Anti Greek Discussion

[Dutchgrl]

As my daughter prepares for college, one of the website we visit is College Confidential http://www.collegeconfidential.com/index.htm . In the College Discussion Forums, under Parents Forum then Parents and Greek Life, there is quite the discussion (mostly bad mouthing) going on regarding college greek life. Too bad most of these posters haven't a clue about the positive experiences gained from belonging to GLO's. Sorry there isn't a direct link to this page.

[ZHLyreGirl]

It's too bad they can't let their children make their own opinions about greek life. But yea for the people who stood up for it!

[33girl]

Since when do college kids do what their parents want....this could be in our favor, har.

[AXOKatie]

Originally posted by 33girl
Since when do college kids do what their parents want....this could be in our favor, har.

LOL co-sign!!!

[AXOKatie]

i love that the one poster on this site doesn't even take into consideration the fact that being Greek is a networking tool by itself, not just your affiliation....it's an understanding of values and shared experiences regardless of your chapter creed or designation

[Phi_Finch670]

Wow, I read that thread I can't believe how ignorant some of these parents actually are. Just because you can find it on some website that someone fabricated doesn't mean that it's true. I think it's rediculous that they bad mouth something they know absolutly nothing about because they have no experience to go from.

[winneythepooh7]

I have decided I am not going to go back and forth anymore and try to defend Greeklife. If people can't actually SEE the positives being a member of a GLO has brought into my life, I am not wasting my energy explaining it to them. To me it is the same as when people generalize about every other "group" of people in life and stereotype and point out all the negatives.

[chideltjen]

Originally posted by winneythepooh7
I have decided I am not going to go back and forth anymore and try to defend Greeklife. If people can't actually SEE the positives being a member of a GLO has brought into my life, I am not wasting my energy explaining it to them. To me it is the same as when people generalize about every other "group" of people in life and stereotype and point out all the negatives.

Amen!

[winneythepooh7]

This thread reminds me of a while back, someone posted an article on here from the student newspaper of my actual school where the writer criticized Greeklife and of course she had nothing factual, only stereotypes and her beliefs of it all. I got all mad, contacted my chapter and was all hell-bent on writing a response as an alum to defend my organization. As I thought more about it though, I can't really say anything, because as I have seen throughout Greekchat, being a member of a GLO is not something you can really explain the positives of being part of. It is clear that it isn't for everyone, and it is clear that it is what you make of it. People need to make up their own minds. You cannot do anything else beyond that. Unfortunately in life people tend to view things only based on negative experiences they've seen. I never did write that response and it really doesn't bother me at all anymore.

[ATO/terp]

There were some parents in the forum that were actually Greek at one time (still are) and they look back at how wild and crazy they were in the 60's 70's 80's but fail to realize that there is a whole lot that has changed due to the mistakes that they made back in the good ole' days. What they need to do is let their child decide for themselves errrrrrrrrrr......

[Kevin]

Originally posted by ATO/terp
There were some parents in the forum that were actually Greek at one time and bring up well we were this crazy in the 60's 70's 80's but what they have not realized is that there is a whole lot that is changed due to the mistakes that they made when they were Greeks in that time period. What they need to do is let their child decide for themselves errrrrrrrrrr......

I agree. Actually, including parents in the rush/pledging process is something my active chapter is trying to move towards. The more open we are about risk management practices, the better.

That is -- if we practice risk management.

[AXOKatie]

That's the funny thing, they are probably more likely to go ahead and sign up and not even ask their parents...but really, i still think it's our job to promote positive PR contact with parents who doubt the benefits of being greek because if we give up, then we aren't doing our job of reaching out...it's breaking down stereotypes, however superficial they may be...besides, they are arguing about how being greek isn't really a good networking tool, but that's only one aspect...there are so many more benefits to being greek that they don't even have to look for...plus, the system has changed SO MUCH since our parents were in college, in fact it's a whole lot better...it's just that the media has gotten more vicious...it's our parents non-greek, excluded and bitter contemporaries who grew up to be the reporters as well as the greek leaders!

[WCUgirl]

You know, this isn't totally an issue of greek vs. non-greek - these parents are just control freaks. Period. Most of the things I did in rebellion were a direct result of my mother trying to control my life and make up my mind for me. These parents who have decided their child will not do something are going to get a shocking dose of reality...and not understand what they did wrong in raising their precious child.

[winneythepooh7]

Originally posted by AXiD670
You know, this isn't totally an issue of greek vs. non-greek - these parents are just control freaks. Period. Most of the things I did in rebellion were a direct result of my mother trying to control my life and make up my mind for me. These parents who have decided their child will not do something are going to get a shocking dose of reality...and not understand what they did wrong in raising their precious child.

You know, that is SOOOOOOOOOOOO true. Every major big chance I took in my life that my mom went against turned out being the most positive thing in my life for me. At the time she thought joining a sorority was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. Also when I decided to up and move to NYC she thought that was ridiculous too, and I would somehow fail at both and screw up my life. It has been completely the opposite though and she is constantly running around telling people she meets that are Greek "Oh my daughter is a DPhiE". She's even met some DPhiE's and gets so excited. And moving to the city~~she always tells me now that is the best decision I could have made for "my career". Go figure. I think parents fear more that they can't protect us anymore and see that we are growing independent and becoming adults and it scares them.

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by AXiD670
You know, this isn't totally an issue of greek vs. non-greek - these parents are just control freaks. Period. Most of the things I did in rebellion were a direct result of my mother trying to control my life and make up my mind for me. These parents who have decided their child will not do something are going to get a shocking dose of reality...and not understand what they did wrong in raising their precious child.

I noticed that in the thread as well. A lot of them were saying things like "my daughter is going to a school where there aren't any frats or football teams" or whatever.

Maybe I'm just a nerd, but back when I was a freshman and sophomore, going to the tailgate parties and the football games and everything made college life fun. I've got memories from those that I will always cherish.. and the school I attended as a freshman/sophomore was not even a big one.. not even medium size... the student population was like 6000.

Even now, I have so many fun memories of my new school with ADPi, and I honestly wouldn't trade them for anything.