gamma Sig. I wasn't making any generalizations about NPHC Greeks I was just stating an example of some thing that distinguishes Service Greek from Social Greek. I have nothing but respect for the young women of other sororities and all I ask for is that respect in return. I do appreciate the attitudes of the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho in choosing not to criticize what is not the same because I hoestly haven't received this type of response from the other women.

Notorious4it,

I understand exactly what you are saying about your organization. You are saying that your organization is purely based upon doing service for the greater community. You don't understand why some members of the divine 9 are up in arms about similar hand signs, calls, colors, that fact that your organization steps, etc. Everyone is very zealous about his/her organization, however, we all must be mindful and respectful because we all have a lot to offer to the greater society/community. However, to state that most of the divine 9 is only about stepping thats not a true or clear statement about the individual organizations. I can only really speak for Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. but we take our motto: "Greater Service, Greater Progress" very seriously and we really do a lot of service on the undergraduate and graduate levels. Yes, it does seem that some of the undergraduates really love to step but if you just look a little closer you will probably see that they are working and uplifting their communities with a smile. Stay blessed!



Serioussigma22:cool:

Hello everyone, I am also a member of Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority. Since we are not a nphc sorority, our members are free to join nphc organizations. I know of some of our members who are Zetas, Deltas, etc. I was just wondering how you ladies felt about members of organizations such as mine joining nphc sororities and fraternities?

Well first of all welcome to greekchat gssdiva. To answer your question I don't have a problem with people in national honor and service orgs joining my org. We have soRHOrs that are members of these orgs. They are hard working soRHOrs in both orgs. I say to anyone who has an interest in one of the NPHCs orgs just go with what's in your heart. :)

To gssdiva,

I totally agree with my Sorhor Kizzie22 and believe that a member of a service organization and national honor society is good reason to have that person in ones organization. Folks that are already members of hard working organizations have experience and a lot to offer that particular BGLO. And welcome to Sigma Gamma Rho's message board!

Serioussigma22:cool: