NPHC Secretiveness, Insularity, Etc.

[nwu43]

[quote=ChildoftheHorn;1495595]

There is not unity. There are quite a few people pushing for it, but IMO people have retained many of the prejudices against the Orgs. (this is a two way street).

Hmmm... do you remember that "famous" NU daily article written awhile back?

Mocking Diversity's Promise
(and everyone else should take a look at this too.. it's.. interesting)

"The lead article in The Daily's final issue of fall 2006 focused on declining black enrollment since the 1970s. Apparently NU is in some sort of crisis - there aren't enough blacks here. For now, this isn't our crisis. Our crisis is that blacks and other minorities do not spend enough time in any context with other races (and vice versa). Increasing the enrollment ratio of any race will not increase the interaction between different races and backgrounds. If NU were to eliminate social groups that construct themselves on race or a "cultural history," it would be the first step to resolving this crisis."

This article was written by a member of an IFC fraternity, basically calling for NPHC and MGC greeks to disappear, and from what I remember he wasn't the only one that held this opinion. Besides one guy from his fraternity that joined "our" cause in protest, most of the guys in his house totally agreed with him.

The NPHC and MGC greeks held a unity rally to protest, and apparently the guys in that house called our rally "bullshit" (this is a direct quote from the fraternity member who sided with us and overheard it). Other IFC greeks seemed to hold similar feelings about us. Of course, that is just from what I hear... but still, I'm pretty sure there's some truth to that. At end of our rally we held an event at Norris where everyone could discuss the issue and make speeches etc..., and some ignorant **** dressed in a bunny costume ran by trying to distract us and mock us.

It's kind of hard for us to want to work toward unity with mainstream Greeks when it seems like they really don't like us

[nwu43]

Btw, I know that he was writing for unity and more interaction between different races, but his definition of unity is much much different.. (kinda like the perfect Greek world would be all races in IFC frats). Although in a strange way I feel like not 100% of his article is completely bs, and I feel terrible about it...

[nwu43]

Sorry, I'm not trying to hijack this thread. But just for fun, I'd like you guys to note the irony of his final paragraph.

[ChildoftheHorn]

Tehe -- there are a lot of member here who are from NU....I didnt think there were many -- but I was surprised!

[DSTRen13]

[QUOTE=nwu43;1496293]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

Hmmm... do you remember that "famous" NU daily article written awhile back?

Mocking Diversity's Promise
(and everyone else should take a look at this too.. it's.. interesting)

"The lead article in The Daily's final issue of fall 2006 focused on declining black enrollment since the 1970s. Apparently NU is in some sort of crisis - there aren't enough blacks here. For now, this isn't our crisis. Our crisis is that blacks and other minorities do not spend enough time in any context with other races (and vice versa). Increasing the enrollment ratio of any race will not increase the interaction between different races and backgrounds. If NU were to eliminate social groups that construct themselves on race or a "cultural history," it would be the first step to resolving this crisis."

This article was written by a member of an IFC fraternity, basically calling for NPHC and MGC greeks to disappear, and from what I remember he wasn't the only one that held this opinion. Besides one guy from his fraternity that joined "our" cause in protest, most of the guys in his house totally agreed with him.

The NPHC and MGC greeks held a unity rally to protest, and apparently the guys in that house called our rally "bullshit" (this is a direct quote from the fraternity member who sided with us and overheard it). Other IFC greeks seemed to hold similar feelings about us. Of course, that is just from what I hear... but still, I'm pretty sure there's some truth to that. At end of our rally we held an event at Norris where everyone could discuss the issue and make speeches etc..., and some ignorant **** dressed in a bunny costume ran by trying to distract us and mock us.

It's kind of hard for us to want to work toward unity with mainstream Greeks when it seems like they really don't like us

So basically the only way to be unified is to all be the same???

