Non IFC and PHC

[DeltaSigStan]

Hi guys, this is my first post, so apologies in advance if a topic like this has been posted before.

Greek Week was last week, and although it was awesome, it had me wondering about all those USFC (Our Ethnic Greek Council) Fraternities and Sororites. I was wondering about how important they are to us at IFC and PHC.

I asked a member of another Fraternity in IFC, and he said "Aside from Greek Week, we don't care about those guys. They're not real Greeks to us because they don't have houses, plus when you cater to one race or culture, you lose the basis of what being a greek is about."

I was just wondering how much those ethnic greeks (Lambda Phi Epsilon (Asian), Gamma Zeta Alpha (Hispanic) participate with IFC and PHC organizations. For instance, none of the Panhellanic Sororities ever have socials and exchanges with the Asian Frat.

Before one of my bros joined Delta Sig, he rushed an Asian Frat (theyre local), and he left because he said he didn't fit in well with them. All they did was race Hondas and rave, which he wasn''t into. He felt much better and felt a lot more at home with us at Delta Sig, and we're glad to have him.

This frat he pledged has gotten somewhat bigger, and they claim that they're making progress on campus, yet when i talked to a guy in Sigma Chi, he said "They like to think that, but they'll never be like us."

I just wanted to compare what goes on with this at our school with some of the other schools out there, plus what the general attitude is from IFC and Panhellenic regarding ethinic and multicultural fraternities.

I'd guess here in San Diego is different, because we have MANY of these type of Greeks, a lot of it is due to the big diversity we have in San Diego

Thanks.

[Kevin]

At UCO I don't think you really could say there is much of a stance at all as far as these organizations go. They have never really expressed any interest in being included in the IFC/PHC Greek System. They do still report to the same University Greek Life advisor that we do (I think).

This year one Latina sorority did participate in Greek Week and I think all groups participated in homecoming. That's about the extent of our interaction.

All of the ethnic oriented groups do their own thing. As far as I know they're not really individually recognized like we are. Some are, but most only affiliate with the school through the BSA (Black Student Association). There is a Latina sorority and I believe a Latino fraternity is colonizing on campus (I saw a party flyer at least).

To be honest I don't see a whole lot of most of these groups.

LHT
Kevin

[Glitter650]

On my campus the local organizations out number the NIC or NPC orgs. There are 3 NIC fraternities and three NPC sorors on campus and about 7 or so local sorors, maybe more and at least 5 local fraternities. They are each pretty small though. We do participate together in fraternity sorority council.. (the governing body of all greek orgs on our campus) and we do presents(a party where each org gets to parade their new member across the stage, it's actually really fun) with EVERYONE twice a year after spring and fall rush. We also have an all greek picnic once a year where everyone gets together in golden gate park. Other than that I must admit that there's not that much socialization between the locals and us in NPC or NIC... I know my soror is tryign to change that for next year and we have a few event set up with one of the frats and a girls night with one of the multicultural sororities.

[outtAKAntrol]

I am a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. which is recognized, Nationally so we are not a local organization. AKA is also a member of the NPHC(National PHC), here is my take on the post....

8 out of 9 members of the BGLO(Black Greek Letter Org. - Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.) were founded and incorporated in the early 1900's, the other(Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.) was formed during the mid 1900's....once our frat/sor were formed, if you recall that was during the time when racism had a really strong arm on the American society, becoming a member of the IFC or PHC was not an option.... that's why the NPHC was formed....

....as far as being individually recognized..well that depends on what campus your from..

???"They're not real Greeks to us because they don't have houses,...." --ignorance is bliss--
..what does having a house on campus have to do with being greek...on some college campuses, greek houses are forbidden.

???......plus when you cater to one race or culture, you lose the basis of what being a greek is about,-- wasn't the primary bases of forming a frat was to cater to the rich white males at the "prestiges' universities.....makes ya say, "hhhhuuuummm"


...My sorority as well has the others NPHC members are COMMUNITY SERVICE based organizations NOT SOCIAL , as majority of the IFC and PHC have been. Hence, the reason why you would probably never see NPHC members participate in the annual rush week on your campus.....see, once we graduate from undergrad, our frats / sor days do not stop there....we transition to the graduate level, were we continue the purpose of our sorority / fraternity.

..hopes this has shed some light on the subject


Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc
H E Omega Chapter

I think he was just wondering why the historically ethnic glos on his campus didn't seem interested in getting to know anyone from the other GLOs...not attacking their stance as "real" or social/service or lifelong or anything.... but then again I"m not going to try to speak for him either.....

