NPHC: Are they Hypocrites?

[MafiaCSUS]

I do not think it is always selling out. I can think of two examples. 1) If a person becomes prominent in their feild and holds the ideals of your organization close to their heart, why not initiate them? I don't think organizations are going to initiate honoraries just because they are famous. 2) My chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon has an honorary named Ward Connerly. Whether you agree with his opinions or not is besides the point.. he is a HUGE national political figure on the issue of Affirmative Action. When he went to my school, we were local Delta Phi Omega... soon after he graduated, we became national Sigma Phi Epsilon. A couple decades after this, the brothers asked Ward Connerly if he would like to be an honorary member of SigEp. We did this because he had done a lot for us, including breaking color barriers that a lot of Greek organizations had in those days.(he joined in the late fifties). He loved DPO and he was in no doubt a SigEp man. By the way, we dont consider "honoraries" to be honorary... if you think about it, all of us should feel honored to be in the group. Therefore, Mr.Connerly is a brother.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by showstopper_1908:
I saw this old topic and there were a few things that I wanted to add to it. Just to set the record straight, the only reason why Oprah denied Honorary membership into a BGLO is because she did not want her choice to alienate women who are members of the other organizations. She wanted to become a member of an organization very badly (maybe because she has many family members in this organization) but she felt doing so would be bad public relations.

Soror, is this REALLY true? Because I remember VIVIDLY that Oprah had a show a few years ago about hazing/pledging among fraternities and sororities. On this particular show, she had members of Kappa Alpha Psi on there that had something to do with a mishap on a campus in Missouri. Anyway, she "pretended" that she did not understand how one could "harm" another person yada, yada, yada (you know that whole bit).

I tripped because Oprah attended TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY during the days when folks were walking the "line" etc in front of EVERYONE. So, I didn't understand how she could say that that whole "greek" experience was foreign to her.

Now, you say, she wanted to become a member of an greek lettered organization. I'm really SHOCKED!

[showstopper_1908]

Yes Soror AKA2D '91, from what I hear Oprah has family members in our organization and this is what has turned her on to it. I did not see that episode of her show but I can only imagine that she was putting herself in the shoes of the middle-aged, middle class white women in the audience (most of her audience) by saying that she was clueless about pledging.

[D.E.M.4's]

Let me see...You asked about the difference between an Honorary member and a member that pledged and why we (Divine Nine BGLOs) get upset or have an issue with deciphering between "skaters" and Honorary members. Honorary members are people that are approached by our respectful organizations because they have showed a great commitment and responsibility for their community. That in itself, is "PLEDGING." Those that get up at 6 in the morning on Thanksgiving Day to go feed the Homeless know what I am talking about. Money is not the issue. If we keep our eye on a man/woman that has done so much for their community then we may approach them. I would like you to look at it from both sides it is an honor for us to have them in our organizations as well as an honor for them to be approached by us(excluding KAPsi. They do not nor will they ever have Honorary membership as my greek brother MandigoNupe has stated.)

Now when you have someone that wants to be a member of our organizations and doesn't do S@#T to get in the org you are called a skater, ("Like the Olympians that do a double axle.") We may not want to a admit but some of them will slip through the cracks. It hurts the rest of us because we have done so much work for the organization that we love so much and hold so true to our hearts that WE have every damn right to be upset or have an issue with those that just skate into an organization.

My last comment was directed towards the love I have for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and not at you Mojo or anyone else individually. I hope this answers one of your many question.

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"If you know from whence you came there is no limit to where you can go." 'Frederick Douglas'

[This message has been edited by D.E.M.4's (edited May 23, 2001).]

[Imhotep1906]

I don't know if this is valid or anything but I was once told that usually honorary members do have the priviledge to "work" for their memberships if they choose. I don't know how many actually do but I know it's somewhat of a fact.

[ENDROAD]

Though, I am not a member of an NPHC if I may be so humbled to post the knowledge I do have on this topic, This is an older topic but I have to say that I know for a fact that Rosa Parks is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha as well as Elenor Rosevelt, as mentioned in the above threads, these women were/not are not money banks for the organizations but representative of the philantrophy (sp?) of the organization. Rosa Parks (need I say more), Eleanor Rosevelt (a fine example of selfless giving), this is what makes a person eligible for honorary membership, if one so declines then that is there choice as well. I am not a member of any greek letter organization but strive to become part of one in particular. I have waited a long time and am not sure how much longer I will have to wait. But I will be honored IF I am selected and I will have the same respect for the honorary members as I will for the members who actually pledged in the 70's and 80's and the members who come through the process mandated by the Board of Nationals. Much Love!!!!!

[prettydeltagirl]

i just want want to know something. i mean i am not trying to be smart or anything but mojo if you are not greek, why do you care about honororary members or how people treat skaters or whatever? i mean if you are not greek what bearing does this have on your life? i was just wondering.


now i respect your opinion and you are entitled to it. if you do a little research you will see that ALL honorary members of these organizations are not necessarily rich and famous. as said before some are just intelligent hardworking people who do great things in the communities.

please do not assume that all greeks in nphc organizations treat skaters(or whatever) in a bad way or that all greeks embrace the idea of honorary members. some greeks dislike the idea of anyone walking into their organization no matter what title they bear. then some respect all those that work hard in the name of their org. no matter how they go they letters.

thats just my $19.13 cents.

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#4 Whispers
Nu Eta Citywide Collegiate chapter. In Gary, Indiana! Its a Mighty Midwest Thang!


"Unite to turn America around and stand invincible in the rightousness of our convictions" "If not us who, and if not now, when?"-Mona Humphries Bailey

[justmyo]

Sir,I will try to the best of my ability to answer your question since you stated no one has. The difference between honorary membership and regular membership is obvious.First of all I must explain that I do not believe in the seperation of members by terms like "skaters,Paper,Slipped through",especially by people who are not members themselves.No matter how illegally you pledged,this does not give you more rights and priveledges than someone who entered the organization the proper way according to the National rules and regulations.
Honorary membership is bestowed upon a person who has been chosen by the National body for membership.My Fraternity has not initiated a Honorary member since the late sixties.The reason for membership has never been for money as you mentioned,nor has it been for fame.All the hard work is usually done by the un-song heroes.Those Men and Women who volunteer their time and effort to do things for others.Yes it's great to have a list of "Famous Members",every web site has one,but it's not the famous people who are at the soup lines or who are cleaning up the highways or tutoring our children after school.
If you were to become a member of one of these fine organizations you would see things differently,even today with the elimination of hard-core pledging it is still a task to become a member.Let us not judge each other by the negative things of the past.With the advent of Membership Intake Process,we are only just beginning to catch up with our White counterparts.
Every member of this great Organization that we belong to are Honored to be members,so in essence we are all Honorary members.Lets not try to lessen an individuals worth by implying that they are less of a member than thyself.Be a person pledged in the dark ages when the average was twenty weeks,was made an Honorary member at a National Convention,or came through the MIP,there membership is equal.
It's time we stopped trying to tear each other down,and try to bring all our organizations up.We can use these forums for the betterment of all Greeks or we can continue to assassinate each other.It will always be an honor or me to wear my letters(yes I did pledge above ground)and I will acknowledge my Brothers no matter who they can in.