Do you find Greek Life has created a bubble around you?

lifesaver · #1 02-21-2003, 07:22 PM

I ask this because while we meet many new people through recruitment and contact with other chapters, we bring in new members, and socialize generally (at leats I do) kinda with the same kind of people, all the time. Its just the kind of people we (as greeks, at least me it seems) are all kinda the same. Example, middle/upper middle class, degreed or degree seeking, involved in their university, volunteer oriented, love to party, can put down a few drinks, always out for a nite on the town, get a kick outta formals, etc and generally all have the same kinda goals in carrear and life.

I'll admit, I can hang with almost anyone. Hell, I have a friend / former co-worker who is a 48 year old woman who just got her citizenship and was born and raised in Bangladesh. (It doesnt get any more different from my background than that.) But I sometimes feel like I am very different from soemone who is not greek, or collegate, or alumni. Not better than them, but very different.

I guess what I am saying is that when I am in that situation, it seems to be very clear to me that greek / college life can be very insulating when it is / has been / was your primary socialization outlet. Yeah, your friends might be diverse, socially, economically, religiously, but youre all still kinda the same? Does this make any sense?

Anyone else wonder about this at times?

Munchkin03 · #2 02-21-2003, 08:33 PM

I think about it a lot, and I totally agree with you.

Most of my best friends aren't Greek, and their goals are different from my Greek friends, even if it is just a matter of interests. For example, my sisters are focused on practical matters of finding a job in a stable field (lots of I-bankers and I-banking wannabes!), while my best friends have found things that they love that won't necessarily break the bank--like film, or academia. I don't know how much this has to do with being Greek, or if it's a class thing. I have been thinking about this a lot now that school's almost over for us. On the same token, my sisters are much more outgoing than my indie friends, and I've found that Greeks as a whole are much more outgoing and extroverted.

Do you think that it's because a person is attracted to an organization like a fraternity or sorority, that they are fill a few very general categories? Middle/upper-middle class, politically centrist or conservative, outgoing, etc., seems to be the general theme of my house (except for me--I'm a flaming liberal), and it seems to be the general theme of Greek life on my campus, at least.

Optimist Prime · #3 02-22-2003, 02:13 AM

Yeah. GDI's suck. j/k.

AngelPhiSig · #4 02-22-2003, 03:00 AM

I was thinking about this the other day. All my friends are greek. And the ones that werent are now joining TBS. Its nuts. I was like "OOOH So and so... theyre greek" My best friend of 11 years isnt though! Although if I get a TBS chapter started at her school... maybe!

She always told me that if she would have been greek, it would be Phi Sig at Clarion. My other best friend told me if she would never join another sorority but Phi Sig cos she liked what we stood for. She tried to start a colony but her school wouldnt expand

So those that arent would be if they had a chance!

KillarneyRose · #5 02-22-2003, 03:56 AM

I'd never given this topic much thought in the past, but Andy has a really good point. I have found that I will meet other people, decide I like them, we have lots in common, etc and then nine out of ten times it will turn out that they are greeks too.

Maybe we have some kind of greek radar and don't realize it?? lol

Kevin · #6 02-22-2003, 09:40 AM

I was with a group of other students yesterday talking about our new welness center (very nice gym facility). One of them said "I don't want to go work out with all the frat guys". I replied "I am a frat guy". She countered.. "Well you're not like the rest of them".

Don't know how to take that...

jennybloch · #7 02-22-2003, 03:50 PM

Quote:

I was with a group of other students yesterday talking about our new welness center (very nice gym facility). One of them said "I don't want to go work out with all the frat guys". I replied "I am a frat guy". She countered.. "Well you're not like the rest of them".

Maybe she likes you...

Tom Earp · #8 02-23-2003, 11:57 AM

Andy, dont know about a bubble of Greek Life!

The Brothers of LXA as I am sure you know are very diverse.

While being at B N Chapter at Fl. Tech. for Founders Day, I thought it being a Tech. School would be full of Nerds! Boy was I wrong!

Just a great bunch of guys! The same thing is true of the Guys I have met at 2 of the close Chapters to KC area.

In the same vein, Brother Jono, came to my F D and found the same warm feeling from another Diverse group of young men and Alums.

I have found with the young Greeks who come by my store and I talk with them, they would not be stereotyped as anything but as neat young people!

When I started my local we had so many different types taht We found it just plain normal to be that way and still are to this day!

God you should see some of the Alums who come back and say WOW you are doing what!!!!!!!!

I am sure that each Org. has the People, who like our chapter are spread from Alaska to Wash. DC. From Virginia to Wash. State. From Minn. to Texas!

Bubble ? NO WAY! Maybe while at school, but not in teh After life of working.

But in thinking of going back to My Alma Mater, and seeing the young men and the young women who they are with from differernt Soroitys, none of them really fit into a mold!

Thank God for Greek Orgs. to give learning, knowledge, leader ship skills, and many other things to help in a new life that will go with them after school!

Life, as you know I am little different, but am one of those that never met a stranger.

We and they can learn from each other!