It is what you make it...

rosejoy · #1 09-12-2002, 04:56 PM

I am new to the board and I have noticed a lot of people concerned with status, famous members, looks of members, etc. Isn't this totally missing the point of Greekhood which is supposed to be about fellowship?

Yes, some people may want to be a part of a certain group because it is known to be the most elite, etc, but to me it is about a bond that can last for a lifetime.

Some people are so insecure that they feel like they have to carry on about famous members or being the most prominent on campus. That is so high school. I would rather have quality girls in my sorority than shallow quantity.

Your fratenity or sorority is what you make it by being involved,etc. Everything changes. Some rise, some fall.

When you are on here representing your group remember that what is the best on your campus may not be somewhere else. Don't make generalities. Different groups are stronger at different locations for varying reasons.

josh8o · #2 09-12-2002, 05:31 PM

good point...i have noticed that the greek system at my school is very high school. at least at your school the greek system isnt run by coke!

Tom Earp · #3 09-12-2002, 05:35 PM

Thank You for asking and stating ???????

I hope you get some very poignuet answers!

I am not being snide as I am the Best of teh Best on GC Site

I am also the typo King!

Welcome to the site!

It do get a little harry-hairy around here beleive it or not!

The Best of Thge Best are on hre, but I am the typo King!

FuzzieAlum · #4 09-12-2002, 06:10 PM

What do you think would happen if Tom typed two sentences in a row without putting a return inbetween them? Would GC as we know it cease to exist?

Zeta Eta · #5 09-12-2002, 06:16 PM

he he he

APhi · #6 09-12-2002, 06:52 PM

Actually I have always found the opposite to be true.
There's a post right now in the Rush forum where a girls asks if her house should accept someone she sees as less attractive. The response came back overwhelmingly in favor of judging this woman in terms of her possible contribution to the sisterhood rather than looks. I was also extremely impressed that no one bashed her for a seemingly superficial question but rather answered with kindness and sincerity.

The rush forum is also full of threads lending unwavering support and encouragement to PNM, most of whom we've never actually met. I have never seen a post there that encourages or even mentions looking for the right image or name to attach to oneself. Nor do I ever expect to.

Next, try running a search or posting a topic entitled "What is XYZ like at your school." You'll find the majority of regular posters will roll their eyes, find the topic pointless and either tell you so or ignore the thread entirely.

As for listing famous members, I think that just stems from pride in our organization. We like bringing this up just as we enjoying the percentage of CEO in Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Presidents, and Congressmen who are greek. I think that it negates the stereotype held of us as alcoholics and such.

dzandiloo · #7 09-12-2002, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by APhi
As for listing famous members, I think that just stems from pride in our organization. We like bringing this up just as we enjoying the percentage of CEO in Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Presidents, and Congressmen who are greek. I think that it negates the stereotype held of us as alcoholics and such.

Ditto, APhi. I would just like to add, that I don't think the fact that we talk about this is intended as bragging. I am from a sorority that does not have an overwhelming number of superstars (if any...can you call Florence Henderson and Joy Behar superstars? Probably not), but that really doesn't bother me at all, or make my organization inferior or less appealing to new members (and if it did, I guess that person really doesn't belong in my sisterhood if that is what they value).

I personally take alot of pride in the fact that so many successful/famous people and national leaders are Greek, period. In the end, when I'm talking to non-Greek people about the virtues of being Greek-there is always someone I can point out that they admire who is Greek. From Presidents to Actors and everything beyond and in between. I have learned about many well known people being Greek on this list, and have never felt anyone was using such facts to one-up everyone else.

nyrdrms · #8 09-13-2002, 02:44 AM

I think the title of this post says it all..."it is what you make it"

When people start complaining about some aspect or another of Greek life, the best thing to remember is that you get out of Greek life what you put into it. And people join these organizations for a number of reasons, who's to say which reasons are right...which make for the "best" members....which make the organization as a whole better? You never truly know why another person joins or what they intend to leave with. Just make the best of it. Enjoy your organization, enjoy the bonds of brotherhood/sisterhood, and enjoy the comaraderie that you make with other Greeks.

Some people are concerned with the physical image of their organization, others with morals. Nonetheless, we all share the common bond of being Greek, and it's up to us what we make of it.

