Princeton University Greeks

[SthrnZeta]

So I just read up on Eating Clubs - weird!!! They're like, selective student union buildings but in really nice digs! So, the university recognizes these but not Greeks? I'm just amazed, I guess. I would think they'd be more open to service and leadership orgs than fancy student unions but what do I know, lol.

Low C, I can imagine other groups in general would pose a competition to GLOs for members - they do at all schools to a degree but it made me wonder if it was harder at schools such as these... but I'm glad to hear that membership is strong despite that. You've gotta be pretty organized to form and control an off-campus Panhel and IFC, etc. Props to Princeton (and others who do this)!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

So I just read up on Eating Clubs - weird!!! They're like, selective student union buildings but in really nice digs! So, the university recognizes these but not Greeks? I'm just amazed, I guess. I would think they'd be more open to service and leadership orgs than fancy student unions but what do I know, lol.

Low C, I can imagine other groups in general would pose a competition to GLOs for members - they do at all schools to a degree but it made me wonder if it was harder at schools such as these... but I'm glad to hear that membership is strong despite that. You've gotta be pretty organized to form and control an off-campus Panhel and IFC, etc. Props to Princeton (and others who do this)!

I don't understand why this is "weird" to you -- it's different and unique. They are sort of our "cousins" in the fraternal sense. I'm sure those GC members who are eating club alums don't appreciate your assessment of their organizations.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I don't understand why this is "weird" to you -- it's different and unique. They are sort of our "cousins" in the fraternal sense. I'm sure those GC members who are eating club alums don't appreciate your assessment of their organizations.

It's my opinon - lighten up!

[Senusret I]

I believe it is an opinion that is insensitive. I hope you can respect my right to express my displeasure at that opinion, especially since it is relevant to the topic.

I would appreciate it if you didn't tell me to lighten up as I am merely participating in the conversation as you are.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I believe it is an opinion that is insensitive. I hope you can respect my right to express my displeasure at that opinion, especially since it is relevant to the topic.

I would appreciate it if you didn't tell me to lighten up as I am merely participating in the conversation as you are.

I just think you're reading too much into what I say and making this more personal than the discussion needs to be. I think the concept of eating clubs is strange (even the name sounds funny to me - it sounded like a club who prepares for hot dog eating competitions or something) but that's because my school never had such a thing. Heck, GLOs weren't even that big on my campus! If they're offended because I went to a different school and think a tradition on their campus is weird, so be it. Then they're too sensitive. I'm sure some GMU traditions might seem weird to them, and I wouldn't be offended if they thought so. I don't think weird has this hugely negative conotation anyway...

[SthrnZeta]

LadyGreek said she had city wide chapters instead of collegiate chapters - so naturally that confused me a little. And how would I know this - I'm in an NPC org and I haven't been on GC that long so I don't know much about NPHC orgs - they exist at GMU but they're pretty discrete about their activities outside the step show by the clock.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

LadyGreek said she had city wide chapters instead of collegiate chapters - so naturally that confused me a little. And how would I know this - I'm in an NPC org and I haven't been on GC that long so I don't know much about NPHC orgs - they exist at GMU but they're pretty discrete about their activities outside the step show by the clock.

City-wide chapters are collegiate chapters.

[SthrnZeta]

Different, weird, potato, potata, whatever. Semantics. It's my opinion, that's all. I didn't call them freaks or some other negative label. I think the concept of eating clubs is strange but I assume it grew out of a need for some sort of Greek system that they don't currently have (recognized at least) so it makes sense that they exist in the first place.

It's a free country - I should be able to speak my mind without fear of getting attacked - does GC exist outside of the U.S. and someone forgot to tell me?? Oh wait, I forgot it's customary to jump on people on GC who have a different opinion than you...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

It's a free country - I should be able to speak my mind without fear of getting attacked - does GC exist outside of the U.S. and someone forgot to tell me?? Oh wait, I forgot it's customary to jump on people on GC who have a different opinion than you...

You know, I like you, kid...but I really don't think you have thick enough skin for GC if you feel attacked in this discussion.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

You know, I like you, kid

This was cute.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

You know, I like you, kid...but I really don't think you have thick enough skin for GC if you feel attacked in this discussion.

Ok, perhaps "attacked" was too strong a word. I just see people all the time getting argumentative about stupid crap - if I state an opinion, someone immediately has to jump on it and call me out as wrong because I disagree with something they think. I got news for everyone - hope you're sitting down... THIS IS AN ONLINE FORUM AND I'M ON HERE FOR ENTERTAINMENT AND DISCUSSION. Meaning, what you think about me doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things I call my life. So... if you disagree with something I say, so be it - no need to be nasty about it, just say it plainly is all. rationally and respectully. And if I say something that is definitely inaccurate or even incorrect, no need to jump on me, just PM me and tell me, no need to be mean about it. We are all adults, right???

Thanks to Mystic and BlueNYC for that clarification. See how easy that was, folks?

[Senusret I]

It is your perception that people are argumentative.

It could be possible that yes, you are too sensitive for discussing Greek life rationally.

For example, it is not rational to expect -- feel entitled, if you will -- to a personal, private message if someone disagrees with you.

We have no loyalty or allegiance to you, and from what I can gather, you don't have any real life friends who are members of GC.

Whatever the case may be, you should be mature enough to do a few things:

1) Ask thoughtful questions -- realizing your ignorance of a topic without judging it.

2) Have a debate without crying "attacked" every time.

Just trying to help you see the other side of the coin.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

For example, it is not rational to expect -- feel entitled, if you will -- to a personal, private message if someone disagrees with you.

2) Have a debate without crying "attacked" every time.

Now this is worth a shot of chai latte.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by SthrnZeta

Different, weird, potato, potata, whatever. Semantics. It's my opinion, that's all. I didn't call them freaks or some other negative label. I think the concept of eating clubs is strange but I assume it grew out of a need for some sort of Greek system that they don't currently have (recognized at least) so it makes sense that they exist in the first place.

Actually, the eating clubs have roots as old or older than the Greek system in general. The Princeton version of eating clubs did take on a new dimension when Greek orgs were banned in the mid-1800s.

But the bottom line is that it's an Ivy League school and it's tradition.

If you enjoy this kind of book, The Rule of Four gives a reasonable glimpse of the eating clubs and their place at Princeton.

[SthrnZeta]

All I'm saying is that there's no need for an attitude if I ask a simple question. People ask questions when they want to know something and I was relying on other GCers to help me understand something. It really is just that simple. Unfortunately there are several GCers who feel some sort of elistism because they know more than us newbies and have to make us feel stupid everytime we ask a simple question. There's just no need for that sort of treatment. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong by asking questions on GC rather than looking through pages on Google... And I didn't say I expected a PM if someone disagrees with me - I said if I was blatantly wrong about something, tell me what the right answer is. And I asked, I would never expect anything from a GCer unless they were also a Zeta I have learned that much by now... You obviously don't see this side of the coin at all.