NPHC Greeks - how do you feel about this?

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

It makes me no difference. NPHC doesn't corner the market on words. For many NPHC groups, "crossing the burning sands" is just a phrase in the first place.

When it comes to NPC and NIC Greeks having crossing jackets... so? What's a crossing jacket anyway? I know NPCs and NICs may have nicknames or pledge names, too. Otherwise, why not have a jacket that reps your chapter, season you pledged, etc?

Agreed. Blacks Greeks can't be myopic about this. We basically took over much of the structure, terminology and traditions of existing GLOs in founding our organizations.If my understanding of history serves me, members of white GLOS gave founders of some of our BGLOs their ritual to help them on their way.And the founders of my fraternity did library research on fraternities to help them when they decided they wanted to form a fraternity. So, in a sense, there has been some interchange of traditions. Similarly, GLOs took over traditions and practices from the literary and debating societies, which in turn drew heavily on practices and traditions in the guilds of scholars of the Middle Ages.There's no place for any hatin' in this game!This is the way it's always been, if you see the big picture.

[ladygreek]

Doesn't bother me. In fact the term sands means different things within org in the NPHC depending on the chapter. Where I pledged in IL., we didn't use the term at all. We used a different one to denote someone who crossed with you in the same chapter.

[James]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[DSTCHAOS]

If you borrow, just give respect to where you got it from. If you don't know, find out.

Similar to the respect that GLOs that came before the NPHC orgs should be given for the things the NPHC learned and "borrowed" from them.

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As far as why NPC members wouldn't just join an NPHC org if they like the way we do things:
Many traditions aren't attached to our specific founding purposes. So women who don't want to be in an organization with a starting purpose of being a vessel for black college women and servicing the black community, don't have to join an NPHC sorority just b/c they like to wear "line jackets" or call each other "sands."

That would be superficial and an insult to the depth of our organizations.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

As far as why NPC members wouldn't just join an NPHC org if they like the way we do things:
Many traditions aren't attached to our specific founding purposes. So women who don't want to be in an organization with a starting purpose of being a vessel for black college women and servicing the black community, don't have to join an NPHC sorority just b/c they like to wear "line jackets" or call each other "sands."

That would be superficial and an insult to the depth of our organizations.

Exactly! That was a very offensive remark.

[Phrozen1ne]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Doesn't bother me. In fact the term sands means different things within org in the NPHC depending on the chapter. Where I pledged in IL., we didn't use the term at all. We used a different one to denote someone who crossed with you in the same chapter.

Sands definitely has a different meaning if you crossed in the state of Illinois!

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

Sands definitely has a different meaning if you crossed in the state of Illinois!

Beginning with s and ending with p?

[Phrozen1ne]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Beginning with s and ending with p?

BINGO my fellow SIUC Alum!