whatever happened to "no matter the letter, we're ALL Greek together"?

[sairose]

So I was talking to this girl the other day and she saw my SAI letters and asked me what they were. I told her, "oh it's a music fraternity for women that I am a member of." And she said, "oh, I thought it was one of the real sororities but that you had just transferred from somewhere else [because she didn't recognize the letters]".



So the impression I get sometimes from people is that unless you're in a GLO that belongs to NPC/IFC/NPHC, you're not really Greek, or that your GLO isn't as good as one of them.

However, if you look around, man, there are just as many GLOs in different categories--professional, service, non-collegiate, etc--that have just as many chapters/members as the social Greeks do. So why do some people think that we aren't an important part of Greek life? We are just as important as a social GLO. Just because our focus is a little different doesn't make us less of a sorority!

And then I get the stereotypes about me being in SAI because I wasn't good enough for the NPC sororities. Well, I wouldn't know, I never went through Recruitment; I just found the aims of Sigma Alpha Iota to be something closer that I strive for in my life, and also a lot cheaper, so I chose their sisterhood instead.

I've also heard people say that locals aren't "real sororities". the same with multicultural, Latin, etc GLOs. :O

Why must some people think this way???

Thoughts, anyone?

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

that's really unfortunate that you had that experiance; i think this girl was just acting out of ignorance not necesarily maliciousness. For me personally being in an NPC sorority, i know almost nothing about the service, music or local GLO's on my campus simply because we don't really interact together. We usually only have activities (i.e. rush, socials, community service projects) with other nationals. But I could see how some people might look down on those org's maybe because they aren't as visible and "fun" as national org's might be. This is a just a guess, I certainly don't feel this way.

[Kevin]

SAI and probably Phi Mu Alpha are in a seperate class that many "traditional" greeks don't know about. Their members are music people and are recruited differently. I think it's fair to say they're not the same as IFC/NPC/NPHC type organizations.

Many folks don't really know what SAI and organizations like it are so they probably consider them to be similar to an honorary or professional GLO that meets once a month and does a service project. In my experience, SAI operates very differently from chapter to chapter. Most don't have houses but the bond is not weaker by any sense of the word.

Are they the same as "traditional" GLO's? Nope. So when this person said you weren't a "real" GLO, that was her socially retarded way of saying you weren't in a traditional (NPC/NPHC) sorority.

When you get down to it, the solution to the problem is all in your hands. Ya'll are apparently not as visible to the campus as your traditional GLO's are. If this is a serious issue for you, perhaps mount a PR campaign? It could yield dividends when it comes to recruitment and help to combat the myth that you're not "real" or as good.

[ThetaGrrl]

I'm going to sound like a big dork here, but I *love* meeting other Greeks, no matter what there chapter is. I guess when I was a new member, I wasn't really like that, but now I am. For instance, when I find out my co-workers are Greek, I get really excited, even when they are from other chapters. I guess I just feel like I can relate to those who have had a Greek experience.

[aephi alum]

I know what you mean! It happens with locals too - when I joined my local, I got a few snide remarks about how my sorority was for women who couldn't get into the "real" sororities. Never mind that I was the only woman in my pledge class who had even gone through FR. (I dropped out.)

Even our Director of Greek Life bashed us! He was giving a presentation and said "There are four sororities at this school." The then-president of my sorority was there in the front row, and she cleared her throat loudly. He looked at her and said, "...oh, and you guys" and then went right on talking without correcting his previous statement! He was doubly wrong, because he didn't count Alpha Kappa Alpha either.

[Sahara27]

We get the exact same treatment at our school. We're the sorority that (supposively) everyone goes to if they don't get a bid (even though this has never happened!), or we're the "fake" sorority. Most of the girls who join us are not looking to be in a sorority, or just don't like the idea of formal recuitment... they want to be involved in a service organization. The Greek Life cordinator wants us to be involved in Greek Week this year, but some of the sororities have already said that they will refuse to participate if we're in it. Our rules and activities are exactly the same as the NPC groups on campus... the only difference is service is the main focus. Now is that so wrong?

