Why, Biters? Seriously, why?
 

For all the up & coming national GLOs (and anyone who has insight), why ON EARTH do newer orgs feel the need to "borrow" significant elements from established orgs?

Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. is barely over eleven years old! And, yet, we have younger multicultural sororities (and not just sororities) B-I-T-I-N-G. As many of you already know, I keep track of the madness for Theta Nu Xi over in our spot:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...ad.php?t=65551

I don't want this to turn into a stepping/strolling thread, because that is a Greek-wide controversy. I'm talking about organizations specifically stealing elements from established organizations.

So, honestly, why does this happen? What makes someone wake up one day and say, "hmmm...let me see what's up with Greek Life...ooh I like that shield...and ooh I like that mission statement" and then throw then together and call it a sorority/fraternity?

Furthermore, why do people join these organizations and not run in the opposite direction when they see this mess?

Thoughts?

Sigma Rhomeo once stole APhiA's pledging and hazing policy word for word on their national website..... I was like come on RHomeo's, I'm like the ONLY person who doesn't clown you and y'all want to steal my frat's policy word for word?

It's not even laziness, it's desperation. At least that's what I think of when it comes to plagiarism.

I don't know why people are more discerning when they join these things.

They're lazy and uncreative? :confused:

Holy crap!! :eek: :mad:

I don't get it... :confused:

I think it's laziness when people are perfectly capable of being creative and doing things on their own. As for Sigma Rhomeo, given their history, they know better!

I think it's laziness bred from our present culture of instant gratification. They see something they like. And for whatever their reasons they choose not to pursue it (in the appropriate manner) or in some cases are denied access. They still want to feel/take part in the (perceived) success of the group they are emulating, so they take the easy way/short cut and steal the superficial (i.e. surface) items of a group, most likely not realizing that the group is more than just a collection of mascot, tenets, mission, and colors.

I also think part of the problem is the "I'm A Star Syndrome". Instead of doing some sort of internal reflection when they are denied admittance to an org or are not selected for the initial application process, they think they are being "hated on" by the orgs members. Many seem to fail to realize that their grades, personal conduct, service record etc. need to be improved before they can even be considered for membership. Or in the case of former interest groups turned GLO, they fail to realize that a national organization need not bend to the will of a few (who aren't even members of the org).

Sorry ya'll, that will be my rant for the day. The Youth...they just aren't what they used to be.

One group took your subject matter one step further; they did not borrow anything, they just took it and just became SAE.
Somehow, in their minds, the addition of their Country's name made all the difference in the world:eek::confused:

WHAT?!?!?! :eek: Is this group still in existence?

i call it wannajacketitis.

Yes-They even try to post here every so often.
http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/announcement.php?f=90

They have posted on YouTube but some of it has been removed:rolleyes:;)

It takes a lot of time, work (and blood, sweat and tears....sorry if I sound cliche) to create all of the details that make a fraternity or sorority unique. In my opinion, I really feel bad to those who join organizations that have excessively borrowed from others. It's like they are cheating their members...their own brothers and sisters. Yeah, so it makes me more sad than mad really. :(

Soror Moderator - could you just delete the previous two posts?

Make sure you report them, too.

This is interesting. So we "stole" from your frat? You should really verify your information BEFORE you say things which are inaccurate. There are SEVERAL members of APhiA who are ALSO members of Sigma Rhomeo. Some of these men were instrumental in the organization of Rhomeo after we initially seperated from SGRho in 1980.

I do not doubt what you are saying, but in this age of "cookie-cutter" orgs, how is what we allegedly did any different from one org using another org's moves on the stage or community service ideas in another region? May I remind you of the whole Masonry/Alpha dispute?

And why WOULD you clown us? Interesting, indeed.

Then what's your point? All of that cartwheeling for nothing.

ETA: If you all did "borrow" "steal" "whatever" from APhiA, it doesn't matter if some of Rhomeos were also Alphas.

On another note:

LOL...Senusret made a Sigma Rhomeo appear.

It's like...magic.

Okay, first of all, I don't think you're a Sigma Rhomeo.



I know! Why does it take five times for Candyman and three times for Beetlejuice, but only one for Rhomeos??? UGH.

LOL. It's a new day when Sigma Rhomeos are perped. Even on the 'net.

This isht is scary. One of my friends just sent me a text and mentioned Beetlejuice. EEEEEEEEK!!!!!!

And you just said it a third time. :D

Are YOU seriously trying to climb atop the soapbox? Trust me, it's going to be a long fall.

