Deaf Greeks

[BabyP]

we just established at CSUS. how was it for the first time??? Any advice?

[chideltjen]

From one sac state local to another: I'll tell you this about that school... a lot of commuters. The greek system isn't as big at sac state as say... Davis, for instance. You really REALLY have to recruit and get your name out there. Get a website... put up flyers... talk to the greek advisor or student activities all located in the union. They can let you know what kinda rules you have to follow during recruitment... or just promotion in general. make sure your mission is clear to 1) your members and 2) the rest of the community. any chance you can have offered to you to promote... take it. But I would stay away from the newspaper. There are some greeks that work there, but there are a lot of anti greeks too.

[BabyP]

Thanks!!! hmm, we plan to spread the message through the ASL dept and the Deaf community cuz we are targeting those who want to learn or know ASL........... but I dont know how to have a relationship with other greeks. I see some are bro and sis....and they hang out or share events.....but we believe those who cant join us if they go to a diff school or they are already greek or anti greek whatever..... they can still volunteer with us and we will not exclude them, we want people to learn ASL and get rid of the communication barrier and the misconception people have of deaf people that they are handicapped.

[MTSUGURL]

I'm not Deaf, but I interpreted for the Deaf for a few years, and have been trying like crazy to get a friend of mine that is Deaf to come to our recruitment. I'm trying to convice her that she needs to come to see if she feels comfortable or not. Never know until you meet the girls!

[chideltjen]

I see.... many departments on campus have a fraternity for certain majors. There is one for psychology, business, music, etc. I think the brother and sister fraternity idea you are seeing is among the social greeks. (Actually we are all supposed to socialize with all greeks... but as you noticed that doesn't happen and certain sororities hang out with certain fraternities.) Again, talk to Moe (greek advisor)... or even the department head of the ASL department. Find a focus and stick with it. If you pick something too broad like trying to communicate with EVERY greek org on campus... you may stress yourself out. You seem like you have a plan though. Good luck.

[BabyP]

Originally posted by chideltjen
I see.... many departments on campus have a fraternity for certain majors. There is one for psychology, business, music, etc. I think the brother and sister fraternity idea you are seeing is among the social greeks. (Actually we are all supposed to socialize with all greeks... but as you noticed that doesn't happen and certain sororities hang out with certain fraternities.) Again, talk to Moe (greek advisor)... or even the department head of the ASL department. Find a focus and stick with it. If you pick something too broad like trying to communicate with EVERY greek org on campus... you may stress yourself out. You seem like you have a plan though. Good luck.

I did talk to Moe, he said to try to communicate/do some activities together like volunteering on campus, get to know each other, etc. that is why I would like for you to tell your sorority that if they want to learn ASL/improve their skills and gain exposure about Deaf and culture/history....they are welcome to hang out and volunteer with us

By the way, I am with the greek counseling, the Chi Sigma Sigma, which is a chapter of the Chi Sigma Iota. Before at community college, I was with the Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society.

[chideltjen]

here's an idea. try going into meetings. greek orgs usually hold their meetings on sunday and monday nights. during the first few minutes of the meeting, guests are allowed to enter and speak about events, etc. it's a good way to promote a philanthopy event or offer to tutor students on ASL. (I know a lot of my sisters took that class.) It can be nerve racking but you usually have the house's undivided attention (unless they are super rude.)

[BabyP]

A girl here what a sweetie emailed me this poem:
"You have to be deaf to understand"
You Have to be Deaf to Understand by Willard J. Madsen


What is it like to "hear" a hand?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to be a small child,

In a school, in a room void of sound-

With a teacher who talks and talks and talks;

And then when she does come around to you,

She expects you to know what she's said?

You have to be deaf to understand.



Or the teacher thinks that to make you smart,

You must first learn how to talk with your voice;

So mumbo-jumbo with hands on your face

For hours and hours without patience or end,

Until out comes a faint resembling sound?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to be curious,

To thirst for knowledge you can call your own,

With an inner desire that's set on fire-

And you ask a brother, sister, or friend

Who looks in answer and says, "Never mind"?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What it is like in a corner to stand,

Though there's nothing you've done really wrong,

Other than try to make use of your hands

To a silent peer to communicate

A thought that comes to your mind all at once?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to be shouted at

When one thinks that will help you to hear;

Or misunderstand the words of a friend

Who is trying to make a joke clear,

And you don't get the point because he's failed?

You have to be deaf to understand.

What is it like to be laughed in the face

When you try to repeat what is said;

Just to make sure that you've understood,

And you find that the words were misread-

And you want to cry out, "Please help me, friend"?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to have to depend

Upon one who can hear to phone a friend;

Or place a call to a business firm

And be forced to share what's personal, and,

Then find that your message wasn't made clear?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to be deaf and alone

In the company of those who can hear-

And you only guess as you go along,

For no one's there with a helping hand,

As you try to keep up with words and song?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like on the road of life

To meet with a stranger who opens his mouth-

And speaks out a line at a rapid pace;

And you can't understand the look in his face

Because it is new and you're lost in the race?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to comprehend

Some nimble fingers that paint the scene,

And make you smile and feel serene

With the "spoken word" of the moving hand

that makes you part of the world at large?

You have to be deaf to understand.



What is it like to "hear" a hand?

Yes, you have to be deaf to understand.

[preciousjeni]

You're so sweet! This poem chokes me up! Something that has frustrated me to no end, and one reason I joined a multicultural sorority, is that truly, you can never understand where someone else is coming from. I want to know so I can experience someone else's joys and sorrows. But, it's almost like I'm jealous, not so much that I'm not happy with who I am, just that I envy people who experience the world differently from me. I hate that I can't jump into someone else's shoes in reality!! Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

Nikki Giovanni's poem entitled "Nikki-Rosa" is incredible. Take a moment to read it and really understand what she's saying:

childhood remembrances are always a drag
if you’re Black
you always remember things like living in Woodlawn
with no inside toilet
and if you become famous or something
they never talk about how happy you were to have your mother
all to yourself and
how good the water felt when you got your bath from one of those big tubs that folk in Chicago barbecue in
and somehow when you talk about home
it never gets across how much you
understood their feelings
as the whole family attended meetings about Hollydale
and even though you remember
your biographers never understand
your father’s pain as he sells his stock
and another dream goes
and though you’re poor it isn’t poverty that
concerns you
and though they fight a lot
it isn’t your father’s drinking that makes any difference
but only that everybody is together and you
and your sister have happy birthdays and very good
Christmases
and I really hope no white person ever has cause to write about me
because they never understand that Black love is Black wealth and they’ll
probably talk about my hard childhood and never understand that
all the while I was quite happy.


I'm also one of those crazy people who wants to know what it feels like to get shot. I was stabbed as a child by my brother. It was an accident, but at least I know what it's like.

preciousjeni

[skerbow]

Congrats on a new local! In my time in national, we have had 3 deaf sisters. It has been fun to communicate with them and have them teach us so many things about the community. Good luck!!