NPHC Traditions and Practices that annoy you

[Senusret I]

Another thread in the Greek Life section made me think of this. Among NPHC organizations, and those organizations with NPHC-style rush and intake, there are various non-ritual practices that are unique to our type of organizations. Some of these practices are universal and others are not. I thought that we could discuss some things about our OWN organizations that annoy us. (Although this thread has the potential to go haywire, I felt if we set the proper tone at the outset, it could work!)

Here is my example:

Presentations of new members at midnight in the cold. Don't they know I have to work in the morning? Don't they know I get bronchitis? argh!

Members of city-wide chapters who take the same approach to "recruitment" of members as huge HBCUs. You can't be at St. Wilona's with no chapter website expecting the dudes at Jackie Collins College to be able to find you.

Busy crossing jackets. I mean REALLY busy crossing jackets.

Losing our songs and musical traditions to the ages... I am talking about songs that DON'T sound like James Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson. Many of our orgs have like REAL SONGS with four part harmony! And they're being lost because of a lack of effort to document the lyrics and record them.

Again, these annoyances are not universal, but I hope you see my drift.

This is NOT intended for non-NPHC members to take the opportunity to question or belittle our traditions.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Another thread in the Greek Life section made me think of this. Among NPHC organizations, and those organizations with NPHC-style rush and intake, there are various non-ritual practices that are unique to our type of organizations. Some of these practices are universal and others are not. I thought that we could discuss some things about our OWN organizations that annoy us. (Although this thread has the potential to go haywire, I felt if we set the proper tone at the outset, it could work!)

Here is my example:

Presentations of new members at midnight in the cold. Don't they know I have to work in the morning? Don't they know I get bronchitis? argh!
Forbidden in Delta
Members of city-wide chapters who take the same approach to "recruitment" of members as huge HBCUs. You can't be at St. Wilona's with no chapter website expecting the dudes at Jackie Collins College to be able to find you.
yeah, a pet peeve of mine here in MN. That and a citywide chapter only "publicizing" at one school.

Busy crossing jackets. I mean REALLY busy crossing jackets.
ditto

Losing our songs and musical traditions to the ages... I am talking about songs that DON'T sound like James Cleveland and Mahalia Jackson. Many of our orgs have like REAL SONGS with four part harmony! And they're being lost because of a lack of effort to document the lyrics and record them.
Delta has published an official songbook and we do workshops on it at our conventions and conferences.

Again, these annoyances are not universal, but I hope you see my drift.

This is NOT intended for non-NPHC members to take the opportunity to question or belittle our traditions.

I hear ya.

[12dn94dst]

I get annoyed when folks stroll to ANYTHING. I know it's a little difficult when the hot songs are "Pop, Lock and Drop It" and "Rock Your Hips" and that's all that's played at a party, but I'm saying. What happened to decorum?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by 12dn94dst

I get annoyed when folks stroll to ANYTHING. I know it's a little difficult when the hot songs are "Pop, Lock and Drop It" and "Rock Your Hips" and that's all that's played at a party, but I'm saying. What happened to decorum?

OMG thank you! I saw some thangs on youtube that I was kinda surprised at!

[12dn94dst]

And another thing, what's with making strolls that only go with ONE song? (i'm sorry, I'm a stroller lol)

[12dn94dst]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

OMG thank you! I saw some thangs on youtube that I was kinda surprised at!

it's a sign of the times...you're getting old(er).

[skeeliteful]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Members of city-wide chapters who take the same approach to "recruitment" of members as huge HBCUs. You can't be at St. Wilona's with no chapter website expecting the dudes at Jackie Collins College to be able to find you.
[/SIZE]

Senusrest, you are a mess. LMAO @ St. Wilona's and Jackie Collins College!!

In addition to what's been said, stepshows annoy me. It seems like no one actually steps in stepshows anymore. They're more like dance competitions and talent shows. I just don't understand how within a 20 minute show, 19 minutes of it is either dancing, dialogue, or skits with fog and light shows.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by skeeliteful

Senusrest, you are a mess. LMAO @ St. Wilona's and Jackie Collins College!!

In addition to what's been said, stepshows annoy me. It seems like no one actually steps in stepshows anymore. They're more like dance competitions and talent shows. I just don't understand how within a 20 minute show, 19 minutes of it is either dancing, dialogue, or skits with fog and light shows.

My thoughts exactly. Cut the bulljive and all the extraneous nonsense and just get down to the steppin'.

