Interesting New Reality show called Sorority Girls

[Mevara]

Makes me wonder why more GLOs have not tried to colonize chapters in the UK. I know we have alumnae associations in the UK. Also a few exchange students from the UK have joined our chapter.

I am unaware of any NPC sororities that have chapters there. I think there is a NPHC chapter but don't remember which one.

We have chapters in Canada why not the UK?

[CutiePie2000]

Originally Posted by Mevara

Makes me wonder why more GLOs have not tried to colonize chapters in the UK. I know we have alumnae associations in the UK. Also a few exchange students from the UK have joined our chapter.

I am unaware of any NPC sororities that have chapters there. I think there is a NPHC chapter but don't remember which one.

We have chapters in Canada why not the UK?

From the Canadian perspective, I can tell you that we take a lot of flak for belonging to "American" organizations. (sorry). Also, from the nitty gritty point of view, it can be a hassle to pay your fees and have to convert them into US Funds / get a US Money Order etc. Yes, it's easier now that things like Pay Pal exist but we do take a hit when paying from Canadian funds into US Funds. I'm sure that there's other reasons too, but the "being too American" is one reason that some anti-GLO types love to crow about.

Also, collegiate chapters need the benefit of locally based alumnae support, which you would challenged to find in Europe.


PS I, too, would like my big pot of cash, or better yet, have access to the unlimited funds, resources and a lovely Ferrari like Paul Walker did, in "The Skulls".... (eye roll)

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by CutiePie2000

Also, collegiate chapters need the benefit of locally based alumnae support, which you would challenged to find in Europe.

I don't know about the other GLOs but I do know Kappa already has alumnae associations in the UK.

It is also a chicken and the egg situation, you won't have many alumnae associations if you don't have collegiate chapters. Although you need alumnae support to help a collegiate chapter grow.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by Mevara

I don't know about the other GLOs but I do know Kappa already has alumnae associations in the UK.

It is also a chicken and the egg situation, you won't have many alumnae associations if you don't have collegiate chapters. Although you need alumnae support to help a collegiate chapter grow.

I would also imagine that the costs could get out of hand.

On top of alumnae support in the form of members in alumnae associations, you also need National Staff members to be able to travel to those chapters.. For my GLO, we had at least one visit by an Educational Consultant and one by our District President each year. That gets expensive when you have to send people overseas. And it also makes for some major jet lag.

Also, for those collegiate chapters to send members to convention and other regional and national conferences would cost a pretty penny. And this, along with everything else I've mentioned, would require passports for all involved.

It would be much easier nowadays with conveniences such as the internet, but there are many obstacles to overcome as well.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by Mevara

Makes me wonder why more GLOs have not tried to colonize chapters in the UK. I know we have alumnae associations in the UK. Also a few exchange students from the UK have joined our chapter.

I am unaware of any NPC sororities that have chapters there. I think there is a NPHC chapter but don't remember which one.

We have chapters in Canada why not the UK?

From the perspective of someone who graduated from a British university...*And a disclaimer that I'm speaking in generalities*

It comes down to that old factor of "Campus Culture". British universities are much more...focused(?). Generally I'd say that students are more interested in the academic environment than the collegial/community environment (see also why many students choose not to stay in halls of residence past their first year or first term in some cases). American universities have this history and culture of a campus community, whereas in British universities this is generally a function left to the student unions, and to a lesser degree student clubs (rowing, chess, future vets, etc).

Further, the culture of alcohol is very different and I can imagine that the students at my university would have told Risk Management to go fly a kite. Alcohol is freely available through the university unions, through pubs, through the offy, through the grocery stores, and students, just like american students, drink...a lot. To have spaces where alcohol wouldn't be allowed would be very strange.

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

Further, the culture of alcohol is very different and I can imagine that the students at my university would have told Risk Management to go fly a kite. Alcohol is freely available through the university unions, through pubs, through the offy, through the grocery stores, and students, just like american students, drink...a lot. To have spaces where alcohol wouldn't be allowed would be very strange.

Being where I am and having as many British friends as I do, I was ASTOUNDED to learn how much they drink on an everyday basis. I have friends who will not eat at a restaurant that doesn't serve alcohol, full stop (as they say). And yes, there would be no such thing as an alcohol-free party, or dry sorority house. They would absolutely not accept membership in a sorority that imposed any sort of alcohol rules.

But from what little I saw of this, they seem to really focus on the British women being lazy slobs which I find perplexing. I wonder how many completely lovely girls they had to film to find the fried egg chick. Of course, these girls are not stupid - they know the rules of reality TV - and horrifying dress and conversation is one sure way to get yourself on TV.

[ASTaulove]

Here's a link to a trailer for the show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOEPT9isby0

It begins with a voice-over that says, "They're poised! They're perfectly dressed! They like smiling! And they love chanting...A LOT!", and it only gets worse from there...