This is really sad. If members of Sigma Rhomeo aren't welcome here, then all anyone had to do is say so. All of this negative attention is so immature. Don't you have community service to perform?

Are you a member of FOCG: Sigma Rhomeo? If so, post your crossing info. Then we can have a conversation. But right now you're just a random claiming to be something.

Or, in other words....you walked into a room where everybody already spoke to each other. Now it's on YOU to say hi, not us.

If I were not a member, why would I bother engaging in this line of conversation?

And, how would my "crossing information" convince you otherwise? I thought your purpose for posting your initial comment was for revelation, analysis and closure. Obviously, I was incorrect.

If you wish to discuss this thread topic and your post like rational, mature people, then I am game.

Is there a soapbox? Really?

Don't you?

Your first post left a lot to be desired then.

Quit with the attitude. Obviously you haven't been round these parts very long ( or you haven't looked at old posts in other forums)

(If you wish to discuss this thread topic and your post like rational, )(mature people, then I am game)

The above goes for you too. Watch your tone. Play nice.

LOL i died.

Sigma Rhomeo???

Wow. I have a friend who`s a member in Lambda Tau and I`m pretty sure she`s unaware of the infringements of her organization. I don`t blame the youth, but the founder is on some bull.. if they try to expand, I`ll put it to her and tell her to do her research. It`s so sad that harmless people get pulled into the game like that.. [smh] :(

There's a youth group called Alpha Kappa Kappa that is remarkably similar to my sorority. I know there's a chapter in Birmingham. They are high school students. I don't like it. I guess perhaps we should be flattered, but I find it rather disrespectful.

I don`t blame you. There are things that can be done to promote leadership, service the community and excel in scholarship without adopting the look and feel of a fraternity/sorority.. I think Sensuret I said it best: they`re called clubs.

Nothing new under the sun..
 

This is not new. Not many organizations within the BLGO system can say that their concepts are original. Case in point. Consider Alpha Phi Fraternity. No...not Alpha Phi Alpha....Alpha Phi Fraternity. Alpha Phi Fraternity is the first women’s organization to use Greek letters as an emblem. They were founded in 1872. They are not called a sorority because they were founded before the term sorority was used. Their colors are silver and bordeaux but they often use pink and green in their designs. Even their website is designed in pink and green.
You can view it here.

http://www.alphaphi.org/about_us/symbolsofalphaphi.html


Their official symbol is the Ivy Leaf. This may be a coincidence but being that Alpha Phi Alpha was founded an hour away from where Alpha Phi was founded, it is plausible that some symbols may have been borrowed in the founding of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Being that the formation of the first BLGOs was, in itself, an act of defiance to the "all white" fraternities and sororities, it's not unlikely that some the symbols were used to make a political statement. This is just my conclusion though. There is nothing to support that this why some symbols are similar.

Please, members of AKA and Alpha, DO NOT get upset with me about posting this information. You may have already known this though, I am not familiar with what your organization teaches you about your founding and the origin of your symbols. I just wanted to point out to those who don't know much about fraternity and sorority history that nothing is new under the sun when it comes to some of the symbolism used in BLGOs.

ha ha
 

I just found a site about Alpha Kappa Kappa Medical Fraternity. They'll be delighted to know that some high schoolers are using their name.

Looking for Lambda Tau...can't find anything on them.

BREAKING NEWS: WATER IS WET.

Oh, and it's BGLO.

No, it's not plausible that a group of black men an hour away from a group of white women would borrow their symbols in 1906 and wait two years to give them to a group of black women at Howard.

Especially since Alpha Phi Alpha did not HELP with the founding of AKA in that way.

Nor was it Alpha Chapter Alphas who provided the moral support to Ethel Hedgeman Lyle.

Ok......
 

Nor do I know if your organization taught you not to presume too much.

I am more upset that you are ill informed. Handle that.

:)

:rolleyes:
Mmmmmkay. Those high schoolers my be using their name, but the intent was to copy AKA.

I would venture that there are more similarities between Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta, and Alpha Gamma Delta than there are between Alpha Phi and Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Shhhhhhhhhhh . . . ;)

Yeah...no. Just because our National website is in a pink & green design, does not mean we "often use" pink & green. K, thanxs.

Yepppers. I don't think the men of Alpha Phi Alpha or the ladies of AKA needed any help from us to create their orgs.

Breaking news: You are psychotic. Oh, wait. ALL of GC already knows that...