Rain Man,
What do you mean exactly by "brindge the gap" between 25/52 and NPHC orgs.? All I have seem discussed here is the issue of tension based on a feeling of proprietorship over calls, strolls, signs, etc. Whay kind of response do you expect from anyone's national HQ's? For many NPHC organization these social markers are not official, I am not sure what direction their National Administrations could give you. They are long standing traditions held dear by many in the organizations but they are not official proscribed tenets. That, however, does not mean they are any less important to the membership.
But again, I am not clear on what the gap is. Are you looking for some assurance that NPHCers will not mind seeing other organizations stroll, call etc. I sincerely doubt it is ever going to happen. 1. The National body is really not likely to take an interest in this type of petty side stuff (nor shoud they in my opinion) and 2. each person is entitled to his or her own opinion. If it makes my skin crawl to her someone with a call that sounds like some mix of a Delta call and an AKA call- it is my skin and it can crawl all it wants.
I personally do suspect race plays an issue based on the description I have been given here (per my original post, this was not an issue on my undergrad campus.) Not the race of the founders of the orgs. but the race of the members of APO/GSS for whom this seems to be an issue. It stands out that the memebers for whom this seems most relevant are those who 1. are African American 2. at HBCU's 3. who are being perceived as imitating outward social signs of NPHC orgs. You say this is not a matter of non NPHC greeks wanting to do what they see NPHC greeks do, but, I think you would probably have to provide me with a whole lot of facts that show
1. they did not get the idea from NPHC orgs in the first place; and
2. that it is not an attempt to emulate BGLOs since these things are not characteristic of GSS/APO on their own or WGLOs.
People are free to pledge whatever type of GLO they want but the reality is if you are an African American who pledges a GLO other than a BGLO and attempt to introduce (or continue as the case may be since I am sure this started back a ways at some schools) things that you know are routinely equated with BGLO's some eyebrows are going to raise and some are going to say you are seeking to imitate what you see else where. The question may be asked "if you are happy with your org,why don;t you do what they do?"
You asked my Soror
Million dollar question to you, Kelli: If you say that no tension exists, does that mean that 25/52 will be treated equally as NPHC orgs in all aspects, except we can't vote or hold office at NPHC function?
What do you mean by "in all aspects?" The NPHC has specific guidelines as far as membeship of organizations are concerned. It is attinable for those who meet the guidelines and seek it (Iota Phi Theta, for example) To participate a choice would have to be made by APO/GSS. If you mean acceptance in some other way- what?
And one last question- why care whether or not you are accepted at all? I don't mean treated civilly (ie not threatened with violence, etc.- that is rediculou behavior) No one could stop you from strolling, stepping, calling, etc. without doing somthing illegal. If you are saying you want them to be directed to be welcoming, that is another story. You can't please all the people all the time and as long as your org is living by its principles and handling its business then you are doing what you should.
(FYI- I don't have a problem with most of the behavior cited in this thread at all. I believe in and love my organization and thw work that we do and no one else's stroll, call, etc. could affect that. As long as they are not being mistaken for DST, I coiuld care less.)
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