School Daze question.

[alchemistoxi]

I'm a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, I just crossed last April 16, 2006.

my fraternity is reaching is 100 year anniversary soon, and I notice, that yes there are other IFC members who reached that mark already (OMG, APA is part of the IFC!!!!)

BUT, you cannot knock the fact that there are distenguished members of not only Alpha's century of leadership, but other NPHC orgs as well. For example, Dr. Martin Luther King was frat. Thurgood Marshall, Current mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick.
There are members that let the letters take over thier being, and it because there is a long road to anything involving BGLOs. And yes, we are bragging about 1900 founding dates, because at a time when african americans didn't think they had the foundation to begin a black organization, 7 men stepped up to the plate and showed women and men alike, that we can come together and make moves for the better. Name me some IFC groups that have active GRADUATE CHAPTERS, that have GRADUATE MEMBERS still doing work for the good of the brotherhood or sisterhood. We took something that was in front of us and put a few good tweaks. I knw alot of people who are part of TKE, and ZBT and the like, and when I mention "My graduate chapter was helping us, they give me a funny look. Like we don't have graduate chapters. Name me another sorority that is a NGO like DST. A sorority with rank in the united nations like them. If there was one thing they taught me while I was on line, was greek love. Regardless of letters, or colors, we may be playing for different teams, but we're in the same league, and whether you like it or not, people have perceptions of frats/sororities period. That we're stupid, and we only like to party

And I agree with alot of people in this thread, you should have done some research before coming online and spouting that non IFC members aren't real greeks, because the oldest and the coldest black greek organization is now a part of the IFC.

[shinerbock]

Its good to hear you're proud of your group's accomplishments, and they seem to be numerous. That aside, I don't understand why black orgs somehow think that having graduate and alumni chapters in some way makes them superior. I'm glad it works for those groups, but it surely doesn't hinder traditional IFC members from being successful. If you need examples, consider the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and the President of the United States.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Its good to hear you're proud of your group's accomplishments, and they seem to be numerous. That aside, I don't understand why black orgs somehow think that having graduate and alumni chapters in some way makes them superior. I'm glad it works for those groups, but it surely doesn't hinder traditional IFC members from being successful. If you need examples, consider the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and the President of the United States.

Superior isn't the word I would use, but there are three reasons:

1) A bulk of our membership comes from graduate intake and a lot of social action occurs at the graduate level. It is expressed to all new initiates that what they are doing with the organization while in college is just the tip of the iceberg. You can find active and financial members of our organizations quite easily once you graduate.
2) Our organizations pride ourselves with being lifetime commitments--this is something that we tell people at informationals and interest meetings.
3) A more socially significant explanation: When minority groups are deemed inferior by the majority for many years, the minority groups often latch onto certain group norms and traditions for which they are proud of. It's their way of reclaiming their place and gaining their own identity without needing the majority to legitimate their existence

[shinerbock]

Which is all fine, but I'm not sure the influence and success of traditionally black fraternity members against their white counterparts would come at all close to favoring those black organizations.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Which is all fine, but I'm not sure the influence and success of traditionally black fraternity members against their white counterparts would come at all close to favoring those black organizations.

Well, shinerbock, I did not know that this was a pissing contest. Pardon me for being improperly dressed. But you should re-read #3 from my post above to understand why your attempt at comparison really means nothing.

[shinerbock]

Theres really not a pissing contest at all. However, when you give three reasons why traditionally black groups are ________(enter appropriate term but not quite "superior here), you should expect such a response.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

you should expect such a response.

Only from someone who didn't read my 3 reasons.

[alchemistoxi]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Its good to hear you're proud of your group's accomplishments, and they seem to be numerous. That aside, I don't understand why black orgs somehow think that having graduate and alumni chapters in some way makes them superior. I'm glad it works for those groups, but it surely doesn't hinder traditional IFC members from being successful. If you need examples, consider the U.S. House of Representatives, The U.S. Senate, and the President of the United States.

That's all said and done, yes "traditional" ifc members do also become successful. Your main point about 5 pages back was that you never heard of successful BGLO members, which could have been rectified by simple research. Now onto the topic of livelong membership, look at your "traditional" ifc members. Do they still claim the fact that they were a part of a great orginization (which I have no doubt about your or any other "white" fraternity being)? Do they still hold those ideals high, and still contribute to the best interests of the brotherhood/sisterhood? That's why we hold our graduate and alumni chapters to high regard. Because being an Alpha, or a Delta or what have you is a LIFELONG commitment. Not just something that just passes. If it wasn't then you would have lost the meaning of fraternity/brotherhood. And we have people in the senate, we have people in the house of representatives also. So you couldn't really point that out, unless your point is that the majority of people in office are white.

(and before you assume, I am a white member of a BGLO)

[bows&toes]

Originally Posted by alchemistoxi

(and before you assume, I am a white member of a BGLO)

oh god..

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by bows&toes

Quote:
Originally Posted by alchemistoxi

(and before you assume, I am a white member of a BGLO)

oh god..

Problem?

[alchemistoxi]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

Problem?

