NPHC Secretiveness, Insularity, Etc.

[ChildoftheHorn]

Hmm..

I know of a few people(NPHC, NPC) thought having an "All-Greek" event where it would be a big cookout on the lake with people from every GLO on campus (IFC, NPC, NPHC, MGC). There would also be a tag football game with 1-2 people from each org.

It was kinda late in the year when we thought of it, but we hope to start it next year.

The big reason is that there is a huge division between the councils and there is no sense of unity within the Greek System.

I understand the D9 *hush*, but the point is also that many people are confused and mislead by lack of knowledge.
They hear about the hazing and assume that it is going on badly in every org on campus! no joke.....although I laughed when someone I knew said it.

Quite frankly, how would anyone know differently without taking out a portion of their day to do so (99% of people wouldn't)? There are none of the information meetings or discussion at all about the organizations (to the best of my knowledge).

Why not have an open hall during New Student Week where evey org has a few people and a sign/banner/board where they talk about their philanthropy/values/history for a couple of hours?

Both of these events would be good for the new students, current actives, and the system itself (everyone could use good exposure).

Sometimes, it is good to talk about (certain) things.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

Hmm..

I know of a few people(NPHC, NPC) thought having an "All-Greek" event where it would be a big cookout on the lake with people from every GLO on campus (IFC, NPC, NPHC, MGC). There would also be a tag football game with 1-2 people from each org.

It was kinda late in the year when we thought of it, but we hope to start it next year.

The big reason is that there is a huge division between the councils and there is no sense of unity within the Greek System.

I understand the D9 *hush*, but the point is also that many people are confused and mislead by lack of knowledge.
They hear about the hazing and assume that it is going on badly in every org on campus! no joke.....although I laughed when someone I knew said it.

Quite frankly, how would anyone know differently without taking out a portion of their day to do so (99% of people wouldn't)? There are none of the information meetings or discussion at all about the organizations (to the best of my knowledge).

Why not have an open hall during New Student Week where evey org has a few people and a sign/banner/board where they talk about their philanthropy/values/history for a couple of hours?

Both of these events would be good for the new students, current actives, and the system itself (everyone could use good exposure).

Sometimes, it is good to talk about (certain) things.

Several campi do have "Meet the Greeks". Some include all the councils, many don't... Also, the fact the many campi admins are "antigreek" overall, suggests that intervention by elders may be required. However, young people fail to ask us or ask us at the last minute--especially when matters are worse...

My undergraduate chapter that my graduate chapter oversees, has interacted with 2-3 different non-NPHC GLO's.

[Senusret I]

Child, some campuses do those things. On those campuses where the lack of information seems to be detrimental to the system, then talk to your greek affairs people -- seriously!

[ChildoftheHorn]

Yeah, on my campus there is a small thing that is done by a few of the councils individually - but not a collective....not a place where a student could explore all of their options.

There is not unity. There are quite a few people pushing for it, but IMO people have retained many of the prejudices against the Orgs. (this is a two way street).

As stupid as it seems....
-We follow the same guidelines
-Have similar structure (positions, philanthropy, tradition)
-Go to the same School (Go to class together)
-Have friends in each others' org.
-Belong to the same non-Greek groups

Why does it seem like such a strech for a lil' Greek unity too? - What council may be right for your friend, may not right for you.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

Yeah, on my campus there is a small thing that is done by a few of the councils individually - but not a collective....not a place where a student could explore all of their options.

There is not unity. There are quite a few people pushing for it, but IMO people have retained many of the prejudices against the Orgs. (this is a two way street).

As stupid as it seems....
-We follow the same guidelines
-Have similar structure (positions, philanthropy, tradition)
-Go to the same School (Go to class together)
-Have friends in each others' org.
-Belong to the same non-Greek groups

Why does it seem like such a strech for a lil' Greek unity too? - What council may be right for your friend, may not right for you.

Part of the issue is the inherent segregation placed on the campus. You met these "other greeks" in your classes and maybe an occassional view of a "yard show". Your greek life office failed to foster unity, probably because the ADULTS are not unified...

We cannot ask our young people to show unity when we, as a adults, aren't unified... During your parties at your house, have you invited any of the ethnic GLO's to assist you?

Moreover, there is a historical reason why many in the NPHC do not own houses near a large university...

