what? an NPC/NPHC hybrid retro thread??

[tld221]

Summer 2003

I work at a summer camp with a bunch of college students, most of them from NYU, others from overseas. and guess who works there... Mona and a couple sisters from Theta Phi Beta, including two of her sisters, Ali and Persia. The actual summer at the camp isnt essential to the story, but hanging out with them you'd think would be awkward, but it wasnt. I never felt left out when i hung with them, and figured, "hey, i don't need to be greek to have greek friends and share in the fun right?"

Fall 2003
I return to school, still without letters. The beginning of the school year is abuzz with a new rush season. I figure, maybe second time will be a charm, and since im cool with a few members of TPhiB, i've got a better chance of getting a bid?

Fast forward through rush, cause there isn't much to tell. OH! actually there is one "thing" (LOL)

One of Theta Phi Beta's events was an Alumnae Night. Considering theyre a young local (mid-80s), theyre oldest alums are at most early 40s. not bad. I can tell from their composites they went through waves of diversity - and that's cool to me - and i start to match composite pics to the faces in the room. stories are shared, songs are sung, fun is had.

Anyway, i start talking to one alum (i forget her name) but we hit it off and she was really pushing me to join. She could tell my apprehension, so i told her, i didnt get a bid last year, this is my second time, etc... we talk some more and she says to me "have you ever considered NPHC?"

I don't know what that is - Huh?

She explains what it is, how her sister is an XYZ, how theyre this and that and how more black people feel like its more worth their time. I kinda sorta figured that there were black sororities, but out of common sense (if there are sororities for white girls, there would have to be for other races right?). I ask her, "well why didnt you join one then?"

And her answer was so perfect: she says, "Well, it's good to have options and you should go where you feel is for you. Theta is for me, XYZ and ABC, not so much. and i'm fine with it."

Anyway, more social events, another pref (didn't realize that the year before, i had actually attended one). this year it was more formal - dinner and drinks, their answers to PNM questions were stronger, met more alumnae members, which was a plus). and this year i clicked more with the PNMs - i could definitely see myself being their sister.

So yeah, another rose, more chocolates... but no phone call. They had distinctly said, "If you don't hear from us by 1AM, dont be discouraged, you're still welcome to hang around the house and still be friends..." whatever.

1 turned to 1:30, then 2, and i was like screw it. I'm good - because I was newly fascinated with this NPHC business...

(more to follow - Spring 2004 comes and goes, as does the summer, and i'll come back on Fall 2004 - complete with code names!)