Greek Row Worries

[BabyP]

I am worried, CSUS is working on having a greek row and I think they will succeed since by some phenomen almost the WHOLE ASI (associated students inc.) are greek. Before there was maybe ONE out of the whole ASI that was greek, EVEN the competitors of ASI was greek. Ay............ anyways back to my point. As a local, I dont want there to be greek row because we cant afford to buy a house, NOW if they were renting it out that would be fine but nationals would have the advantage - Darn it! (no offense to nationals)

[PiLove]

As a Sac State ADPi, I'm very excited about the potential for a new greek row. I hope we get one before I graduate. I know that dorms and housing around Sacramento is comaparable to what you would pay at a house for room and board. I do sympathize being local, you don't have the national support, or many alum to donate. The next best thing is just for the exec board to rent a house.

[33girl]

How are they going to be set up? Maybe several smaller/local orgs could share a house to cut down the costs.

[BabyP]

I dont know I didnt go to the meeting. I am sure they didnt have interpreters for it anyways. maybe PiLove knows

[kddani]

Why do you want to begrudge the national groups from having houses? (btw- do you know how much work goes into having a house ? it's crazy!) Do you have a particular reason, or is it just a degree of jealously? (I don't mean that harshly, but it sounds like you want something for your group that you can't currently have = my definition of jealousy here).

Is it going to hurt your group? You seem to be a pretty specialized group and not in "competition" with those groups.

That is one disadvantage to being a local that you really can't get rid of and have to deal with. You don't have the money, the alumnae support, or the numbers to sustain large projects such as a house (disclaimer- okay, so there may be some long established local sororities, but this is in general)

The building of a greek row shows that the school is at least somewhat supportive of the greeks and that the system's overall numbers are stable and/or growing. A greek row will increase the visibility of greeks and possibly make more men and women at your school want to go greek, which could have a trickle down effect in increasing numbers?

[Little E]

I don't know anything about BabyP's sorority, but I think we often discount locals. Alumni/ae support locals. You do not have to have a national organization to have that support. Theta Pi Gamma, local at my college, has an amazing support system with their alumnae, despite the drama of the DG disaffiliation. Wealthier nationals may be able to better fork up the money quickly, but I don't think that all Nationals can just fork up the $$ for a house. It is chapter to chapter. There is no way mine would ever be able to afford a house. lucky for us, the college owns and runs our house

[adpiucf]

I think it is a wonderful idea to encourage locals on the same campus to come together and approach the university about a shared "local" lodge where locals can meet, hold their own rituals and store their equipment in a safely locked facility. If the university is supportive of Greek expansion, the locals could most likely lobby successfully for the univeristy to build a Hellenic Lodge or set of lodges and rent space to all the Greek groups. The locals could benefit from this by being in a place central to all GLO's.

[Tom Earp]

I think you are looking at this totally wrong.

It is positive for a School to try and show support for Greek Organizations in any manner. Maybe this is finally being done.

National Greek Organizations do not buy or pay for Houses, it falls on the shoulders of each individual Chapter.

A house/building does not make what a Greek Organization really is, The Members are what make a Chapter.

If your Local is that strong with Alums who back you, then worry about what you can afford, rent if you have to. Then it is up to the Chapter to make it look not just new, but nice.

I have been in many Greek Houses and while they may look nice from the outside, and the formal first floor areas, go to the individual rooms and it looks like slobs live there.

It is amazing, simply friggen amazing!

[chideltjen]

Small history on the potential Sac State Greek Row. This conversation/debate has been going on for YEARS! And nothing has EVER come about it. To me, it just seemed like another campaign promise no one was going to actually follow thru on. And a good portion of ASI is always greek, so it's not like it's anything new.

I'm part of a local at Sac State. I'm an alumna. Most of our sisters rent houses, apartments, etc already. I think having one central housing unit would be more trouble than it's worth for any organization on our campus. Our system is simply not big enough.

