Pan-Hellenic

GtownGirl98 · #1 11-30-2005, 02:06 PM

Help me figure something out... please. I have noticed a lot lately that GLOs are using the hyphenated version of the word Pan-Hellenic. In all my style books, this version is used to indicate the governing body of historically black sororities... am I wrong on this? Is it no longer PC to refer to non-historically black sororities as Panhellenic? Or is the hyphenated version being used to title all non-NPC goverening bodies?

Example:
Georgetown (my school) had been using Pan-Hellenic when referring to our NPC groups. I think that the reason for this is that Microsoft Word doesn't have the non hyphenated version in the spell check. And the new greek life director wasn't greek (at least that is what I was told).

Another Example:
This is from the website of Kappa Beta Gamma "Currently, Kappa Beta Gamma is actively looking to increase its numbers to become Pan-Hellenic affiliated. The sorority is recruiting both inactive and new chapters to expand our sorority's ideals and provide more leadership opportunities for women" From what I can tell this is not a historically black sorority.

So please educate me in the use of these words. Is there still a difference in which group you are meaning by the form of the word used?

preciousjeni · #2 11-30-2005, 02:14 PM

This is one of my pet peeves, but since I'm not on a council, it's not really my business.

The way I see it...

National Pan-Hellenic Council = The 9 HBGLOs Sororities and Fraternities

National Panhellenic Conference = The 26 General Social Sororities

BUT, if it's used outside of these official names, there's not much to do...

You could have a "Panhellenic Council"/"InterGreek Council" that includes all Greeks on a campus. But, people, when referring to either of the above Councils PLEASE use the correct terminology. It can be very confusing.

Edited to remove "HWGLO"

33girl · #3 11-30-2005, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by preciousjeni
This is one of my pet peeves, but since I'm not on a council, it's not really my business.

Au contraire. Stupid and careless spelling/usage errors are everyone's business.

Georgetown and KBG both need corrected.

AlphaFrog · #4 11-30-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by preciousjeni

National Panhellenic Conference = The 26 HWGL Sororities

Waiting for someone to jump onto the NPC's being "white" sororities.... (I don't care, but I know someone will).

preciousjeni · #5 11-30-2005, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
Waiting for someone to jump onto the NPC's being "white" sororities.... (I don't care, but I know someone will).

Historically...

kddani · #6 11-30-2005, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by preciousjeni
Historically...

Which has absolutely nothing to do with the conversation.

It's been discussed here on GC plenty that this is NOT really all that appropriate or currently accurate. The preferences of those in those GLOs have been clearly expressed, yet so many posters fail to respect that. I don't understand why, seems pretty ignorant and rude.

ETA- I'm sorry if this comes across snippy. But it has been made clear that this isn't a proper way to address the groups.

GeekyPenguin · #7 11-30-2005, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by preciousjeni
Historically...

Yes, and my sorority is also historically Protestant, but I would never refer to it as such.

Tom Earp · #8 11-30-2005, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by kddani
Which has absolutely nothing to do with the conversation.

It's been discussed here on GC plenty that this is NOT really all that appropriate or currently accurate. The preferences of those in those GLOs have been clearly expressed, yet so many posters fail to respect that. I don't understand why, seems pretty ignorant and rude.

ETA- I'm sorry if this comes across snippy. But it has been made clear that this isn't a proper way to address the groups.

Maybe it is because there are so many New People Coming on GC and do not have all of the information or how to navigate The Site as Some do?

Dont You Get it?

GeekyPenguin, You are totally True. The many reasons that Groups were started have evolved over the Years into something totally something else.

Isnt that the whole purpose of Greeks? Evolve and grow.

kddani · #9 11-30-2005, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Maybe it is because there are so many New People Coming on GC and do not have all of the information or how to navigate The Site as Some do?

Dont You Get it?

GeekyPenguin, You are totally True. The many reasons that Groups were started have evolved over the Years into something totally something else.

Isnt that the whole purpose of Greeks? Evolve and grow.

And maybe if you read the thread you'd realize that NONE of the posters in this thread are new.

At least TRY to read a thread before you comment on it.

#10 11-30-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
Yes, and my sorority is also historically Protestant, but I would never refer to it as such.

I would never, ever refer to Alpha Gamma Delta as historically white.

Founded in 1904, we initiated our first 'minority' in 1953 when Diana Lam became a member. That's only 49 years of being 'all-White'. Barbara Delaney was the first Afr-Am woman to be initiated into the NPC when she became a Sigma Kappa in 1957 (or was it 1956)?

I know this has nothing to do with the original topic, but I can't believe people still use the term HISTORICALLY WHITE GLO. Jeezus Friggin' Christ.

Alphababy · #11 12-01-2005, 12:01 AM

pan hellenic means all greeks. It goes back to Greece in the olympic games when all greeks will compete against each other. I am not white, but sorority's were founded by whites.

#12 12-01-2005, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alphababy
pan hellenic means all greeks. It goes back to Greece in the olympic games when all greeks will compete against each other. I am not white, but sorority's were founded by whites.

Ugh. A pet peeve.

Sorority's does not = sororities.

kddani · #13 12-01-2005, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by OTW
Ugh. A pet peeve.

Sorority's does not = sororities.

yep, it's a possessive.

It's also inaccurate, especially when you just use the general "sorority". There are tons of sororities, and not all of them were founded by whites.

As has been addressed in the past, this is not a way in which we refer to ourselves and not a way in which any groups accepts being called. It is offensive and disrespectful to continue to refer to a group in a manner in which it's members have repeatedly said is not okay. I would extend anyone else the same courtesy.

GtownGirl98 · #14 12-01-2005, 10:12 AM

People this was not the point of my question... focus, please. I am well aware of why the two words exist. I am just wanting to know if it is okay to refer to NPC groups as Pan-Hellenics not panhellenics.

I have corrected my school. But because of the prolific use of the "pan-hellenic" usage, I just wanted to make sure that I hadn't missed the boat or the updated stylebook.

I would love if we could come together and have one governing body but fact is fact... there are 26 NPC groups (no there isn't an H or a W in NPC). I don't know enough about the workings of NPHC to know if we could ever join as one. It would be like Kentucky merging with Indiana... both have a lot in common but both have very different governing bodies... different laws and infastructure.

Please FOCUS... this is not a BLACK OR WHITE issue. THIS IS A STYLEBOOK QUESTION! GOT IT!

It is like the word ain't. I grew up with being told by teachers that "ain't" isn't in the dictionary and now we have teachers using the word.

So please let us get back to topic. Can pan-hellenic and panhellenic be used interchangable or is this a major faux pas?

Thank you... sorry to sound testy but you all lost focus.

AlphaFrog · #15 12-01-2005, 10:20 AM

Yes, it is a major faux pas to call NPC Pan-Hellenic and NPHC Panhellenic. Is that focused enough?