Quote:
Originally Posted by MysticCat
NPHC groups, while social organizations are also service organizations. At least from what I've learned here at GC and what I've seen in real life, the social and service aspects are perhaps equally important. Thus, there is an understanding from the outset that your involvement in the fraternity or sorority will be involvement in service to the community through that fraternity or sorority.
NIC (and similar) fraternities and NPC sororities, on the other hand, are primarily social organizations. True, most have in the last few decades adopted official philanthropies and most have always had some degree of service to the community, but that is secondary (or tertairy) in their reasons for being.
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I think you have hit on the crux of the matter quite brilliantly.
Let me please go a step further and make a very painful point about life in the United States many seem to want to avoid discussing.
Simply put- NPC and NIC philanthropy involvement is far different than that for NPHC involvement for the same reasons that exist for non-Greeks. We white folks often do care to some extent, but there is also an element of "doing a greater service" that makes us look better as compared to the demands on successful African-Americans which expect a far more personal and real aid to a community that does go unnoticed, and which does not often generate a society-wide approbation (and thus "prestige") when assistance is provided.
For my part, I was actively involved in philanthropy as an active- served as chair during all of my time as an active member perhaps just as much because I cared as because noone else wanted the job. As an alumnus, I still felt it was important- but I promoted to the chapter on the basis of the social benefits it could confer. The results were positive, but the reasons were still superficial.
This is not true in NPHC organizations because I think the pressure on those who have gone to college and secured good careers is significant- moreso than I could ever truly comprehend.
That pressure not only makes for active graduate chapters- but I suspect it also places a burden on potential active alumnae/alumni many are not able or prepared to meet.
This is where there is some similarity with the NIC situation. Just as an NIC or NPC alumnus may not want to get involved knowing he/she will have to write big checks as I discuss above, perhaps an NPHC alumus may also feel the burden of the social expectations of the role?
I really hope the OP comes back to confirm which side is being researched. Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests the NPHC wins in a landslide when it comes to what really motivates alumnus/alumna involvement. And given the interest in this thread, I think it would really help to know where the OP is coming from.
PS- LOVE the Mikado reference in your signature! I have seen it many times. The best was when Eric Idle came to do it in Houston when Sarah Ferguson was in attendance back when she was Duchess of York. Idle pulled no punches with the "List" song, and lo and behold- the story of Sarah and Steven Wyatt (the toe sucker) broke soon after. Oh how prophetic Idle was that night!