Misconceptions about your Organization

[the411]

Originally posted by dirtymike1906:
Misconceptions vary by region. No offense to Omega, but the Ques on my campus (Midwest) WERE dumb and never graduated. I've met others from the South and East who were actually clean-cut and degreed. And I would bet money that DoggyStyle82 is from somewhere other than the Midwest. More Midwest: AKAs were all supposedly light with long hair; Zetas were fat women with kids; Deltas were rough and thuggish (like their bros were thought to be); Sigmas were nerds (We're always shocked when we see a Sigma football player from a Southern school on TV; Kappas light and arrogant.

I thought long and hard about responding to this topic because I just hate it when we (as black greeks) dwell on negative stereotypes, generalizations, and misconceptions, ESPECIALLY in public forums. We say we hate them, and yet, I think we perpetuate and buy into them by constantly talking about them--and for GDIs to see, at that. If we REALLY, TRULY know/believe that these misconceptions are falsities and regressive pigeonholes, then why keep sharing them with people on the outside looking in? That's my $19.13 on that.

Now, in defense of the Suns of Blood & Thunder:

dirtymike1906, I don't know which part of the Midwest YOU'RE in, but the state of OHIO (and I'm quite confident referring to brothers statewide) boasts some of THE most educated, intelligent, adept, talented, posh, genteel, articulate, well-rounded, respectful, God-fearing, dynamic, powerful, and yes-- DiSTinguished BLACK MEN that God has blessed the earth with! Some of them are so TOGETHER, that I am actually giddy and nervous around 'em!

Yes, some of the bruz can get down-right wild, lewd, and renegade in social settings (like I've seen many other black greeks do), but in my experiences they've been touched with an extraordinary capacity to know when to kick it, and when to be 'bout the biz. Example: As a whole, the Alpha Chapter bruz are so edified and debonaire, that in their presence, Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, AND Colin Powell, would come across as thugs! I would name more phenomenal chapters and members (like DoggyStyle82), but ALAS! I haven't the time or the space! 'Tis a true MAN who can BE OUTrageous when he kicks it and OUTstanding in everything else he does! For more information regarding the MAGNIFICENCE of the Omega Man, feel free to revel in the lyrics of my tribute to them: http://myweb.ecomplanet.com/FOFL3340...custompage0016

As far as not graduating goes-- I will follow in the footsteps left by Doggy's sparkling gold boots, and refrain from providing proof of academic failures of members/chapters of other BGLOs, including my beloved DST. FACT IS---we ALL have members who fall short of their goals both in and out of the classroom. Instead of being critical of that person and/or judging their org, we should review the stats of our own org as proof that a saddening high number of black greeks as a whole aren't graduating or maintaining a good academic status; as supposedly "educated" members of elite organizations, we should focus on the cause, resolution, and prevention of that, and not on which BGLO has the highest number of non-degreed members. Many of our very own current members (the very ones we made and spec'd) would NEVER have been granted membership some decades ago! Why are we bringing in people who can't graduate? Why are we not helping them along the way? This is a BLACK issue--not a black greek issue. If I knew that an AKA, SGRho, or Zeta was in academic trouble, I'd want to help because she's my black sister! I wouldn't sit idly by and watch it happen, only later to joke about how dumb and uneducated her org's members are.

In conclusion, I am professionally employed at a large, major institution of higher education, and I know FOR FACT that some chapters "bend rules" and "edit transcripts" in order that certain people are allowed to pursue membership. This isn't to say that our ORGANIZATIONS don't stick to the academic guidelines--it's to say that some of US (as members) don't.

And I'm Out!

the411

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[This message has been edited by the411 (edited May 08, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by the411 (edited May 08, 2001).]

[AKA2D '91]

Take it down a few notches, Sister/Moderator in Greekdom. LOL

"It ain't about all that!"

