Chapter at Historically African American Campuses

[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!