[AOIIsilver]

Tau Beta Sigma and Kappa Kappa Psi Are also music sororities/fraternities.

Silver

[Tom Earp]

Basically, Yes there is a difference between, Social, Professionel , Service or what ever.Orgs Greeks when you are in the open world such on greekchat you are accepted, but there is a wide difference.

I am Am a Proud Member of APO, Service Fraternity, it is not The Same as Being A LXA!

But, as Greek Lettered Orgs., you are still under under the Cloak of Greek Letters. Circumspect so to speak!

As members of Professionional , business, Service Orgs, yo can join a Social Greek Organization and vice versa.

That is the basic difference!

[TigerLilly]

I'd say a lot of it has to do with ignorance of other types of GLOs. On my part it certainly would have, had I not found GreekChat -- before coming on this website, I had no idea that there were such things as multicultural GLOs. I had vaguely heard of Tau Beta Sigma and Sigma Alpha Iota on my campus, but didn't really know what they were about. That girl was obviously ignorant about your GLO -- hope you took the time to give her a bit of info!!!
I also sympathize with you, sairose, as a member of a non-NPC/IFC/NPHC GLO (Phi Sigma Pi in my case). People tend to automatically think that AXiD is more important to me, that PSP is just some side note, just because PSP isn't NPC/IFC/NPHC. And that's not true -- when it comes down to it, I couldn't decide which is more important to me, really.

[sairose]

Originally posted by TigerLilly
That girl was obviously ignorant about your GLO -- hope you took the time to give her a bit of info!!!
I also sympathize with you, sairose, as a member of a non-NPC/IFC/NPHC GLO (Phi Sigma Pi in my case). People tend to automatically think that AXiD is more important to me, that PSP is just some side note, just because PSP isn't NPC/IFC/NPHC. And that's not true -- when it comes down to it, I couldn't decide which is more important to me, really.

Yes, I filled the girl in.

We have had sisters in the past who were also in social sororities. For instance, we have one right now who is a DZ, and she says some of her sisters think she views SAI as a side note, when she loves us just as much (and she pledged us first).

And I agree with y'all, we ARE different and have different aims. But that would be like us saying NPC groups aren't "real" because their aim is different from ours. We certainly don't do that! So I wish others would pay us the same respect.

[SigKapKatzue]

I am a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and I take great pride in that as well-- and it's not even a tightly woven sorority. I adore it and I'm on the executive board for it.

I'm sorry-- I consider ALD to be very important and most of my sisters discourage that. When I have prior engagements with ALD or sign in as a member while wearing Sigma Kappa letters, they seem to treat my other org as if it doesn't matter.

Honestly, I do hold Sigma Kappa first in my heart, but ALD is a very important part too-- and many people seem to think that it's some BS org I'm in to be in as a resume marker. That's not it at all.

I think a lot of greeks may have an ignorant mind towards non national social sororities/frats, but it's our turn to educate them.

[tfj-1893]

I'll admit I don't know a whole lot about orgs like SAI, APO, GSS, etc.
I'm curious - do these types of GLO's have risk management policies, national foundations, leadership development training, initiation ceremonies, etc?

Again - just curious.

[MTSUGURL]

Yes, they do in most cases.

[Amalia17]

delete

[sairose]

Originally posted by tfj-1893
I'll admit I don't know a whole lot about orgs like SAI, APO, GSS, etc.
I'm curious - do these types of GLO's have risk management policies, national foundations, leadership development training, initiation ceremonies, etc?

Again - just curious.

SAI does! We have Rush, pledging, rituals, initiation, handshake, colors...all the things you'd normally think of when you think of a sorority. We're just for musicians, but NOT strictly music majors/minors.

We have a hazing policy, plus things like province weekends and national conventions.

If you ever wanna know anything else, just ask me! I love to tell people about us!