The greek experience at HBCUs

[Convinced]

I went to a very small private HBCU in Mississippi and the Greek experience was very intense and its importance exemplified because our school only had about 1200 students, (and we didn't have a football team)!!! So, everyone on campus looked to the Greeks to create gossip, to keep the atmosphere lively, and to keep the campus culturally aware. I was wondering, does black Greek life have that same campus level of importance at non HBCUs?

[This message has been edited by Convinced (edited November 27, 2000).]

[kiml122]

I went to a very big east university. While we did have all the BGLO's and GLO's on my campus, there was no way the same level of importance on my campus for greek life that it was on yours. Greek life was not that important, it was just something that you knew about.

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Peace
KL

[PositivelyAKA]

Convinced greek life at my HBCU was very important, so much so that most clubs had a so called pledge process of some sort because so many wanted to relate to the greek life. of course it is the home of 5 alpha chapters of the divine nine so that is no susprise. but there were so many things to keep one occupied, even outside of greek life, i loved it.

[ZChi4Life]

Hello Ladies of AKA and sisterfriends! Hope you don't mind me stepping in.
At my school, greek life is not that big of a deal. I attend U of Mich and here, 15-17% of the undergrad population is greek. We've got about 25,000 UGs here, so considering that, greek life isn't that popular. But I do know of other non-HBCUs that have a good minority greek population, so I think it just depends on where you go to school.

[SkeeWee14]

I attend in HBCU in the south and it seems that almost EVERYONE who is an upper classman is affiliated with a greek organization. It's we have about 5000 students here and the lines are starting to get larger and larger especially for organizations that aren't usually that popular. I can say that the freshmen and sophomore classes really look up to the greek organizations a lot.

[Rachel0497]

Hello sisterfriends,
I hope you guys don't mind me stopping by. I attended a VERY small HBCU in the south(less than 500 students, with no football team either) and consequently Greek life was very prominent. The largest organizations on campus were the greeks, and everyone(whether they admitted it or not) aspired to be a member of one. The only problem was, you had to have a 2.5 GPA to join, so there were a number of people who did not qualify for membership. These people worked incredibly hard just to get that minimum GPA to be able to pledge!!!! I think that at most HBCU's, greek life is more important because it is one of our longest standing institutions in the black community, and anything created by us usually is more important when we are in a majority environment, such as at HBCU's.

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Sassy, Classy, but never Trashy-The Ladies of Z Phi B!

[AKA_Monet]

I've seen both worlds. BGLO's at my undergraduate college was one of the largest and greatest attributes for attending a HBCU. Whereas, in my graduate studies university on the west coast, BGLO's were less of an attribute simply because of the "super sized" student population.

[nikki25]

At my undergraduate institution, Hampton University, Greeks provided most of the campus leadership. Also, seminars, stepshows, serenades, and other activities were always highly attended by Greeks and non-Greeks alike. BGLOs have always played a big role on the Black College campus because of a rich tradition that continues to exist.

Right now, I'm a graduate student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. There aren't any BGLOs on campus. So, in essence, there isn't a Black Greek life to really speak of or say that I've witnessed. There are a ton of Greek-lettered organizations on CMUs campus, but none of them are of the "divine nine".

[Elite Ivy]

I know that I have been incognito, charge it to grad school.

I did my undergrad an HBCU in Mississippi with an enrollment of 6000+. The majority of the upperclassmen were affiliated with Greek organizations. Not only was the student body Greek affiliated, but many of the administrators and professors were as well. We had to have a GPA of 2.7 as set forth by the University, so some people who probably had Greek aspirations couldn't fulfill them. We were campus leaders in every right from the SGA, class officers, campus queens, band, athletics, honor societies, etc. I agree with others who have responded when I say that BGLOs presence is probably more profound at HBCUs because of the rich traditions.

Convinced, did you go to Tougaloo or Rust? PositivelyAKA, I must agree, other organizations on campus had their so called pledging process. Who would have ever thought that you would pledge to get into an honor society?

[mizzkes]

LOL@ "pledge to get into an honor society"
I attend a prominent HBCU and greek life is really big. The same is here, you must pledge to get into everything. I am in a modeling troupe here on campus and people are like "When did you cross into your troupe?"
I think that one gets hazed more becoming a member of our marching band than they would joining a greek organization.
One word that I must stress with reference to seeking membership into a BGLO at an HBCU is : COMPETITION. It is fierce. Everybody wants to be down so there is a lot...a lot going on within the realms of IG-hood.

[Perfect Pearl24-A-96]

Greek Life at Howard University is a major
facet of the undergraduate experience. It seems that it usually is at the HBCU's. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to experience the wonderful world of Black College life as a Soror, I cant imagine what life would be like without my Sorors or
HBCU's.

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perfection breeds perfection.....
HU!!!!

[mizzkes]

Question: Did anyone on the board become a member of a Sorority at Spelman? I ask because I was thinking about the amount of competition at HBCU's, I can imagine it must be twice as serious at schools like Spelman and Morehouse.

[EternalIvy]

Hello Sorors and Sisterfriends,
I attend Hampton University and Greek Life is very much a huge aspect of college life here. So much that other organizations on campus try to emulate our processes of initiating members and choosing new members. However, some of these organizations do a little bit more than some of the BGLO's. They haze (intensely for long periods of time), they have sets, etc. I think that Greek Life influences those that may not even want to be a part of it. It is ironic.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by mizzkes:
Question: Did anyone on the board become a member of a Sorority at Spelman? I ask because I was thinking about the amount of competition at HBCU's, I can imagine it must be twice as serious at schools like Spelman and Morehouse.

Yes, Sweet Mu Pi. Aesop's Fables. Monet #49.

I don't understand what you mean by competition? Competition to join an organization. Most definitely, especially when 300-400 girls are showing up at your rush and 200 have grades and credentials--selection is tough!!! And the school has a cut off limit last I heard. It's so wonderful when we can say we have at least 50 women of African descent to pick off the top--meaning they have 4.0 GPA's and are highly active in student organizations and a motivational force on campus. One can feel overwhelmed with emotion!!!