"real" fraternities

[Erik P Conard]

sure are a lot of outfits I never heard of these days.
Many, I gather, have no houses, and are little more than
a club or gang, do little for the community, have little to offer
their members, experience-wise--but still use greek letters...
Now I know some folks will get all bent out of shape and say
they have a wonderful organization...
times change; but is hard for me to feel that the traditional
fraternity is comparable to the small, non-housed, clubs we
see on site....but they do not compete with us in any way, and
I find it interesting when comparisons or justifications are made.
I never felt a fraternity was a rehabilitation outfit, and it was, and is, still, somewhat elite.
But, maybe we oughta give a PhD at birth, and badges along with
popcorn at ball games. Just some observations.

Just like a moth to a flame, aren't you?

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I don't think that you need a house to be a "real" fraternity or sorority. Some campuses just aren't set up for that. I think that it's great that non-traditional students and commuter campuses want to experience fraternity and sorority life.

[winneythepooh7]

I've never thought about this too much but there were some local organizations on my campus. Some of them were former Nationals (mostly frats) that had lost their charter and weren't recognized by the school. They were still pretty strong organizations and several of them hung out with other chapters that were nationally recognized. There were a couple of Local sororities but I really didn't know too much about them as they were very tiny (ie. 6 members) and really didn't participate in anything with the rest of the Greeks. I know this may sound bad but I really don't understand the point of pledging an organization that is not nationally recognized. At least I know every where I go there will be D*Phi*E you can't say that when there is one chapter of an organization on one campus. I'd love it if more locals decided to affiliate with a nationally recognized organization and become National, especially at SUNY New Paltz where there aren't too many organizations to begin with. But that is all easier said then done, I know. We have TKE on our campus by the way

[winneythepooh7]

Oh wow, I think I read this post wrong, way wrong. Uh oh.

[33girl]

First off, Greek letters are not the exclusive property of NIC, NPC and NPHC groups.

Alpha Phi Omega is a national service fraternity. We call each other brother, because we go through a pledging period which strengthens our bonds to each other. We are not a "club" and are certainly not a "gang."

We are a SERVICE fraternity so pretty much our reason for being is to serve the community. We are not permitted to have official houses (duh, we're co-ed) but members can and do live together in apartments and such. These houses do not have letters on them, ever.

If APO chapters are having mixers, not following the policy of nonselective membership recruitment, or putting more emphasis on social than service, that's wrong, and something that the majority of APO chapters do NOT support.

You are 100% correct in saying APO is not like TKE, or ASA, or any social GLO. It isn't supposed to be, and as I previously stated, the majority of its members support that view. It is not "lesser" or "greater" - just different.

[Erik P Conard]

kinda like I figured...there are many differing opinions...I recall
we had about 30 Alpha Phi Omega members in the TKE house
at KU in the 50s. things change.
I was merely expressing an opinion. Lighten up.
The urban colleges, especially in the East, were not the top priority for NIC charters 'way back when.
There are a goodly number of them now, and these outfits do not
as a rule, grace the midwest or south...at least competing with the NIC, NPC groups.
Like I said...there are many differing opinions.

[winneythepooh7]

It is not "lesser" or "greater" - just different. [/B][/QUOTE]


I agree. And I absolutely hate people on Greekchat like this guy who are stirring up trouble and hiding behind their "lighten up I have a different opinion" view. They are the ones who were around ages ago who hazed and did really stir up real trouble and continue to do so. Stop it already.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Erik P. Conrad, things have changed since you were in college. Things have changed since I was in college, too. Instead of calling GLOs "little more than a club or a gang" because they don't have a house, perhaps you can give construct advice on how to improve things based on your experience. I am interested in your views especially about what you think alumni can do. People dislike criticism when there is no suggestion for improvement.

[33girl]

I was light, Erik, I was pretty much AGREEING with some of what you said. Believe me it pisses me off when I see service, professional or honorary fraternities - all of which have social aspects - putting the social first and downplaying their real mission. If one of these groups was operating like that in my orbit, I'd have no problem calling their HQ and saying "hey umm, you're a business fraternity but your chapter at Gray Squirrel U is full of ceramics majors who have mixers with sororities. What's that about?"

[Erik P Conard]

I posted on the TKE site and not on the "Greek Site" for the very
reason...I was addressing the NIC fraternity. not the various other organizations who have "expanded"
the meaning of "fraternity."
Had I wanted to include the locals, the streetcar/urban campuses,
I would have posted in a more-widely read section.
But, for those of you who want to respond, be it negative, be it
hateful...you are welcome...but remember, I am not addressing you. I have nothing in common with you, organization-wise, geographical-wise, and so on.
I am merely expressing an opinion. Gimme that, please.
The fact that TKE is on some of these campuses is beyond my
control. We have differences even within our group.
Some of you REALLY have your panties in a wad!

[33girl]

OK then here's my question: are there other members of TKE that are upset at the direction they are going as far as expansion is concerned? If you feel it's something detrimental to your fraternity, create a group and speak up to your exec board. I'm not being smartass or panty-wadded, I'm honestly curious, because heaven knows I don't always agree with my sorority's expansion philosophy either.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

I was actually looking for suggestions. I didn't mean to offend. My apologies.

[hoosier]

Quote of the month:

"things have changed since you were in college"

Vote here:

___ better?

___ worse?

Personally, I think the downhill slide started with TV.

We used to all gather around the big black and white TV for the big games/sports events, the big news events, and occasionally movies.

Over my four years, several members brought TVs for their rooms, and we lost the fellowship of being together around the only TV in the house.

Now every room has a TV.

[winneythepooh7]

And I thought my clients had issues.......................LOL.