[The Original Ape]

Originally posted by DoggyStyle82:
ORIGINAL APE: I am not trying to put out any misconceptions. If anything that I said is wrong, you are here to correct me. I know for ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY that the Sphinxmen who pledged the same time as me, did not all have a 2.5. Now maybe that was a chapter thing or exceptions to the 2.5 were possible. But I also know for certain that my facts are correct because I knew each pledgee of each pledge class when I pledged (all the Black students knew each other) .I knew the guys who went on with less than 2.5 GPAs because that was a big sticking point, especially at a PWCU.

Now I see your point. I got the impression you were speaking nationally. If not, I stand corrected.

And as you know, the best heads out heya are 'OLDHEADS'.

[the411]

Oh yeah-- I feel you AKA2D'91! Nuttin' but love for "errybody." But, I just couldn't let anyone diss my bruz! Bet not nobody say nuttin' bad 'bout the bruz!


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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE

[AKA2D '91]

eh he he

We ain't gone say all that now!

[This message has been edited by AKA2D '91 (edited May 08, 2001).]

[pretty3grl]

Just jumping off of AKA2D's post, I did not know that other organizations had a national GPA requirement below 2.5 until I met my husband (he is a Kappa). He told me that their's is a 2.25, and when I was in school it was a 2.0. The GPA requirement for Alpha Kappa Alpha has been 2.5 for as long as I can remember, no exceptions (or rounding, or anything else).

[BLUEHEAVEN]

First....Thanks for all the greeks out there who have squashed the silly stereotype thing...it gets really annoying.


Second...if there continues to be a problem with GPA...maybe a constant should be set by the National Pan-Hellenic Council that ALL orgs agree on..be it high or low...I dont think that is too harsh a thought...I know as far as Tuskegee was concerned, it didnt matter if your National had a lower GPA, the school's GPA was a 2.5 and most orgs looked above that for requirements.

[jali0004]

Alpha Kappa Alpha does not accept anyone without a C+ or better. It doesn't say anywhere in our constititution about 2.5 GPA. Many schools (including my own) have diifferent scores for various letter grades. At my school, a C+ is a 2.3.



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"I am not yet the author of my life; I am still it's unenlightened protagonist"
---Unknown

[AKA2D '91]

Soror,

What is the GPA that YOUR chapter placed as a requirement? a 2.3?

[AlphaChiGirl]

I've always heard the stereotype that Kappas are smart. This is something I heard before I got to school, so it's not particular to my campus.

But to the GPA thing...a 2.0 isn't really that good. I know the NPC has a GPA cut-off (my school doesn't calculate grade-point average, so it doesn't apply to us)that is comparatively high. Many college websites have the Greek GPAs on the Greek Life pages...has anyone seen those?

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by AlphaChiGirl:
...a 2.0 isn't really that good.

I agree. In MY house growing up, it wasn't either!

[pretty3grl]

I know that the guidelines read C+, but I always equated that to 2.5 because we were on a 4 point system. I stand corrected. I don't know about other sorors in here, but if you came to rush at my undergrad chapter with a 2.5, you could forget it. I served 2 years as a grad advisor, and we never had anyone selected who had less than a 3.0. They held the campus GPA award, and everyone knew it. Prospectives knew that their GPA had to be on point before they even submitted.

[AKA2D '91]

Soror Pretty3girl, it wasn't "written" in stone, but "we" knew what the "deal" was. If you know what I mean.

[pretty3grl]

LOL @ AKA2D!

[the411]

Personally, I think 2.5 is too low. I understand that a 2.5 at one school may be the equivalent of a 3.0 at another, but I still think we should be aiming for students with above average academics. Members would then have to practically fail an entire semester/quarter to not be in good academic standing. And, maybe a higher GPA requirement would weed out the need for caps in those areas where lines of 30, 40, and 50+ are so common. Of course, I pledged at a tiny, tiny school with under 100 blacks total, so the NPHC chapters there almost NEED the 2.5 GPA requirement to stay afloat. For DST, lots of research has gone into the GPA thing, so it seems to be the logical choice. My proposal is 2.75 for everyone. But I digress...

And I'm Out.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Pi Kappa, SP97
#3 of QUINTESSENCE