Can I get an honest answer?
 

I've checked out all out the NPC,NPHC, and MGC at my school. I'm interested in the NPC, but I noticed most of the girls were stereotypically White and thin. I'm Black and kinda chunky, so should I just avoid NPC all together. I know it sound silly, but I'm wondering this could affect me? Should I just stick to the NPHC and the MGC?

well if YOU know it sounds silly, what are we supposed to think?

in short, so where you feel like you fit in. go where you feel like you can be your black and kinda chunky self. it could affect you getting a bid fron an NPC or an invitation for membership in an NPHC/MCG, but i doubt it would more or less than anything else.

and if you're joining an organization based on stereotypes... well, i think you need a little more time.

signed,
tld221
longtime GC contributor
fellow black and kinda chunky NPHC member

NO NO NO NO!

Go for whichever group you feel most comfortable!

There are at least two GC members who are african american and in NPC orgs-KSUViolet and BabyPink_FL and many more out there.

The most important thing is to join the org that you are most comfortable with.

go with what u are familiar with...do ur research...go to interets meetings or rsuhes whatever have you ...but in the end if you already know u dont feel comfortable or if you got other motives for wanting to wear soem pretty letters on a shirt besides positive representation then please dont waste time joining...last thing anyone needs is a T shirt wearer or another pretty face with no brains

I'm not basing my decisions on stereotypes, I'm just wondering if it would be looked down upon.

Let's be honest here..... wouldn't it depend on her school?

For some good reading - check out "What? An NPC/NPHC Hybrid Retro Recruitment thread"...

Good stuff.

ETA: Actually, I think it depends on her more than the school. If SHE wants to be in an NPC, even at a HBCU, I think she should go for it.

I've got a question. What's rush like at Bama? :)

It's a school in the South, it's a large public university, but not an SEC school.

well considering that PEOPLE in general tend to look down on "kinda chunky" people, i would imagine a small subset of PEOPLE fall into greek organizations, and an even smaller subset in NPCs.

so will members of NPC organizations look down on you because youre bigger than the norm? some will, some wont. that's not to say that NPHC/MCG members accept bigums far and wide, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not that serious. concentrate on where you feel like you can be YOU, chunkiness and all. that may mean the million+ member-ed NPC/NPHC, the ever growing MCG, or the 3-person local. whatever it is, you'll know when you find it.

but that's my honest answer as a PERSON. I'm not in NPC so if you're looking for an answer from an NPC member... my bad.

and yes, do check out my retro thread - not to toot my own horn, but AF shouted me out above so... TOOT TOOT!

There's no harm in rushing and seeing where you come out...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't there's anything stopping someone who's been BID by and NPC, but decides for whatever reason not to INITIATE from later joining an NPHC....

I guess this question needs to be asked (and I know it's sorta been answered by tld's thread...)...is it taboo to rush NPC and decide it's not for you, and then persue NPHC...is it sort of on the same level as persuing one NPHC, and getting nowhere, and then persuing another??? I understand if no one can/wants to answer this question.

For me as an NPHC fraternity member, I would not have a problem with an aspirant who went through IFC formal rush or informally rushed different fraternities. I mean, the way you research NPHC frats and NIC orgs is very different. He'd almost have to know that an NIC org wasn't right for him by going through rush.

Now if he pledged and dropped.....eh..... I dunno.

None of these conferences discriminate among potential members or members on basis on race or background. The differences you see where the majority of NPC women are white or NPHC women are black are due to historic circumstances. If you are interested in NPC membership, go through NPC recruitment. There are black women in NPC organizations throughout the US. Just as with NPC and MCGLO membership, going through recruitment is not a guarantee you will be offered membership.

To gain a little perspective on why it appears there is still this unintentional segregation of sororities, one must look at the history of sororities, women in education and the equal rights movement.

Women in the US did not gain the right to a college education until around the time of the Civil War. Once women started going to college (of course, at this time young women in college were privileged white women), sororities formed. Later, black women gained this right, and formed sororities, as well. Thanks to the end of segregation, you can now find NPCs and NPHCs on the same campuses. But think back to the history-- there was a time when Jews and Catholics experienced discrimination in this country -- there were some NPC groups that formed originally to cater to these two minority groups b/c they were barred from joining exisiting NPC groups at that time. After a period of time, social conventions changed and today all of the NPC organizations welcome members of all backgrounds, religions and races.

