Greek Decline

[enlightenment06]

You know what? I realize that I should have narrowed the scope of my question. As far as women trying to get into sororities, there isn't a decline as far as I know. Over half the Black women on campus that I know of want to be either AKA's or Delta's. However it seems that when it comes to fraternities there is a decline. Many Alpha college chapters in the northeast have low membership, and there are far too many solos these days.

[mccoyred]

I was just thinking along this line before I read your post. After I reconsidered the question, I think that is the case for sororities. While the number of interests are increasing, the QUALITY of the interests are declining. Many collegiate chapters are adjusting their selection accordingly.

Originally posted by AKA_Monet
I concur 1908%

First a foremost, ALL NPHC organizations MUST be affiliated with a sponsoring graduate chapter in order for ANY university to allow them to be an "on campus" organization and work with that campus. It has to do with legal and liability issues...

No matter how one slice's it, an undergraduate member or chapter is NOT the sum whole picture of the BGLO. When a child sees only "those" members they are only touching the "tip" of the iceberg...

When I was a Graduate Advisor for my undergraduate chapter, I requested several young ladies who told me they were interested to attend several of the "graduate chapter" events. IT WAS THE OUTSIDERS--NON-MEMBERS--and NOT other BGLO's mind you--NOT even other GLO's that told these young ladies NOT attend--BUT average everyday "spoons" that like to stir up chit!!! They don't mean nuthin', do nuthin', say nuthin'--do count for nuthin' but stirrin' up chit!!! Ultimately, if the interest was too stupid to show up, it was on her. But, most of the time a resilient interest would come to the Grad functions and many a time, they were blown away with what they saw...

Back in the day, an undergraduate interest would want to be going to CHURCH to meet any graduate member of XYZ BGLO... Hey you may as well pray while your at it...

Realistically, most the NPHC affliates do not see decline in their memberships, there are increases... However, nunna us are hurtin' for members--Undergrad or Grad... So, it makes any discussion here moot... Don't you think...

Yes, there's room for improvement... All of the NPHC's are doing that--that is what a International Conventions are all about... Duh!!!! So to state we don't see the big picture is an understatement. Maybe the big picture is not for a member or an interest to see at that time... Because it takes time to know all things... And one needs years of training...

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by enlightenment06
[B However it seems that when it comes to fraternities there is a decline. Many Alpha college chapters in the northeast have low membership, and there are far too many solos these days. [/B]

Okay, NOWWWWWWW I can "see" it. It goes back to AA-males enrolling in college has SERIOUSLY decreased over the years. Therefore, if there is a decrease in enrollment, then naturally there will be a decrease in the numbers of those males interested in membership.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by enlightenment06
You know what? I realize that I should have narrowed the scope of my question. As far as women trying to get into sororities, there isn't a decline as far as I know. Over half the Black women on campus that I know of want to be either AKA's or Delta's. However it seems that when it comes to fraternities there is a decline. Many Alpha college chapters in the northeast have low membership, and there are far too many solos these days.

This is also happening in California. On another list I was on, there was an Alpha who pledged in 1989, and he said that at one time, there were chapters at the state schools out here that were 20, 30 deep. And California has NEVER had a large black population.

Now Prop. 209 has cut deeply in the number of blacks, including black males, who attend state schools out here.

[enlightenment06]

Yeah I think the lack of Black males in higher ed definitely has something to do with it

[AKA_Monet]

Moreover, I think BGL fraternities have to give off "image" to entice interests to want to become a part of their organizations... Even WGL fraternities do it, too--IMHO...

The hardcore, step-show, Drumline kinna player thuggish set for the bruhs...

Whereas, the party-on dude, beer guzzling--and the TWINS--for the others...

ALTHOUGH most of the Greek Community KNOWS that for the most part the fraternities are not like that entirely... But it makes it difficult for outsiders to see anything else when there's movies out there, like "Old School" setting up fraternities as a prank... Or "Animal House"... Or "School Daze" for that matter...

Forget the fact that Dr. MLK was an Alpha Man, Jesse Jackson is an Omega Man, Johnny Cochrane is a Kappa man, Huey Newton was a Sigma Man and Morris Chestnut is an Iota Man...

What makes it worse it the if a bruh doesn't attend school for atheletics, then what is he there for--attitude among students, faculty and staff... So there's this whole lack of motivation fostered in these poor kids that come from difficult parts to begin with...

Hell, when I was working in at SDSU, I was ALWAYS telling folks from the 'hood that it was SOMEBODY'S J-O-B to help your kid stay off of Academic Probation in the Student Services building... Like they give extra time to learning disabled students to take tests and the way things are now, SOME folks are quick to label a brutha--mayaswell, take advantage of THAT situation...

