Chapter at Historically African American Campuses

[Oldest_Pledge]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

No- to clarify I mean there is not a problem. But I also do not feel it merits any special discussion- please see my next post responding to one of your other questions for my reasoning.

OK. However, I think I would disagree with you and think there should be some discussion by the "group in charge of expansion."

While I do not want the discussion to specifically be "let's go to a historically African-American campus," I would hope the conversation would be more like "this idea has some merit. Let us explore those opportunities that may have not been previously explored."

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by Oldest_Pledge

OK. However, I think I would disagree with you and think there should be some discussion by the "group in charge of expansion."

While I do not want the discussion to specifically be "let's go to a historically African-American campus," I would hope the conversation would be more like "this idea has some merit. Let us explore those opportunities that may have not been previously explored."

Ah, I see what you mean- and yes that does make good sense.

While the recruitment process and funds allocation should be the same as elsewhere, there would have to be some consideration and discussion about entering into a new area for all IFC organizations- specifically to recruit at schools where IFC organizations have never existed to the degree at more traditional colleges and universities.

I am all for expanding as much as possible. At the campuses I follow, IFC fraternity numbers are down- very sharply at Texas for a start. The overall Greek population at UT is about the same as when I was there, but that is represented by a sharp drop in IFC membership and a strong growth in membership in other Greek Councils.

If we want to succeed in moving in new directions such as our increased emphasis on academics- then I think we have to expand anywhere we can as existing chapters take their time adjusting to these new measures.

Being extra selective about membership is good, but being excessively selective about the schools we colonize is not.

IMHO.

[Oldest_Pledge]

Originally Posted by EE-BO

....but that is represented by a sharp drop in IFC membership and a strong growth in membership in other Greek Councils.

And why isn't Beta Theta Pi being a social leader on campus (any campus) and looking to bring all male GLOs under one "Unified IFC?"

What is Beta Theta Pi doing on these campuses (those experiencing growth of other Greek Councils) to make us equally "attractive" (for the lack of a better word?
I am not saying that these are renegades or not good for a campuses social life. And I am not saying we need to lower standards. But, rather, I am asking what are we doing on these campuses to give Beta a better image overall to attract the best of the best on campus that these other groups are seemingly able to attract?

[Senusret I]

I hope you don't mind me crashing....

I, for one, am all about the freedom of association. I believe that if there is an interest in NIC fraternities (or their peers) to colonize at an HBCU, that's a good thing. Everyone wasn't meant to be an Alpha.

But as someone who has rechartered a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega at an HBCU and a witness to an NIC colonization at another HBCU... I'd like to just say that any organization that targets HBCUs OR that is investigating an interest group at an HBCU must absolutely play close attention to the culture of the school.

I think some HBCUs would be great fits with some NIC organizations. Others would not be.

You've got to KNOW the campus. Are all five NPHC fraternities already on campus and performing well? Is one organization on suspension? Which ones are active?

I think reputation is important. You don't want to be known as the fraternity that popped up because ABC was "off the yard."

Numbers are also important. Are you okay with being a chapter
of ten on a campus of 10,000?

Who are your consultants/field reps? Are they well versed in HBCU culture and traditions? Trust me, sending the black field reps to the HBCU might not work out well if the rep sticks out like a sore thumb culturally. I personally (as a black guy) sometimes find more in common with white farm boys from Nebraska than black suburban guys from Maryland.

Anyway, I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds... I just don't want to see another effort for NIC orgs at HBCUs to fail as miserably as the one I've seen.

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I hope you don't mind me crashing....

Not at all- you made some very good points. I know it varies by forum, but I hope I speak for all Betas in saying anyone is welcome to comment on anything posted here.

As long as Beta ritual or personal information is not revealed, and as long as things remain civil- I don't ever plan to edit or delete anything posted by anybody (Beta or not) on this forum.

[Oldest_Pledge]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I hope you don't mind me crashing.....

Not at all. I greatly appreciate your perspective.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I, for one, am all about the freedom of association. I believe that if there is an interest in NIC fraternities (or their peers) to colonize at an HBCU, that's a good thing.

I am glad to hear that my suggestion is not absolutley repulsive.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

...I'd like to just say that any organization that targets HBCUs OR that is investigating an interest group at an HBCU must absolutely play close attention to the culture of the school.

I agree 100%.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

You've got to KNOW the campus. Are all five NPHC fraternities already on campus and performing well? Is one organization on suspension? Which ones are active?

Again, I agree. And I feel that Beta Theta Pi would perform due diligence before it approached any HBCU.

And as for the rest of your post....Again, every point is valid.

I was wondering if my fraternity had looked at the possibility of expanding at an HBCU. I am also wondering if any HBCU have approached other fraternities about coming to their campuses.

[a.e.B.O.T.]

Originally Posted by Oldest_Pledge

I was wondering if my fraternity had looked at the possibility of expanding at an HBCU. I am also wondering if any HBCU have approached other fraternities about coming to their campuses.

I have thought about this myself, and there is TONS of scholarly work done on the subject... My biggest fear about approaching HBCUs is that of rejection. We may get accepted by the college, but we still need founding fathers. There were 2 fraternities on my campus after Beta that tried to enter our campus, and both stopped within a year because they couldnt get the numbers to truly get started. Those fraternities became a laughing stock, and I don't want to see Beta. If we do go into a HBCU, I hope that there is student interest!

[EE-BO]

Originally Posted by Oldest_Pledge

And why isn't Beta Theta Pi being a social leader on campus (any campus) and looking to bring all male GLOs under one "Unified IFC?"

What is Beta Theta Pi doing on these campuses (those experiencing growth of other Greek Councils) to make us equally "attractive" (for the lack of a better word?

To answer the first question- at every school I know, ALL registered GLOs are managed through a central Greek Life office affiliate with the school. So at the campus level there will be a central oversight function of some sort.

When I was in school- we used the term "IFC" to refer to that office since just about every fraternity was an IFC organization, but now that there are large numbers of GLOs operating under their own councils it is important to note that IFC is actually something at the international level for some GLOs and it is not really up to any one fraternity to try and unify it with other councils. I don't see the value in that unless everyone wants it- and there is no reason for Beta to work towards it that I can see.

Different GLOs have different structures and needs from a national governing council. NPHC organizations have very different recruitment policies than IFC groups- and I do not see any benefit in trying to have them under one council and one set of unified rules.

As for what Beta is doing at campuses- I see that largely as an issue for a given chapter at a given school.

GF can and should provide incentives (such as RTS) to encourage chapters to align their own rush efforts to attract good candidates, but it is very dangerous to start incentivizing or requiring rush efforts that are based on personal criteria (i.e. race, religion, nationality etc.) It is one thing to support scholastic excellence- but quite another to try and force some kind of diversity (which is hard to define anyway) when that is something that naturally has to be largely reflected by a given student population interested in being in a fraternity from which rush candidates are selected.

It is up to alumni of each chapter to offer guidance and suggestions when such things are welcomed, and then you go from there.

I think I understand your advocacy and in the grand scheme of things the sooner people get to know the real world and how to get along with everyone the better- but you really cannot use that thought to force rush policies on a chapter. And most chapters are going to be very reluctant to push rush-related views on another chapter since they know that will open them up to the same kind of intrusion.