AND WHO SAID RACIAL IGNORANCE WAS DEAD!

[NUPE4LIFE]

What's up to my fellow brothers and sisters in Greekdom. What's up to the Divine Nine.

Anyway, I was on the web checking out schools that offer a particular grad school program I was interested in. Well, one of those schools happened to be the University of Colorado-Boulder. In checking the school out, I wanted to see what their Greek life was all about. I followed the links until I came upon the website for their Greek life office. All of the IFC orgs. were under a link called Interfraternity Council. Which its properly named. The sorority links were under the Panhellenic Council. However when they got to org that were historically of african american nature, the heading was HISTORICALLY ETHNIC GROUPS. First of all, the last time I checked NPHC orgs were recognized as fraternities and sororities. WHICH WE ARE. I guess you can try to rationalize this and say that Colorado is a predominately white state statistical wise. However, there is NO EXCUSE for them to first of all make a mockery of our greek system. Then you ask yourself why don't they just have NPHC. They also had Sigma Lambda Beta under that heading also. The only NPHC org I saw that they had was AKA.

Sorry, it just startled me when I saw that. You should check it out and see what I'm talking about. The URL is www.colorado.edu/sacs/greek/. I'm also asking myself why aren't the "HISTORICALLY ETHNIC GROUPS" saying something about how they get labeled by the Office ofGreek Life on that campus. Greek Love

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KAPPA ALPHA PSI FRATERNITY, INC.
SPR 97
XI LAMBDA

[Eli]

Not taking sides to anything, you refer to yourself as being in a "BGLO." You are differentiating yourself too just like that web page you went to. Before I came here I considered a fraternity a fraternity. There was no BGLO of GLO it was (is) all the same!

Easy E

[This message has been edited by Eli (edited August 06, 2000).]

[Little32]

I don't think that was the point that he was trying to make. There is a vast difference in being referred to as a historically ethnic group and being referred to as a fraternity or sorority. The latter terms generally defer more respect, because they allude to the fact that these groups are national, incororated entities and not merely groups of people who hang out on that campus. You understand, the connotation of the terms is very different. As far as being a BGLO or a GLO, that comparison is like comparing apples and oranges. The former is making light of something that many have worked very hard for over the years, while the later is making a distinction between groups that are equal in nature. There is no disrespect in these words. And I am feeling you on that Nupe4Life.

[Eli]

i see what you are saying now, but still see no need to differentiate between "black" and "white" fraternities (eg BGLO and GLO).

Easy E

[SoloRHO]

I visited the site and may have a simple explanation for the situation.

At my school, the NPHC orgs along with a few other predominantly minority orgs, all fall under the BGLOC (Black Greek Lettered Organization Council) Early last year however, we wrote and called the NPHC office to see if we could use the name "NPHC" as our Council name. Of course we were denied Because all of the orgs were not NPHC members. But then again, the name BGLOC doesn't fit us either b/c not all the orgs are BLACK GREEK LETTERED Organizations. So we're trying to come up with another name. This may be what happened at the UofC-Boulder.

I didn't look into the ethnicity of the other orgs in that particular "Historically Ethnic" groups list. But it may be possible that BGLOC just cannot describe them all. And since AKA is the only NPHC org there, as you said, they certainly can't have their own council.

Maybe the name they chose was decided by the members of that group and they see nothing wrong with it. Maybe they are described as "groups" because all may not be fraternities and sororities. Maybe they're just community service orgs or consider themselves Social Fellowships like (GphiG and SphiS). There are many possible reasons, but I won't make excuses for anyone... just offering possibilities.

Hope this helps some.

SoloRHO
PEACE: Proper Education Always Corrects Error

[This message has been edited by SoloRHO (edited August 07, 2000).]

[AKA2D '91]

Eli, I do see the need to differentiate.

I attended an HBCU (Historically Black College or University). We had NO GLOs! So all we ever identified with was BGLOs. Now, a few minutes up the street, was a non-HBCU... We, rather I DID NOT frequent that spot too much...

I guess it's just the way that you are "brought up", so to speak. In determining how you perceive or expect certain things to appear...

[ZetaAce]

Originally posted by NUPE4LIFE:
Then you ask yourself why don't they just have NPHC.

If AKA is the only NPHC organization on their campus, they can't have an NPHC, because you have to have at least two NPHC groups to form a chapter of NPHC.

I think it's a shame that they are classifies under Ethnic Groups.

