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"I know my soror is tryign to change that for next year and we have a few event set up with one of the frats and a girls night with one of the multicultural sororities."~Glitter650
That's really cool...I never really thought people have socials with non IFC-NPC houses...and you have to start somewhere. So I'm happy your house is branching out.
As for my school, it's hard to change the status quo. This is the way things have been since the beginning--you do your best to be associated with the "best houses" (during Homecoming Week or in general) and that puts you one more rung up on the social ladder. The non IFC-NPC groups get lost in the mix, with the exception of Greek Week...and we all have a good time during Greek Week. But just because we don't interact with the multicultural houses as much as we do with each other doesn't mean we consider them any less Greek--we just think that's their thing...you know? It's a different level, I guess.
And outtAKAntrol, you're right about the earliest fraternities being founded to cater to rich white males at prestigious universities (everything back then was founded to cater to rich white males!)...but the thing is, many houses have non-white members, too and I think we're just intimidated b/c most of us could never fathom joining a multicultural house b/c we don't know if we'd fit in (I mean, anyone is allowed to join, I'm assuming?)
Because the thing is, when you talk about XYZ you might say something like, "Oh, yeah, they had their philanthropy last week. Oh, tonight they're having a social with ABC." Whatever. But if we were to mention a multicultural house, it would be identified as the black house, the asian house, whatever, and that seems like,"Everyone else need not apply." Not that I'm saying they're elitist (but aren't we all) but (where the hell am I going with this?) it's just a different world. Multicultural houses find strength and sisterhood or brotherhood within their similar heritage and ideals and outlook on society, whereas other houses find strength and sisterhood and brotherhood in the visions their founders had. An analogy I would use is that they're like different religions...(now for effect, hum "Heal the world.") For example, Catholics and Baptists are both Christian. But they're really different in their beliefs and operate differently.
That's it. End of explanation. My thoughts are all jumbled (and I actually expect to write for a living--someone's going to be living in a box!). All I can say is, IFC-NPC houses and multicultural houses are different. Not a bad different, not a different that can't get along, but different. I'm Filipino myself, but there is no way I could ever see myself in an Asian sorority...I wouldn't measure up to the kids who actually speak their parents' native language, among other things...I don't even have any Asian friends! My best friends/favorite sorority sisters are like people I've been raised with, I have so much in common with them...their parents just don't happen to be from the same country as my parents. They're like the friends you made in kindergarden--you don't care what their ethnicity is, you care if they're fun and good friends.
If you read to the end of this, you deserve a medal or something. How about I have a brainstorming session before my next "brain fart" post?
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