"Southern" Sororities?

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Which is fine, but when me or Macallan say something about greek life in the south, it generally has been on par with how it really is. Now I've stated before that at small directional southern schools, this may not be true, but regarding the prominant southern campuses and greek life organizations, I think it is. Somebody can say, "I'm a huge liberal and I live in Atlanta..." but that is obviously not reflective of political views in the South. I think your viewpoints are probably the exception, not the rule. Just clarifying.

I think for certain types of Southern campuses, that's the case. Other campuses, not so much. I'm not really sure what you mean by a "small directional Southern school" so I don't know if I agree with that dividing line or not - several larger and smaller schools don't fit your mold, just as several larger and smaller schools do, so I wouldn't really see size as being the deciding factor. It seems to have more to do with the culture and history of the school.

[shinerbock]

I think you're right, and I agree with that. By directional school, I meant people who are like "southern greek life isn't like that, and I know, I went to Middle Tenn. St, or NE Louisiana..." While thats fine, when speak of the attributes of southern greek life, we're talking about that which is distinctive to southern greek systems at big SEC type schools...You're right, there are better academic schools than SEC schools, although there really aren't too many in the south that trump them, or the other schools I would refer to...Texas and the like. Basically, I'm just arguing the defense people make when we say something about southern greek life or southern opinion, which usually consists of "I go to _____ and I'm not like that..." Nobody is saying everyone is like that, but refuting that it basically is like that is pointless. You can go to UGA, be in a bad fraternity, and say "we don't wear brooks brothers or vote republican," which may be true, but that doesn't refute the idea that most do dress and vote like that. If your point is that not everyone acts the way me or macallan or whoever do, that is completely understandable, but often I feel people are trying to sway other's image of the South with a portrayal I don't think is accurate.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

If your point is that not everyone acts the way me or macallan or whoever do, that is completely understandable, but often I feel people are trying to sway other's image of the South with a portrayal I don't think is accurate.

I think it's important to remember as well that there is not a monolithic Southern "way," "experience" or "image." What is generally true in Alabama, Mississippi or Georgia may not be generally true in the Carolinas or Virginia (not counting Northern Virginia. ) Likewise, the lay of things may be different still in Kentucky or Louisiana.

UNC and UVa are unquestionably Southern Schools, but with a rather different Southern Culture, I would expect, than say Ole Miss or Bama.

FWIW.

[shinerbock]

I agree, but I really don't think greek life is that different among the top fraternities at Bama and UVA. Both would probably consist of wealthy and well educated students, although on a slightly different scale. My point is that on big campuses, the best (I know people on here are against tiers, but they exist) fraternities are generally wealthy and conservative. Also, I'm not really sure how many people would include KY or VA schools into "southern greek life," although I do think it is generally the same. Granted at UNC or UVA the best fraternities may be only 75 percent republican as opposed to 98 percent republican at Auburn or UGA, but the commonality remains, I think. My problem with this is more an annoyance than anything, I just don't like having to continually clarify that when I say "on big southern campuses" or "top southern greek schools" I don't mean UCF, Emory, or East Carolina.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I agree, but I really don't think greek life is that different among the top fraternities at Bama and UVA. Both would probably consist of wealthy and well educated students, although on a slightly different scale. My point is that on big campuses, the best (I know people on here are against tiers, but they exist) fraternities are generally wealthy and conservative. Also, I'm not really sure how many people would include KY or VA schools into "southern greek life," although I do think it is generally the same. Granted at UNC or UVA the best fraternities may be only 75 percent republican as opposed to 98 percent republican at Auburn or UGA, but the commonality remains, I think. My problem with this is more an annoyance than anything, I just don't like having to continually clarify that when I say "on big southern campuses" or "top southern greek schools" I don't mean UCF, Emory, or East Carolina.

It seems like you're picking out schools in the South which already fit your idea of what is "proper" Southern Greek life, and then determining based on those schools what Southern Greek life is like. Maybe that's the reason when you mention the term, you have to clarify what you mean - the rest of us are using a larger, more representative sample to get our idea. Perhaps if you used a more specific term, you wouldn't have to go back and clarify. To me, UCF, Emory, and East Carolina are all pretty firmly in the South last time I looked at a map, and their Greek systems seem just fine.

[shinerbock]

Well, you're obviously going to disagree with me, for whatever reason. However, I think it'd be tough to make a case that Emory or UCF has the storied tradition of Alabama or UGA. The fact is that many on here won't recognize that the big southern schools have a different type of greek life that is distinctive from that in other regions, or from other schools with lesser reputations. You can say, oh, Emory has great greek life, but the facts simply don't allow a proper comparison between them and a school like Ole Miss or Auburn. Many more students are involved in these schools, they have huge houses and even bigger operating budgets, famous alumni, etc...I'm not seeking out examples to fit my mold of what southern greek life is, the schools I refer to are the cornerstones of southern greek life. Of course you can believe what you want, but when a person on ESPN makes a comment about southern sorority girls, they're generally not referring to Emory or UT-Chatt., or Western Kentucky...

[PhrozenGod01]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Well, you're obviously going to disagree with me, for whatever reason. However, I think it'd be tough to make a case that Emory or UCF has the storied tradition of Alabama or UGA. The fact is that many on here won't recognize that the big southern schools have a different type of greek life that is distinctive from that in other regions, or from other schools with lesser reputations. You can say, oh, Emory has great greek life, but the facts simply don't allow a proper comparison between them and a school like Ole Miss or Auburn. Many more students are involved in these schools, they have huge houses and even bigger operating budgets, famous alumni, etc...I'm not seeking out examples to fit my mold of what southern greek life is, the schools I refer to are the cornerstones of southern greek life. Of course you can believe what you want, but when a person on ESPN makes a comment about southern sorority girls, they're generally not referring to Emory or UT-Chatt., or Western Kentucky...

Why would someone on ESPN refer to southern sorority girls? Unless they are airing some schools powder puff finals or something, it seems really irrelevant.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

My point is that on big campuses, the best (I know people on here are against tiers, but they exist) fraternities are generally wealthy and conservative. . . . . Granted at UNC or UVA the best fraternities may be only 75 percent republican as opposed to 98 percent republican at Auburn or UGA, but the commonality remains, I think.

I think you might be surprised.

[shinerbock]

I highly doubt it.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I highly doubt it.

By all means, feel free to doubt away.

But I can tell you that in this part of the world, old family/wealthy/"Greek leaning" isn't nearly as likely to mean Republican as it is elsewhere in the South. That was why I suggested you might be surprised.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by AXiD670

So when did you attend UNC?

I don't go to UNC or UVA and I would have said the exact same thing.