I am from germany and missing Greekweeks

[Marky123]

Hi there,

I am a German student who's really missing Greekweeks & more in Germany.
I don't talk about extreme hazing, I am talking about anything beyond that.
And by the way: I never found any pics or the like on the web, not even harmless pics on Greekweeks. Not to be naive, but it seems to me a very rare phenomenon with a lot of discussions, pro's&con's about. But isn't it rather a myth than a reality?

Yours,
mark

[parrotthead]

I dont know if this helps dude, but over here Greek Week is just like a week long contest, and at the end the houses with the most wins, will be like Greek Week Champions or somthing like that. Like at my school, we have eucher, pool, darts, chugging contest, stuff like that, know what I mean. It doesnt have anything to hazing at all, its just like a fun week where greeks can compete in events, nothin more.
JIM

[HeidiHo]

Marky- I don't really know what you're asking. Greekweek is an event like parrothead described. I don't see where hazing is involved. Please explain more about what you mean by greekweek, if it's not what parrothead described.
If you're looking for greekweek pictures, just look on chapters' websites'. They may or may not be there.
Sorry I'm not much help
Bis dann,
Heidi

[Marky123]

Hello Heidi, hello Jim!

Mistake on my own, sorry! I rather meant things like freshmen's week, hellweek, initiation-week...!! Now you can guess, what subject I tried to mention.

I am still some uncertain on the special terminology of frat's & sororities.

What's your response now to me?
Bye, Mark

[33girl]

Marky,

"Freshman week" is basically a 1950's anachronism. I've never heard of a campus that still "hazes" freshmen. Greeks no longer have "hell" weeks before initiation - they have inspiration weeks, where the new members are taught the final things they need to know before initiation and the actives have a chance to renew their dedication and commitment to the group.

Greek Week has nothing to do with pledging, it is a friendly competition among all the Greek organizations. Hope this helped!

[matthewg]

Originally posted by Marky123:
Hi there,

I am a German student who's really missing Greekweeks & more in Germany.

Are you in a fraternity chapter in Munich? If so which one? And how do you know about the American terminology?

Matt

[Marky123]

Hi Mat (may I call you so... ;

no, I am not member of a brotherhood as we call it here. They are not that common like in the US. Ca. 98% of all Greeks in Germany are anyhow males only!! I.e. sororities numbers next to zero. That's not attractive to me (as male ).

And, most "chapters" are highly political, conservative, i.e. like right-wing republicans in the US (somewhat like a Pat Buchanan-attitude). Guess what I mean?

Greeks-Terminology is indeed somewhat irritating to me, though I'd read a lot.
But I don't have any idea, if someone would ask me about the difference - let's say - between BSP and OPO? Frat, sor, both? White, black, latin, mix, doesn't matter? Strict rules, some rules, preferences? etcetc.??

BUT: My main interest is on initiation rituals; please don't call me ignorant on the good intentions to do something for society, philosophy of friendship, ... I am member of amnesty int'l; that's the way I try to do senseful work. Anyway, the nasty games, I've heard so much about (being stripped, exposed and the like towards dozens of sissis ) became an obsession.

Can't be all fictional! And I search for everything about, including images, clips etc. Hard to find however.
Myself being still student, I hope to realize such experiences here in Germany; but besides very few sissis, the German girls are rather cold than keen-on-fun. Guess the US-girls are more open-minded on that!?

Okay, that's enough for now. I hope to hear from you & the others, too. Any advice on my desires, I surely appreciate a lot!

Bye from Munich
mark

[dzrose93]

Marky123,

I don't know how much you really know about Greek Life, but you will not find anyone on Greek Chat who will share Initiation rituals with you. They are a very private, special part of our organizations and are not given out to non-members.

As for hazing, NO national Greek letter organization condones any type of hazing. I don't know where you're getting your information, but it is false. I find it insulting that you are asking Greek Chat members for information about such a degrading topic.

[Marky123]

Hi dzrose93,

UPS!? I didn't want to inflict these feelings within you.

To repeat, maybe you guess, I am kidding:
I do abhor "hazing" which is why I became active member of the human rights NGO a.i.
What means "hazing" to you? Seems also to be some controversial in your answer, because you start replying with the fact that "initiation" is indeed a (normal) part of Greeks life.

As long it is consensual, there is nothing offending for anyone in the games, I mentioned. This is harmless. I wouldn't have the feeling of being hazed by sissis, forcing me to strip.

Which sources I use? Okay, also this one, ha! ) No, okay, there are also some none-serious posts in the Greekchat-Forums and I don't believe every letter to find by any anonymous, giving tales of phantasy.

But, if that "all" would be just fake, no events in RL, rather myth than reality...then there wouldn't be any discussion about hazing either! Right?

Even the german version of the US-Time-magazine was reporting on the wild nasty games of the right-now-president B*sh in his young years. Seems he was - allegedly - not like me now, with sober wishes being exposed for funny games towards female students; NO! but seems he was rather very offensive with his frat-fellows towards the fellow sissis. THAT sounds like HAZE.

Don't be annoyed, dzrose93, please. There is no reason for "me" to insult anyone here.
Isn't it harmless what I am talking about?
Isn't there the saying "nothing impossible in the US"? Anything goes, nothing 'must'.
- If you know what I suppose....

I just speaking frankly about "one" main reason being interested into Greek subject. But it isn't the only one; I do know, so don't worry!

