What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Interesting, because it was the late 60s early 70s during which BGLOs grew in leaps and bounds. New chapters we being chartered all over the place.

This whole thread is interesting to me and very informative. I will say that BGLOs are "hot" everywhere. Granted there are more chapters of orgs in the South, but that is due to the number of HBCUs located there.

BGLOs have always played a vital part in the Black community so knowledge and interest is not geographically skewed. Many of our leaders during the civil rights movement were member of BGLOs (which could partly explain the surge during that time.) I also think that our alumni(ae) structure plays a big part in the universal appeal, because we have never been thought of as just a collegiate activity. And did our Founders did not intend for that to be the case.

Yep and I touched on some of this in that "worst of times" thread.

[LadyLonghorn]

It's all about southern culture and tradition. Growing up, I was always aware of the organizations my relatives and the people around me were members of. All of the adults I knew were Greek, and it was still important to them no matter what their age. It's ingrained as a part of who you are here. I think the thing that people who weren't raised in the south don't get is how deeply ingrained being Greek is in this society. Sure, lots of alumni/ae throughout the country remain very involved with their organization throughout their lifetime. But here it is part of what defines who you are. A good example I can give is if you are meeting someone new, no matter what age either of you are, part of that initial introduction will include something like "Mary's an XYZ" before you even find out where someone is from or what school they attended. Although I am sure this happens other places, particularly if someone knows you are both Greek and assumes you'll have that in common, here it's just a typical and immediate part of social networking.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

But here it is part of what defines who you are. A good example I can give is if you are meeting someone new, no matter what age either of you are, part of that initial introduction will include something like "Mary's an XYZ" before you even find out where someone is from or what school they attended.

I have lived in the South all of my life and I come from a family and background where Greek connections are common, and I don't think I have ever experienced what you describe.

Everyone around here knows that the first thing that gets mentioned when you're introduced are where you're from and who your people are.

[twhrider13]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

It's all about southern culture and tradition. Growing up, I was always aware of the organizations my relatives and the people around me were members of. All of the adults I knew were Greek, and it was still important to them no matter what their age. It's ingrained as a part of who you are here. I think the thing that people who weren't raised in the south don't get is how deeply ingrained being Greek is in this society. Sure, lots of alumni/ae throughout the country remain very involved with their organization throughout their lifetime. But here it is part of what defines who you are. A good example I can give is if you are meeting someone new, no matter what age either of you are, part of that initial introduction will include something like "Mary's an XYZ" before you even find out where someone is from or what school they attended. Although I am sure this happens other places, particularly if someone knows you are both Greek and assumes you'll have that in common, here it's just a typical and immediate part of social networking.

It's a part of southern culture and tradition in some, i.e., moneyed, circles. Everyone in the South is not raised this way.

I grew up as blue collar and country as you can imagine. I was the first person in my family to go to college. I went to a tiny high school and knew absolutely no one who was Greek during their college days. There may have been some, but it wasn't talked about. I attended a small state university and went Greek as a sophomore, not because I'd been "groomed" for it my whole life, but because student life as a whole sucked at my school, and I thought it'd be fun.

It's not just people from the North who can't imagine being Greek defining your whole life. We poor Southerners can't imagine it, either.

[bejazd]

LadyLonghorn, how do you feel southern culture/tradition as it relates to the importance of greek afffiliation is being influenced today by the migration of people from other parts of the country to the southern states? will these traditions become more insular, separating people raised in the South from those who were not, or will Southerners become more open? btw, I've always thought of my Texas relatives as incredibly hospitible. They love their state and they are glad to share it!

About 10-12 years ago, young college grads who couldn't afford to live in Calif were moving off to Colorado, AZ and Oregon for cheaper housing and job opptys. Today I'm seeing tons of young people from here headed for TX, FL and Arkansas. Just wondering how you think they'll influence the greek social networking culture as they settle in and become part of the larger community.

[srmom]

LadyLonghorn is right about introductions and people knowing your greek affiliation. I find it kind of funny to be at an event and have somebody say, "This is @, she's a pi phi." I'm 44 years old!!! I know I'm still a pi phi, but, I'm also a wife, a mom, a business woman, etc.

I did move back, and am raising my family, in the same neighborhood where I grew up though, so everybody knows everybody's business. I guess greek affiliation is just one way to differentiate us from each other.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by srmom

LadyLonghorn is right about introductions and people knowing your greek affiliation. I find it kind of funny to be at an event and have somebody say, "This is @, she's a pi phi." I'm 44 years old!!! I know I'm still a pi phi, but, I'm also a wife, a mom, a business woman, etc.

What types of events are these and are these people who only know you within an organizational or college-educated context?

That makes a lot of difference.

[exlurker]

A recent opinion piece from the student paper at a (more or less Northern, not especially large) college about Greek life and its connection to other social opportunities at that school:

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/02/13/20067/

The opinion piece is favorable to Greek life.