So you won't find a lot of black members in NPC groups or white members in NPHC groups, and that's why. But I think it is very encouraging when a young woman interested in a sorority looks at all of the sorority conferences available on her campus and selects the one she thinks is best for her.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I will say that if you feel your personal appearance is an issue and it is something you can work on for your own health and confidence, you should certainly do that-- but don't do it if you're just trying to fit in or if you feel you need to change yourself just to make someone else accept you.

Yes, it will be looked down on. Maybe more or less so depending on your campus environment, etc., but the general answer is yes. Attending NPC rush will be looked down on; pledging then dropping NPC is DEFINITELY going to be looked down on.

I don't know about with with the MGC groups.

i think it depends on the NPHC member... if someone came to me interested in my org and said:

Scenario A: I pledged an NPC, dropped my letters because i see [NPHC org] is what i really want... i'd be really hesitant and skeptical. i'd want to watch them a little. i'd lean to the side of not recommending them for membership - you know, questioning loyalty, etc. but also since i understand a LOT more how NPC rush works (i mean you ARE making a decision within a WEEK as a FRESHMAN)... i'd at least THINK about it. but if a soror came to me and said, "what you think of so-and-so?" don't think that i wont put the biz out there.

Scenario B: (after they became a member of NPHC) hey, by the way, i was an XYZ (NPC org) and here's what happened... well, @zz kicking would occur, verbally, physically, in some way because that makes you a LIAR and who wants a LIAR as a sister/soror?


Again, depends on the person how'd they react. Of course, since yall know my situation, i feel like im a little more tolerant. The next NPHC member may say "If you aren't down for XYZ from day one, then i can't mess with you - sorry."

Then of course, depends on campus culture, location, etc. I can't imagine if, for example (and here goes the train wreck) the HU Pike boys decided, hey i wanna pledge ABC, Inc. now because they're what's hot on the yard... that ABC (or any of NPHC) would be there with welcoming arms.

I think it depends on your school, as well as why you are interested in the orgs. Honestly, would you be just as happy in either type? How much research have you done on the orgs, beyond just the chapters at your school?

As for being "black and kinda chunky" - it's really just going to depend on the school and the girls in the chapter(s).

that makes me curious on her intent for joining any organization that is based on superficial looks....

She says she is Black and kinda chunky....

if you have no confidence in yourself or if you have self esteem issues, then why look at orgs that are simply based on that....what else do you have to give that would make you an asset besides your looks?

That seems like that is your primary worry...or maybe I am crazy

Pink Tulips? This sounds like what a very prissy and vain woman would call her vagina.

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

:D :D :D :D

The usual GCers continue to make me laugh even on the worst days.

It's not my primary worry, but most of my other worries were answered with the search function. I just wanted to know if this could affect me. I don't think its all about looks, I just don't want to waste my time of groups who might make a big deal out of it.

it's only a big deal if YOU LET IT be a big deal

I mean if they get mad because your ass has more curves than theirs or you eat a meal as opposed to them eating and purging bird seeds...then....hmmmmmm

Yeah.....

Okay, this is going to sound a bit "weird" but on my campus there is a very black, very large woman in an NPC and EVERYONE loves her. She's very well known amongst everyone and very proud of her Nigerian heritage too!

As for me myself, I'm black (not chunky, LOL) but, I'm NPC, I love it. It can get kinda awkward because sometimes I do get dirty looks from other people. It is also sometimes awkward because my organization is honestly very southern and very white but my chapter is VERY not. When I go to State/National events I'm ALWAYS the only other black person there although I have seen other black members in other chapters and there have been a few others in my own chapter more recently. But I didn't join my org. to find other black people. I joined because I liked it. I looked at NPHC and was slightly interested but there were issues there for me and so I followed my heart and rushed and got my top choice.