And has ASI told you where this new greek row will be? Are the houses built yet? If they aren't, don't expect a Greek Row until 2007 or later. By then I assume you will be out of college. If the houses are built, you still gotta come up with the money for it, which will raise dues to keep the insurance up. And as a local, the whole object is to keep due prices lower.

BabyP, I know your organization is new. There are quite a few things that I think should take precedence over buying a house. Your main goals should be building your sisterhood, getting your name established, and finding your place in the community. A house is a materialistic item that will come in due time... if ever. You need to have your priorities arranged. Buying a house for your sisters shouldn't be one of them now.

[BabyP]

It will be on I think 56th street, and they are already requesting HQ to prove they can pay for it and other things. I have to reread the memo I got. Anyways, the new University President is supporting it. We have four MAJOR Deaf events planned this upcoming semester plus several small fundraisers I cant wait!!! Also we are going to raise lots of money and awareness about our philanthropy. so far we are renting a house where we can have meetings, eat, relax, etc. I hope the Sac Greek will come and we are friendly and would help teach to anyone who would like to learn ASL but so far we got cold shoulder even from the ones in ASL classes!!! weird!! I only get love from other Deaf Greeks in East Coast.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by BabyP
I only get love from other Deaf Greeks in East Coast.

hijack

Yeah, that guy from our RIT chapter that you know hung out and bought a beer for one of the guys that came with our chapter. He was a cool guy and his interpreters were both nice ladies.

Lucky guy gets like the best seat in the house for our Grand Chapter.

/hijack

As far as the house question goes.. Our University doesn't have the $$ to build a Greek Row. They're supportive of us funding our own houses though. It takes many years to build up the financial strength as well as an amazing amount of planning to even break ground on a house. After that, it's a lot of work by dedicated alum-house corp members that keeps it running.

Be careful what you wish for

[BabyP]

I am upset now, It turns out that we are not going to rent a house, one of the girls is not going to get enough financial aid and she needs the money for school. The other girl doesnt want to have stranger live with us. so I am feeling sad right now. It was a nice house with a pool too!

[aphibeach]

i am so glad that greek life has no housing what so ever on our campus.....we don't even have floors in dorms.....and it makes things soooo much easier. because of this, greek life as a whole gets along. girls from one sorority live with girls in another sorority. because we're not segragated we're more unified

plus dues are 10 times cheaper

[Tom Earp]

Greek Hosing oops Greek Housing!

For those that have had Greek Houseing, it is great isnt it?

Well, unless, the house is not up to what is Standards. Not Greek Standards, but School or Code of the City!

Trust me, been there, done it and being on The House Corpoation for 8 years it cannot be pretty.

To some, They Think That IHQ will take care of them, no, it wont happen. It falls on the shoulders of the Individual Chapter, period.

Oh Why, you may ask, HDQ are in a fight for money to opporate. That is the thing that most dont think about.

Where do they get their Money!?

[ASUADPi]

Originally posted by aphibeach
i am so glad that greek life has no housing what so ever on our campus.....we don't even have floors in dorms.....and it makes things soooo much easier. because of this, greek life as a whole gets along. girls from one sorority live with girls in another sorority. because we're not segragated we're more unified

plus dues are 10 times cheaper

[hijack for question]

Coming from a chapter that had a house and a university that had dorms, I'm curious how do y'all do anything without one or the other? Recruitment? Meetings? Ritual?

[end hijack]

Also, I think it just depends on the school how segregated the greek system is.

Now this is completely my perception since I did not affiliate to the chapter at ASU, but at ASU the sororities seem really supportive of each other and I know girls who are friends with sisters in other chapters. (The sororities here have an extremely nice and new dorm made just for the sororities).

Now this is not the same, again my perception and my opinion, at U of A. The sororities have houses down there and they seem much more segregrated.

BabyP- I have to cosign with what most people are saying. Focus on your chapter and your numbers. I wouldn't worry about the possibility of Greek Row until you actually see the bulldozers breaking ground.