*BE ADVISED* This is a VERY long post and some of the things contained in it may offend, but my purpose is to bring light on some of the actions going on around me and to make everyone else aware of the possible situations that are involved with these groups. I do not reveal names or locations because some members of these organizations are silent readers and this is for respect purposes.
I am a founder of a high school step team when I was in school and I advise the team now from my university. We also had Greek letters but we made it clear that our name was "XYZ/The Best High School Step Team." That name is even on the website. Our advisor is non-Greek, however, the BGLO’s (yes, more than one) that taught us our steps are undergraduates at the local HBCU, in fact, all of the BGLO's know who we are when they see us. The Vice-Principal and Guidance counselor who helped us organize our team are Greek also.
Although our main purpose is to step, we (meaning I and the members of the fraternities that work with us) are molding the team to be like a youth auxiliary organization as well. In fact, all the youth auxiliary organizations on the web know about us and see us as such. Our initiations are nothing like what has been described above by previous posters, in fact, parents of the new members as well as other faculty members who teach the new members are invited to attend our meetings so that way there can be no questions about whether or not we "haze" the new members in our “process.” I guess you can say they see the good, the bad and the “ugly” (Ugly meaning the worst things one could say that we do the new members is actually comical and we have gotten request to do them again). Our co-ed step team also has an unofficial bond with the Black service club on our campus; some of our members have memberships in both. Most of the Greeks that work with us know what our name means and other things and they do not see us a "junior fraternity." The Greeks at the campus I am at now that know me see me as a step team member and advisor and not a “junior fraternity” member. Nor are they offended when we do our call and hand sign at high school step competitions and during performances. Now that I think about, that is the only time we even do the hand sign or the call, unless we are on the net chatting with other youth auxiliary club members. Because we have Greek letters, we were/are under watch at all times and the one or two times we messed up, we heard about it from everybody. Other than that, my experience is just like what lastpoetnsite said; and once we graduate, that part of you is left behind. I was taught, and I continue to teach the value of knowing African American history and to be good role models.
I will admit that there are other "organizations" in this state that do refer to themselves as a "junior fraternity/sorority." Some of these organizations have even taken it as far to say that they are “incorporated” (Yes, I DID say Incorporated). This has caused problems when they try to enter high school step competitions (A stipulation is that you are a high school step team or a regional/nationally recognized youth organization that is affiliated with a graduate or undergraduate chapter of a fraternity. No fraternities/sororities of any type may compete in these competitions, even honors societies.). Another problem the members of “junior fraternities and sororities” have caused for themselves is when they graduate and go to instate colleges (especially the HBCUs) and try to gain memberships in the BGLO’s. To my knowledge, there is only one “junior fraternity” that could actually claim affiliation with a BGLO and as we speak they are in the process of changing part of their name to reflect this affiliation. Back to the earlier statement, I have noticed that all the members of these “junior fraternities and sororities” did not gain membership into the organization of choice, and some have been trying for 3-4 years now.
Now even though majority of the groups do perform community service and the members are real friendly people once you get to know and they have all of the accolades (National Honor Society, Who’s Who of American High School Students, etc.) that a parent would want for their child; it is in the matter that they have claim to be a “fraternity/sorority,” junior or otherwise that have become a complete turnoff for the BGLO’s at the campuses I’ve seen.
Again, I state my intent is not to hurt feelings, anger anyone or to bring a negative vibe; but to make all people aware that your actions do come back to "haunt" you.
Humbly,
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