Parents Have a Negative Image of Greeks - Page 3

sailboatgirl · #1 05-30-2002, 02:53 PM

I'm the alumnae financial advisor for Tri Sigma at NSU and we do not have anything that parents have to sign.

DeltAlum · #2 05-31-2002, 04:34 PM

Just...

No, I didn't have that impression from you, but some of the advice was to just go ahead and rush/pledge and not tell your parents.

I'm pleased you've had the conversation, even if it wasn't a happy one.

Tom Earp · #3 05-31-2002, 05:43 PM

Just, I posted this on another thread!

I and many others on this thread are Alums who are still involved with their Organizations! Why your parents might ask?

Simply what IT GAVE US while in School and in the after life of school!

Let them read some greekchat threads if you can and maybe they will find out for them selves!

We all who have been around from the newest Active to the Most Mature ALUM ( ME ) are still working to make and keep not only a good thing, but one of the Greatest things in our lives!

Yes, as Greeks, we strive to do better that the average, as we hold higher standards than the Schools we attend, I do not know what else I can tell You but do it !!!!!!!!

Yes we require more from our menbers than the schools!

We do more for charity, Homecoming, and participation the the Norm

I am for one am still involved since 1965 andwill be invlolved to my death! I Love what I did, what I had, and what I have!

justhey76 · #4 06-04-2002, 12:34 PM

Dad found the "chi o secrets revealed" site or whatever it is. (im not gonna post the url bc i dont think i should be encouraging people to go there). anyone who knows about this site do you know how valid the information that the girl has printed is? my parents are also very religious, and the girl who made the site made it seem like sororities and fraternities are all pagan devil worshipers or something and there was no way you could be greek and christian. i know that is not true, in fact, i know that many greek orgs were founded on christian ideals, etc. anyways. just an update. hopefully it will blow over....

thetakates · #5 06-04-2002, 01:45 PM

I would have to agree that most fraternities and sororities are founded on Christian ideals as well as ideals of Brotherhood and Sisterhood.

33girl · #6 06-04-2002, 02:23 PM

justhey, if you really want, there are no shortage of people on this board (and in the Greek community in general) who will be happy to email your dad and inform him that particular site is full of....well, not secrets.

RockChalk · #7 06-04-2002, 03:38 PM

*voice of experience* Don't skip rush just because your parents said to. You'll regret it.

FuzzieAlum · #8 06-04-2002, 03:39 PM

If a group of founders were of a certain religious persuasion (which isn't secret), it's no surprise that their religious beliefs are reflected in their high ideals. But to what extent is something that you probably can't tell unless you're initiated, although sometimes it's more obvious that others.

Eg: Sigma Chi's symbol is a cross. ZBT advertises itself on the national website as "the nation's largest historically Jewish fraternity with over 50 years of non-sectarian brotherhood. It doesn't take much to figure out that Sigma Chi was influenced by Christian ideals and ZBT by Jewish ones (not that they're far different, but if I was placing bets, I'd be pretty surprised to see references to Jesus in the ZBT ritual!)

It's not just religion: Phi Mu seems to place more of an emphasis on femininity than other sororities, perhaps because of its old Southern origions. And Phi Sigma Sigma was deliberately founded to be inclusive, perhaps because it was founded on a diverse campus to begin with.

But of course as I am a member of none of these organizations, I don't know how far those influences extend, nor will I ever know.

That doesn't change the fact that on certain campuses certain chapters are known as "Jewish" or anything else - be it "pretty" or "unpopular" - and that in some cases this may not align with their national reputation.

NoShame_Gamma · #9 06-04-2002, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justhey76
They honestly think that Greeks are just all about being totally wild. They believe that I will pledge, and suddenly all of my morals will go down the drain, and I will turn into a skank (pardon), my grades will be awful, I will drink all the time, and I will become snobby, rude, and materialistic. THAT IS REALLY WHAT THEY THINK BEING GREEK IS ALL ABOUT!!!!!!!! I don’t know how to change their minds.

My organization is "non-traditional" (latina based), and many Latino parents, especially the more traditional, tied to their customs parents don't understand what Sororities and Fraternities are all about. That's why my org hosts a parents informational night for the parents of PNM. It's really great. It's somewhat informal, usually ends up with a barbecue and everybody getting to know each other better.

It's a good idea, but sometimes it's hard to get all the parents together because of location. In those cases, we put together an information packet and mail it out.

Maybe other organizations already do this, maybe it's something they can start doing. Hope this helps.

Tink16 · #10 06-11-2002, 07:24 PM

Your post sounds so familiar. I accepted a bid last year and my mom went totally crazy so I didn't pledge. Almost a year later, I still want to join the same sorority. So, I'm doing the same thing as you: researching, and getting up the nerve to ask again. I know that I'll be paying for most of the dues (all of it after the first semester). All of my friends and some of my mom's support my decision. I've also thought about just going through it without telling my mom, but I feel bad.

I know this: I don't want to get out of college regretting that I didn't go Greek....Hang in there (as will I). We'll get through this. PM me if you ever want to share your experiences.

#11 06-12-2002, 12:00 AM

[COLOR=blue]Yo, I know it's really gonna be tough if you do it without your parents knowing but if you really want to go greek, You gotta do what you gotta do.
I knew my parents were against me pledging because they thought it was a CULT!!!

sooooooooooo I never mentioned sororities again. I rushed and pledged on the low and when I came home with my letters on my parents kept asking me why I had symbols on my clothes. LMAO
At this point I had to tell them that I pledged... Hey I'm still alive and kickin'

Besides I'm so happy be a PHI SIG!!! I think I'd kick myself If I didn't pledge. It was hard knowing that some of my pledgesisters had their parents backing them, but now that it's done, my parents know that I'm not wild or crazy at all.
Follow your HEART!!! Your parents will get over it. They love you.
Good Luck Ya'll!

Tink16 · #12 06-12-2002, 12:44 AM

Hey my mom mentioned that CULT thing too. dumb.

KappaTarzan · #13 06-15-2002, 02:20 PM

i'm sure you have heard this exact advice 20 times but here it goes...

just explain to them the virtues of greek life. rush, and let your potential new GLO talk to them, usually they will do a parent newsletter, we even did a dinner. it will all work out if you try