Is 40 to old to join a sorority?

[AKA_Monet]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I still can't help but think, being that she's "afrikanscholar" that she's talking about NPHC. From what I've gathered, it still seems like it would be awkward for her to pledge an undergrad chapter, but it also seems that once she's graduated, it would be perfectly commonplace for her to try a Grad chapter.

Which is confusing to me, because when you spell it that way, you are usually anti-greek organizations anyway? Most who are Afrikan Centered lack the sentiment and desire to join any NPHC organization because we are viewed as mock ups of the NIC by them... I have my ways of knowing these realities...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Which is confusing to me, because when you spell it that way, you are usually anti-greek organizations anyway?

Why? (If you don't mind me asking...I don't know anything about the connotation of spelling afrikan/african.)

[ForeverRoses]

[QUOTE=AlphaFrog;1546297]Why? (If you don't mind me asking...I don't know anything about the connotation of spelling afrikan/african.)[/QUOTE

The spelling of Afrika versus Africa is because spelling it with a "c" is considered to be "eurocentric". Spelling it with a "k" focuses it more on Afrika. As a good friend and member of a NPHC sorority explained it to me, most people who spell it with a "k" consider sororities to be eurocentric institutions and not traditional Afrikan institutions (in other words, they view sororities and fraternities as being sell-outs).

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by DZRose

Ok, I'll bite, because I'm genuinely curious. So how is "soliciting" membership as an AI different from "soliciting" membership as a woman going through rush? Would seeking AI be any less selective?

This woman didn't get cut from rush earlier in her life, she never pledged or sought membership (or at least didn't state that she had in the original post) at another time. Because she decided to attend college later in her life, beyond an age someone would typically feel comfortable pledging a sororirity, we should penalize her for that by completely eliminating the opportunity to have sisterhood with women of her own age/common interests?

I realize that there are some VERY heated opinions on AI, and I'm really curious as to why that is. I know a couple women who were AI because they did not have the opportunity to be in a sorority as collegians but made excellent members after AI. I feel like the sorority is strengthened by the experiences and enthusiasm they brought with them.

Most of the posts on GC I've read opposing AI seem to indicate that NO ONE should be AI. Why is it there then?

I don't understand that whole thing either. It really depends on the type of organization this woman is trying to join. Among the NPHC, alumnae initiation (although we don't refer to it as "AI," just alumnae or grad) is encouraged and supported. While the interested persons might be more carefully selected for membership, there is nothing weird or odd about joining an NPHC org at the alumnae level. In fact Alumnae chapters (which include undergrad and grad initiates) are highly valued so much so that new undergrad chapters cannot be chartered unless there is an alumnae chapter close by to advise them. So it's important for the alumnae chapters to increase in membership. Ultimately it's the alumnae chapters that manage the business of the organizations at the local level.

So my advice...if she's interested in an NPHC org and she's 40 years old, I would suggest that she do her research and pursue membership at the grad level once she has achieved her bachelor's degree unless she can tolerate being around a bunch of young'uns all the time. I'm in an alumnae chapter (inducted as an undergrad) and we advise 5 undergrad chapters and we are very close to them. I love them dearly but I can't imagine being around them 24/7 now that I'm 30+.

[AOII_LB93]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I don't understand that whole thing either. It really depends on the type of organization this woman is trying to join. Among the NPHC, alumnae initiation (although we don't refer to it as "AI," just alumnae or grad) is encouraged and supported. While the interested persons might be more carefully selected for membership, there is nothing weird or odd about joining an NPHC org at the alumnae level. In fact Alumnae chapters (which include undergrad and grad initiates) are highly valued so much so that new undergrad chapters cannot be chartered unless there is an alumnae chapter close by to advise them. So it's important for the alumnae chapters to increase in membership. Ultimately it's the alumnae chapters that manage the business of the organizations at the local level.