[SWTXBelle]

To interject another perspective here - one of the things I valued about my sisterhood was the fact that I was NOT in a group where we were all the same. I had sisters of different races, majors, ages, interests, and I think it was a very good thing.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

To interject another perspective here - one of the things I valued about my sisterhood was the fact that I was NOT in a group where we were all the same. I had sisters of different races, majors, ages, interests, and I think it was a very good thing.

I wasn't trying to say that everyone in an NPC/IFC group is all the same. I was responding to the article, and anyone else who believes that there is no need for NPHC, MGC, or any other groups outside of NPC/IFC groups - that these groups are the key to unity and the existence of other groups detracts from it.

We can be unified without all being the same. If you can do it within a sorority, you can do it within Greek life in general.

[ChildoftheHorn]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

I wasn't trying to say that everyone in an NPC/IFC group is all the same.

I actually believe that there is a genuine NEED for MGC and NPHC groups. They do a lot to help preserve and improve those issues facing their community. Without them, there would be silience about a lot of things. Also, it preserves the culture to which the organization associates itself with.

Believe me, if the MGC and NPHC were gone tommorrow, they would be missed and needed.

It isn't about race, its about culture and pride in that culture.

Who better to address the needs of a culture than those within it?

Plus, who would throw all the cool events they do w/o them?

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Otherwise it just sounds like she's a neo running off at the mouth about a lot of things she doesn't know about.

Harking back to my previous post in this thread...

This is EXACTLY what I mean. No, that's NOT joking. That is someone saying that her opinion doesn't count because she's newer in her sorority. Guess what? It doesn't work like that in the NPC. Yes, we listen to the older members and respect their decisions, but they also allow us the same respect. It goes both ways. Being young does not mean you're stupid.

Senusret I: I enjoy reading your posts quite a bit, and I think you often have something good to say, but your reply to my previous post was [I think] off the mark a little, yet at the same time exemplified what I was trying to convey. I shouldn't have to go talk to a Greek Life administrator to understand your group. You should be representing yourselves in a way that doesn't make people think of you in a negative light, or have to go off rumors or hearsay to get information. If it was more readily available, and the process was less secretive, you wouldn't have that. [I'm using the word 'you' in a broad sense here, by the way. Just meaning a variety of NPHC groups.]

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Harking back to my previous post in this thread...

This is EXACTLY what I mean. No, that's NOT joking. That is someone saying that her opinion doesn't count because she's newer in her sorority. Guess what? It doesn't work like that in the NPC. Yes, we listen to the older members and respect their decisions, but they also allow us the same respect. It goes both ways. Being young does not mean you're stupid.

Senusret I: I enjoy reading your posts quite a bit, and I think you often have something good to say, but your reply to my previous post was [I think] off the mark a little, yet at the same time exemplified what I was trying to convey. I shouldn't have to go talk to a Greek Life administrator to understand your group. You should be representing yourselves in a way that doesn't make people think of you in a negative light, or have to go off rumors or hearsay to get information. If it was more readily available, and the process was less secretive, you wouldn't have that. [I'm using the word 'you' in a broad sense here, by the way. Just meaning a variety of NPHC groups.]

fantASTic..... I strongly suggest talking to someone more knowledgeable in real life, like a Greek affairs administrator. I think that what you see on GC and what you experience in real life are valid, but I think it takes something a little "extra" to understand certain nuances about how and why we do things the way we do them. I suggest an administrator because they have the experience and the patience to explain things a little better than we probably will.

That was precisely what my answer to you was. If that's off the mark, then you just don't want to learn more in the first place.

As for the rest of your remarks, well I really don't want to have to hurt your feelings.

[kathykd2005]

The whole purpose of this thread is lost to me. All of our organizations are secretive, and all members of our organizations I'm sure, get defensive when there is negative press associated with the sisterhood or brotherhood that is near and dear to our hearts. That isn't weird--that just means that the people in the organization want to guard it from harm. Do we go around telling everyone how to get into our organizations? No. Is that odd? No. Only people within the organization should know everything about it.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by kathykd2005

The whole purpose of this thread is lost to me. All of our organizations are secretive, and all members of our organizations I'm sure, get defensive when there is negative press associated with the sisterhood or brotherhood that is near and dear to our hearts. That isn't weird--that just means that the people in the organization want to guard it from harm. Do we go around telling everyone how to get into our organizations? No. Is that odd? No. Only people within the organization should know everything about it.

