|
I didn't get to post a serious response to the Pike at Howard thread so I figured I would take a moment to do it here.
Forgive me if I repeat what some others have written.
I think it should be clear that a NIC group, and i mean the fraternities that we can consider as traditionally white, are very different than the NPHC groups. Which means Pike represents a different kind of choice.
I know everyone realizes this, but its worth taking a moment to revisit it.
NIC groups traditionally don't have as strong a national mission as the NPHC groups.
From what I understand from this board and my friends in NPHC groups, the National character of the NPHC groups is more indoctrinated than their NIc counterparts.
The biggest difference is the emphasis on service. NIC groups are social fraternities first . . . and they do some service type activities.
My understanding of the NPHC groups I have worked with is that they are virtuallty service organizations. Service organizations that socialize.
In fact, when I ran a chapter, often we would be ten times the size of some of the NPHC groups but they would do ten times the service activities.
NIC groups exist to socialize. NPHC groups exist to serve.
I am not saying one is better than the other, just different.
Getting to my point.
I don't know what motivates the the men that want to join Pike versus an NPHC group, or just stay independant, but from the outside it looks like the members want to join a more social organization than a more service one.
I think thats an important distinction to make, because the NIC groups and the NPHC groups are not interchangeable.
This is not like they are starting a chapter of Iota Phi Theta instead of joining the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter. The NIC group is a whole 'nother animal.
This is more like people starting a school TV club instead of joining the established Radio club because their interest is similar (Communications) but still different.
|