Misconceptions about GLOs

Scandia · #1 06-25-2006, 11:33 AM

What are the biggest misconceptions about GLOs- especially those that result in negative attitudes.

The biggest one I have seen is that joining a sorority or fraternity is "buying your friends". In my freshman year of college, I developed an interest in them. This was even before joining A Phi O. I asked various friends of mine if they were in a GLO and they would say "No! That's buying your friends". And recently I asked my brother why did he never show interest in joining a fraternity. And he said it was because it was "buying your friends" and that he could get friends for free.

Another very sad one is that only a certain kind of person joins social GLOs. I asked one girl in A Phi O if she had gone to sorority rush. And she replied "No! I'm not that kind of person!". I still do not know if she meant the stereotype- but social sororities are not homogeneous. And a co-worker who saw my shirt with my Greek letters asked me surprisedly if I was in a sorority. I explained to her that A Phi O was a service fraternity. I assumed her surprise was because I certainly do not fit the stereotype and have very unique interests. But when I asked her if she had belonged to one, she was like "omigosh no" as if she did not think all that much of them and did not want to be in one because of that.

And another one is the "those are rich girl's longings" (I'm trying to translate from Spanish). That it is a superfluous wanting for rich girls- and thus possibly implying it was just for spoiled girls using their parents' credit card who perhaps just wanted to catch a rich husband and shop all day long and never do anything nice for anyone else.

Very inaccurate misconceptions indeed.

DSTRen13 · #2 06-25-2006, 11:47 AM

My little sister is starting college in the fall, and my little brother (SigEp) and I hear these things from her a lot. (She's very disappointed in her boyfriend because he plans to rush ...

) We're the only two Greek members of our family, and everyone thinks the whole thing is beyond bizarre and completely pointless. They're quite hardcore about it ...

ETA: My aunt and cousin very firmly believe that all sorority girls will not leave their dorms/apartments/homes without full makeup and perfectly coordinated outfits. I've met people like this, but fewer than half of them were in sororities ...

flirt5721 · #3 06-25-2006, 11:57 AM

One of the biggest misconceptions that I have come across are

1) All sorority and fraternity member do is drink and party. Every one (especially the guys in the EE building) think I'm a big drinker and I'm usally a DD even though I'm 21.

2) If a girl a virgin when she signs her bid, she will not be one by initiation. (I really hate this one. I think its one of the worst)

3) Buying your friends (But I also tell them that they have bought some of their friends because they pay to go to school and they wouldn't have met those friends otherwise)

4) Naked pillow fight or a lot of girl on girl action (Why do boys insisit that this true? )

Tom Earp · #4 06-25-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flirt5721

One of the biggest misconceptions that I have come across are

1) All sorority and fraternity member do is drink and party. Every one (especially the guys in the EE building) think I'm a big drinker and I'm usally a DD even though I'm 21.

2) If a girl a virgin when she signs her bid, she will not be one by initiation. (I really hate this one. I think its one of the worst)

3) Buying your friends (But I also tell them that they have bought some of their friends because they pay to go to school and they wouldn't have met those friends otherwise)

4) Naked pillow fight or a lot of girl on girl action (Why do boys insisit that this true? )

This is so right!

But, no one actually sees what is done by Greeks over all and what is gained by them as Members.

The ones who say they pay for friendships of a Greek Organization are under a blanket and their head in the sand.

I have been lucky enough to never have bought friendships as a Founder and still to this day keep in contqact with many Brothers from My # to a lot higher #'s.

I have also met so many Friends from G C from other Organizations who are neat people and want to be sure to call them Friends.

The learning of cooperation, running, working side by side with My fellow Members is something that I have never forgotten in 41 Years.

I learned so much more doing what I did with MY Organization that it is hard to explain!

One thing that sticks in My mind is not being able to speak in front of people.

I had to learn! I did learn!

As one goes on, it is nice to find Brothers/Sisters who if they need help can depend on fellow members.

Sister Havana · #5 06-25-2006, 01:41 PM

I've gotten the "buying your friends" thing quite a bit. Never mind that almost every other organization there is has some sort of dues/fees for activities/whatever. It's only GLOs that get that comment.

And don't forget all women in sororities are evil snobby bitches who are only in school for the MRS degree and all guys in fraternities are drunks and rapists.

Tom Earp · #6 06-25-2006, 01:48 PM

If that is the case, then why are All Greek GPAs higher than the Avg.?

Evil Snobby Bitches?

No, they just find a common ground to bond with! They have many things in common.

They learn how to lead, work with, get better grades and have a better perspective when they graduate!

They are not Lab Rats who are taught to go through the maze.

LaneSig · #7 06-25-2006, 06:17 PM

Biggest misconceptions:

#1 Buying friends.

#2 Members of GLOs can only/will only speak to people in their own houses or other GLOs. They do not associate or deal with independents.

These are they misconceptions I dislike the most.

DSTCHAOS · #8 06-26-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exlurker

Tom, while we tend to mention "all-Greek averages," and are happy to mention chapters with high GPAs, we may need to remember that on any given campus not every individual Greek, and not every chapter, is necessarily achieving GPAs higher than the all-men's, all-women's, or all undergrad average. We probably should try to be realistic in how much we claim for Greek academic success and emphasis on scholarship.

That is very true.

I always tell people not to paint with such a broad brush. There's a diversity of people in all of our organizations so the outcome will be as diverse.