In Defense of Greeks.

[Tom Earp]

I was discussing this tonight with a Brother and this is what He came up with.

1. We as Greeks have lobbying Groups of a National stance. IFC, NPC, NHPC, etal.

2. We are not getting representation with them.


He is going to draft a letter to IFC so stating this fact.


Why did we discuss this?

Because everytime there is a Greek Lettered Organization involved, it is plastered all over the Media.

There are More deaths from alcohol among Independents or other Hazing incedents among other groups that are not actually publicized.

Yes, We are a Minority not having anything to do with Relegion or Color, but In Name only, Greek Social Organizations.

Maybe it is time for Us to stand up and speak out! Where are Our Representatives and what are they doing?

Start asking questions of them. They are Members of Our Organizations and should Represent Us.


Any Thoughts?

[DSTCHAOS]

I don't understand what your concern is.

I can only speak for Delta. Our representatives are very visible and are representing us quite well.

[ladygreek]

Hmmmm. Good point.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Hmmmm. Good point.

What is his concern then?

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by DSTCHAOS
What is his concern then?

The way I read it is that Greeks get a lot negative coverage, but not positive coverage. That the coalition orgs like IFC, NPHC, and NPC should be more aggressive in combating this. I guess I compared it to the NPHC orgs coming together and developing a joint statement, and then meeting with the proper officials when HBCUs threatened to kick us all off because of hazing.

But maybe I'm wrong. *shrugs*

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by ladygreek
The way I read it is that Greeks get a lot negative coverage, but not positive coverage. That the coalition orgs like IFC, NPHC, and NPC should be more aggressive in combating this. I guess I compared it to the NPHC orgs coming together and developing a joint statement, and then meeting with the proper officials when HBCUs threatened to kick us all off because of hazing.

But maybe I'm wrong. *shrugs*

Oh.

I honestly do not see where there needs to be a coalition to address the general issue of GLO image.

I think the NPHC meeting regarding HBCUs makes sense because that is a more specific concern. But, every organization has already taken a more GENERAL stance regarding hazing.

[Firehouse]

Tom is absolutely right, but he's talking primarily about NIC fraternities, not black fraternities and sororities. I don't know the internal politics of HBCUs, but just as a newspaper reader I can tell you that I have never, ever seen a negative article about a black sorority. I've always attributed that to the unique structure of black sororities and their relationships with their alumni and civic work in their communities. Black fraternities on the other hand generate both the best press an the worst press of all fraternities. Again, I attribute the good press to their closely-held alumni organizations and their civic programs. The bad publicity is always - always - about hazing. And the bad publicity about black fraternity hazing is the worst anywhere.
What Tom is talking about is the low-level (not always low-level) assaults against NIC fraternities in the form of oppressive rules and regulations, deferred rush, "certification" programs, bullying by self-important administrators, imposition of arbitrary and unreasonably heavy-handed requirements, threats of de-recognition without any legal basis, refusal to allow expansion, artifical assessment and valuation programs, required (involuntary) community servitude, and group punishment for individual acts.
Several prominent fraternities are no longer members of NIC for this very reason: NIC's reluctance to lead the fight against oppression. I think Phi Delt and Sig Ep are no longer members. Pike and SAE had withdrawn but came back into the organization.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally posted by Firehouse
Tom is absolutely right, but he's talking primarily about NIC fraternities, not black fraternities and sororities. I don't know the internal politics of HBCUs, but just as a newspaper reader I can tell you that I have never, ever seen a negative article about a black sorority. I've always attributed that to the unique structure of black sororities and their relationships with their alumni and civic work in their communities. Black fraternities on the other hand generate both the best press an the worst press of all fraternities. Again, I attribute the good press to their closely-held alumni organizations and their civic programs. The bad publicity is always - always - about hazing. And the bad publicity about black fraternity hazing is the worst anywhere.
What Tom is talking about is the low-level (not always low-level) assaults against NIC fraternities in the form of oppressive rules and regulations, deferred rush, "certification" programs, bullying by self-important administrators, imposition of arbitrary and unreasonably heavy-handed requirements, threats of de-recognition without any legal basis, refusal to allow expansion, artifical assessment and valuation programs, required (involuntary) community servitude, and group punishment for individual acts.
Several prominent fraternities are no longer members of NIC for this very reason: NIC's reluctance to lead the fight against oppression. I think Phi Delt and Sig Ep are no longer members. Pike and SAE had withdrawn but came back into the organization.

I appreciate your take on this. I have read bad press about NPHC sororities regarding hazing. There is a more recent incident that has been discussed as well.

I do agree that fraternities, in general, get most of the bad press. NPHC fraternities receive bad press for hazing and non-NPHC fraternities receive bad press for hazing and for alcohol violations. Unfortunately, when many people think about the frivolousness of college life and binge drinking at frat parties, non-NPHC organizations are unfairly given "credit." People overlook the positive and that is a shame.

I see now what Tom meant and I can not think of other alternatives, especially since I am not aware of all of the regulations. It is difficult to be a supportive national body or umbrella organization when hazing and alcohol continue to be issues. I do think that organizations should be instrumental in getting the service programs, and not just the social programs, highlighted in the community


NPHC organizations in general have administrative issues on the campus, local, and national level. But, these are issues that members are constantly dealing with within organization.