But, that's my opinion in my parts...

[AKA2D '91]

Yeah...

The Omegas had a thread about this (decline in AA males in higher ed) a few months ago. Our guys BARELY get out of high school, so how are they going to GET INTO college?

Then, where athletics are concerned, especially basketball, many are opting to NOT attend college, if they are "talented". Let's watch as this trend increases.

[1savvydiva]

Morris Chestnut is an Iota?

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally posted by 1savvydiva
Morris Chestnut is an Iota?

Yeah, girl! I've never met an Iota like him. As a matter of fact, I've never met an Iota....

[Happydaysf91]

Soooo.....

We were actually looking at the effect of fewer AA men getting into college...thus, affecting the 'male' greek population?

But I do see it from a non-greeks perspective. If you don't run in Greek circles.....you may not run into a 'greek' ever or if all of your friends 'dislike' Greeks, don't want to be Greek or the Greeks on your campus are whack (or not a big deal)....then it can lead you to the conclusion that there is a decline.


The only decline I see really is the quality of applicants. But I think that's because 'college' is not just for the 'elite' any more. Any and everybody can attend somewhere (it may not be Havard, Yale, Stanford or etc...but you can go). Thus, we select from that pool....and sometimes the 'gate is left wide open'!!!!!

[ClassyLady]

Originally posted by enlightenment06
However it seems that when it comes to fraternities there is a decline. Many Alpha college chapters in the northeast have low membership, and there are far too many solos these days.

I am originally from the Northeast and go to school in the South. From my experiences, I can say that most of my friends who knew that they wanted to go Greek went to school in the South. They typically went to HBCUs or schools where the Greek chapters were large and very much in the forefront of campus life. Could the "decline" be due to the migration of Northeastern students to Southern schools and HBCUs (which are typically in the South)?

[FeeFee]

I attended college in NYC, and it fell under the umbrella of City Chapters of the various BGLO's, so it was no cake walk. There is only one BGLO fraternity that have a chapter at my ugrad. If you were determined to become a member, you had to do some serious researching. For the most part, the real serious interests found what and whom they were looking for and were successful in becoming members. For the others who talked about wanting to join and not actually following up, it was mainly because they didn't do what was necesssary (not researching for chapters, members, service projects, etc.). These people probably didn't look at the bigger picture and figured it was just something to do while in school. I do know of one person who became a member of a BGLO fraternity on the alumni level.

I can't speak for the menfolk, but like toocute posted previously, as far as women seeking membership on the graduate level, the interest is alive and kicking in NY/NJ. Go to any event or service project sponsored by the graduate chapters, interests are there in full swing.

[MsFoxyLoxy77]

I now think that that when it comes to the fraternities men give a more equal oppurtunity to looking at all five organizations to choose from and IMHO the differences in these groups might be becoming a little less obvious to first generation college men. My cousin told me on the outside he couldn't really see too much of a difference in the male orgs. ON MY CAMPUS one org may cut up there clothes in a sytle that is perceived to be associated with the Omega men and etc. I think the afore mentioned decline in AA males attending universities along with growing number of AA male interests who just want to be greek decreases the historic popularity that certain fraternities were perceived to have over others. For ex. now 10 qualified guys are spread out into 5 orgs where perhaps 10 used to only want to be affiliated with 2. So it then appears to be more of a decline in interest in one org.

In now think that when it comes to the sororities the perceived decline is due to an increased interest into the sororities that have always been perceived as prestigious. With more AA women attending college and more women flocking to the historically sought after organizations the inevitable rejection of some of these interests makes it appear as though ther is a greek decline. Plus because these interests are unwilling (an IMHO rightfully so) to try and gain acceptance into orgs they view in a lesser light there is a decline in the other orgs new membership and thus and overall greek decline although not an overall decline in interest. For ex. my friends mother is amember of XYZ but my friend believes that ABC is much more prestigious and will try to gain membership in that org. IMHO I think even a noticeble number of the daughters of members in UVW and/or XYZ are leaning towards interest in ABC and/or DEF.


I hope the opinion that I'm trying to convey is understood.

MsFoxyLoxy77

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by FeeFee
For the most part, the real serious interests found what and whom they were looking for and were successful in becoming members. For the others who talked about wanting to join and not actually following up, it was mainly because they didn't do what was necesssary (not researching for chapters, members, service projects, etc.). These people probably didn't look at the bigger picture and figured it was just something to do while in school. I do know of one person who became a member of a BGLO fraternity on the alumni level.

I think this statement is very true no matter the school, region of the country, or undergrad and grad.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by enlightenment06
Yeah I think the lack of Black males in higher ed definitely has something to do with it

http://greekchat.com/gcforums/showth...5&pagenumber=1


FMI...