So my advice...if she's interested in an NPHC org and she's 40 years old, I would suggest that she do her research and pursue membership at the grad level once she has achieved her bachelor's degree unless she can tolerate being around a bunch of young'uns all the time. I'm in an alumnae chapter (inducted as an undergrad) and we advise 5 undergrad chapters and we are very close to them. I love them dearly but I can't imagine being around them 24/7 now that I'm 30+.

Rhoyaltempest,
I don't know how many people are for or against AI. I've not taken a formal poll...what I do know is that I can liken a lot of what we (NPC members) have seen on GC is a lot of sorority shoppers as well as those who sought membership as undergrads, were denied for whatever reason, but yet still grasp the dream of being a member of ANY organization that will take them...so they seek out information on several groups at once and see who bites on the line (so to speak). I can gather from my reading of NPHC boards/posts that the same type of behaviour (i.e. expressing interest in multiple NPHC orgs) seems to be highly discouraged if not down right looked very poorly upon.

I feel the same way, and I will admit it openly. Does that mean I am anti AI? Not all all, I think there are many wonderful women who are now AOIIs that came in through Alumnae Initiation. Some people here on GC, and some in the past who have departed to other message boards seemed to push the idea on anyone who couldn't get in during "normal" recruitment, or those who just said they were interested. A lot of the NPC members (even AIs) have gotten tired of the questions about membership that way...because some were saying it was super easy to do...which for the most part it's not.

I can say that my organization is much like yours in that if there is not the alumnae support from a local alum group or several it does not seem like we would even consider colonization at that college or university.

[DZRose]

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

Rhoyaltempest,
I don't know how many people are for or against AI. I've not taken a formal poll...what I do know is that I can liken a lot of what we (NPC members) have seen on GC is a lot of sorority shoppers as well as those who sought membership as undergrads, were denied for whatever reason, but yet still grasp the dream of being a member of ANY organization that will take them...so they seek out information on several groups at once and see who bites on the line (so to speak). I can gather from my reading of NPHC boards/posts that the same type of behaviour (i.e. expressing interest in multiple NPHC orgs) seems to be highly discouraged if not down right looked very poorly upon.

I feel the same way, and I will admit it openly. Does that mean I am anti AI? Not all all, I think there are many wonderful women who are now AOIIs that came in through Alumnae Initiation. Some people here on GC, and some in the past who have departed to other message boards seemed to push the idea on anyone who couldn't get in during "normal" recruitment, or those who just said they were interested. A lot of the NPC members (even AIs) have gotten tired of the questions about membership that way...because some were saying it was super easy to do...which for the most part it's not.

I can say that my organization is much like yours in that if there is not the alumnae support from a local alum group or several it does not seem like we would even consider colonization at that college or university.

Thanks for taking the time earlier in the post to answer my questions in an intelligent manner (not trying to imply that you wouldn't). I sometimes hesitate to ask for clarification by some GC'ers because sometimes the responses are very critical and rude.

While I also don't have any issues with women seeking membership as AI, if I found out a AI PNM had attempted to rush and was never extended a bid, I would doubt if I would consider her for AI. I agree that it can be harder, because of the exact problem you mentioned above. Unfortunately, I am not very knowledgable about opinions of NPHC groups when it comes to AI. If the general consensus is not favorable, then I would discourage her from pursuing that option.

Re: alumnae support of new collegiate chapters. I think any organization attempting to colonize at a campus would be foolish to try and do so without any local alumnae support. I believe for DZ this is often a crucial point when considering on weather to present to campuses seeking additional greek groups.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

The spelling of Afrika versus Africa is because spelling it with a "c" is considered to be "eurocentric". Spelling it with a "k" focuses it more on Afrika. As a good friend and member of a NPHC sorority explained it to me, most people who spell it with a "k" consider sororities to be eurocentric institutions and not traditional Afrikan institutions (in other words, they view sororities and fraternities as being sell-outs).