[AGDee]

It's easy to say we need to defend Greeks, however, if they behave badly, they're going to get bad press. If they throw open kegger parties, engage in power hours, or provide alcohol to minors, bad things happen. We've seen it over and over. If they haze, bad things happen. Bad things make the news. Good things rarely make the news, no matter what group you're talking about. Most people in our society don't consider good things to be news. Do we get special weather coverage for great weather? nope. We get storm team coverage for weather disasters. How do you defend people when their actions are against your organizations core values and ideals?


We had an excellent program done by Rick Barnes of Campus Speak at Alpha Gam's regional leadership conference in Pittsburgh in February. He discussed WHY Greeks are held to a higher standard. In short, his points were:
1) We proclaim that we have higher standards and ideals in our creeds/purposes/mottos
2) Since we are private organizations, the Constitution doesn't apply... we do not have to be a democracy, we are allowed to discriminate by gender, age, etc., we are different than a public institution
3) We claim that we are selective and choose only the cream of the crop to be members
4) We have secrets. Most things in our personal lives that we keep secret are bad. Although, internally, we know our rituals and secrets are not bad, they are, in fact, wonderful and beautiful, others do not know that. MOST things that are kept secret in this world are negative things. The skeletons in people's closets and therefore, our secrets make us mysterious and make people wonder just what we're up to when we're doing secret things.

On top of all that, we sue ourselves. It is our own members or their families that sue.

If all members stopped hazing, followed the 21 year old drinking age and didn't get drunk, we wouldn't have a public relations problem with the world, would we?

We cut off our own noses to spite our faces. We do this to ourselves. I think a better question is.. how do we stop it? If we didn't have problems internally, the "administration" wouldn't be looking for their ways of fixing it. I don't like when the college administrations get too involved in Greek Life either. I seethe when I read about the certification programs or forced deferred recruitment. I've seen large Greek systems (like the U of Mich) fight against these things successfully, despite deaths, chapters closing or being on probation due to hazing, etc., but I can see that the University is stepping in to try to stop those things. They don't know any better than we do how to stop it and are often misguided in what they think will work. But, we haven't figured out what works yet either.

Dee

[moe.ron]

I agree with AGDee. It's all really simple:

(1) Follow the law
(2) Don't do anything that you wouldn't do in front of your parents.

[TxAPhi]

Originally posted by Tom Earp

1. We as Greeks have lobbying Groups of a National stance. IFC, NPC, NHPC, etal.
2. We are not getting representation with them.

I thought he was referring to organizations and programs like these—they are out there, we need to use them.

The Capital Fraternal Caucus (CFC) consists of Greek men and women, including those that comprise the NIC, the NPC and the NPHC, who live and work in the Washington, DC area with expertise in the public policy process. We will strive to keep it current and up to date regarding what is happening in Congress on the issues of importance to Greek alumni and undergraduates nationwide. Currently, there are over nine million living fraternity and sorority members including President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush and 160 current members of Congress.

The Century Council, operating on the philosophy that collective action can have a greater impact than individual efforts, involves all sectors of the community including beverage alcohol wholesalers and retailers, law enforcement, public officials, educators, insurers, health care professionals and private citizen organizations in the fight against alcohol misuse.

Passage of Senate Bill S.1246, the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2003 and corresponding House Bill H.R.1523, would allow fraternity and sorority foundations to make tax-deductible financial contributions for infrastructure improvements to meeting and dining areas in chapter houses in the same way that the tax code currently allows colleges and universities to use tax-deductible contributions to improve university-owned student housing on campus.

Greek Organizations Combat Collegiate Drinking
The Genesis Group seeks to bring together the leadership of the Greek organizations to create an initiative to change the culture of a high-risk alcohol environment that has manifested itself on campuses and within Greek organizations. Forty-eight fraternities and sororities, representing more than 50% of all Greek undergraduate members, have joined the Genesis Group.

Campus Press Watch Here is a list of links to news articles published in the collegiate press about alcohol, other drug, and related health and safety concerns. We monitor on-line campus newspapers appearing on the American Journalism Review's AJR NewsLink and we welcome references from you. The objective is to reflect the student press without giving undue emphasis to what some might characterize as bad news. Thus, we avoid links to police blotter, crime watch, and 911 type features that report on individual victims and incidents. Instead we scan news and opinion sections to bring you reportorial and editorial accounts of students, faculty, administration, and surrounding communities grappling with current challenges related to alcohol, other drugs, and violence.

NPC’s SPEAK UP FOR SORORITIES
Collegiate and alumnae members of National Panhellenic Conference groups have expressed concern over movies, television programs, books and commercial advertising which continue to portray Greek organizations in a way that is contrary to the ideals and principles that are integral to the NPC member fraternities. The NPC Executive Committee and member groups have written letters protesting the shows and/or advertisements. Responses to the letters have been vague or non-existent.
So, what is our recourse? What can we do as fraternity women, members of NPC member fraternities dedicated to the highest ideals and principles? We must SPEAK UP FOR SORORITIES! Let our publics know the inherent values of membership.