[QUOTE]Originally posted by tragic2k:
This is a warning for brothers and sisters doing research on joining a GLO. DONT BELIEVE THE HYPE OF GLO's!
OK, what "hype" are you referring to? the only hype i know of is what a prospective creates based on what he/she sees in an organization.
Before pledging my house, I looked deeply into the 9 and into the house I was interested in. I did several weeks of research into the WGLO and saw that nationally, it had many black members. In the end, it was a difficult decision so I decided to give the GLO a try, thinking that I would just depledge if it wasnt for me. I should have known better.
IMO, you could not have looked that deeply into the 5 NPHC fraternities and the NIC house you were interested in if you now find so much with which to be disappointed. As you now know, researching an organization is much more than what it's doing nationally. Yes, that's a big part but your first impression is the chapter on your campus. You may ADORE the organization's goals, but LOATHE the members on that campus. SO what does one do? Join on the alumni level if that option is available, wait until there's a better group of guys in the chapter, or join anyway and make the best of it.
How can an organization treat everyone the same when it was created in a society that subconconsciously teaches us to place a value on someone because of the color of their skin?
I hate to break this to you, but the NPHC organizations were founded in the very same society of which you speak. Part of what we did was unite to fight against the blatant injustices of the past and now we unite to battle the subtle ones of the present.
I thought that alumni support as well as life commitment were important in joining a fraternity. "We have the greatest Alumni support", said the rush chair, "We also believe that members of this fraternity are members for life, not just up until you graduate".
Another news flash: although undergraduate NPHC chapters have an alumni chapter or two nearby, they are, for the most part, self-sufficient. We don't have alumni funneling money into our chapters, this is not to say that all NPC and NIC chapters do. We raise all of the funds we use to operate ourselves through dues, step show winnings, and other fund raisers. Don't be confused though, we are not "wallowing" in cash. Most of the money we raise goes back into the chapter to fund our service projects.
These of course were lies too. The local chapter had TERRIBLE alumni support (so much that nationals recently had to step in) and many of the current members intend on doing NOTHING for the group after graduation.
This is probably something you could have found out during your research.
I am treated differently. Not blatently, but in little noticeable ways that most people who werent in my situation would not notice.
Unfortunately, the world is like that. It's not limited to just your house.
BGLO's may not be upfront about their entire "process" to non-members, but they certainly wont ever lie to you what they're about and what their purpose is.
Valid point. Most likely, we won't tell you ANYTHING about the process other than when the rush/smoker is, maybe not even that.
But we will tell you what we're about.
All in all, I am terribly sorry your greek experience has not been a good one so far. But to come on a message board and discourage minorities from joining an NPC or NIC organization is not cool. Whether you like your house or not, you're greek, you're in the ssystem. By your own admission, you don't plan to leave. I do appreciate you taking the time to post your experience. Although it could have been more positive, it speaks volumes to the importance of choosing your organization carefully, regardless of the demographic.
------------------
Kelli
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
12-
Delta Nu-94
MAL,
Southern Region
Savannah State University c/o 1997