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by outtAKAntrol
...My sorority as well has the others NPHC members are COMMUNITY SERVICE based organizations NOT SOCIAL , as majority of the IFC and PHC have been. Hence, the reason why you would probably never see NPHC members participate in the annual rush week on your campus.....see, once we graduate from undergrad, our frat/ sor. days do not stop there....we transition to the graduate level, were we continue the purpose of our sorority / fraternity...

..hopes this has shed some light on the subject

Just wanted to clarify something that I believe to be a misconception about NPC groups. I've heard NPHC members state many times the fact that they continue the purpose of their organization after they finish their undergraduate days at school. And, sometimes, the way that the NPHC members state this fact seems to imply that they feel that NPC members do not continue to be involved with their GLOs after graduation.

I just want to point out that joining an NPC group is for life -- the same as joining an NPHC group is for life. I'm just as active now as a Delta Zeta alumna as when I was a collegiate. My philanthropy work and my social activities did not halt when I graduated. In fact, they have increased because I now am a member of 3 alumnae chapters and am an advisor to a DZ collegiate chapter (as opposed to being a member of a single chapter in college). My membership in these alumnae chapters has increased the opportunities for me to get involved in charitable, as well as social, events.

Anyway, I just wanted to clarify that NPC members don't stop striving to live up to their organization's standards after they leave school. I think some NPHC members may feel that they do, and I hope that my note clears up any misconceptions of that nature.

Greek Love to All,
dzrose93

[DeltaSigStan]

At SDSU, we also have NHPC.

They consist of Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sigma Gamma Rho and Alpha Phi Alpha. I hear nothing but positive things from other greeks. One thing I would like to know is if they do different pledge programs at different universities, because NHPC here does "intake", not the normal pledge that GLOs do. It's kinda like SigEp's balanced Man program here, where you don't rush, but you have to work out and study (Balanced Man).

I wasn't really talking about NHPC, there is a lot of tradition and history and nothing but positive things. I was refering more to our USFC style Greeks, who want to get involved deeply with IFC and PHC, but most of the time (aside from Greek Week), shunned.

[ROWDYsister]

"I know my soror is tryign to change that for next year and we have a few event set up with one of the frats and a girls night with one of the multicultural sororities."~Glitter650

That's really cool...I never really thought people have socials with non IFC-NPC houses...and you have to start somewhere. So I'm happy your house is branching out.

As for my school, it's hard to change the status quo. This is the way things have been since the beginning--you do your best to be associated with the "best houses" (during Homecoming Week or in general) and that puts you one more rung up on the social ladder. The non IFC-NPC groups get lost in the mix, with the exception of Greek Week...and we all have a good time during Greek Week. But just because we don't interact with the multicultural houses as much as we do with each other doesn't mean we consider them any less Greek--we just think that's their thing...you know? It's a different level, I guess.

And outtAKAntrol, you're right about the earliest fraternities being founded to cater to rich white males at prestigious universities (everything back then was founded to cater to rich white males!)...but the thing is, many houses have non-white members, too and I think we're just intimidated b/c most of us could never fathom joining a multicultural house b/c we don't know if we'd fit in (I mean, anyone is allowed to join, I'm assuming?)

Because the thing is, when you talk about XYZ you might say something like, "Oh, yeah, they had their philanthropy last week. Oh, tonight they're having a social with ABC." Whatever. But if we were to mention a multicultural house, it would be identified as the black house, the asian house, whatever, and that seems like,"Everyone else need not apply." Not that I'm saying they're elitist (but aren't we all) but (where the hell am I going with this?) it's just a different world. Multicultural houses find strength and sisterhood or brotherhood within their similar heritage and ideals and outlook on society, whereas other houses find strength and sisterhood and brotherhood in the visions their founders had. An analogy I would use is that they're like different religions...(now for effect, hum "Heal the world.") For example, Catholics and Baptists are both Christian. But they're really different in their beliefs and operate differently.

That's it. End of explanation. My thoughts are all jumbled (and I actually expect to write for a living--someone's going to be living in a box!). All I can say is, IFC-NPC houses and multicultural houses are different. Not a bad different, not a different that can't get along, but different. I'm Filipino myself, but there is no way I could ever see myself in an Asian sorority...I wouldn't measure up to the kids who actually speak their parents' native language, among other things...I don't even have any Asian friends! My best friends/favorite sorority sisters are like people I've been raised with, I have so much in common with them...their parents just don't happen to be from the same country as my parents. They're like the friends you made in kindergarden--you don't care what their ethnicity is, you care if they're fun and good friends.

If you read to the end of this, you deserve a medal or something. How about I have a brainstorming session before my next "brain fart" post?