ZetaAce

[dc1]

I have contacted the Greek Liason's Office at CU-Boulder in hopes that they might clear up why the Term "Historically Ethnic Groups" was used... I am sure that they meant no harm in this term, and have a sound reason for classifying NPHC, and BGLO's as such...

[Corbin Dallas]

I think they're being too politically correct. Seriously though, what should they call them? Historically Ethnic isn't right because all groups are ethnic, even white ones right? I think they need to come up with a name for their council, if they have one, and if not, they need to come up with a council. If it weren't for the fact that many of the groups are much different than NIC groups, I would say all the fraternities should be in the IFC, and all of the sororities should be in one council. Maybe a better idea for the webpage would be to just have a link to the fraternities, and one to the sororities.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.

[dc1]

Just wanted to forward the response I recieved regarding this concern.
This response came from CU's greek liason:

____________________________________________

"Thank you for your attention to this matter.

The listing of Historically Ethnic Groups on the University of Colorado
Greek Liaison Office home page does have an explanation, and I am sorry if
it has upset some members of your discussion group. Up to this point no
one had ever brought this to our attention as being offensive.

At the time the web page was developed, the NPHC groups on our campus
asked to be listed as such (historically ethnic) and to not be included
with the IFC and or NPC. Sigma Lambda Beta (who is a member of NIC) asked
to be listed as historically ethnic group as well. The category of
historically ethnic groups was determined to be the best and most
descriptive way to tell those unfamiliar where those chapters were
located, and that they were independent of the IFC and Panhellenic. There
was not and still is not a NPHC council on this campus.

Once again, I am sorry if members of your group have been offended, please
feel free to offer suggestions to me that we could possibly use that would
not prove to be offensive and would best describe these organizations."


Thomas A Lorz
____________________________________________

Hope this clears up any misconceptions.



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Faced with the Divine, I was asked; "What one gift do you seek?"
I answered ever so meekly; "I seek Honor, Truth, Integrity, and Wisdom, yet those are four. How am I to choose?"
The answer came as a pounding whisper; "The four you seek are but one. I grant thee Compassion; for without it the four make none."
Author - me

[ZChi4Life]

Well that's interesting and it almost makes since except the "group" part. Why can't they say "Historically Ethnic Greek Lettered Orgs"? I'm not asking this for anyone on this board to answer, I'm just saying that in general. It just seems like they totally disregard that regardless of ethnicity and affiliation to the NIC, those orgs are still greek. Who knows <shrugs>. I guess that's what those orgs decided to say, so it's their business I suppose.

[This message has been edited by ZChi4Life (edited August 13, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by ZChi4Life (edited August 13, 2000).]

On their webpage at the top of the graphic it has "CU Fraternity & Sorority Index" then has "Historically Ethnic Groups", "Panhellenic" & the other groups listed below. Also, on the left of the graphic it has "Greek Life at Boulder" - so I would guess that the reason for not calling the groups "Historically Ethinc Fraternities & Sororities" is because it is very obvious all throughout the web page that it is the greek life page & it has "Fraternity & Sorority" listed on the page several times in other spots. It would be redundant to have Fraternities & Sororities listed after the group's name.

[blu_theatrics]

I beg to differ. The term groups is completely different and they could have easily put fraternities and sororites.

The chess club is a group
Student activities is a group
Glee club is a group

My organization is a sorority that has life-long bonds and ties.

I don't really see to many groups that have that

Originally posted by David2:
On their webpage at the top of the graphic it has "CU Fraternity & Sorority Index" then has "Historically Ethnic Groups", "Panhellenic" & the other groups listed below. Also, on the left of the graphic it has "Greek Life at Boulder" - so I would guess that the reason for not calling the groups "Historically Ethinc Fraternities & Sororities" is because it is very obvious all throughout the web page that it is the greek life page & it has "Fraternity & Sorority" listed on the page several times in other spots. It would be redundant to have Fraternities & Sororities listed after the group's name.

[ZChi4Life]

Thank You Blu! I knew someone would feel me on that.

[Corbin Dallas]

Originally posted by blu_theatrics:
The chess club is a group
Student activities is a group
Glee club is a group

But why would they have those listed on the Fraternities & Sororities webpage??

And on the whole "Historically Ethnic" name, aren't ALL groups Historically Ethnic?? Just some are Western European, African, Eastern Asian, Indian, Hispanic, etc.

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Steve Corbin
Lambda Chi Alpha
Theta Kappa Chapter
Rose-Hulman Inst. of Tech.