Bye
Mark

[HeidiHo]

Initiation is a ceremony that can be likened to a wedding. It is a beautiful and meaningful ceremony. It is when a new member becomes "official" and learns the secrets of their organization. There is no hazing involved. By hazing I mean:
Main Entry: 3haze
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): hazed; haz·ing
Etymology: origin unknown
Date: 1840
1 a : to harass by exacting unnecessary or disagreeable work b : to harass by banter, ridicule, or criticism

You seem to interchange haze & initiation. It is important that you don't, because they are in no way related.
The hazing incidents you've seen in the press are not common. I like to think of hazing the same way I think of plane crashes. 1000s of planes fly a day, but every so often you hear of a horrible crash. It is tragic & newsworthy, but doesn't mean that plane crashes are common.
You will not find deticated members of any fraternity or sorority willing to discuss their initation. It is a private event that is very special to them. Initiation rituals are reserved for members of that organization only. I'm willing to bet that there are none on video tape. It's better that you don't ask for pictures again.
I'm glad you're interested in greek life, it's a wonderful and special part of me. I only ask that you respect our right to keep things private, and remember that the press can be very one-sided. Everything you hear is not true.

Heidi

[matthewg]

Originally posted by Marky123:

no, I am not member of a brotherhood as we call it here. They are not that common like in the US. Ca. 98% of all Greeks in Germany are anyhow males only!! I.e. sororities numbers next to zero. That's not attractive to me (as male ).

And, most "chapters" are highly political, conservative, i.e. like right-wing republicans in the US (somewhat like a Pat Buchanan-attitude). Guess what I mean?

Hi Mark,
thanks for your quick response. I would like to make a few comments to your statement for the greeks here on the board:
the picture that you draw about fraternities in Germany is highly biased and does not really reflect insight as it seems to me. Plus, you don't join a fraternity bacause there are sororities in the first place but because you like the people in the chapter you join. Have you actually ever been at a fraternity in Germany? Then you should know that you should differentiate more. I can tell because I am actually a member of a German fraternity.

That same statement is true for American fraternities even though they are somewhat different from their European counterparts. Without knowing anything about them personally, I would be careful about believing everything written in magazines or newspapers. I think, it is highly unfair to judge organizations by predjudices only, without really knowing anything about them.
In addition, I urge you to watch the words you use in your statements. Please use a dictionary once in a while because some of the words you use might be understood as insults and some of the things you write about are very sensitive topics in the USA. So, please try to be a little more sensitive even though I think my fellow American greekchatters will be far too polite to tell you that
Cheers, Matt

[Marky123]

Hi Matt,

wie geht's? Okay, lets keep it in English.

Thanks for your comments anyway. At beginning of my studies at university I was invited to several German frats, but I got mixed impressions. Thats the reason I didn't join (yet). But I apologize, if it sounded too biased.
Of course it is about the fellows and not only about the sissis. But we do live with females in society and frankly speaking: I don't like to miss 'em.

About the terms. Political correctness? Is it that you mean? Okay, I am not well-known with it, but in a dictionary it is not written, which terms & words are political correct in the USA and which are un-sensitive. *lol*
No, really, its not easy that way and therefore I always "try" to talk to the Greeks here that way, that they at least know, I am a polite guy. Therefore I also mentioned the point about my membership in a.i., i.e. I do respect others a lot.

It's not easy for me to talk about my interests, because the issue on "initiation" and the like is very fascinating to me.
So what can I do else, than to ask and post (the best way, I am able to).

If there is any term, I should't use, please let me know. I am a newbie, sorry!!

I am looking for friends and fellows, not for people being annoyed by me. Hell! No, of course.
If you like to, you (& everyone else on these boards), can send me an E-mail either. No prob,

byebye
Mark

scienceresearch3@yahoo.de

[matthewg]

Hi Mark,
I was not talking about political correctness. However, for example the word "frat" is not well received here. I would say, it corresbonds to the German "Buxe" es a pejorative word for "Burschenschafter". Another word is "sissi" - I am sure you mean sorority girls or sisters. "Sissy" has a very negative meaning and should not be used in this context.
Well, I wish you luck searching for the right group in Munich. As I recall there are more than 40 or 50 around. Try the CV - they are non fencing as you might already know.
Good luck and have a successful rest of the semester.
Take care,
Matt

PS - joining a fraternity does not mean you have to miss women. Most events are also open to female guests.

[gammazetagrl]

Marky

I also would like to point out what the others said about not sharing what goes on in their Rituals. You said that you were searching on the internet about pictures of initiation, other rituals? Well, there is are some non-secret fraternities (Delta Upsilon being one)who I believe take pictures of their rituals and even invite family, friends, etc. But for the most part other Greek organizations don't share their rituals to non-members, and don't even take pictures of them. Memories of these beautiful ceremonies are to be treasured in a member's heart and mind alone. If we wanna look back on them, we think about them in the back of our minds...not with a picture in our hands.



------------------
"To supress our feelings only makes them stronger"--from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

[Marky123]

Hello Matt, hello Gammazetagrl,

thanks for reply to you both.

First to Matt: I am sorry having used the terms "frat" and "sissi". I read them on these boards and thought them to be just colloquial abbreviations. That's all. How should I know them to be somewhat pejorative?

To Gammazetagrl: Is there a reason for, that the Greeks differ on being rather secret on their events or not?

CU & bye
Mark