[DeltaSigStan]

I'm Filipino myself, but there is no way I could ever see myself in an Asian sorority...I wouldn't measure up to the kids who actually speak their parents' native language, among other things...I don't even have any Asian friends! My best friends/favorite sorority sisters are like people I've been raised with, I have so much in common with them...their parents just don't happen to be from the same country as my parents. They're like the friends you made in kindergarden--you don't care what their ethnicity is, you care if they're fun and good friends.

Funny you say that. I'm Filipino too, and I never really had any Asian friends, except in Delta Sig where there are two Asians.

My 1st semester, i pledged an Asian Frat, but I also did not fit in well with them. My entire High School life, I never had any Asian freidns, what made me think to join an Asian frat.

I didn't fit in well with them. All they did was rave, race Hondas and pledge activities, unlike the fun I've been having with Delta Sig

[Kevin]

???"They're not real Greeks to us because they don't have houses,...." --ignorance is bliss--

I hope no one really thinks that....
I believe that if you think you are greek than you are greek. There is no set of prerequisites you must first attain. It's simply something that you are or you are not. Whether you are or not is up to you!

???......plus when you cater to one race or culture, you lose the basis of what being a greek is about,-- wasn't the primary bases of forming a frat was to cater to the rich white males at the "prestiges' universities.....makes ya say, "hhhhuuuummm"

When most of us were founded, white males were all that were attending institutions of higher learning. However, if you look at ANY NIC or NPC organization I'm sure you'll find plenty of non-caucasians as members. We weren't founded to cater to a race, we were founded to cater to the principles that our founders fealt were important. We have progressed into the 21st century and judge a potential member by their character, not by the color of their skin.

Again, I'd say that there is no one "true" definition for being Greek. I'd consider all members of traditionally black or multicultural organizations to be just as much members of their respective organizations as I am to mine.

The two (or 3) groups don't really seem to pay much attention to eachother, we sort of do our own things. I think it is unfortunate because there is so much we stand to benefit from by working more closely.

LHT,
Kevin

[Eirene_DGP]

{Because the thing is, when you talk about XYZ you might say something like, "Oh, yeah, they had their philanthropy last week. Oh, tonight they're having a social with ABC." Whatever. But if we were to mention a multicultural house, it would be identified as the black house, the asian house, whatever, and that seems like,"Everyone else need not apply." Not that I'm saying they're elitist (but aren't we all) but (where the hell am I going with this?) it's just a different world. Multicultural houses find strength and sisterhood or brotherhood within their similar heritage and ideals and outlook on society, whereas other houses find strength and sisterhood and brotherhood in the visions their founders had.}

__________________________________________________ _

Rowdysister, I think people have a misunderstanding of Multicultural and Ethnic orgs. Multicultural orgs are not the Black houses, Asian, or even Latino. They are multicultural. Just like you have Historically African American Fraternities and Sororities, you have historically Asian, Latino, and even Native American organizations. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME! That being said, Ethnic orgs especially the Latino orgs are open to anyone who aspires to uplift the Latino-minority community in general.

Multicultural Orgs. do find strength in the visions their founders had. Their vision was to form an multicultural org. where every race, religion etc. was welcome and to provide community service in those communities. Do MCGLO's have strong sisterhood and brotherhood, yes! Does it end there, No.

[ROWDYsister]

"Their vision was to form an multicultural org. where every race, religion etc. was welcome and to provide community service in those communities."

Same with us...fraternities were to band men together and sororities were to band women together...even though there have been some stigma about a minority joining these organizations in the beginning, that's not the case anymore. We just all need to celebrate our Greekdom...and that's that. (hum "heal the world" again, for effect)

[ONElove]

Hi everyone...I just wanted to add my change to the thread....

I am a sister of Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. and one of the goals we strive for is Unity within the greek community (as well as in the outside community of course

One thing I would like to clear up from some of the posts i see on here is that Multicultural isn't the same as Minority...People sometimes seem to confuse the two and automatically assume that Multicultural Greek orgs are only for minorities...which isn't the case at all...hence the word multicultural......which means EVERYONE

Ok with that said....I just wanted to say that we are always striving to unite greek orgs together whether it be with community service, social activities, or forums....etc.

I;m happy to see from this post that others a beginning to some together as well.....

[Kevlar281]

Lambda Phi Epsilon is part of IFC at the University of Houston and they typically are considered the swing vote since two voting slates exist.

[DeltaSigStan]

That's cool that the Lambdas are involved in IFC matters, but do they have socials and exchanges with the PHC sororities as much as the other IFC groups do?