Bringing the Councils together

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by ADivinePIe

At my University we have all four councils. But the only councils that work together are IFC and PHC....NPHC and MCGC dont participate with the other councils. I want to find a way to get the councils to work together...any thoughts?

You want to find a way to get the councils to work together? OK, fine.

But specifically doing what? And why the need? Have you asked why the NPHC and NMGC orgs don't participate? Perhaps it's as simple as "they haven't been asked."

Your dilemma is an interesting one, but way too broad. Why do you want the councils to work together? What are the goal(s) that can be accomplished by doing this? And more importantly, what are the respective councils willing to compromise in meeting this goal?

Please give some specifics and some background on your campus' situation. Your dilemma raises way too many questions at this point for a lot of us to sufficiently offer suggestions.

[ZChi4Life]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

But specifically doing what? And why the need?

Your dilemma is an interesting one, but way too broad. Why do you want the councils to work together?

Why wouldn't the councils want to work together? What's wrong w/ building a united Greek community on campus?

From my very recent experience working in Greek Life at a university, having all four councils (or however many there are) work together can help in terms of breaking down stereotypes btwn the councils. As you know from GC, all four councils are different and offer different perspectives on Greek life. I think it's important that collegiate councils come together for that purpose, as well as to show the student body that they can all come together as members of the Greek community.

I could go on, but I think there are many benefits in having councils work together... at least for Greek Week and other all-Greek events the school may plan.


In terms of advice, I thought ekDZ1535 gave a lot of good suggestions. I think it's key to remember that getting the councils to work together won't happen overnight. I think it's important to get the councils to communicate with one another first, and then go from there in terms of what can be done to get them to collaborate on some projects.
Good Luck!

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by ZChi4Life

Why wouldn't the councils want to work together? What's wrong w/ building a united Greek community on campus?

There's nothing wrong with it, but you have to ask how much the orgs have in common besides the use of Greek letters. On some campuses, joint programming makes sense. On others, it does not. The problem lies in partnering just for the sake of "unity" or "diversity" or something of that sort.

[KAPital PHINUst]

DeltaBetaBaby,

You hit the nail on the head as to why I posed the line of questioning the way I did. Hence why I asked, "What specifically will the councils be uniting to do?" What purpose will it serve other than unity for unity's sake? If that was to happen, what unity that does arise from that will be short-lived and will revert back to status quo in short order.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

One way we try to bring together chapters within the CPH is common programming that meets national requirements. So for example, a lot of chapters are supposed to have programming on alcohol/drug abuse. If the CPH can put on that program, it serves a need for most of the chapters. I have no idea if NPHC groups have the same requirement. If they do, it makes sense to include them, if they don't, well, you can invite them, but why would they show?

(I don't mean to pick on NPHC groups...it would work the other way, too, if the NPHC groups had a program to honor outstanding AA high school students. What would the NPC groups want with that?)

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

One way we try to bring together chapters within the CPH is common programming that meets national requirements. So for example, a lot of chapters are supposed to have programming on alcohol/drug abuse. If the CPH can put on that program, it serves a need for most of the chapters. I have no idea if NPHC groups have the same requirement. If they do, it makes sense to include them, if they don't, well, you can invite them, but why would they show?

(I don't mean to pick on NPHC groups...it would work the other way, too, if the NPHC groups had a program to honor outstanding AA high school students. What would the NPC groups want with that?)

wow, talk about pulling out examples through stereotypes. i hope in your head that was hypothetical.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by tld221

wow, talk about pulling out examples through stereotypes. i hope in your head that was hypothetical.

What are you talking about? Delta gave two very concise examples which would demonstrate two different situations. It should be obvious that Delta's not insinuating that all NPC/IFC members do drugs and drink too much, and that all NPHC orgs sponsor AA high school students.

Originally Posted by ekDZ1535

Often, NPHC and MCGC have been left out of the loop in the past with things such as Greek Week, Week of the Scholar, and other such "all-Greek" events. Whether it's right or not, some of these members may not feel so inclined to extend the all-Greek love, so it's going to take more work on the PHC/IFC end to show sincere commitment to Greek unity and interest in collaboration outside of for your own good (not that you are - but we all know how things can be perceived at times).

I think it's the opposite problem. We invited the NPHC groups to participate in Greek Week. Two accepted. Of the two, one teamed up with DZ [because the NPHC groups were too small to compete on their own, and they knew this going in]. The other group was supposed to be with us. We called and called them to organize stuff and discuss it, and never once did they call us back. Not one person showed up to anything from that group.

I agree with Susan; at least here, it's more effort on the NPHC side that's needed if intercouncil relationships are to work.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by tld221

wow, talk about pulling out examples through stereotypes. i hope in your head that was hypothetical.

What is hypothetical? This is something I know the NPHC groups did on my campus. Is it now inappropriate to note that NPHC groups do activities geared toward African Americans?

I actually included that example because, unlike the above posters, it was not my experience that the NPHC groups were to blame for lack of unity. It was definitely a two-way street on my campus.

[mccoyred]

I want to know why its the NPHC and MGC folks that are at fault here? Maybe they don't want to work with you because you all are too self-righteous!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

(I don't mean to pick on NPHC groups...it would work the other way, too, if the NPHC groups had a program to honor outstanding AA high school students. What would the NPC groups want with that?)

Anyone can honor outstanding African American high school students if that is a component of the group's philanthropy.

[ZChi4Life]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Anyone can honor outstanding African American high school students if that is a component of the group's philanthropy.

Precisely!