[naraht]

Some additional numbers from National Board reports can be found at http://www.angelfire.com/mech/apo-truthnotfiction/

Originally Posted by gamma_girl52

Just last week I saw this group on Facebook titled "Yes, We Are Black Women in APO and No, We Are Not Gamma Sigs". I was looking at it like, "Is it really this serious?" Perhaps it is. From what I see, the female members of this frat are tired of being disrespected; they are tired of being told that they aren't truly members of their own fraternity; they're tired of being told they can't do this, they can't do that. Could you blame them?

Thank you, I think that encapsulates a great deal of the feeling.

Originally Posted by gamma_girl52

As a Gamma Sig I know I'm tired of seeing my organization be used as a "way out" of some of Alpha Phi Omega's policies...colonies are getting started so that chapter can be all male. As a Gamma Sig, I'm tired of meeting members of APO, fellow black women I might add, that almost immediately look at me with distrust or uncertainty about how I might treat them? So, could you blame me?

14 APO chapters counted as all-male now... If I'm counting correctly, 10 have Gamma Sig chapters (Clemson, Samford, Drexel, FAMU, MinnDuluth, Tuskegee, Duquesne, MaineOrono, TexasSouthern and Grambling). Lamar has a Gamma Sig Colony, Auburn as OPhiA, MaineMachias has Kappa Alpha Kappa (local) and Fort Valley, I can't tell. To reference back to Senusret's prior comment, the existance of Gamma Sigma Sigma has been used by the all-male APO chapters as a reason that they don't *need* to go co-ed. (prior to the Convention). (See web page referenced above.)

Originally Posted by gamma_girl52

There's a lot of UNTRUTHS out there about both our organizations. I may not agree with some things about the fraternity--particularly the latest decision about "forcing" co-edness. My personal opinion? I think chapters should have the choice to let the chapter be whatever it's going to be, whether it's all-male, co-ed, or all-female even; but don't make a mandate out of it. However, that shouldn't dictate me in how I treat a female member of APO. What does my opinion have to do with me SPEAKING to someone, or how I treat them?

Agreed.

Originally Posted by gamma_girl52

Luckily for me I grew up. And realized that in the big scheme of things, this is PETTY and TRIVIAL and as women in organizations of SERVICE and LEADERSHIP, we need to do better!!

Amen.