At San Diego State University, I hooked up with 2-3 IFC's to inherently assist them in their classes. As a result, I started get my own Sorority undergraduate members assistance that I have never observed before. The kids came back to me and told all kinds of things.

Also, San Diego State University, was building a new greek row. They reorganized their greek life office and all GLO's started having the administration assistance in student affairs and perpetuating philathropy. I do not know how it now. But it I was involved in the early workings to see the changes taking place.

[ChildoftheHorn]

You know, the whole greek thing is funny on my campus.

Overall:
Fraternities are being rung out by the university.
Sororities could not be stronger!

BTW: Annual step show is SOLD OUT+ every year. You will see a lot of the MGC groups there, some people from the PNC, and very few IFC.

No one hates anyone else, there is just this distinct division. Granted, many of the orgs on campus have history going on 75 years + at that school for NPC and IFC. Houses make a big exporsure difference too, I think. Since all the greek houses are on campus, people see them very often. (Even I live in the Fraternity Quads - small dorm.) It is hard to break into that. Some of the Multi-cultural orgs. are extremely cliquish(w/hazing) and by doing so harm the others who are not. Since the NPC and IFC orgs are larger numbers per group, there is a more heavily enforced regulation.

Scenario: 30 XYZ pledges are hazed and 8 ABC pledges are hazed. It is a lot easier to get 1 XYZ to tell than 1 ABC based purely on numbers.

A lot of the *hush* is not just D9 stuff - or even the secrecy.

Its really a number run IMO.
i.e. They are smaller. there has to be a reason why they are smaller, must be hiding something, something weird must be going on.

Not to mention the prejudices/experiences of some people's parents that were in college 20-30 years ago (two way street - remember).

Org's will never be looked at the same way b/c they are inherently different (from their beginning) anyway...

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

You know, the whole greek thing is funny on my campus.

Overall:
Fraternities are being rung out by the university.
Sororities could not be stronger!

BTW: Annual step show is SOLD OUT+ every year. You will see a lot of the MGC groups there, some people from the PNC, and very few IFC.

No one hates anyone else, there is just this distinct division. Granted, many of the orgs on campus have history going on 75 years + at that school for NPC and IFC. Houses make a big exporsure difference too, I think. Since all the greek houses are on campus, people see them very often. (Even I live in the Fraternity Quads - small dorm.) It is hard to break into that. Some of the Multi-cultural orgs. are extremely cliquish(w/hazing) and by doing so harm the others who are not. Since the NPC and IFC orgs are larger numbers per group, there is a more heavily enforced regulation.

Scenario: 30 XYZ pledges are hazed and 8 ABC pledges are hazed. It is a lot easier to get 1 XYZ to tell than 1 ABC based purely on numbers.

A lot of the *hush* is not just D9 stuff - or even the secrecy.

Its really a number run IMO.
i.e. They are smaller. there has to be a reason why they are smaller, must be hiding something, something weird must be going on.

Not to mention the prejudices/experiences of some people's parents that were in college 20-30 years ago (two way street - remember).

Org's will never be looked at the same way b/c they are inherently different (from their beginning) anyway...

PM me when you can...

[Senusret I]

ChildOftheHorn, you need to slow your roll. For real.

You were just initiated this past semester, right? You can't possibly know all there is to know about even your own organization, much less others to say that they MUST be smaller for a reason.

You're throwing about the word "hazing" an awful lot -- have you reported it? Or do you just like perpetuating gossip about cultural Greeks at Northwestern?

Originally Posted by Senusret I

You were just initiated this past semester, right? You can't possibly know all there is to know about even your own organization, much less others to say that they MUST be smaller for a reason.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

ChildOftheHorn, you need to slow your roll. For real.

You were just initiated this past semester, right? You can't possibly know all there is to know about even your own organization, much less others to say that they MUST be smaller for a reason.

You're throwing about the word "hazing" an awful lot -- have you reported it? Or do you just like perpetuating gossip about cultural Greeks at Northwestern?

I must be missing something. I don't get the reaction to Child's post. To me it appears she is just being honest about her experience on her campus.

But then I didn't get the reaction to my post to Wolfman either.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

ChildOftheHorn, you need to slow your roll. For real.

You were just initiated this past semester, right? You can't possibly know all there is to know about even your own organization, much less others to say that they MUST be smaller for a reason.

You're throwing about the word "hazing" an awful lot -- have you reported it? Or do you just like perpetuating gossip about cultural Greeks at Northwestern?

