accepting of others

[Kevin]

Originally posted by lia05

7. "can you tell me what made you decide that about our organizations?"--ktsnake
Because believe it or not, I live in the real world. Before I started college, I was so excited about leaving home, starting a new chapter in my life, and gaining a better perspective on the world. College was my best opportunity for that, I thought. Then I got there and made my attempt at what I had come to do. Through all of this hectic but amazing experience, I've made many friends who I will probably remain friends with throughout my lifetime, but I didn't need an organization to do that for me. I didn't need a rule book or government documentation to tell me who I should or should not accept. I never based any of these friendships on "knowing" somebody for 3 minutes and then having a vote with the rest of the crowd about whether my beliefs that this was a worthwhile individual was correct. So to answer your question as best as I can, it may not be the actual organizations that I am against but the conformity and importance of popularity on it all.
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Lia

Lia, I'm glad that you have had an excellent time in college. I can only speak for myself, (and my experience and the way I joined are very atypical) but I never planned to join such an organization either. I had a full social schedule at the time. I had a full time job and played at bars 2 nights a week and practiced another two nights. The other 3 were split between hanging out and studying. I had a full social calendar, etc. etc. etc. Point being, I had accomplished all of the great things that many people accomplish in college as far as forming relationships and discovering who I was.

I didn't know it at the time, but I wanted something more. I had a coworker that was about to join the precursor group to our colony (which later became the chapter that I'm an alum of today) who convinced me I should join. At the time, I was more interested in joining because of the extensive alumni base and the better job prospects for GLO members out of college. In other words, I wanted to do the bare minimum as a member because I felt my social/academic calendar were full.

I was wrong of course. After a semester into joining, my band broke up. I had more time on my hands. I was sitting in one of our meetings (elections) and no one ran for Marshal (the new member educator), so I decided to throw my hat in. I won it unopposed. From that point on, it kind of snowballed. I became more and more involved to the point that since that time, I was only not in an executive office for 1 semester. I held 3 executive offices total. 2 in the Colony (I was 2nd in charge when our organization was approved for its charter which is like a license to exist) and 1 in the Chapter (I was the first chapter treasurer). Since then, my work as an alum has been pretty tireless.

Anyhow, on the social side of things, I have great relationships with all of my pre-fraternity friends. Didn't dump anyone at all (although some friends I grew out of). I've met a lot more friends, and now share something with a group of people that I never otherwise would have met: A bond of brotherhood. It's something very difficult for a non-GLO member to comprehend. I'm not talking down to you, that's just evident to me from reading what you've written thus far. We share a ritual that embodies virtues that we all value, and we all try to live out those values. Not just the 50+ that have been initiated into my chapter thus far, but over 200,000 initiates. It's being a part of something huge.

Our rush process is a little different than sororities. It's quite a bit more involved with the individual and recruitment is a longer process focused more on individuals. We pick up most guys over the summer after talking to them, hanging out with them, and even sometimes talking to their parents. Some sororities are like that as well.

I can't say a whole lot for NPC's, but I couldn't think of a much better way to fill 20-person new member classes without having the opportunity to really get to know them going into the process and then try and do that when you are talking to 200+ girls. Yeah, the process will probably be a little superficial.

The intake process is not. New member classes are picked over, some are let go and some choose to leave. What you are left with (depending on your gender/organization) are brothers or sisters.

Like I said, it's difficult to explain, but now I've given it my best shot.