Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?

shinerbock · #1 07-30-2006, 10:50 PM

XiDelt, no I don't. I don't even think my fraternity is the best on campus. We have great greek life, and the majority of the GLO's are quite good.

shinerbock · #2 07-30-2006, 10:53 PM

Opi, how do I judge the sororities? Hmm. Well, obviously ones packed with good looking girls are pretty popular. I think for the guy's interpretation of "ranking" it probably consists of looks, class of the girls, and how fun they are. I think for the girls, it is class first, with them considering looks, academics and involvement as well. Also, other factors include how exclusive they are and whether they have a long history of being a strong chapter.

preciousjeni · #3 07-30-2006, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Opi, how do I judge the sororities? Hmm. Well, obviously ones packed with good looking girls are pretty popular. I think for the guy's interpretation of "ranking" it probably consists of looks, class of the girls, and how fun they are. I think for the girls, it is class first, with them considering looks, academics and involvement as well. Also, other factors include how exclusive they are and whether they have a long history of being a strong chapter.

So, as far as sororities, you're concerned with how popular the girls are in college as a primary factor? College constitutes a tiny percentage of a person's life. I'd be more concerned with what happens in the lifetime of the member after joining. Popularity was the LEAST of my concerns in college. I joined Theta Nu Xi after college for a number of reasons including networking and the joy of working alongside women of a similar mind toward goals that matter to me.

xo_kathy · #4 07-31-2006, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I joined Theta Nu Xi after college for a number of reasons including networking and the joy of working alongside women of a similar mind toward goals that matter to me.

OK, you said you had no reason at all to join the orgs shiner was referring to (which I think we all agree are probably NPC orgs at Southern schools). However you said the above were two reasons you joined your org. I would venture to guess that those two reasons are also on the minds of many NPC PNMs - be they white or non-white, ugly or pretty, Northern or Southern.

I do apologize for putting words in your mouth in reference to beer drinking and boys. So not to cause more confusion, I'd be interested to know what it is those women were looking for in their orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

shinerbock · #5 07-31-2006, 03:25 PM

First to 33...I favor southern greek life, just as you dislike it. It is preference. Of course I think it is better than every other system. I don't buy into the whole "well I hate that, but we're all equally good" thing. I mean, I went to Auburn, do you think I'm gonna go "well, I hate Alabama, but they're just as good." Obviously not.

Now to everyone else, I appreciate that you guys see what I'm saying. However it gets annoying when people act like, "well he's just going on what he's seen." In spite of what my conservative ideals and southern pride may cause you think, I'm not by any means a sheltered person. I have friends from every walk of life, have traveled all over the country, and both have shown me valuable things. HOWEVER, I simply enjoy my life the way it is. Most of my white southern friends are incredibly intelligent and cultured. So while I appreciate the attempts at understanding where I'm coming from, it does get a little annoying when I get these pats on the head, as if one day I'll experience the big world.

33girl · #6 07-31-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

First to 33...I favor southern greek life, just as you dislike it. It is preference. Of course I think it is better than every other system. I don't buy into the whole "well I hate that, but we're all equally good" thing. I mean, I went to Auburn, do you think I'm gonna go "well, I hate Alabama, but they're just as good." Obviously not.

Don't put words in my mouth. EVER, EVER, EVER. I never said I disliked anything!! I'd love to experience a big Southern rush, just to see what it's like, and I think it's awesome that so many alums are still involved. It just doesn't happen to be what I experienced, and I don't know that it would have been right FOR ME.

I don't think my sorority, or my college, is the best in the world. I think they were the best in the world FOR ME. Until you grow up and learn that lesson, you're going to have a lot of trouble being friends with anyone who doesn't think exactly like you.

shinerbock · #7 07-31-2006, 04:35 PM

33, If you don't like my opinions, you probably wouldnt like southern greek life at a big southern school. If that is putting words in your mouth, whatever. It is probably similar to you claiming I look down upon everyone, which is untrue.

You should trust me, I don't "have trouble making friends." If I did, I don't think I'd look to you for advice on social matters of any sort. Even the hated fratty kids are VERY good at making friends, hence them being in top fraternities. Unlike in some other parts of the country, people don't generally join fraternities here because they can't make friends. In fact, the reason people do join big southern fraternities and sororities is because they are very socially capable.

preciousjeni · #8 07-31-2006, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

OK, you said you had no reason at all to join the orgs shiner was referring to (which I think we all agree are probably NPC orgs at Southern schools). However you said the above were two reasons you joined your org. I would venture to guess that those two reasons are also on the minds of many NPC PNMs - be they white or non-white, ugly or pretty, Northern or Southern.

