What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[sigmaceli]

Oddly enough, it seems that when you get to the EXTREME South, i.e. South Florida, our Greek systems operate more like a Northern chapter. It's pretty weird.

The "Southern" style of recruitment wouldn't fly down here.

[bamagirl09]

No offense to south Florida, but that is NOT the south. Yes it is the southern United States, but it is not the south in the sense of culture. Most people at UA don't consider FL a southern state at all. It's mostly displaced yankees who got tired of snow.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by bamagirl09

No offense to south Florida, but that is NOT the south. Yes it is the southern United States, but it is not the south in the sense of culture. Most people at UA don't consider FL a southern state at all. It's mostly displaced yankees who got tired of snow.

It definitely depends on the part of Florida --- it's a patchy state, lol

[PhiLove83]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

It definitely depends on the part of Florida --- it's a patchy state, lol

Most definitely! I am from "south" Florida, my hometown is about an hour north of west palm beach, but the town is extremely southern... and the town where my parents are from is even smaller (one blinking light, an elementary school, two gas stations and a post office but it was founded by our family in the 1800's!). I grew up around orange groves, railroading and commercial fishing... Florida is a very different place, some people embrace the southern culture, but a lot are from the north as well. As for my graduating class, most of the people that went Greek we born and raised in the area, a lot of the "transplants" did not.. it definitely depends on how you were raised. Although neither of my parents are Greek they are very accepting, and even encouraged me to go through rush when I was still iffy.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

While there are many Floridians that are from somewhere else, there still exist those who were born here. Many of us also have relatives and or ancestors from "the South" as well. Not everyone is trying to get away from snow. Believe it or not we have hospitals with maternity wards here and they have existed for significant amounts of time.

[PhiLove83]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Believe it or not we have hospitals with maternity wards here and they have existed for significant amounts of time.

Exactly!

[BadCat25]

I am from the South but go to college in the North and I can tell you there is a big difference in the culture of the two areas with respect to GLO's. In the North being in a GLO is something you do in college and not very important after that. In the South it is something that stays with you for your whole life. It will impact who you marry, your future in the job market and so on. Southern moms hope their daughters will go to their state university and join a top sorority as they believe this is their entry to a beautiful life. Northern moms hope their daughters will get in Yale or Amherst and who cares about GLO's. No amount of marketing will change this.

[62231]

Originally Posted by PhiLove83

Most definitely! I am from "south" Florida, my hometown is about an hour north of west palm beach, but the town is extremely southern... and the town where my parents are from is even smaller (one blinking light, an elementary school, two gas stations and a post office but it was founded by our family in the 1800's!). I grew up around orange groves, railroading and commercial fishing... Florida is a very different place, some people embrace the southern culture, but a lot are from the north as well. As for my graduating, most of the people that went Greek we born and raised in the area, a lot of the "transplants" did not.. it definitely depends on how you were raised. Although neither of my parents are Greek they are very accepting, and even encouraged me to go through rush when I was still iffy.

Haha, you've got to be from one of three places: Vero Beach, Port St. Lucie, or Stuart!


In my opinion, there's some sort of comformist v individual battle between the southeast and other regions. Down here, social groups are encouraged to help individuals become more well-rounded and become contributing members of society.
Elsewhere, academics seem to be the only things worthwhile and any sort of "conformity" is looked down upon. I don't know- can someone who understands what I'm saying phrase this better?

[FAMUDva]

Originally Posted by DSTRen13

It definitely depends on the part of Florida --- it's a patchy state, lol

I totally agree! I'm originally from Ft. Myers, Florida (south of Tampa); and except for the snow birds and immigrants, the born & bred FLORIDIANS are VERY southern! lol

Same thing in some areas of Broward and Dade county...

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by sigmaceli

Oddly enough, it seems that when you get to the EXTREME South, i.e. South Florida, our Greek systems operate more like a Northern chapter. It's pretty weird.

The "Southern" style of recruitment wouldn't fly down here.

I think the "South" Line stops somewhere just before Jacksonville IMO. I went to school in North Florida and our GLOs acted more like some Northern ones in that aspect.