I got the impression that what she is saying is that due to other people's (not her own) ignorance of how MGC & NPHC orgs work, they have these ideas about the size of the chapters and other things, and that's why she is pushing for greater communication and awareness between councils on her campus. Perhaps I misinterpreted?

[ChildoftheHorn]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Or do you just like perpetuating gossip about cultural Greeks at Northwestern?

People spread rumors of hazing and then people start to say stuff like that (that is what the i.e. was for )

BTW: I never made a statement about all the orgs in the cultural greek sys. hazing. People hear of one or two incidents that may or not have happened and they make assumptions. (People do that a lot!)

Honestly, a lot of people do not know their options. There is a lot of a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE about the greek system in general to NON-GREEKS. When you are consider the less exposure that the cutural greek orgs. get, it is resonable that a person would not know as much.

Even though I was only initiated in spring quarter, I have completed as of now two years there. I think that does give me the ability to comment on the campus climate.

For those of you hearing me selectively and not in context, understand that my intentions are for unity and change.

[Animate]

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

Scenario: 30 XYZ pledges are hazed and 8 ABC pledges are hazed. It is a lot easier to get 1 XYZ to tell than 1 ABC based purely on numbers.

A lot of the *hush* is not just D9 stuff - or even the secrecy.

Its really a number run IMO.
i.e. They are smaller. there has to be a reason why they are smaller, must be hiding something, something weird must be going on.

Not to mention the prejudices/experiences of some people's parents that were in college 20-30 years ago (two way street - remember).

Org's will never be looked at the same way b/c they are inherently different (from their beginning) anyway...

Please plead the fif before you seriously incriminate youself. You are commenting on things you have little to no knowledge of. "They are smaller. there has to be a reason why they are smaller, must be hiding something, something weird must be going on." Seriously? You wanna play numbers? Let's play.

[L.O.C.K.]

Child,

Hazing is across the board (Black, White, Latino, Asian, Purple, Green, whatever)

It is present in MANY cultures over the past thousands of years and has manifested itself in many different ways.

Whether or not hazing happens is purely on a chapter basis for NPHC and NPC/NIC. I know of NPHC orgs that haze and ones that don't haze. I know of NPC/NIC orgs that haze and ones that don't haze. You can't make blanket statements like that and expect people to take your words first hand.

Also, another reason for small numbers is the proportion of Black, Latino, Asian students on campuses across the country. Except for HBCUs, HSIs, and some California schools, all are major minorities at most institutions...hence numbers will be smaller.

Are there other issues that contribue to smaller numbers? Of course. Is hazing one of them? Yes, it could be, but it depends on the chapter.

Hazing is still very very prevalent in all orgs across the board, and just trying to ban it has never worked and won't work until the culture of what it means to be "Greek" is changed. End of story.

Pledging and hazing have been thrown together into one basket, and now it's a crime to make a kid memorize your history or something. So, hazing will continue because members value their history and "traditions".

NPHC and NPC/NIC have strong anti-hazing policies, but if you look at say DST's website for example you will see lists of people who had their membership snatched or fined, etc. for issues like hazing. The list is not like one or two people either. (Sorry for callin DST out, but it's site that sticks out in my mind the most about members who got in trouble w/ IHQ)

As for secrecy amongst NPHC orgs...yea it's there. Why is it there? I am sure there are many contributing factors:

-anti-Black sentiment on campuses throughout the past century forcing undercover operations

-the sense of empowerment the individual gets being part of something exclusive (this obviously is not limited to NPHC orgs)

-"traditions" building up over time

-probably a lot more too

As AKA Monet said, a lot of the misunderstandings come from much bigger issues like segregation (both self-segregation and intentional segregation) or stereotypes or whatever.

Greek life has the potential to be bridges between various cultures and backgrounds. Unfortunately, right now it magnifies the barriers in many cases (per my research).

It's up to us to change it.

[nwu43]

Hi childofthehorn! I had no idea you go to northwestern.. are there other GC'ers who go to NU?

Originally Posted by ChildoftheHorn

Annual step show is SOLD OUT+ every year. You will see a lot of the MGC groups there, some people from the PNC, and very few IFC.

We were invited and were supposed to perform the previous year but we had our Midwest Brotherhood Rally at the same day unfortunately You will see us next year for sure