I do apologize for putting words in your mouth in reference to beer drinking and boys. So not to cause more confusion, I'd be interested to know what it is those women were looking for in their orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

I said they were two of many reasons, specifically, "a number of reasons including..." I'm not suggesting that MC sororities and NPC sororities don't have things in common. Certainly we do! Let me ask you a question to help answer yours...why did you join Chi Omega and not Theta Nu Xi?

xo_kathy · #9 07-31-2006, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

I said they were two of many reasons, specifically, "a number of reasons including..." I'm not suggesting that MC sororities and NPC sororities don't have things in common. Certainly we do! Let me ask you a question to help answer yours...why did you join Chi Omega and not Theta Nu Xi?

Yes, I can read. Which is why I said in my post: "you said the above were two reasons you joined your org". I did not say they were the only reasons.

Why didn't I join your org? Well, firstly, they were not on my campus so I was not exposed to it. MCGLOs weren't yet too big when I was in school. Also, my mother is a Kappa, so I was familiar with NPC Greek life though was not "groomed" for it. I went through rush to see if NPC life at my school might be right for me, and I found that Chi Omega was what I wanted to be a part of.

I have no issue with MCGLOs. I agree they also have their niche.

However, you still have not answered my question:
what it is those women were looking for in their NPC orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

preciousjeni · #10 07-31-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

Yes, I can read. Which is why I said in my post: "you said the above were two reasons you joined your org". I did not say they were the only reasons.

Why didn't I join your org? Well, firstly, they were not on my campus so I was not exposed to it. MCGLOs weren't yet too big when I was in school. Also, my mother is a Kappa, so I was familiar with NPC Greek life though was not "groomed" for it. I went through rush to see if NPC life at my school might be right for me, and I found that Chi Omega was what I wanted to be a part of.

I have no issue with MCGLOs. I agree they also have their niche.

However, you still have not answered my question:
what it is those women were looking for in their NPC orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

My two primary reasons for pursuing Theta Nu Xi over an NPC org were 1) the national push to create opportunities for and commit to hands-on community service (along with philanthropic giving) and 2) the GAP program. NPHC sororities offer both of those opportunities but there are other reasons I did not intently pursue an NPHC org. NPC sororities do not offer me all the things I desire that Theta Nu Xi does.

ETA: I've gone back through the thread and can't find where I said "not at all interested." I did say, "But they want things in a sorority that don't hold any interest for me at all." Now, this is coming from my NPC recruitment experience at UGA, but those "things" include, but are not limited to 1) living in a house with lots of other women, 2) being part of a huge chapter (as I've mentioned before, Theta Nu Xi discourages chapters larger than 30), 3) engaging in a vast number of social events (I wanted a mix of social and service), and 4) traditions that differ greatly from chapter to chapter within the same organization. Much of what was stressed and advertised during recruitment turned me off. I gave it a shot, though, because my mother is a Pi Phi.

It appears that you are trying to make me out to be a villain, but I don't understand why.

DSTRen13 · #11 07-31-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xo_kathy

OK, you said you had no reason at all to join the orgs shiner was referring to (which I think we all agree are probably NPC orgs at Southern schools). However you said the above were two reasons you joined your org. I would venture to guess that those two reasons are also on the minds of many NPC PNMs - be they white or non-white, ugly or pretty, Northern or Southern.

I do apologize for putting words in your mouth in reference to beer drinking and boys. So not to cause more confusion, I'd be interested to know what it is those women were looking for in their orgs that you were "not at all" interested in?

I don't think anyone who didn't choose the NPC route can really know what those women look for in their orgs for sure. I mean, there's something they wanted that I didn't that drew them to that, and I couldn't say for sure what that is. I know what drew me to my GLOs - first, with OPhiA, the strong commitment and focus on community service combined with sisterhood, which I hadn't seen before, and then, with Delta, again, the commitment and focus on community service (particularly the types of service), the strong life commitment and dedication I see in the members, and the emphasis on values I believe in. I am sure that if for some reason I had had to join an NPC group way back freshman year, I would have found somewhere I'd have been alright and gotten by okay, but it would not have been anywhere near as fulfilling for me. Because it's not where I belong. No offense

xo_kathy · #12 07-31-2006, 05:08 PM

I am not at all offended by your choices.

My post was to Jeni because she specifically said she was "not at all" interested in the reasons the NPC ladies joined NPCs. I'd like to know what those reasons are. It seems like a pretty sweeping generalization. Especially, as you pointed out, she probably really doesn't know why those women chose an NPC.