All this hype

[Energizer420]

Ok so will all this hype going on with the book pledged. I am thinking of writing a book. ok so i know what u all are thinking sure she is right? Well to be honest i have never written one so its going to be more of an attempt. My major in college was journalism and i have worked at a couple of small time newspapers, I am not currently working in journalism. So now to the point of this post. I am going to try and write a book that accuretly portrays sororitys. I was in one myself so i know that i will not be including anything ritual or ritual type stuff. Though i am looking for advice on what else i should not be including. I am not looking for peoples help on writing it i dont want testimonys or anything like that from people. All i am looking for would be what would you want to see in a book that accuretly portrays sororitys or on the other hand what types of things would you think should not be in there. Please let me know what you think obviously this may not happen but im going to give it my best attempt. Also if you have anything bad to say just dont bother cause im really not going to listen cause im not looking for anything more then advice. that i wanted posted here not pmed to me or emailed to me. Thanks again in advance.

[decadence]

I think this is a good idea. Just really posting to wish you luck.

I'd also recommend just as if starting a business you would look at the competitors and try to offer something new, get access to copies of the other books out there: Inspiration for Greeks, Secret Sisters, The Divine Nine (the Lawrence C. Ross, Jr one) book, From here to Fraternity (out of print, I haven't ever seen a copy) etc and see 'what has gone before'.

In trying to sweep away myths; strive to portray a balanced view; in greek life just as in college life there can be negatives; you might like to tackle these as well as sharing with readers the wonderful things greek life has to offer. In doing so you could provide a broad media-sensationalism-free tool for the greek community as well as those interested in hearing about "this fraternity-sorority thing" before they head off to college.

Energizer420, I hope it goes well!

[Kevin]

To take the whole that is the Greek Life experience and condense it into a book that you could call "accurate" is almost laughable. The experience varies at each college, with each organization and with each individual. To be able to write a book and tell people "This is the GLO experience" is really impossible.

You might want to narrow your scope down to a region, a city, or even a specific school.

[H0neymoon]

Absolutely. I think it would be great for prospectives that you've quashed any horror story rumours that may exist about sororities.... BUT.... you can only really comment on your own experiences and the experiences of those around you. If you make it clear that you are writing about the experiences at YOUR school/area, that would be fine. If you are serious about it, maybe you could do a bit of travelling around to explore other sororities, or even pick the brians of the other girls on this forum who can tell you all about life in a sorority at their college.

It's definately important to read what is already out there to get to grips with what ISN'T already out there and put it out there yourself... that's the difficult part!

[thetalady]

You want to be sure to see Bound By A Mghty Vow, scheduled to be released in June. It may cover a lot of what you are looking into already.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bound By a Mighty Vow $60.00

Sisterhood and Women's Fraternities, 1870-1920
Diana B. Turk
ISBN 0814782752
272 pages
Cloth
Publication date: 6/21/2004

Sororities are often thought of as exclusive clubs for socially inclined college students, but Bound by a Mighty Vow, a history of the women's Greek system, demonstrates that these organizations have always served more serious purposes. Diana Turk explores the founding and development of the earliest sororities (then called women's fraternities) and explains how these groups served as support networks to help the first female collegians succeed in the hostile world of nineteenth century higher education.

Turk goes on to look at how and in what ways sororities changed over time. While the first generation focused primarily on schoolwork, later Greek sisters used their fraternity connections to ensure social status, gain access to jobs and job training, and secure financial and emotional support as they negotiated life in turn-of-the-century America. The costs they paid were conformity to certain tightly prescribed beliefs of how "ideal" fraternity women should act and what "ideal" fraternity women should do.

Drawing on primary source documents written and preserved by the fraternity women themselves, as well as on oral history interviews conducted with fraternity officers and alumnae members, Bound by a Mighty Vow uncovers the intricate history of these early women's networks and makes a bold statement about the ties that have bound millions of American women to one another in the name of sisterhood.

http://www.nyupress.org/product_info...oducts_id=3506

[PlymouthDZ]

I found "Bound By a Mighty Vow " on barnesandnobel.com for $18. Just to give a heads-up.. you can't buy it yet, but you can pre-order. I've ordered my copy

Originally posted by thetalady
You want to be sure to see Bound By A Mghty Vow, scheduled to be released in June. It may cover a lot of what you are looking into already.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bound By a Mighty Vow $60.00

Sisterhood and Women's Fraternities, 1870-1920
Diana B. Turk
ISBN 0814782752
272 pages
Cloth
Publication date: 6/21/2004

Sororities are often thought of as exclusive clubs for socially inclined college students, but Bound by a Mighty Vow, a history of the women's Greek system, demonstrates that these organizations have always served more serious purposes. Diana Turk explores the founding and development of the earliest sororities (then called women's fraternities) and explains how these groups served as support networks to help the first female collegians succeed in the hostile world of nineteenth century higher education.

