Quote:
Originally posted by celestial_blues:
why is it that some members of greek letter organizations in one breath complain about how the media and "outsiders" have a negative image of glo's but in another breath so blatantly undermine your own organizations images by acting in an uncouth manner...provoked or unprovoked???
is it really the media that has given glo's a bad rap...or glo members??? is it really prospectives with "negative" attitudes...or glo members responses to prospectives that have "negative" attitudes that gives glo's a bad rap??? is it glo members...or the process that creates the glo member that gives glo's a bad rap??? do glo's get a bad rap...or is it simply the truth in some instances...that there is work that needs to be done??? perhaps a little house cleaning...
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OK - jumping in here a little late (thanks for the post in the kapsig forum), but I think everyone can agree that this is worthy, and past due - now, Celestial Blues . . .
Please, take my experience for what you will, and you tell me if outside influences and opinions factor into the image of greek life.
I attend Boston University, a large school with a small-ish greek population. My chapter is the largest on campus, has won many national and local IFC awards, and generally ends up reflecting upon itself as a 'solid chapter.' Now - come rush time up here in boston, what happens? I go to rush guys, and they give me stock responses like (I appologize for the language; simply trying to make a point):
"Do I have to get naked and get paddled?"
"You guys will make me drink, right?"
"You frat guys get laid all the time, huh?"
"I heard you're all rich white guys - why would I join?"
"Frats are for homos and pussies."
"Frats are for guys who can't make friends on their own."
"It's not my thing."
"I wouldn't fit in."
"Frats aren't big in the Northeast."
. . . and on and on and on. Now, the first few would be what could be referred to as "writing our own ticket" - ie, these could be reasonably construed as having to do with internal problems becoming larger issues. The final ones though - those are different issues. Why does this image persist, and why in such high doses in the northeast? Why does fraternity culture thrive in the south and midwest (where i'm from)? And, more importantly - from where do these negative images come from?
I won't try to tell you this is a result of the media's handling of greek life, just as I won't accept that this is entirely due to the problems in the greek system. There are people working in child-care facilities that have committed sex crimes, with national scope, and people don't fear dropping their child off at daycare. The combination of exposure of the downfalls of the greek system, combined with the lack of acceptance for the positives of greek life, create the negative image held by guys that tell me to "F-- off" when I hand them a rush flyer, etc. Now, extensive measures are already being taken to combat the problems of alcohol abuse, hazing, and organizational disarray that face our respective GLOs - but without this sort of active attempt to turn the tide of greek image, they will go for naught. CB, I'll give you the fact that we have created much of the problem for ourselves - but increasing greek image will only help to create greeks who don't fit the mold of yesteryear, where behavior that is unacceptable was commonplace. You have to fight the battle on both fronts.
Ladies - I applaud you for getting the ball rolling, and let me know if you need a pointman for our organization; I'd be more than happy to help.