?

[greeklawgirl]

Opening oven, inserting head.

If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, chances are its a duck. Just because Farmhouse and Ceres don't use Greek letters doesn't make them any less of a fraternity or sorority. But *technically* calling them a Greek-lettered-organization is something of a misnomer.

That's not a bad thing, its just different. That's all! Can we please stop arguing in circles now?

[PiKA2001]

All of the fraternities and sororities on campus here are all greek letter, but back in the day it was a different story. I was looking at a IFC rush program from 1949 that I found in a box in the basement of the Pike house and we had about 7 non greek letter fraternities and sororites on campus. The only one's I can recall are :
Sphinx
The Arabs

Kinda of funny cuz at Easter this year my aunt asked me if the Arabs were still really big on campus, which kind of confused me because my school has a huge arab population and my aunt isnt one to make comments like that. It wasnt later that I found out that The Arabs were actually one of the top fraternities on campus for a while. But to change the flow of conversation here, does anyones campus have a non-letter local fraternity such as the two I mentioned above?

[The_Nash]

At ASU we dont have any like that, but I know there are some at other schools like Klan Alpine

[sugar and spice]

Since this is sort of on topic, and since this thread isn't dead yet, I thought I would ask: Why is it that some sororities and fraternities (SAE and Kappa Kappa Gamma among them, I think) use the Roman goddess Minerva as a patron instead of the Greek counterpart Athena? That always struck me as really strange.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by greeklawgirl
Just because Farmhouse and Ceres don't use Greek letters doesn't make them any less of a fraternity or sorority. But *technically* calling them a Greek-lettered-organization is something of a misnomer.

Well said, girlfriend.

Originally posted by PiKA2001
Kinda of funny cuz at Easter this year my aunt asked me if the Arabs were still really big on campus, which kind of confused me because my school has a huge arab population and my aunt isnt one to make comments like that. It wasnt later that I found out that The Arabs were actually one of the top fraternities on campus for a while. But to change the flow of conversation here, does anyones campus have a non-letter local fraternity such as the two I mentioned above?

A&M has a couple, they aren't members of IFC or would even call themselves fraternities, but they act the same way as a fraternity.

If A&M wasn't such an anti-Greek campus, these organizations probably would have affiliated or joined IFC, instead they're seen as A&M's answer to fraternities, and ironically have become very frat-like.

We have
AMC- Aggie Men's Club
OL' AGS- Ol' Army Gentlemen's Society
YARMY
BYX - Brothers Under Christ
BCA - Brotherhood of Christian Aggies
One Army

they recently started a "sorority", called Maggies.

All these groups, save for the christian ones, are hypocritical IMO as they decry Greek life, then form 'fraternities'

Kitso
KS 361

[sherbertlemons]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
Since this is sort of on topic, and since this thread isn't dead yet, I thought I would ask: Why is it that some sororities and fraternities (SAE and Kappa Kappa Gamma among them, I think) use the Roman goddess Minerva as a patron instead of the Greek counterpart Athena? That always struck me as really strange.

*lol* I actually was just about to ask that!

I was looking at my Kappa Notebook, and it has an interesting quote from one of the founders. Doesn't really illuminate why they use the goddess from the Roman pantheon, but it at least shows that this is something the founders seem to have done, not a later innovation.

Here's what my Kappa notebook has to say. "In remembering the founding of the fraternity, Martha Louisa Stevenson (Miller) wrote, 'I think the thing we took most pride in was that Kappa, like Minerva from the head of Jove, sprang into life full grown and finished-nothing ever had to be changed or done over.'

Known as Minerva as the Romans, Athena by the Greeks, the likeness of her on the Coat-of-Arms is taken from Athena of Velletri, a famous statue found in the Roman city of Velletri, now displayed in the Louvre in Paris."

Now that quote definitely doesn't help much, cause the myths of the Greek pantheon definitely say that Athena sprang fully formed from Zeus' head, too. My best guess is maybe that our founders were more familiar with the Roman versions of the myths for some reason, and just happened to name her Minerva instead of Athena.

Maybe MSKKG or imsohappythatiama have a better idea? (Maybe one of them has read the history book, which maybe has an explanation?)

[KappaKittyCat]

Heehee, I've just about memorized the history book. I've PMed you with relevent info.

We've always used Minerva/Athena interchangeably. I brought back tons of Athena paraphernalia from my time in Greece.

FWIW, Phi Delta Theta also uses Minerva.

[Rio_Kohitsuji]

Originally posted by PiKA2001
But to change the flow of conversation here, does anyones campus have a non-letter local fraternity such as the two I mentioned above?

Well, here we have 2 locals that do or well..formally did.

The Archons: The changed to Alpha Chi Nu later to fit in w/the Greek-lettered look I think, but they're still called Archon's.

Athena: They were formed w/this name at the beginning, then was colonized by Phi Sigma Sigma, and are now presently Chi Omega Alpha.

[AchtungBaby80]

Originally posted by PiKA2001
But to change the flow of conversation here, does anyones campus have a non-letter local fraternity such as the two I mentioned above?

Not anymore, but my stepdad's local was called the Collegiate Knights and it was definitely a fraternity. It took them forever to find a place who would agree to make their paddles because their "letters" looked like a lambda turned on its side (to resemble a C)and a kappa, and hardly anyone was willing to flip the lambda around even though the fraternity explained over and over that they were local, not national.

[BSUPhiSig'92]

In the past, many local fraternities got around the prohibition of fraternities by many colleges by using a name that was non-Greek letter. For example, at Ball State, fraternities were banned in the early 1900s, the result of hijinx by a Greek-letter organization (involved a cow in the chapter house). When fraternities reformed again after WWI, they used names like "Navajo" and "Triangle" to get around the ban that was still on the books. Our chapter was the first to re-instate Greek letters when it was founded in 1926. Interestingly though, the prohibition did not apply to sororities, though most of the early locals only used one spelled-out Greek letter, like "Alpha" or "Delta".

[FHwku]

One, two, three and to the four, snoop doggy dogg and dr. dre is at the door. ready to make an entrance, so back on up, cause you know we're about to

there is lots of interesting information posted here. you've all done such a good jorb. but we should all be outside with our favorite verbs.
FHwku
i like DMB

[Rebel2003]

So, I'm starting school next month and I know I want to join a sorority... how do I go about it? How do I pick the one I should join?

[RedMusiq4U]

1. Ask yourself if you're ready to commit yourself totally. Make sure you know yourself and have confidence, lack of can really hurt you.

2. Research all sororities that are on your campus, so that you find the one that fits your personality and see yourself being apart of.

3. Once you've choosen your sorority, observe the ladies in action and attend all functions if your able to which will show your dedication.

4. Keep the organization of your choice in your heart, if you do i'll make becoming a member worth it!!!!

5.Do community service projects on your own before you join so that you get a sense off what service is all about.

6. Make yourself stand out, make them want you. Ask yourself what you have to offer that would make them choose you?

7. Lastly and most important: SCHOOL COMES 1ST, NEVER LET YOUR GRADES SUFFER. YOU MAKE THE SORORITY, THE SORORITY DOESN'T MAKE YOU. Once you're a member continue to do good deeds and services for your community and always remember be loyal to yourself, your Sorority and your Chapter.

Good Luck and I wish you the best, keep me posted on you progress I want to know how everything turns out.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Rebel2003
So, I'm starting school next month and I know I want to join a sorority... how do I go about it? How do I pick the one I should join?

Go check out the RUSH forum, it has a lot of great advice! Also, you can look at your schools Panhellenic and Pan-Hellenic pages.