I saw this one step performance with the Central State University Deltas (Delta Kappa chapter) where the steppers were dressed like stewardesses--the whole Delta Airlines bit, and this one cat who was supposed to be the captain was "flying the plane" during their performance, and he was ALL into it, simulating flying through turbulence, radioing the tower, filling out the flight log, and errethang. I thought he was going to catch the symptoms of food poisoning ala Captain Oveur from Airplane and pass out and take the plane into a deep dive. Myself and my frat brothers were cracking up at his piloting skills. But I digress...

Bottom line: cut all the silly gimmicks such as pointless skits and smoke and mirrors and all that nonsence and just step like everybody else.

It is indeed a new day in greekdom....

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

It is indeed a new day in greekdom....

How would you know? Serious question.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

How would you know? Serious question.

15+ years of exposure. 'Nuff said.

[Boom_Quack13]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

15+ years of exposure. 'Nuff said.

Exposure, as in a GDI watching Greeks for 15+ years? Or, exposure, as in being Greek for 15+ years? I ask, because experience trumps exposure on any given day.

[Infamous12]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

My thoughts exactly. Cut the bulljive and all the extraneous nonsense and just get down to the steppin'.

I saw this one step performance with the Central State University Deltas (Delta Kappa chapter) where the steppers were dressed like stewardesses--the whole Delta Airlines bit, and this one cat who was supposed to be the captain was "flying the plane" during their performance, and he was ALL into it, simulating flying through turbulence, radioing the tower, filling out the flight log, and errethang. I thought he was going to catch the symptoms of food poisoning ala Captain Oveur from Airplane and pass out and take the plane into a deep dive. Myself and my frat brothers were cracking up at his piloting skills. But I digress...

Bottom line: cut all the silly gimmicks such as pointless skits and smoke and mirrors and all that nonsence and just step like everybody else.

It is indeed a new day in greekdom....

Quick detour...As a witness to this particular step performance, I'm not sure it backs up the '19 minute skit 1 minute step' statement. The show was FULL of stepping, the Delta Airlines bit was their theme, and they STEPPED up down all-around and through that theme. The only time they were NOT stepping was when they were entering the stage (dropping their luggage off before 'boarding') and when they party walked (strolled, hopped, call it what you will, lol.) off the stage at the end.

Honestly, it was the epitome of a 1st class STEP show.

Which is probably why they won 1st place.

Back to the main road - I concur on the midnight probates in 2 degree cold.

As well as orgs/chapters claiming to 'run the yard' when ALLLLLLLLLL they do is throw parties. I mean, those are some live parties...but still, a party does not a strong organization make! Silly me and my old-fashioned thinking to think 'running the yard' was to be based on leadership & service to the community.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by Infamous12

Quick detour...As a witness to this particular step performance, I'm not sure it backs up the '19 minute skit 1 minute step' statement. The show was FULL of stepping, the Delta Airlines bit was their theme, and they STEPPED up down all-around and through that theme. The only time they were NOT stepping was when they were entering the stage (dropping their luggage off before 'boarding') and when they party walked (strolled, hopped, call it what you will, lol.) off the stage at the end.

Honestly, it was the epitome of a 1st class STEP show.

Which is probably why they won 1st place.

You are correct on all counts, my mind took a detour at the thought of that one cat in the Delta step performance that I just had to get off my chest, cause it was seriously hilarious--and very much extra. The stepping was indeed on point, though that doesn't change my overall opinion of there really shouldn't be a need for a skit of ANY sort, if the stepping is any good. It's almost as if the skits are trying to compensate for a weak step performance, though that is definately not always the case, that begs the question: WHY THE NEED FOR A SKIT?

Daggonit, if you're gonna step, step. If you're gonna put on a SNL skit, change the venue from a step show to a skit show or something like that.

That's just the old school college man in me talking.

[TotallyWicked]

Originally Posted by Infamous12

As well as orgs/chapters claiming to 'run the yard' when ALLLLLLLLLL they do is throw parties. I mean, those are some live parties...but still, a party does not a strong organization make! Silly me and my old-fashioned thinking to think 'running the yard' was to be based on leadership & service to the community.

CO-SIGNING 100% WITH Infamous12! I have to chuckle whenever I see this, I CTFU when their only basis of recognition, their parties, are WACK LOL

[DSTCHAOS]

People who play the "my chapter is better/more (insert name of organization)er than your chapter" game. Especially when they are younger members approaching older members who crossed at other chapters. But I'm tickled to convulsions when I see alumnae and graduate chapter initiates playing that game.

People who think their chapter was founded and their organization was chartered. They place their chapter above the organization.