Turk goes on to look at how and in what ways sororities changed over time. While the first generation focused primarily on schoolwork, later Greek sisters used their fraternity connections to ensure social status, gain access to jobs and job training, and secure financial and emotional support as they negotiated life in turn-of-the-century America. The costs they paid were conformity to certain tightly prescribed beliefs of how "ideal" fraternity women should act and what "ideal" fraternity women should do.

Drawing on primary source documents written and preserved by the fraternity women themselves, as well as on oral history interviews conducted with fraternity officers and alumnae members, Bound by a Mighty Vow uncovers the intricate history of these early women's networks and makes a bold statement about the ties that have bound millions of American women to one another in the name of sisterhood.

http://www.nyupress.org/product_info...oducts_id=3506

[adpiucf]

Somehow I doubt that one will get as much coverage on MSN!

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by adpiucf
Somehow I doubt that one will get as much coverage on MSN!

You never know. If this is a well written book, then all sorority members should buy a copy. Why? Buying a copy is like voting. If enough are sold, then it gets on the New York Times best seller list. If it hots #1, then its a news story.

A lot of female news anchors were in sororities. I can guarantee you that they will pressure their superiors to allow a #1 book, that is a positive depiction of sorority life, to get news coverage.

The best way to counter Pledged, is to support an alternative, and superior argument for sororities.

ETA I'm writing about supporting Bound By a Mighty Vow, not Pledged.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
You never know. If this is a well written book, then all sorority members should buy a copy. Why? Buying a copy is like voting. If enough are sold, then it gets on the New York Times best seller list. If it hots #1, then its a news story.

A lot of female news anchors were in sororities. I can guarantee you that they will pressure their superiors to allow a #1 book, that is a positive depiction of sorority life, to get news coverage.

The best way to counter Pledged, is to support an alternative, and superior argument for sororities.

HAs this crazy lady made the New York times list yet?

[adpiucf]

I have to agree to disagree with you. Sorority alumnae are not the same as fraternity alumnae, in that there is not the staunch live or die support. You'll see differently on Greek Chat, b/c there are alumnae who post here, but those are the alum who are also involved. Sorority alumnae are a support group--- they take an interest in the local chapter, have some social events, etc. There isn't the level of urgency and committment the men might have if their chapter of initation was in danger of closing.

That and a vanilla anthology on the history of women's fraternal groups is not going to have the same kind of circulation and distribution as a sensationally hyped book. "Pledged" has been on the shelves for about a week-- look at the media coverage and press junket that the publisher of the book has coordinated for the author. I would wager that many more copies of the first edition have been ordered printed by the publisher, as opposed to the history book.

Are you more likely to read a biography of Clinton, or a biography that implies he is a homosexual woman-hater? Sex and scandal sell.

And as much as we'd like to delude ourselves, non-Greeks don't care to hear our side. The naked pillow fights make for a far better fantasy.

I rented "Spellbound"-- a documentary on the national Spelling Bee. I was hoping to see some parents in knock-down drag-out cat fights, but it was really boring. I'd would've been much more excited to see some crazy parents-- like the dog owners in the movie "Best in Show." But the documentary was really boring, and that's why Blockbuster only carries one copy of it.

[33girl]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss
You never know. If this is a well written book, then all sorority members should buy a copy. Why? Buying a copy is like voting. If enough are sold, then it gets on the New York Times best seller list. If it hots #1, then its a news story.

Maybe we can stealth market it.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by adpiucf
fraternity alumnae

[ADPiShannan]

Im not sure about a book, but it would be nice to see something positive out there. Probbaly wouldnt get far though cause people would bash it for some reason or another, the anti greeks. They always find falut in things we say or do.

I agree that some sorority alums arent die hard, well most arent, but I honestly would like to think that if someones initiation chapter were in danger of closing my sisters would do everything they could to keep it open. A lot of alums from my chapter are more online newletters and updates than coming to activities because they are busy and have other things going on, but I would hope they would stop to help their chapter in need. I dont know you may be right. Maybe its just I am a die hard ADPi that I would do anything I could to help.

As far as a book, Id like to see one published and I know Id buy it and help out, but I dont know how far it would go. Good idea though.

[adpiucf]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss

oh sheesh. I meant fraternity alumni

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

I have a few comments:

first of all, kudos for the determination. However I must say that although we don't like the bad press GLO's get as far as hazing and drinking goes - it does happen. It's in the news all the time. Just because we do other things (like stuff for the community and we do well in school) doesn't change that fact, nor does it justify it. So I'm curious how one could write a book that does accuratley portray greek life without including some of the "darker sides"? I won't lie...of course I do go to a 'party school' but drinking is kind of a central aspect of all social life here, and if someone came out with a book about greek life that didnt include the "fun" side as well as the responsible stuff I'd think it was just as misleading as the other books out there....of course the image being portrayed would be MUCH better.

I'm not really criticisizing I'm just putting my thoughts out there. I guess more books that are strictly positive is always good so it offsets the bad ones.

Also, I disagree with the comment about fraternity alumni. When the fraternities here have alumni weekend, WAY more men (alum) show up to those events than alumnae do when we have events. I always hear about alumni that come back and do things for their chapters from my guy friends.