What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

Just to kind set the scene - bowsandtoes ( a member of a national/international fraternity, I believe) implied that Theta Phi Alpha did not have national name recognition. My point is that they are indeed a national NPC GLO, and thus they have a national name recognition. That doesn't mean that everyone knows it, or that you can stop any greek and they would know it. It does mean that anyone active in NPC activity would know it, and I think certainly all NPC members should at least recognize it as part of the NPC. No man is an island, and no NPC exists alone. The more you know, the more you appreciate both your own history and the movement in general. Because fraternities co-exist with the NPC groups, I'd expect them to be familiar with the groups, just as I am with both large and small IFC members and the like groups.
I just hate the implied superiority in the idea that if a group is not at YOUR campus or YOUR part of the country, they are somehow inferior.

Excellent post. Of course, I may be a bit biased, but I completely agree.

[Leslie Anne]

This entire thread is really starting to irritate me. I knew from the beginning that it would end up being an "us" versus "them" debate. The thing is that it's not a productive debate.

There's clearly a lot of misconceptions going on on both sides but nothing is being cleared up. It's just being divisive, particularly among members of the NPC.

If I could just get one thing clarified it would be great. BowandToes, when you say that Northern chapters are small, just how small are you assuming they are?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm kinda surprised, Ladygreek, that NPHC members wouldn't be up to speed about other member GLOs.

Why would be taught about other GLOs? Let's not get into the reason why BGLOs were formed in the first place. Very honestly, I never new much about the NPC until my sorority constitutionalized four years ago that anyone who was a member or had been a member of a NPC could not seek membership in Delta (which was caused by the increased number in recent years of those who wanted to do so.)

So I researched just who were the NPC. Between that and GC is how I have gained my knowledge of the NPC in the last four years, and I have been a member of the NPHC for 39 years. The NPC just wasn't on my radar. Again that doesn't denigrate the NPC, it just bolsters my point about national name recognition even within the total GLO--BGLOs, LGLOs, AGLOs, MCGLOs, etc.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Why would be taught about other GLOs? Let's not get into the reason why BGLOs were formed in the first place.

Yep.

Are all GLOs taught about BGLOs, LGLOs, and MCGLOs? If not, then what's the point of acting surprised that BGLOs don't formally teach about all GLOs?

Those of us who exist on campuses with GLOs have the opportunity to learn about GLOs, collaborate on programs, and work closely together. That's what we did and that's more than enough.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yep.

Are all GLOs taught about BGLOs, LGLOs, and MCGLOs? If not, then what's the point of acting surprised that BGLOs don't formally teach about all GLOs?

Those of us who exist on campuses with GLOs have the opportunity to learn about GLOs, collaborate on programs, and work closely together. That's what we did and that's more than enough.

And I would venture to say that your campus was more progressive than most--kudos.

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

There's clearly a lot of misconceptions going on on both sides but nothing is being cleared up. It's just being divisive, particularly among members of the NPC.

Sorry, I definitely contributed to the hijack, so I should probably answer the original question.

My impression is that Greek life is "hot" in the South (and by the South I mean the SEC, or similar environments. My boyfriend and several of my cousins are alums of non-SEC southern schools and had experiences not entirely different from my own) due to tradition. If, as various posters have indicated, kids grow up hearing all about their family members' experiences at X State U. as a member of XYZ, then of course the seeds of interest are planted early. This would be especially true when being an XYZ or an ABC is touted as a way to get ahead socially and professionally. It also seems that Greek life is also often the center of the social scenes at such schools, which is not the case in most other areas that I'm familiar with. Of course, this impression is totally based on what I've learned on GC, so please correct me if I'm off.

Whereas, in other parts of the country, it doesn't seem as common for parents and other influential figures (teachers etc) to so openly discuss their Greek affiliation. It seems to me that being Greek outside of the SEC is viewed more as a compliment to the college experience as opposed to THE college experience.

I'm not saying that one view is right and the other is wrong. Obviously both work in their respective areas and fortunately the NPC (I can't speak for the other umbrella groups) is flexible enough to accommodate both types of experiences.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

This entire thread is really starting to irritate me. I knew from the beginning that it would end up being an "us" versus "them" debate. The thing is that it's not a productive debate.

Co-sign!!!!!!!!

I'm going back to the excellent answer MysticCat provided. Why is greek life "hot" in the south?

The humidity.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

And I would venture to say that your campus was more progressive than most--kudos.

The "campus" wasn't progressive but a few individuals got along really well and decided to make (organization and chapter-specific) NPC-NPHC social and service connections.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

The "campus" wasn't progressive but a few individuals got along really well and decided to make (organization and chapter-specific) NPC-NPHC social and service connections.

And I am sure you played a big role in that. Again kudos.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

And I am sure you played a big role in that. Again kudos.

What is this thread about, really?

[1908Revelations]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm kinda surprised, Ladygreek, that NPHC members wouldn't be up to speed about other member GLOs. Heck, I'm familiar with all 9, and they were not all at either of my colleges.

I'm not trying to nit pic, but it isn't that har to know the orgs of the NPHC as there are only 9 and of those 9 only 4 are Sororities.

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

No man is an island, and no NPC exists alone.

Would I be reaching too far to say that ANY NPHC org stands alone? I don't think so.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Yep.

Are all GLOs taught about BGLOs, LGLOs, and MCGLOs? If not, then what's the point of acting surprised that BGLOs don't formally teach about all GLOs?

Those of us who exist on campuses with GLOs have the opportunity to learn about GLOs, collaborate on programs, and work closely together. That's what we did and that's more than enough.

Maybe not on all campuses and all orgs, but I would expect our new members to be familiar with the BGLOs, LGLOs and MCGLOs on our campus at the VERY least. In fact, it's included in New Member Education.

Are the NPCs/IFCs on your campus included in your NME? Sorry if that's not cool to ask, I'm not sure.

[SWTXBelle]

Let me clarify my clarification - 'cause I wasn't specific enough. I'm surprised any member of the NPC or member of what I guess you can call non-BGLO or multi-cultural fraternities isn't at least aware of other NPC members - in this case, I was responding to bowsandtoes. I wouldn't expect the BGLOs or multicultural groups to know the members of the NPC, or study them as a part of pledging or intake. Kudos to them if they did, or for those of you who have picked up information on GC. I've certainly learned a great deal about non-NPC sororities here - rule #1 - DON'T ASK ABOUT INTAKE.

And I was surprised when ladygreek said other NPHC groups don't study the other 8 - maybe I wasn't clear about that. Sorry if I sounded like I was criticizing NPHC groups for not knowing about NPC - that isn't what I meant to convey.

I realize that this has moved beyond the north/south thing - but to some extent it is emblematic of the problem. The world is much larger than just your town, and the Greek world is much larger than just your org ( or even your GLO's umbrella group). It's easy to assume that the way you and your campus "do it" is the right way, but the fact of the matter is that campuses and GLOs are able to meet a variety of different needs by virtue of their differences. GMTA, Legallybrunette.

[33girl]

Well, here's the thing.

If someone referenced a group w/ three Greek letters in it while making a post about sororities and Greek life, I'd google it instead of just saying "I don't know what that is" and looking like an asshat.

The internet has made it pretty impossible to be ignorant unless you wish to remain so.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

Are the NPCs/IFCs on your campus included in your NME?

No.

That information was accessible through everyday Greek Life and campus interactions, since racial and ethnic minorities and NPHC orgs were a greatly outnumbered minority. So people who didn't live in a bubble pick this information on NPC/IFC up because it was everywhere.