High school Sororities and Fraternities

[DSTCHAOS]

I don't care how long ago these groups were established.

As long as they realize they are clubs and not a real fraternity or sorority. They shouldn't be looked at as interest groups for children, either. Walking around as mini versions of our organizations is silly. Being a Kappa Leaguer now doesn't preclude wanting to become an Alpha when you go to college. So just let these youth groups be mentorship opportunities. They aren't lifetime commitments and have no use for line numbers, line jackets, etc. Maybe give them cute little YMCA-type tshirts and a certificate or something.

I've seen children trying to brand themselves and coming to different yards and pretending to be members. Even having beef with actual members of what they deem a "rival" fraternity or the "rival" fraternity's youth group. It's dumb when adults do stuff like that and even dumber and more detrimental when children do.

The groups for young ladies that Delta sponsors are not designed to be a mini-Delta or have those little girls walking around like "future Deltas" in any way. Any Delta(s) who is(are) modeling our nationally mandated mentor group as a pledge class or interest group needs to have that group removed from under her (their) mentorship.

[Senusret I]

^^^ I agree.

They shouldn't be clubs -- they should be "programs."

I am pretty glad that APhiA doesn't have a national youth auxilliary. Each chapter has leeway to create the type of program that is necessary for their community. In DC, my alumni chapter has a Beautillion, but one of the other chapters has a leadership summit of some sort.

Not to mention, we have a national relationship with the Boy Scouts, so there you have it.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

They shouldn't be clubs -- they should be "programs."

That's even better.

[Senusret I]

I was actually in a real program that wasn't attached to an org, but happened to have a lot of Omegas and Delta working on it. (The leader was an Alpha Chapter Que.)

And it was literally just a Rites of Passage Program. Afrocentric, community based...really great stuff. And even though looking back, I can see that elements of what we did had parallels to a "process" the superficial parts were taken out. No jackets, no shirts, no calls, no stepping. In fact, the only thing I have from that experience is a little piece of kente cloth and a notebook.

But that's all one really needs as a teen, isn't it?

In fact, sometimes I wonder if we'd have the same number of members in NPHC organizations if wearing para and stepping were outlawed, but that's another topic.

[Kjudicious]

I am apart of the Kappa League in Chattanooga, TN. We step, but that isn't what the Kappa League emphasizes. Neither is the emphasis on jackets (which we don't have), kanes (we have), or line names (we have). Our emphasis is put on Brotherhood and Community Service. We took two and a half months to get to know 11 people that we barely had ever talked to. Only seven made it through the process of us being on line. We've put in work at the Ronald McDonald House, numerous Shelters, the Community Kitchen, and of course, at our school. I know that doesn't justify why some would waste their time to join another frat, but it happens. It's just not goona happen with me.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

In fact, sometimes I wonder if we'd have the same number of members in NPHC organizations if wearing para and stepping were outlawed, but that's another topic.

Every generation has its idea of "cool" and "fun" and every generation has people who think that "cool" and "fun" are unnecessary.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Kjudicious's signature

Too Cute To Quit...
Too Pretty To Die...
When I Leave the League...
It's Gotta Be K-A-Psi...

Bad. All bad. Horrible even.

[Kjudicious]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Every generation has its idea of "cool" and "fun" and every generation has people who think that "cool" and "fun" are unnecessary.

You said it, right?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Kjudicious

You said it, right?

You should be no generation's idea of "cool" and "fun." Children are to be seen and not heard.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

^^^ I agree.

They shouldn't be clubs -- they should be "programs."

I am pretty glad that APhiA doesn't have a national youth auxilliary.

I'm glad we don't either.

And I'm also glad I wasn't in a high school sorority.

Looking back to all the Marjorie Sharmat books I read in junior high, the "sisterhoods" she wrote about was based purely on superficial reasons -- i.e. nobody but sorority sisters sit at the Chi Kappa table in the cafeteria. If I had joined an organization like that before becoming an adult, I probably would have been turned off from Greek Life in college because I'd think that all sorority girls were like the ones I read about as a 13 year old.

Finally, I can't help but haha at DSTCHAOS and cupcake. What's up with all the food references lately?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by OTW

Finally, I can't help but haha at DSTCHAOS and cupcake. What's up with all the food references lately?

Stew and a cupcake for dinner!!!

[Sister Havana]

Originally Posted by OTW

Looking back to all the Marjorie Sharmat books I read in junior high, the "sisterhoods" she wrote about was based purely on superficial reasons -- i.e. nobody but sorority sisters sit at the Chi Kappa table in the cafeteria. If I had joined an organization like that before becoming an adult, I probably would have been turned off from Greek Life in college because I'd think that all sorority girls were like the ones I read about as a 13 year old.

Haha, I loooooved those books back in the day.

