Guess Who’s Coming To Campus
 

The following article was sent to a listserve that I subscribe to. Please read and post thoughts. There are a number of issues addressed in this article and I think this would be a great forum for discussion.

http://www.naspa.org/netresults/arti...tegory=Feature

I think the article was well-researched and addressed a lot of issues that many of us know exist. I thought it was interesting (and accurate) that the author is trying to place some responsibility on higher education (at least, the universities where these groups exist) in regards to shaping GLOs that do not fall within NPC or NIC groups.

I imagine if most of the administrators at my school picked that up and read it, they would have their eyes opened to organizations they had no idea even existed. And really, that's kind of sad. There were only 3 NPHC groups that I know of represented on my campus (AKA, Delta Sigma Theta & Alpha Phi Alpha). Granted, we didn't have any NPC or NIC groups, but there was a Greek Council that was the local umbrella group for our locals and the PFA organizations (of which there were also 3). I don't know that a member of any NPHC group ever sat in on a meeting, or was involved with Greek Council at all. And if they would have come to them with any concerns, I doubt that the members or the advisors would have had any idea how to address them.

Since I didn't go to school amidst a large greek population, much less one with NPC rush & the like, I've always found the regulations these groups have to keep up with a bit much. I understand the reasons for many of them, although I may not agree. But it seems obvious that the NPC or NIC council is going to address a completely different set of issues than an NPHC council, or even a Latino or Asian or Multi-cultural council.

It seems to me that these organizations need their own specific councils, with people guiding them that have some clue as to what is going on. Not necessarily that they have to be from the same culture, but that they are aware of traditional practices (recognized and not), the pressure the students face, the images these students have the organizations, etc.

And then, in my perfect world, there would be a uniting Greek Council, where the members of these separate councils would meet occassionally to address the problems that they do have in common. To plan the annual event(s) that they all participate in together.

It seems we, and our advisors, need to be aware that just because we all have greek letters, does not mean we are all the same. There are some fundamental differences, as well as some fundamental similarities. I do wish the article would have offered some possible solutions to the 3 big problems he saw facing these organizations. Although then I imagine it would turn into a book! ;)

Anyway, good topic. Sorry I rambled so long!