greek system not what I expected...

DawnDZ · #1 03-13-2004, 06:25 PM

I transfered to my current school last semester, rushed and got the sorority I wanted. While I love my sisters, I have noticed that the anti greek sentiment runs deep from non greeks and among greeks i notice that there isn't much in terms of unity or friendships between the different GLO's. There is also alot of locals and recognized that don't get along. Do other GLO's have problems with the greek communities at there campus? What do you think could be done to promote greeks ?

AOcutiePi4ever · #2 03-13-2004, 06:30 PM

yep. join the club. there is a lot of competition among GLO's at a lot of schools. instead of saying, "my org is better bc..." we should say, "my org is better for ME bc... and your org is better for YOU bc..."

preciousjeni · #3 03-13-2004, 06:53 PM

This problem seems to be all too common. Maybe you could suggest an all Greek event to your chapter. How about a dinner exchange where all the chapters at your school sign up their members (individually) to meet in small groups for a fun night out. That way, small groups from different organizations would get to know each other. It might even open up channels that no one has been able to open before!

I also remembered a great thread about two sororities working together toward a common goal. Check out Delta Zeta Tau Alpha

Perhaps you could talk to the thread starter to find out how her chapter went about putting all of it together.

#4 03-15-2004, 01:27 AM

Hey Dawn,
As a sister from your chapter, I know what you are talking about. Much of it stemmed back from when we colonized. Rumors spread from other sororities that we were "stealing" the potential members from their chapters (but they were so full that they couldn't take everyone, so obviously another sorority needed to come to campus!) and also, they spread rumors that we didn't "know" our sisters, so we couldn't possibly be a "real" sorority. Now, let me tell you, those first 6 months, we spent practically 24-7 with each other, and if we didn't know each other by initiation, we never would! LOL!

Small campuses breed rumors and animosity. It's sad. I do remember that we had some socials with Phi Sig and Phi Mu (are they even there anymore?) and it was fun, but also kind of akward. The SAE's were our fave's, but that also could have changed in the last 12 years

Over the years FSU has also had some not so great Greek Advisors, maybe that has changed too, but the only time we ever got together with the other sororities (except the rare social) was at Greek Week.

My advice would be to work with Panhell by running for Panhell rep during the next elections and see what's going on from the inside. I wish I had some better advice than the obvious, but it's been so long since I have been there, I am sure it's much different.

Hugs, Tracy

33girl · #5 03-15-2004, 12:31 PM

First off I just want to say that I am originally from Somerset County and occasionally FSU students (on the way back from skiing I assume) would show up at our bars. It frightens me that college students willingly went to our bars.

I was perusing the FSU website and as an onlooker, part of the problem might be that there's no clear demarcation between recognized and unrecognized groups. I mean, I found unrec groups through the school site...and it wasn't a personal student page. That really sends the wrong message, their stuff shouldn't be on the school's server. It's too confusing.

The administration really needs to make up its mind to try and get the unrecognized groups recognized by the school. I would say let them stay local because now getting national groups in might be difficult. They probably should have made everyone go national 20 years ago but at this point it is a little late.

bruinaphi · #6 03-15-2004, 01:05 PM

There are two programs you may want to try through Panhellenic.

The first is sister sororities. Each group can be assigned a sister sorority each semester and have events to promote knowledge and understanding of one another. This helps to improve Panhellenic relations.

The second is diversity exchanges. Each group can be assigned one or two non-NPC/non-IFC groups to have an event with each semester. At USC these events are sometimes facilitated by a staff member from student affairs. They have dramatically improved relationships between groups on different councils.

Good luck!

XOMichelle · #7 03-15-2004, 01:22 PM

Yeah.... greek unity on my campus is nonexistent. It exists a little between some groups, but the frats only like the sororities that they think have cute girls, and the sororities only like the frats that will help them look better to frosh. It's a little dissapointing, but I think most of the strife stems from the rush competition. Silly, perhaps, but there are no favors in rush, and thus there are no favors for the rest of the year.

I think they key is to have friends in the other sororities, and make sure you do things outside your group, anlong with doing things inside your group. Although most of my college friends are Chi O's, I keep in touch with some girls who were in other sororities (most of my non chi o friends never wanted to go greek), and I have found that while I can be good friends with them, I can't discuss stuff about my sorority besides the occiasional story. I once had a friend in another GLO tell me she thought my chapter should shut down because we had a bad rep and it "simply wasn't ever going to go away". It took a while before I could call her again, because even thought I'm no longer active, the comment hurt my feelings. My thought is, if my friends in other sororities says that kind of stuff to my face, what do they say to eachother? And what do people say that don't know me at all???
Strangely, this isn't the only incidence of me and other girls in my chapter directly hearing really mean, hurtful, untrue comments and rumors from other GLO members on campus. If the community wanted to improve itself, it could start by cracking down on the mudracking, and being respoectful to ALL chapters.