Local-bashing

[aephi alum]

I've been following the various threads on the MTV "Sorority Life" show, and there have been some accusations of "local-bashing" going on... sort of a "look at those locals, messing it up for the rest of us" attitude.

I write this as a member of a national sorority whose chapter was once a local sorority - so I've seen both sides of the local vs. national thing.

National GLO's have a number of rules and regulations in place regarding things like hazing, alcohol, etc. If a brother/sister breaks the rules, s/he answers to a standards board. If a chapter breaks the rules, the chapter answers to nationals and may have its charter pulled. So a chapter of a national GLO is, to some extent, a known quantity.

Local GLO's don't necessarily have these rules in place. This seems to be the crux of the "pro-national" argument. Some locals haze their new members, some locals have no restrictions on alcohol use, and that does make the greek system as a whole look bad - particularly when the average Joe on the street doesn't know the difference between locals, regionals, and nationals.

However, what I think some people in national GLO's are overlooking is that a lot of local and regional GLO's do have such rules. A local will hardly pull its own charter for breaking them, it's true - but individual members who break the rules would be made to answer to a standards board just as if they were in national GLO's.

In some cases, locals have even stricter rules. Example: My local sorority prohibited members from wearing letters or other insignia anywhere that alcohol was being served. That meant we couldn't wear letters at a restaurant with a liquor license, even if none of us were drinking. It eliminated the gray area of "How do I know that that sorority girl is really drinking coke and not rum and coke?" but it also meant we couldn't take people out to lunch or dinner during informal rush.

To address the "Sorority Life" issue specifically: Sigma AEPi isn't any less of a sorority because it's a local, or because they have 4 Greek letters in their name instead of 2 or 3. I'm sure these are fine young women and represented their sorority as best they could. But I believe their decision to participate in this show was ill-considered - especially knowing that MTV tends to take things out of context and to focus on partying as the most important thing in life. I'm hoping (as are the Sigma's, it seems) that MTV will include a portrayal of Sigma's philanthropy work, academic program, and other positive aspects of greek life, but I still strongly suspect MTV will be focusing on the parties and the guys, because that's what gets the ratings. I guess we'll find out on the 24th.

[dzrose93]

Very well put, aephi alum. Like I've said in other posts, the MTV issue is definitely not a local vs. national one. There are good local chapters and bad local chapters, the same as there are good national chapters and bad national chapters. 'Nuff said.

[AOX81]

Originally posted by dzrose93
Very well put, aephi alum. Like I've said in other posts, the MTV issue is definitely not a local vs. national one. There are good local chapters and bad local chapters, the same as there are good national chapters and bad national chapters. 'Nuff said.

I agree totally.

[Kevin]

I'd agree with what you said Aephi... However, as with NPC and NIC groups you have a few bad apples that can spoil the barrel (the barrel being the way that outside groups view us).

The majority of us view locals that we are not familiar with as outsiders and therefore automatically will associate any local stereotypes in order to draw a picture of what we THINK you're like.

It's a tough boat to be in. With no central command structure and no shared set of rules each and every one of your local groups are ambassadors for eachother. The local group at my campus is going to be the way I see most other local groups. That's where I think people go wrong many times.

LHT
Kevin

[LexiKD]

I didn't feel like more than 2 members were saying that "Look it's a Local giving us bad PR, go figure".

Most of us don't look down on locals, I think what alot of us were trying to say is that one chapter of one group that happens to be local and not affiliated with any NPC groups will cause the NPC groups negative PR and that was unfair.

I too was in a local that became national. But the average non Greek doesn't understand the difference and it even if the difference was in a disclaimer it wouldn't matter.

Did anyone read that post about using stand ins? Why would they do that and/or the group agree to?

[ACEOFDIAMOND]

This topic is making me very mad. Everyone who is bashing locals is not informed about them. You are all making stereotypes of them like people not involved in the greek system would think of your sororities, doesnt it hurt you when people make stereotypes about you? You cant judge all locals the same way, each of them is very unique and has it's own sets of rules just like every NPC sorority does. Coming from a local sorority, I know that we would never do anything to make the greek system look bad, but we try hard to improve it and make it stronger. My particular local follows the rules of the other NPC sororities on campus. We do not haze and when it comes to someone breaking the rules, which has never happened, but if it would, we would make sure they were disciplined in a proper manner. We are careful about where we wear our letters so we do not get a bad reputation. I like to think of us as equal to all other sororities, just because we aren't national doesn't mean anything, we were started for the same basic reasons that NPC's were started. I would just like ask everyone who wants to bash locals to think first and think about all the stereotypes made about your groups and about the greek system in general. We greeks need to stay together to make sure that the greek system is portrayed in a positive light.