Terminology note: "Bicker clubs," as I understand it, are the eating clubs whose membership is by invitation only. For recent statistics on these selective clubs, check out:

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/02/11/20033/

Just a reminder that individual Northern schools can have their own sets of traditions that may mystify other people.

[srmom]

What types of events are these and are these people who only know you within an organizational or college-educated context

Could be lunch with friends at Cafe Express - usually around the time when people are looking for recs. This makes sense.

Could be at a luncheon or dinner with people my age that I don't know. People will ask, "What college did you go to? What sorority were you in?" Then when you are next introduced, it's the "This is @ she was a * at ***" It is a mark you carry forever, haha.

I just think it's kind of funny. But, I also think it is funny that women my age will greet each other with big hugs like long lost friends when they just saw each other earlier at the gym. I guess I'm just a cynic.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by srmom

Could be lunch with friends at Cafe Express - usually around the time when people are looking for recs. This makes sense.

Could be at a luncheon or dinner with people my age that I don't know. People will ask, "What college did you go to? What sorority were you in?" Then when you are next introduced, it's the "This is @ she was a * at ***" It is a mark you carry forever, haha.

Well, these make sense. They aren't random Greek inquiries and references.

So, on that note, I still believe that a lot of these Southern differences are exaggerated. People reference Greekdom in the North all the time when the context permits.

[bowsandtoes]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I just don't think "big membership and big new house" instantly equals "awesome Greek experience," so IMO, the whole discussion is flawed.

I find it funny that so many people on this site feel this way. It seems the majority who do so are from the North, where small chapters and houses seem to be the norm.

Not to criticize those schools, but let me just explain how it is at Texas. The largest chapters tend to be the ones that have the most expensive dues. Even then, the number of men who want to join those chapters is so great that they are able to be extremely selective in who they take. This allows those houses to take pledges classes of 40-50, all of which are quality guys. With a chapter that size, and with dues that high, this means a lot of money for the chapter. More money means bigger nicer houses, huge parties, and a more notable presence on campus. With that presence comes recognition from the rest of the student body. Saying "I'm a Fiji/SAE/Sig Ep" carries a lot more weight than "oh ya I'm in Alpha Beta [insert random greek letter]". And of course, there's always the alumni factor. A chapters that's had a large presense on campus for decades will help much more than some guys who colonized a few years back and live in a converted duplex.


In the end, I'm not saying the small northern chapters aren't 'good' at what they do. I just think that the two different types of chapters we're discussing have different goals, and that should be taken into consideration.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I have no idea what Theta Phi Alpha is.

I guess Fratty hasn't learned how to Google. That's right, he skipped class to go to a rush party

[DSTCHAOS]

I like small Southern chapters.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

I find it funny that so many people on this site feel this way. It seems the majority who do so are from the North, where small chapters and houses seem to be the norm.

Not to criticize those schools, but let me just explain how it is at Texas. The largest chapters tend to be the ones that have the most expensive dues. Even then, the number of men who want to join those chapters is so great that they are able to be extremely selective in who they take. This allows those houses to take pledges classes of 40-50, all of which are quality guys. With a chapter that size, and with dues that high, this means a lot of money for the chapter. More money means bigger nicer houses, huge parties, and a more notable presence on campus. With that presence comes recognition from the rest of the student body. Saying "I'm a Fiji/SAE/Sig Ep" carries a lot more weight than "oh ya I'm in Alpha Beta [insert random greek letter]". And of course, there's always the alumni factor. A chapters that's had a large presense on campus for decades will help much more than some guys who colonized a few years back and live in a converted duplex.


In the end, I'm not saying the small northern chapters aren't 'good' at what they do. I just think that the two different types of chapters we're discussing have different goals, and that should be taken into consideration.

Let's put this into perspective. Comments were not made on pledge classes of 40-50. They were made on pledge classes of 80-90 and house totals of 200 - 300.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

As for the comments about Florida- you couldn't be more correct. The greek life at UCF, USF, FIU, etc. is comparable to that at northern colleges, Sigma Chi at USF being an exception.
I spent a lot of time in Michigan growing up and I can say that greek life is frowned upon there because it is viewed as a bunch of partiers with no ambition where as I was raised with the mentality of a fraternity being a great tool. If you want to network in college here you almost have to be in a fraternity. It's a system- to get a bid from a decent fraternity you have to be very sociable and to make it through pledgeship you have to be able to work as a team, essential skills for any career. My university president (Wetherell), governor (Crist), and president are all southerners and they're all greeks... its hard to paint us as unmotivated party animals with those kind of results.
"its not the grades you make, its the hands you shake."

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I said nothing of ambition and I have no idea what Theta Phi Alpha is.

I bolded that for you. I'm also sorry that you didn't bother to use Google.

Originally Posted by SECdomination

I don't think he was attacking Theta Phi Alpha- VandalSquirrel just gave a response that made her seem all victimized or something.

I am a victim, a victim of other people's ignorance and lack of research skills. But it is the hands you shake, not the grades you make.