California Greeks!

[dukedg]

Originally Posted by LucyKKG

The school is just really anti-Greek. Apparently, they sent out letters a few decades ago basically telling Greek orgs they weren't interested (Stay away!). Wtf? I guess the main reason is that UCSC isn't supportive of the Greek system. At least the didn't "phase it out" like Santa Clara! The fraternities and sororities there can't even write "Santa Clara University" on a shirt with their letters on it. Lame!

I noticed that once Santa Clara stopped recognizing the sororities on campus, their numbers shot through the roof and they added another chapter. Not sure why, but it actually seemed to be a benefit there.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

Yeah California's establishment is pretty against Greeks. They (administrators and legislators) see Greeks as elitist, snobby, rich, and into hazing.

Our school is pretty neutral towards Greeks (until it's time to ask for donations from alumni) but they are adding more and more ridiculous regulations regarding parties (hiring more cops ($100 an hour per cop), hiring fire marshals at $300 an hour), grades, and faculty advisors. I guess the grades and faculty advisors are really that ridiculous.

I think Greek life exists in California...it's just subdued and having letters doesn't make you automatically awesome like it seems to in the South.

Oh well still love California anyway

San Jose State - another anti-greek administration, from what I've heard. So that's YOUR experience...there are certainly several schools in Calif. with greek systems that are supported by the administration, and where joining a GLO IS the way to go.

[LucyKKG]

UCSC is mostly residential. Most students are Californians, but they live in SC while studying here.

And you're right about Santa Clara. They added another NPC after the school stopped supporting Greeks. DUH!

[KyleMcGuire1983]

Well what's sad is that we only have 10 IFC fraternities, 5 NPC sororities, and I think like 6 out of the NPHC 9. Thirty years ago we had triple those numbers.

[bejazd]

Originally Posted by KyleMcGuire1983

Well what's sad is that we only have 10 IFC fraternities, 5 NPC sororities, and I think like 6 out of the NPHC 9. Thirty years ago we had triple those numbers.

I wouldn't look at it as "sad" it's just different. Times change, campuses change, we have to adapt to stay relevent and attract growth. Look at how many more options Calif students have now than they did 30 years ago. The fact that there are 2 NPCs at UC Santa Cruz is a great sign! Look at the growth at schools like Sonoma State, Sacramento, UCSD and even the private schools like Stanford, Pepperdine and Chapman. None of those schools had much in the way of greek life 30 years ago!

[southernfrat]

Originally Posted by banditone

gangs.

hahaha...that is hilarious. probably is true though because of all the "gangsters" out there.

[bejazd]

Yeah, like these gangstas from Long Beach. Watch out for those Notorious GPhiBs.

[SWTXBelle]

We are not a gang . . .we are a club.

[LucyKKG]

Haha Notorious GPhiBs! I love it! My nephew is named Gavin, and we've started calling him Notorious G-A-V.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by aeda

for the long beach picture of the gamma phis is that the whole chapter or just the new pledge class?

Seeing as how there are stars over some girls faces (most likely Rho Gammas) I'm going to assume it's the whole chapter and the girls down in front with tote bags are most likely the NMs.

[LAblondeGPhi]

I'm also a California Greek, having graduated UCLA a few years ago. To me, the Greek system is decently strong in California, though I could be biased because Gamma Phi Beta has almost twenty chapters throughout the state. I therefore felt that there was a large, strong sisterhood nearby.

I do think that many Greeks in California are less fanatical (fanatical in a good way) about their membership than in other areas of the country. I know I've experienced mixed views on my fanaticism, both from other Greeks and non-Greeks, both in and post-college.

Since I've also participated in pageants, I think there's a good analogy between the perception of pageants and sororities throughout the country. In the South, these two activities are highly encouraged, trained for, and competitive. In California, the system is still robust, but you'll see a lower percentage of eligible women actually participating, and the experience is often more relaxed. When I went through recruitment, I had no recs and no idea what I was doing - I even missed a day of rush because I just didn't know it'd be a big deal!

Back to the main point - there are plenty of schools in Southern California with strong and long-established Greek systems. I'm less familiar with the Northern CA Greek climate, though I have heard that UC-Santa Cruz is one of the less traditional Greek systems in the state. Most of my friends from high school wound up Greek at schools such as USD, Chapman, CSU-Fullerton, CSU-Long Beach, USC, UCLA, UC-Santa Barbara, and UC-Irvine. So to me, that's a pretty strong statement about Greek life if so many men and women, who went to so many different campuses, went Greek.

[Football Fan]

Lucy,
There are around 44 campuses in California that have NPC sororities. The two oldest women's Greek systems are at the Univ. of California at Berkeley and Stanford University. Some of the groups at Cal have remained for over 100 years.
Greeks are welcomed at some campuses and play a small social part at others. However, there are universities which have opened to Greek expansion in recent years such as: Loyola/Marymount, Pepperdine, Chapman and Occidental.

[redryder27]

cal poly has a competitive rush also being that almost 800 to 1000 girls come out for 8 sororities. tri-delt, gamma phi, sigma kappa, a-chi-o, chi omega, a-o-pi, alpha phi, and kappa alpha theta.

[Football Fan]

Bette,
Delta Delta Delta has been at CSULB continuously since 1955. CSULB was a much smaller university at that time.

[bejazd]

Delta Zeta, Tri Delta, Delta Gamma, Alpha Phi, Gamma Phi Beta and Alpha Omicron Pi have all been at CSULB continously since they chartered in the late 50's to mid 60's. Sigma Kappa returned to campus about 1987. A lot of the fraternities have come and gone but overall, they have a pretty solid greek system!

CSULB really took off in terms of student population in the mid 70s. It's a beautiful campus with lots of blooming cherry trees, fountains, some outdoor art that is funky and open to interpretation...and an ocean view from some parts of the upper campus!

CSULB was recently noted by Princeton Review as one of the top three "best bang for your buck" universities nationwide. Some of the notable alums include Denise Austin, Richard and Karen Carpenter, Mark OMeara, Linda Dano and...my personal favorite, Steve Martin!