I find this spelling distinction ridiculous and I question where your good friend (and apparently AKAMonet) got the bolded from.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AKA_Monet

Most who are Afrikan Centered lack the sentiment and desire to join any NPHC organization because we are viewed as mock ups of the NIC by them... I have my ways of knowing these realities...

I don't know how most Afrikan Centered (is that an organization or just a frame of mind?) think. Is there a survey or something?

Afrocentrism (which I assume is the same thing you are referencing with "Afrikan Centered") doesn't preclude membership in fraternities and sororities for many Afrocentric people. They aren't a monolithic group.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by icicle22

I was thinking that too...no offense or anything, but by her name alone I thought she was black.

I assumed she's an Afrikan scholar.

I didn't assume she was black b/c I hope many 40 yr old black people who are interested in NPHC orgs generally know the answers to these types of questions or know not to come to Greekchat to ask them.

[Dionysus]

[QUOTE=ForeverRoses;1546378]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

Why? (If you don't mind me asking...I don't know anything about the connotation of spelling afrikan/african.)[/QUOTE

The spelling of Afrika versus Africa is because spelling it with a "c" is considered to be "eurocentric". Spelling it with a "k" focuses it more on Afrika. As a good friend and member of a NPHC sorority explained it to me, most people who spell it with a "k" consider sororities to be eurocentric institutions and not traditional Afrikan institutions (in other words, they view sororities and fraternities as being sell-outs).

Okay, that's cool! From now on, I'm going to start spelling things with a "k" to get back at THE MAN!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

Okay, that's cool! From now on, I'm going to start spelling things with a "k" to get back at THE MAN!

Is that what Kappas are doing?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I don't understand that whole thing either. It really depends on the type of organization this woman is trying to join. Among the NPHC, alumnae initiation (although we don't refer to it as "AI," just alumnae or grad) is encouraged and supported.

Exactly. NPHC groups don't have AI - they have graduate membership. Comparing the two is kind of like comparing NPC formal rush with NPHC rush.

From what I've learned on here, NPHC undergrad and grad chapters run pretty much exactly the same way. That is NOT true in the NPC. A woman who joins an NPC group as an alumna initiate is NOT going to get the same experience she would get if she joined as a collegian.

[fantASTic]

To shed as much light as a corn-fed white girl can on the 'k' spelling thing...

In my sociology class, we read the biography of Assata Shakur, and this is her take on the usage of 'k' instead of 'c'. She used that commonly, for a lot of things [kourt for court, afrikan, etc]. What we were informed is that the use of the k indicates a racism or biased system. For example: she uses kourt instead of court to denote the system in which she was tried, because it was racially slanted against her. Apparently the k is used because of the KKK.

In the same light, an "afrikan" according to Assata is a black person who has "sold out" to the white-centered society.


I have no idea if there are other meanings or whatever, so please don't jump down my throat if I'm wrong!

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by 33girl

From what I've learned on here, NPHC undergrad and grad chapters run pretty much exactly the same way. That is NOT true in the NPC. A woman who joins an NPC group as an alumna initiate is NOT going to get the same experience she would get if she joined as a collegian.

People who join NPHC orgs as graduates aren't really going to get the same experience as they would as a collegian.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

To shed as much light as a corn-fed white girl can on the 'k' spelling thing...

In my sociology class, we read the biography of Assata Shakur. She used that commonly, for a lot of things [kourt for court, afrikan, etc]. What we were informed is that the use of the k indicates a racism or biased system. For example: she uses kourt instead of court to denote the system in which she was tried, because it was racially slanted against her. Apparently the k is used because of the KKK.

In the same light, an "afrikan" according to Assata is a black person who has "sold out" to the white-centered society.


I have no idea if there are other meanings or whatever, so please don't jump down my throat if I'm wrong!

Okay--this is Assata Shakur's take on it. She's hardly the foremost authority on such things. And I'm humored that you all were assigned her biography for your soc class.