[KLeaguer1970]

I am in Kappa League which is a Leadership and Development program(Kappa Leadership and Development League.) I personally think that KL is beneficial to me and the other guys in the League because we do other things besides throw parties and party walk... we have done many events dealing with our community and surrounding areas. Also, our advisors often remind us that we are not in a fraternity, and regulates things like having Kanes and doin innapropriate things at parties. What many fail to realize is that these youth auxilliaries are not always just about a bunch of kids stepping and imatating the BGLOs, to us this is a family that leaves a lasting imprent in our lives. KL is also a mentoring Org. which has requirements to get in(ie GPA) in my chapter we have a process but all you have to do is study information about KL and take a test and thats the new line. We do not haze or show favortism of ppl that want to be on KL, because we are not a frat so why be selective of people that could possible wanna just learn how to become a better man. At my school we have Omega Prep, Sons of the Sphinx (SOS), Sigma Beta, Kappa League, Del-teens, Ivy Pearls, and Archonettes but we are all friends that chose to be in these orgs becuz of being legacies or maybe be cause we liked what it exemplifies but they all have good intentions and DONT HAZE. In addition we had a debate about this very subject in my Debate II class which i sided with the against the Orgs., i argued that (i)these organizations cause students to not see the BGLOs in the same way when they actually get to college because they have already gone through a similar experience,(ii) the youth auxs. were not meant for Stepping and parties ecause this strays away from the real meanin... mentorship and education, and (iii) this could be detrimental to the student if they were to wear their supposedly "JUNOR FRAT" gear when they matriculate to college. All of these were points that i didnt believe (but argued it bcuz ive heard older greeks say this stuff) in but had substanance, the only problem that i have is when ppl Knock youth auxs. before getting the whole concept and if you dont like whats going on in you Frat or Sorority shouldnt you intervene, get involved and try to comprimise you beliefs to make the youth org better. Whenever and what ever fraternity i pledge... Kappa League has shown me how to be committed to something that i care about... which will be shown when i pledge.

[fludda]

Originally Posted by KLeaguer1970

I am in Kappa League which is a Leadership and Development program(Kappa Leadership and Development League.) I personally think that KL is beneficial to me and the other guys in the League because we do other things besides throw parties and party walk... we have done many events dealing with our community and surrounding areas. Also, our advisors often remind us that we are not in a fraternity, and regulates things like having Kanes and doin innapropriate things at parties. What many fail to realize is that these youth auxilliaries are not always just about a bunch of kids stepping and imatating the BGLOs, to us this is a family that leaves a lasting imprent in our lives. KL is also a mentoring Org. which has requirements to get in(ie GPA) in my chapter we have a process but all you have to do is study information about KL and take a test and thats the new line. We do not haze or show favortism of ppl that want to be on KL, because we are not a frat so why be selective of people that could possible wanna just learn how to become a better man. At my school we have Omega Prep, Sons of the Sphinx (SOS), Sigma Beta, Kappa League, Del-teens, Ivy Pearls, and Archonettes but we are all friends that chose to be in these orgs becuz of being legacies or maybe be cause we liked what it exemplifies but they all have good intentions and DONT HAZE. In addition we had a debate about this very subject in my Debate II class which i sided with the against the Orgs., i argued that (i)these organizations cause students to not see the BGLOs in the same way when they actually get to college because they have already gone through a similar experience,(ii) the youth auxs. were not meant for Stepping and parties ecause this strays away from the real meanin... mentorship and education, and (iii) this could be detrimental to the student if they were to wear their supposedly "JUNOR FRAT" gear when they matriculate to college. All of these were points that i didnt believe (but argued it bcuz ive heard older greeks say this stuff) in but had substanance, the only problem that i have is when ppl Knock youth auxs. before getting the whole concept and if you dont like whats going on in you Frat or Sorority shouldnt you intervene, get involved and try to comprimise you beliefs to make the youth org better. Whenever and what ever fraternity i pledge... Kappa League has shown me how to be committed to something that i care about... which will be shown when i pledge.

Hey! I was having the same debate with my class in one of my classes also...Dkr. Kontroversial couldn't say it any better and I agree wit him 100%! And also...I want to say one thing...fraternities have many definitions...Kappa League, Sigma Beta, SOS are fraternities simply because it is a group of people who share a common purpose, interest, or pleasure...IT DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN GREEK ORGANIZATION!! Even Boy Scouts counts as a fraternity!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by fludda

Hey! I was having the same debate with my class in one of my classes also...Dkr. Kontroversial couldn't say it any better and I agree wit him 100%! And also...I want to say one thing...fraternities have many definitions...Kappa League, Sigma Beta, SOS are fraternities simply because it is a group of people who share a common purpose, interest, or pleasure...IT DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN GREEK ORGANIZATION!! Even Boy Scouts counts as a fraternity!

Just because something "counts" doesn't mean it is meant to be labeled and categorized in that way.

Teresa Heinz Kerry "counts" as African American, but does that make her a good representative of African American life?