Famous People in Your Fraternity/Sorority

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by Laak 315

I'm positive there's a thread somewhere on this board like this but I am too lazy to look at every page lol.

That's what the search option is for.

Actually, there was a thread about people who people have claimed is a memeber of your or, but really isn't, that turned into a who's who in Greeklife.

[REE1993]

I would think that your organization itself would be the best place to find out if anyone of notariety is in your GLO.

As for others, there are so many claims out there, it's hard to know who is and isn't. It really doesn't matter to me if anyone "famous" is a Gamma Sig, because a true Gamma Sig is the same inside, whether she be a senator, actress, teacher or maid.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

The official websites of the GLO's are the ONLY place to get that information.

[ThetaDancer]

Here is a link to Kappa Alpha Theta's site...http://www.kappaalphatheta.org/learn...fm?memberId=25

[LaneSig]

The question is: How important is it that this famous person was an alumn?

Yes, it is nice that John Wayne, David Letterman, Brad Pitt, etc. are members of Sigma Chi. But, too many times, chapters think that this will impress someone during rush. "Hey, man, join us! You will be a brother with Brad Pitt!" Chapters need to impress and show brotherhood/sisterhood with the members they have, not with the members that they will never probably meet.

[Football Fan]

John Wayne was a Sigma Chi at the Univ. of Southern California. He would return to the house periodically and visited with the brothers. I was told he also contributed to the chapter financially.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by SmartBlondeGPhB

The official websites of the GLO's are the ONLY place to get that information.

Saw this earlier in the thread. I disagree. The list that my national fraternity (Alpha Phi Omega) includes in the pledge manual has about 20 people on it and does include honorary members. I've spent approximately the last 10 years creating a larger list (about 400 entries) on Wikipedia with references to newspapers, university yearbooks, university archives, Baird's Manual of American College Fraternities and similar secondary and tertiary sources as well as back issues of the national fraternity magazine.

My national fraternity has made the decision that they aren't going to put alumni who have passed away prior to creating the computer system on the computer database (so there are brothers who were part of the founding chapter during the time that the youngest of the founders were still there aren't accessible electronically).

My extreme example here is President Eisenhower. He isn't listed on the national website *other* than a convention proposal for the national office to make a list of our National Honorary Members. (and for which the list was pulled from the Wikipedia article in question!). The reason that President Eisenhower is on that list from wikipedia is that the fact that he is an honorary member is in an article in the New York Times! (https://www.nytimes.com/1957/05/07/a...fraternal.html) (and also confirmed from the national fraternity magazine at the time)

[kdonline]

Originally Posted by naraht

Saw this earlier in the thread. I disagree.

That post was from waaaay earlier: 2007! Of course there are other ways to get the information now!

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by kdonline

That post was from waaaay earlier: 2007! Of course there are other ways to get the information now!

I would still caution that materials published by the inter/national organization itself are the best sources. There are a number of sites that list "famous" Alpha Gams who aren't really Alpha Gams. Urban legends can make it to websites- even chapter websites- when the information is incorrect.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I would still caution that materials published by the inter/national organization itself are the best sources. There are a number of sites that list "famous" Alpha Gams who aren't really Alpha Gams. Urban legends can make it to websites- even chapter websites- when the information is incorrect.

I definitely agree. I've seen at least one incorrect alumnus on multiple chapter sites (Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr is an honorary brother of Alpha Phi Omega, but his son Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is not)

[UVASquirrel]

Yep...best AGD example I can think of is the rumor/urban legend that Betty White is an Alpha Gam. She is not.

Originally Posted by AGDee

I would still caution that materials published by the inter/national organization itself are the best sources. There are a number of sites that list "famous" Alpha Gams who aren't really Alpha Gams. Urban legends can make it to websites- even chapter websites- when the information is incorrect.