Question for Greeks that are not in the Divine 9

LenBias · #1 07-10-2006, 03:28 AM

At my old job one of my co-workers came up to me and inquired about my Sigma key chain. So he goes "Yeah I was a frat boy in college too". Just about every Greek I have met outside of the Divine 9 who has gradated from college refers to their respective organizations in the past tense. Why is that? I thought your commitment to your organization was life long. I am not trying to start anything I just want clarification on this.

Beryana · #2 07-10-2006, 07:10 AM

Simply a matter of perception. Some people (greeks and non-greeks) see greek life as only a 'college thing' and nothing more (despite taking pledges and whatnot saying it is for a lifetime).

I had a customer at work ask me about my badge and told me that she was a DZ - I did correct her that she still IS a DZ. On the same note, at a DAR conference we were discussing our sorority affiliations and even included the National President into it by asking what sorority she is in (we had Kappa, DZ, and AOII represented in our 4-person group). Her reply was "I am a Tri Delta."

jubilance1922 · #3 07-10-2006, 07:39 AM

This topic has been discussed a million times. Please do a search.

RU OX Alum · #4 07-10-2006, 12:17 PM

I've noticed that people in the divine 9 tell people to do a search, while as the rest seem to inquire as to why a search was not done.

AlphaFrog · #5 07-10-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RU OX Alum

I've noticed that people in the divine 9 tell people to do a search, while as the rest seem to inquire as to why a search was not done.

Huh?? I tell people to do a search (or with the NEW GC check the bottom of the page) all the time, and so do others...

DSTCHAOS · #6 07-10-2006, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Huh?? I tell people to do a search (or with the NEW GC check the bottom of the page) all the time, and so do others...

I thought he was using some humor and playing on the theme of the thread.

AlphaFrog · #7 07-10-2006, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfpnm

lol

You know me...NOT afraid to tell anyone what my daddy tells me... "Go look it up"

shinerbock · #8 07-10-2006, 01:06 PM

While I agree that you're a member for life, I think its really obnoxious when people make such a point out of it. To some, their fraternity or sorority is not the most important thing they've ever done.

macallan25 · #9 07-10-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucfpnm

My favorite high school teacher, who is a KD, told the class one day about how she met her husband, who had been in a fraternity, but she didn't mention which one. At the end of the year we did a little show for parents (that sounds really lame but it was a Shakespeare class, don't hate), and he came. I asked him, "Which fraternity are you in?". He looked at me like I was retarded and said, "I'm not in a fraternity, I'm not in college anymore...but I WAS an SAE." I was like, "Um, ok."

Every person in my entire family is/was Greek in college, and all of them refer to their respective fraternity sorority involvement in the past tense. They, like me, I think find it rather humorous and lame when a middle aged person talks like they are still active in a chapter and that it is probobly the greatest thing to ever happen to them in their life. There comes a time when you should let it go and move on. College is over. Enjoy it and share it with your children........but for Christ's sakes, don't act like its a big deal that someone says yeah, I was an SAE, etc. etc. etc.

dzdst796 · #10 07-10-2006, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jubilance1922

This topic has been discussed a million times. Please do a search.

What's the big deal with it having been discussed before. Maybe the person who is asking the question missed the thread. If you don't like the fact that it has been repeated just skip it.

MSKKG · #11 07-10-2006, 03:13 PM

When I hear someone say that she was an XYZ at State U, I assume what she means is that she was an active member of XYZ at State U and don't take offense. If someone who is 50 years old says she is an XYZ from State U, that can be a little misleading (unless she is in college right now and an active of her sorority).

Maybe we need to start saying that we are XYZ alums instead of saying that we were XYZs.

kddani · #12 07-10-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dzdst796

What's the big deal with it having been discussed before. Maybe the person who is asking the question missed the thread. If you don't like the fact that it has been repeated just skip it.

because it can get to be an ugly topic, and turns into an NPHC vs. NPC/NIC debate that just leads to a lot of crap on both sides...

Dionysus · #13 07-10-2006, 04:01 PM

Fight fight, a black and a white!

ladygreek · #14 07-10-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LenBias

At my old job one of my co-workers came up to me and inquired about my Sigma key chain. So he goes "Yeah I was a frat boy in college too". Just about every Greek I have met outside of the Divine 9 who has gradated from college refers to their respective organizations in the past tense. Why is that? I thought your commitment to your organization was life long. I am not trying to start anything I just want clarification on this.

And when I hear a D9er say it in the past tense, my perp antenna goes up. LOL

Dionysus · #15 07-10-2006, 05:15 PM

I'm in a non-d9 org and I don't understand it either. If this is supposed to be a life time thing, then why do so many people associate it with college only? Yeah, when you're 35 and still doing keg stands and chasing around 18 year olds that's weird. But, in "graduate" or "alum" chapters your role in your org changes, it is nothing like being in undergrad chapters (from what I understand here on GC). Greek organizations, no matter if you're NPHC, NPC, IFC, or special interest, have a lot to offer regardless of your age (and you have a lot to offer too).