What do people think about ethnic GLOs

[cutie_cat_4ever]

Originally Posted by OTW

I'm sorry, I have to call BS on this.

Okay, I know that historically speaking, the Koreans hate the Japanese and vice versa, but I find it hard to believe that college-aged students of Japanese or Korean descent would even hold racial grudges like that. True, there are people who are very sensitive because of historical conflict, but I'm thinking those individuals (if they're even still alive) are my great-grandparents' age, NOT 18-22 year olds in college in American and Canadian GLOs.

Using your example as an example, I doubt that the Japanese members would go apeshit if Soon Yi Pak brought some bulgogi and bee bim bap to the sorority potluck just because their ethnic groups hated each other a century ago.

This is just my experience hanging out with international students so don't grill me on this

It depends on whether the person is brought up in the states or not. For american borns, that generally doesn't happen, so you're right on that. HOWEVER, if they are international student, then it's a different story. In my school, I always see the Japanese and Korean students never get along well. It's a culture thing back in Asia that one group always tends to think they are "cooler" than the other. Especially most of the trends in east asia are either set by Japan or S. Korea nowadays. So it becomes more like a competition between these groups, and I've heard my Japanese friends talked about it. It's more like a pride thing going on. I think that's the kind of racial grudge that Tau is talking about.

But as I said, this generally doesn't apply to american borns.

Originally Posted by cutie_cat_4ever

This is just my experience hanging out with international students so don't grill me on this

It depends on whether the person is brought up in the states or not. For american borns, that generally doesn't happen, so you're right on that. HOWEVER, if they are international student, then it's a different story. In my school, I always see the Japanese and Korean students never get along well. It's a culture thing back in Asia that one group always tends to think they are "cooler" than the other. Especially most of the trends in east asia are either set by Japan or S. Korea nowadays. So it becomes more like a competition between these groups, and I've heard my Japanese friends talked about it. It's more like a pride thing going on. I think that's the kind of racial grudge that Tau is talking about.

But as I said, this generally doesn't apply to american borns.

I should have specified that I was talking about American born students in a GLO - kind of sense. I am aware that competition exists within those groups, just not so much (if any) in Asian-interest fraternities and sororities.

Most of the international students I knew in college didn't bother joining Greek organizations because it was a totally foreign concept to them. Except for Dieke from Nigeria/Kenya/I can't remember what African country -- he went TKE.

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by OTW

I should have specified that I was talking about American born students in a GLO - kind of sense. I am aware that competition exists within those groups, just not so much (if any) in Asian-interest fraternities and sororities.

Most of the international students I knew in college didn't bother joining Greek organizations because it was a totally foreign concept to them. Except for Dieke from Nigeria/Kenya/I can't remember what African country -- he went TKE.

Dieke shoulda gone DKE.

[Chris Muier]

Originally Posted by cutie_cat_4ever

This is just my experience hanging out with international students so don't grill me on this

It depends on whether the person is brought up in the states or not. For american borns, that generally doesn't happen, so you're right on that. HOWEVER, if they are international student, then it's a different story. In my school, I always see the Japanese and Korean students never get along well. It's a culture thing back in Asia that one group always tends to think they are "cooler" than the other. Especially most of the trends in east asia are either set by Japan or S. Korea nowadays. So it becomes more like a competition between these groups, and I've heard my Japanese friends talked about it. It's more like a pride thing going on. I think that's the kind of racial grudge that Tau is talking about.

But as I said, this generally doesn't apply to american borns.

Very insightful post, cutiecat