Culture clash within GLOs?

IvySpice · #1 08-03-2002, 03:10 PM

I've been so interested by the threads about how different the rush culture is in different parts of the country and just how different an organization's reputation (and thus the crowd it attracts) can be on different campuses. I may be familiar with XYZ as a brand-new colony, disproportionately attracting people who were initially skeptical about the greek system or who were cut during formal recruitment; but then I find out on GC that on another campus, the XYZs are the core of the established old guard, filled with the campus elite.

Never having been to a national convention, I'm wondering what all of your experiences have been meeting brothers/sisters from all over the country. Do you find that your organization ends up attracting like-minded people, despite the regional and campus differences in culture? Or do you find that the members don't necessarily have much in common besides their devotion to XYZ?

Ivy

SoCalGirl · #2 08-03-2002, 03:43 PM

I recently attended my first naitional convention. The way I'd describe it is picture all the sorority members on your campus. They may not have the same personalities, or look alike but they're united in Greekdom. Now replace Greekdom with XYZ and you've got a national glo. You may not love or even get along with everyone in your group. But, yes, you're united by the love of your organization.

33girl · #3 08-03-2002, 05:03 PM

I found that the people who gravitate to each other are usually from the same geographical area - I just got back from my second convention and although I met women from everywhere, the ones I am closest to are from NOVA, New York State & Philly.

It is very weird when you first experience it, but there's usually some type of ritual at national conventions. That helps to remind you that you do have a common bond.

shadokat · #4 08-04-2002, 01:44 AM

When I went to my first convention, I met girls from all over the country, and while they weren't all like me, and some I didn't even really like, it was like there was still this connection!! I think going to convention really gives you that feeling of being national/international, and it's something you don't soon forget or lose sight of!

Tom Earp · #5 08-04-2002, 02:11 PM

While I have been to Regionals,I met Guys Bothers from 14 states it was an Exerience to find about their Problems and we could disuss them! Well yes along with our own!

I have never been to an International Assem.!

But other than this web site, we will not meet most of the B/S of other Chapters!

Remember, what We say on this Site and What We Discuss, is passed along to our fellow members as I do! Hey, guys /Gals, We are in this for a reaspm, we love our Orgs and Members!

Dianne · #6 08-05-2002, 10:29 AM

While, I have never been to national convention (I really want to!!), I have been to our statewide meeting twice. And just within South Carolina there is some variation between chapters. Not necessarily bad, just that different chapters seem to attract different kinds of girls. A couple things remain the same throughout though, and that is most chapters are diverse, though they may be diverse in different ways. And all the chapters are very strong at their respective colleges. So I think it's a matter of finding something that works for a specific chapter and sticking with it.

Optimist Prime · #7 08-05-2002, 10:46 AM

Iowa State University Theta Chi has the most unreal rush ever. They are going to play golf, paintballing, a Lua and a canoe trip. We are taking ours to maybe the races. There house looks like a hotel. Its unreal. I'm guessing midwest schools are just like that. Wow. I saw there rush filers, they look like join the army brochers. Which means the have about the same budget. Theta Chi is taking over Iowa State!

Kevin · #8 08-05-2002, 11:31 AM

We have chapters upwards of 200 men and some under 20... Most fall in between.

I've gone to national events.. What chapter you come from is not that big of a deal -- it's that you're a Sigma Nu and therefore a brother...

So no... I've never seen a 'cultural clash'. When you're hanging out with 2000+ guys (the event I'm leaving today for will be more than that) it's just pretty damned overwhelming that you're all brothers... The opportunity for clashes doesn't really come up.

greeklawgirl · #9 08-05-2002, 11:39 AM

I've been to a national convention, and as the co-chair for our Los Angeles young alum group (Junior Circle), I've met sisters from dozens of chapters across the US and Canada. While all the sisters are not like me, we absolutely share a special bond through the vows that we all took.

Instead of looking at it as a *culture clash,* I look at it as a *learning opportunity.*

kdonline · #10 08-05-2002, 11:51 AM

I've gone to 2 national conventions. Both times, it seems that people hang out w/ those from their region. However, since over the years, I had developed online relationships with sisters from California, we (the Florida contingent) were hanging out with them. In fact, on our "free" day last convention, a group of about 18 alumnae from both states wandered around Epcot together.

But on another note, I have a Cuban friend who joined Phi Mu at Florida International Univ. She told me that when she went to convention, it was so obvious that her little group stuck out, esp. their style of dress. (Miamians tend to dress a bit flashier than other parts of the country..

sigtau305 · #11 08-05-2002, 11:52 AM

I have went to a few national conventions. I have the pleasure of meeting various members of Different races in the organization who a joy to chat with. It made proud to be part of a great organization. While we may come from various schools, we all have the same common goal: to make our chapters strong at our campuses.

dzsaigirl · #12 08-05-2002, 01:35 PM

I have been to the TX/NM/OK Region weekend 4 times and I felt a connection with everyone I talked to. Sure the chapters had sort of distinct personalities (one example: Tartleton State...those girls freaking crack me up!), but I didn't feel like there was any separation or any real differences. One thing I did realize is that every year, I saw more girls from my high school there. A lot of girls from my school went DZ, but they are not necessarily people who were even friends in HS, or even knew each other well...quite interesting.

The DZ's I have talked to online seem to be pretty much like me though. I have never really come across DZ's that were way different and I have felt a bond with every one of them I have met

Tom Earp · #13 08-05-2002, 04:25 PM

I hope that one of these days I can go to one of our General Assemblys.
But I have been to Regional twice!

It is Great to meet Young men from different Chapters and discuss their Problems and Kick It Back and Forth!

What is nice is that is that they are from all backgrounds, economically and racial!

We learn a lot from each other, and that is what it is all about! Learning from each other and what we as Brothers can do to give advice for them to take back to their respective Chapters!

You live you learn or you die.

nauadpi · #14 08-05-2002, 05:14 PM

I know I havent been to convention yet (I really want to go this next year), but I have meet adpi's from all over the place. I have found so many different interests and backgrounds amoung us all, but no matter what you are still sisters. In arizona alone, my chapter of adpi is generally somewhat of the outcast, because the school doesnt have such a dominent presence of greek life. The really great part though was, a girl from one of the other arizona chapters messaged me to congratulate us on all we have acomplished this past year. That ment a lot, especially since my chapter of adpi has worked so hard to grow.

BSUPhiSig'92 · #15 08-05-2002, 05:46 PM

I always think it's cool how different chapters can be from campus to campus and region to region. I've been to quite a few Phi Sigma Kappa Conventions over the years, and the general makeup
of chapters varies widely all over the campus. We have some chapters that are predominantly Asian, some that are predominantly Latino, good ol' boys, preppies, jocks, etc. I even met a girl once from an eastern school (it may have been George Washington)who when I told her what fraternity I belonged to replied "Oh the Jewish house!" I always loved meeting my brothers from all over and just seeing how different, yet how fundamentally the same we all were as brothers.