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Locals don't have a monopoly on mistakes, and inter/nationals don't have a monopoly on excellence. Unfortunately, most locals don't have the benefit of a larger governing body to assist them in decision making. Perhaps, locals need a more involved alumni association to share the wisdom of their experiences and help them avoid making decisions which will jeopardize the future of their GLO.

[sigmagrrl]

My chapter of Tri Sigma started as a local (I'm a founding sister). To put it very simply, there were pluses to being a local, but more minuses (IN OUR CASE, I'm only referring to my case here). I am glad we were chartered with an International NPC organization. It's totally a personal preference. Some like being local, so they join a local. I chose to join a local that had a goal of becoming affiliated on a National level...

[Tom Earp]

I also started a Local but with the idea of affiliation with a National!

I dont know if the Nationals on campus looked down noses as severa members of the House I was booted out of and members of others helped us get on campus!

But in our first formal rush, we got no new pledges! No Soroitys would do run outs with us, going out on Group gatherings!

One of the guys was dating a Tri Sigma who we mad our Fraternity Queen and then they started going and recognizing us!

ADP did to but they were the worst house on Campus for Soros but # 32 is married to a very lovely lady and unfortunatlly ADP is gone!

I never look donw my nose at a local as you never know when it will come up and bite you in the butt!

I call it the wheel of life! It keeps going around! One day you are on top and the next oops you are on the bottom!

Some days your the dog and some your are the fire plug!

[shultzz]

Originally posted by LexiKD
I

Most of us don't look down on locals, I think what alot of us were trying to say is that one chapter of one group that happens to be local and not affiliated with any NPC groups will cause the NPC groups negative PR and that was unfair.

Is it fair when an affiliated NPC groups do something that causes negative PR for unaffiliated locals?

The real question is , who is causing the negative PR?

If you check out fraternal news groups you will find that most of the problems are caused by national organizations. I would estimate it is well over 90%.

Now, who is making who look bad?

[KRXAlum]

To all of you who have come out and showed support for locals, I wish to personally thank you SO VERY MUCH.

As I have stated on some other posts I've put up, my local has been around for 100 years, and this is something I am very proud of. At one time there were 3 KRX's, one became a Chi O, the other went defunct and we stayed as a local. My sisters, past and present, must have done something right if we're still here....

And correct me if I'm wrong, but in some way, shape or form, wasn't every NPC, NIC at one time a local and/or one chapter? Just like people in national orgs. say, every chapter of every NPC, NIC is different, well so is every local. You can not generalize us.

Myself, I have respect for all locals and nationals, why, because in a way I'm related to all of you because we're all Greek. Just something to think about.

[carnation]

I know that there are plenty of good locals--for instance, I've heard good things about the ones at the University of the South and Mississippi University for Women--and I try to keep those in mind. It's just that my personal experience has been with the totally out-of-line ones like those at the University of Hawaii and the infamous 3 at the school where I teach (those of you who missed hearing about these jewels should read the thread about "What Do You Think About this Weird Rush?")

It would be great if they could all be as stellar as some of those we hear about on these boards!

[33girl]

Originally posted by shultzz

If you check out fraternal news groups you will find that most of the problems are caused by national organizations. I would estimate it is well over 90%.

Now, who is making who look bad?

Well, perhaps that's because 90% of the groups in the US and Canada are nationals. The problems are proportional to the amount of national groups.

OMG, I actually learned something in my stats class.

[UToledoFiji]

Aceofdimnd,
I think the problems with locals is that most of them are people who dont follow the rules. Its great to hear ur local is following the NPC rules, but alot of them dont. I think we need to intergerate a system that all locals and nationals all follow. I dont care if ur local or national, we all need a common ground. It makes me mad when locals have different rules to follow, and cant be involved the same way that nationals can be. Lets just get the system together as a whole because when it comes down to it, its not the letters that matters, its the experience that counts. And when locals are hurt by those locals who dont follow rules they are losing out on the experience.
One set of rules and rights for all greek orgs- no matter local or national.

Just my thought!

[Eirene_DGP]

Originally posted by UToledoFiji
Aceofdimnd,
I think the problems with locals is that most of them are people who dont follow the rules. Its great to hear ur local is following the NPC rules, but alot of them dont. I think we need to intergerate a system that all locals and nationals all follow. I dont care if ur local or national, we all need a common ground. It makes me mad when locals have different rules to follow, and cant be involved the same way that nationals can be. Lets just get the system together as a whole because when it comes down to it, its not the letters that matters, its the experience that counts. And when locals are hurt by those locals who dont follow rules they are losing out on the experience.
One set of rules and rights for all greek orgs- no matter local or national.

Just my thought!

Well I don't see any of the ethnic or multicultural sororities joining NPC anytime soon, associate memberships maybe. The same with fraternities. If I am not mistaken, isn't Kappa Alpha Psi the only Afr. Am fraternity with IFC membership. There is more to the national/local thing than meets the eye.