I don't think whoever posted that has a right to have a problem, but I'm half white and half african american, but I do have best frends who also appen to be brothers in Alpha who are, in fact, white brothers.

Shit, in D.C alone last weekend, I met and saw so many "white" brothers that it was crazy. I loved every minute of it. Knowing that our rich history had been intergrated since 1945, and since the first white brother was made right here in Chicago, they've been there in ever since....

[shinerbock]

Thats cool, but I don't think I could do it. I don't understand how it works for those white guys, but if they like it, it works for them.

[TheMan1906]

O.K., I have read through the many posts on this thread and have a few things to say. What the IFC frat gentleman is referring to is a totally different experience than what we have in the NPHC. I am an Alpha, or member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. On my campus, we have pretty good relationships with IFC members like Delta Tau Delta (note they do not use Inc. and asked us to take it off the flier). In addition to DTD, Tau Kappa Epsilon and others IFC frats have done programs with my college chapter. In my alumni chapter and many others, there is alot of POLITICS, bickering about senseless/useless things among the work we may do in the community.

Do not knock the IFC because as the gentleman said, they prepare the initiates and members IN COLLEGE to be successful in the real world, something HONESTLY we in the NPHC do not do for the most part as a whole! Now, there are some chapters, some states and regions within all our orgs that BETTER prepare us for the REAL WORLD, but most of the time I do not believe this to be the case.

Also, alumni members of IFC orgs DO GIVE BACK, how do you think they have those BIG fraternity houses (in some cases, not all)? The alumni aspect as the gentleman also eluded to briefly is more of a training nature in college and then financial backing on the alumni ranks, so why do they really need grad/alumni chapters? The fact is they don't to serve the function they need. As an NPHC member, honestly ask yourself how hard it would be to get a SIGNFICANT contribution of money from your a) alumni/grad/grand chapter, b) National Organization?

So, I hope I have shed some light on this situation and not upset anyone from the NPHC/IFC/NPC or other fraternities. And yes, some of the founders of my great organization served as waiters and learned many things from the frat boys at Cornell in regards to a fraternity structure. Is it to say we borrowed rituals, or anything else, no that is not necessarily the case or point? It does however show that there is no need to knock the organizations or members, even if they do not know anything about us or our connection to them or similarities.

Originally Posted by alchemistoxi

That's all said and done, yes "traditional" ifc members do also become successful. Your main point about 5 pages back was that you never heard of successful BGLO members, which could have been rectified by simple research. Now onto the topic of livelong membership, look at your "traditional" ifc members. Do they still claim the fact that they were a part of a great orginization (which I have no doubt about your or any other "white" fraternity being)? Do they still hold those ideals high, and still contribute to the best interests of the brotherhood/sisterhood? That's why we hold our graduate and alumni chapters to high regard. Because being an Alpha, or a Delta or what have you is a LIFELONG commitment. Not just something that just passes. If it wasn't then you would have lost the meaning of fraternity/brotherhood. And we have people in the senate, we have people in the house of representatives also. So you couldn't really point that out, unless your point is that the majority of people in office are white.

(and before you assume, I am a white member of a BGLO)

[bows&toes]

Originally Posted by TheMan1906

O.K., I have read through the many posts on this thread and have a few things to say. What the IFC frat gentleman is referring to is a totally different experience than what we have in the NPHC. I am an Alpha, or member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. On my campus, we have pretty good relationships with IFC members like Delta Tau Delta (note they do not use Inc. and asked us to take it off the flier). In addition to DTD, Tau Kappa Epsilon and others IFC frats have done programs with my college chapter. In my alumni chapter and many others, there is alot of POLITICS, bickering about senseless/useless things among the work we may do in the community.

Do not knock the IFC because as the gentleman said, they prepare the initiates and members IN COLLEGE to be successful in the real world, something HONESTLY we in the NPHC do not do for the most part as a whole! Now, there are some chapters, some states and regions within all our orgs that BETTER prepare us for the REAL WORLD, but most of the time I do not believe this to be the case.

Also, alumni members of IFC orgs DO GIVE BACK, how do you think they have those BIG fraternity houses (in some cases, not all)? The alumni aspect as the gentleman also eluded to briefly is more of a training nature in college and then financial backing on the alumni ranks, so why do they really need grad/alumni chapters? The fact is they don't to serve the function they need. As an NPHC member, honestly ask yourself how hard it would be to get a SIGNFICANT contribution of money from your a) alumni/grad/grand chapter, b) National Organization?

So, I hope I have shed some light on this situation and not upset anyone from the NPHC/IFC/NPC or other fraternities. And yes, some of the founders of my great organization served as waiters and learned many things from the frat boys at Cornell in regards to a fraternity structure. Is it to say we borrowed rituals, or anything else, no that is not necessarily the case or point? It does however show that there is no need to knock the organizations or members, even if they do not know anything about us or our connection to them or similarities.

Finally, an intelligent post.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by bows&toes

Finally, an intelligent post.

I agree.

I did not even know about goups other than IFC for most of my college years.

I now find myself 'lurking' in some of the threads here trying to play catch-up.