Tom Earp · #9 09-14-2002, 03:41 PM

Fuzzie/Zeta Yes I am! Well a defenite maybe!

I really like to keep these young pups on their toes!

Question, is that 2 in a row

NANANANA fulled YA! Hey Hey OKAY!

Remember, I gave up Sex, so I could afford to Drink, Smoke, and Eat!

OOPS, that is give me a high five!

If you cannot learn earp speak then be gone varlets from the rhelm of the king!

God I love when I become Poetically doda!

lionlove · #10 09-14-2002, 05:52 PM

Tom, Do you speak like that too?

PM_Mama00 · #11 09-15-2002, 10:42 AM

GC = Greek Chat.... CHAT. Yes Greek life is what you make it, but I see Greek Chat as just a conversation board. Talking about famous sisters/brothers and the most elite is just making conversation. Maybe it is bragging, maybe it's just conversing. I personally find it interesting to find out what famous people belonged to whichever GLO, even if it's not my own.

I do agree with your last statement about making generalities about other orgs on other campuses. I, too, wonder what Phi Mu is like on other campuses, but it's out of fun. If a potential wants to join a certain sorority on her campus that is supposedly "elite" on other campuses, than that's her bad. Perhaps she could be persuaded to join the organization on HER campus that she most fits in with, which is what we do every year come Rush time.

PunkRawkGirl · #12 09-15-2002, 12:49 PM

A lot of Greek systems are still like high school, unfortunately. I think a lot of people did join houses for the people involved and the lifelong friendships they'll make, many also joined for the added benefit of social activities. It's hard being in a house that has a reputation for being "fat and ugly" when you know your house is full of wonderful women. It's hard to show PNMs and fraternities your awesome sisterhood and how much fun your members are when they can't see past the exterior. It's horrible when a fraternity is out serenading and they walk right past your chapter house to go to the house next door, because they don't deem your house worthy of 10 minutes of their time. It sucks hearing that the house down the street had 300 PNMs at their recruitment event and you only had 30.

I know it's easy to say "well if they're only looking to join/socialize with a house based on reputation, then f'em" but it's so frustrating when your house isn't even given a chance. It's even harder when your panhellenic association does things like giving quota plus to the "big" houses, looking the other way at rush infractions and social policy infractions, and allowing the same 6 "top tier" sororities and fraternities do Greek Week with each other instead of promoting a random selection system. It's near impossible to make change within our governing systems when women from the "top" houses are constantly voted onto the panhellenic exec board, and the women in the "lower" houses are too busy competing with each other, trying to keep their head above water to actually join together and try to make some progress for the little guy.

So yes, joining a sorority is what you make of it, and an amazing sisterhood is what really matters. But when you're in a huge, competitive Greek system and you're constantly being held down and spit on, it's hard to keep those things in mind. And I keep telling myself that after graduation my house's reputation won't matter but the friendships I made will, and that keeps things in perspective, but I just wish that other Greeks on campus could find out how amazing the women in my house are instead of perpetuating stupid stereotypes and reputations.

AlphaSigLana · #13 09-15-2002, 07:54 PM

PunkRawkGirl-- great post. Welcome to the board. I agree with your whole post!

rosejoy · #14 09-16-2002, 04:30 PM

Wow!! Punkrawkgrl,

You really had a lot of valid points. My sorority is not one that is looked down upon, but we get a lot of girls who choose us second because they did not get into the one sorority that is known as "the pretty one". The girls we get are those who go back to the "top tier" during pref, but perhaps put us second.

Many of these girls, I must say, end up putting their all into AOPi and are some of our best members.

I was not putting anyone down for talking about famous members, etc. I am noticing there are a lot of great people on the board.

I just think it is a shame that some get labeled on campus like Punkrawkgrl said. My best friend, who is a beautiful girl, and high school homecoming queen cried for a week and could hardly eat just because she didn't get a bid from XYZ because everyone coming through seems to think it is the best just due to its reputation as the pretty one. We have wonderful, beautiful girls, too. It is a shame that some get overlooked.

If you love where you are, that's what counts. we all know this.

PNM's remember...you are not worthless just because a sorority did not chose you based on a ten minute conversation. Maybe it just didn't click. Keep an open mind.