As a member of my college Panhellenic I'm encouraging you to go through recruitment and even if you decided not to join then you'll still meet so many people. The only way I would not advise you to rush (and I'm just being honest) is if you go to some kind of school where EVERY NPC member looks the same and there is NO diversity except brown hair or blonde hair (which is highly unlikely, but it happens) or some kind of high racial tension school where you'd honestly have the chance of a ice cube in hell (but you never know even still! I mean someone has to be the first). You can always PM me if you want to chat. Hope I helped!

pinktulips, would you happen to go to nicholls state university? cause i'm an RA there, and one of my residents is a FANTASTIC black girl who is on the chunky side. she expressed wanting to rush NPC but didn't know if she'd fit in. i'll tell you the same thing i told her (if ya'll aren't one and the same!)...go where you'll be comfortable. if you think you'd fit in better (personality-wise) with NPC, just rush, see what happens. if you're not comfortable, drop. then you'll know. i can't speak for everyone, but i personally wouldn't hold that against a girl seeking membership. as long as you didn't accept a bid and THEN drop.

I think it depends on the school and what their NPC/IFC Greek system is like. I think you can expect to be evaluated as previous PNMs seem to have been.

If so far, it's all white or it's all skinny Barbie dolls, that probably didn't happen coincidentally.

But if the system is racially integrated and truly diverse in appearance, then I think it would be more likely that the factors you mention won't be a big deal.

But you probably can't afford to approach it like, I'll rush NPC and if it doesn't work out, I'll try NPHC. The impression that I have it that for any NPHC group, you should know what group you want and pursue that one, and if you do something different, it might hurt your chances.

No, I don't, but thanks for the advice.

you know, you're right. when i made my post a minute ago i didn't think it all the way through. i can't see a black girl who thinks she'd better fit into an NPC group personality-wise fitting into an NPHC group based on looks.

I'm only really interested in one NPHC group, and my biggest dilemma is whether I should try for that one or try for a PC sorority. When it boils down, there are more complicated issues than looks. There are other issues involving family. For now it's still just one big maybe.

ew, family is hard to deal with. i don't know about your relationships, but i had to tell my family to just freakin deal with it when i didn't rush NPC. it was a huge fight, but eventually they got over it because they couldn't stop me. of course, that doesn't prevent the snide little comments here and there, but it's something we just don't talk about.

Pink,
I'm just wondering----are you familiar with the NPC sororities on your campus and their activities that they do? Sounds like you might want to do some research on them or maybe attend some of their public activities during the year. Yes, I know that this is NPC but you might need some more information. I know when I was first looking in sorority membership I did a lot of research on the different organizations. What it comes down to is that you make the best decision for you. I'm African-American and for me I chose a NPHC sorority. It came down to being the best fit for me.

I am also black and joined a NPC org. When I first entered college, I also thought that I would get judged by the color of my skin. Then I realized that was silly. Yes there are some groups out there that cater to a certain stereotype, but you cannot let that stop you from doing what you want. There are many NPC orgs that would be lucky to have you. I know women of all shapes and colors that are in NPC orgs. You just have to be the best you that you can be. I know that sounds cliche, but you cannot expect for NPC or any org for that matter to seriously consider giving you a bid when you are not confident with yourself.
If there are NPC orgs that do not want you, then you are better off without them.

But they did and apparently were welcomed with open arms. And it was more of now that they are back on the yard.

YOU'RE BLACK?????!!!!






j/k :D

Ultra competitive. Cutthroat. Vicious. SEC.

LOL, yes. Alert the media.

It's funny because there are people who have been posting here forever who had no idea.

Greekchat is a message board chat site where folks discuss whatever and wherever.

It should only the pre-test level of researching organizations you are interesting in joining. NEVER for the sole basis of you joining one...

Will you be salvage for humiliation from being extended a bid to join, who knows? Take care of yourself as always.

well shut me up and call me misinformed!

and re: KSU - its funny how i can remember poster's ethnicities, yet can never remember who's male or female (i mean, if the name is ambiguous and there are no letters in the siggy...).


what i come on here to say? oh yes - we STILL talkin about this??