Now that I can agree with.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Harking back to my previous post in this thread...

This is EXACTLY what I mean. No, that's NOT joking. That is someone saying that her opinion doesn't count because she's newer in her sorority. Guess what? It doesn't work like that in the NPC. Yes, we listen to the older members and respect their decisions, but they also allow us the same respect. It goes both ways. Being young does not mean you're stupid.

Senusret I: I enjoy reading your posts quite a bit, and I think you often have something good to say, but your reply to my previous post was [I think] off the mark a little, yet at the same time exemplified what I was trying to convey. I shouldn't have to go talk to a Greek Life administrator to understand your group. You should be representing yourselves in a way that doesn't make people think of you in a negative light, or have to go off rumors or hearsay to get information. If it was more readily available, and the process was less secretive, you wouldn't have that. [I'm using the word 'you' in a broad sense here, by the way. Just meaning a variety of NPHC groups.]

No one ever said that newer means stupid. It does, however, mean that you do not know as much as older members about the ways of your organization and Greek life in general - no matter what org you're in.

If you really do want to understand another group, then who better to go to than a Greek Life admin? They're going to (ideally) be knowledgeable and unbiased, and if you are looking for deeper info, then seems to me, that'd be an excellent resource. That kind of information isn't going to just be out there to absorb casually off the streets - I certainly don't know very much about the membership process of NPC sororities! If I wanted to know, I would ask someone like a Greek Life admin about it. I wouldn't expect members to just throw that info in my face as I encounter them in day-to-day activities.

And as for the whole "negative light" comment - okay, some NPC/IFC Greeks chose to look down on other groups out of ignorance. And some GDIs (and yes, it's true, NPHC, MGC, and other Greeks) look down on NPC/IFC Greeks out of ignorance as well. So in your opinion the burden should be with the group who is being falsely perceived, rather than those who aren't educating themselves? Why? And what are you, as an NPC Greek, doing to change others' false perception of YOUR group?

[ladygreek]

Something that I think has been lost here is the fact while there are certainly first time college attendees in families, in many there are not. Because of the alumni/alumnae system in the NPHC many attendees are already quite aware of the NPHC orgs--either through family members, school teachers, neighbors, family friends, etc. And the latter four categories quite often apply even to first time college goers in a family.

My Mom joined Delta as an alumnae initiate the same month I graduated from high school. But I had been exposed to all of the D4 from my Godmother, teachers, advisors counselors, etc. And even from the events that were held in the community.

To be honest I haven't been approached by anyone who knew absolutely nothing about my org or others. So when it does happen I suspect it surprises folx. And again not to mention that some of our orgs have strict rules about engaging in conversation with a prospect about the org. Not because of secrecy, but because of legal liabity. And yes we have had young ladies try to sue when they were not accepted on the grounds that the sorority member they talked to led them to believe that they were qualified and would be accepted.

[AKA_Monet]

The Original Poster stated a bias we in the NPHC hear all the time. Basically judging us because he or she feels that we do not have our act together and we ought to be competing against all GLO's to jock for members.

The irony is that someone on the outside of the NPHC would indirectly pay us a compliment to think that we can "steal" potential members away from other GLO's. The FACT is most in the NPHC could give a crippa-crap about "jockeying" for members who choose not to be a part of us. I don't want to accept a girl who rushed ALL the NPC's, then migrated to the MCGLO's talking out of both sides of her mouth, then finally decides and wakes up on day that she wants to be a member of my Sorority. OH HAYLE NO!!!

We need decisive members. Preferably those who came to college to wish they are fine and unique and so petit to those who want to be greek. If one chooses to pursue membership it will be "written in his or her heart".

But I guess, nowadays EVERY kid wants things handed to them on a platter...

Boy, are they in for a rude awakening...