What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

True, but given his other posts, I assume he was talking about the Vietnam War and the accompanying Question Authority/Down With Tradition/Never Trust Anyone Over 30 sentiments that caused a significant decline in Greekdom in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Interesting, because it was the late 60s early 70s during which BGLOs grew in leaps and bounds. New chapters we being chartered all over the place.

This whole thread is interesting to me and very informative. I will say that BGLOs are "hot" everywhere. Granted there are more chapters of orgs in the South, but that is due to the number of HBCUs located there.

BGLOs have always played a vital part in the Black community so knowledge and interest is not geographically skewed. Many of our leaders during the civil rights movement were member of BGLOs (which could partly explain the surge during that time.) I also think that our alumni(ae) structure plays a big part in the universal appeal, because we have never been thought of as just a collegiate activity. And did our Founders did not intend for that to be the case.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Interesting, because it was the late 60s early 70s during which BGLOs grew in leaps and bounds. New chapters we being chartered all over the place.

This whole thread is interesting to me and very informative. I will say that BGLOs are "hot" everywhere. Granted there are more chapters of orgs in the South, but that is due to the number of HBCUs located there.

BGLOs have always played a vital part in the Black community so knowledge and interest is not geographically skewed. Many of our leaders during the civil rights movement were member of BGLOs (which could partly explain the surge during that time.) I also think that our alumni(ae) structure plays a big part in the universal appeal, because we have never been thought of as just a collegiate activity. And did our Founders did not intend for that to be the case.

Yep and I touched on some of this in that "worst of times" thread.

[exlurker]

A recent opinion piece from the student paper at a (more or less Northern, not especially large) college about Greek life and its connection to other social opportunities at that school:

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/02/13/20067/

The opinion piece is favorable to Greek life.

Terminology note: "Bicker clubs," as I understand it, are the eating clubs whose membership is by invitation only. For recent statistics on these selective clubs, check out:

http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/02/11/20033/

Just a reminder that individual Northern schools can have their own sets of traditions that may mystify other people.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

As for the comments about Florida- you couldn't be more correct. The greek life at UCF, USF, FIU, etc. is comparable to that at northern colleges, Sigma Chi at USF being an exception.
I spent a lot of time in Michigan growing up and I can say that greek life is frowned upon there because it is viewed as a bunch of partiers with no ambition where as I was raised with the mentality of a fraternity being a great tool. If you want to network in college here you almost have to be in a fraternity. It's a system- to get a bid from a decent fraternity you have to be very sociable and to make it through pledgeship you have to be able to work as a team, essential skills for any career. My university president (Wetherell), governor (Crist), and president are all southerners and they're all greeks... its hard to paint us as unmotivated party animals with those kind of results.
"its not the grades you make, its the hands you shake."

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I said nothing of ambition and I have no idea what Theta Phi Alpha is.

I bolded that for you. I'm also sorry that you didn't bother to use Google.

Originally Posted by SECdomination

I don't think he was attacking Theta Phi Alpha- VandalSquirrel just gave a response that made her seem all victimized or something.

I am a victim, a victim of other people's ignorance and lack of research skills. But it is the hands you shake, not the grades you make.

[bowsandtoes]

I did take the time to google it. The only chapters in the South were in Florida, Louisiana, and one in Texas, all at very small schools not known for their greek life, so not knowing what sorority that was is understandable. When we think sorority, we think tri-delt, chi-o, zeta, pi phi, kappa, theta, the ones that have national name recognition.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

I did take the time to google it. The only chapters in the South were in Florida, Louisiana, and one in Texas, all at very small schools not known for their greek life, so not knowing what sorority that was is understandable. When we think sorority, we think tri-delt, chi-o, zeta, pi phi, kappa, theta, the ones that have national name recognition.

At least you googled it, but seriously, just because (general you) don't know about doesn't mean it doesn't have worth or value. I've never met a member of Alpha Delta Phi but I know about them (as well as the other 25 other NPC sororities and NPHC groups) because I had a complete fraternity education that included learning about the history of greek life beyond my campus. That knowledge might be useful while applying for a job or in other social situations. If an interviewer has some paraphenalia of a group and I recognize it, that may be the hand shaking that puts me above the other people who were also grade making.

[SWTXBelle]

I have to say that ALL NPCs have "national name recognition". There are only 26 of them, after all. Just because a GLO isn't on your campus, or even big in your geographic area, doesn't mean they aren't important. It's rather dismissive to say the only glos that matter are the ones you know.
Like Vandal Squirrel, I think it is important to know all the members of your GLO umbrella group - and others, as well. Heck, you don't even have to google it - just go to www.npcwomen.org .

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I have to say that ALL NPCs have "national name recognition". There are only 26 of them, after all. Just because a GLO isn't on your campus, or even big in your geographic area, doesn't mean they aren't important. It's rather dismissive to say the only glos that matter are the ones you know.
Like Vandal Squirrel, I think it is important to know all the members of your GLO umbrella group - and others, as well. Heck, you don't even have to google it - just go to www.npcwomen.org .

Agreed. Prime example that happened here semi-recently. I corrected a collegian on the proper pronunciation of Alpha Phi. She had never heard of them and asked "Are they new?" (Man, I hate these 6 week pledgeships.)

[banditone]

how many paddles did the wrong answer earn her?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I have to say that ALL NPCs have "national name recognition". .

Not with me. National name recognition means that across the nation one would hear the name and know it was a NPC sorority. That doesn't take away from an org's validity, I'm just saying that is a very broad statement to make.

I would not presume that my own sorority (or the rest of the NPHC) has national name recognition even within the Black community, much less out of it. And there are only nine NPHC orgs.

[SWTXBelle]

Of course the NPCs don't have name recognition like, oh, say Coke. But I can't understand how any member of a NPC group, or for that matter an international/national fraternity, can remain ignorant of the orgs. If they are, it's a reflection on the individual,not the GLO.
Within the community at large I would not expect non-greeks to have any familiarity with the groups. That's one of the problems with negative information about any greek org - Joe Blow on the street thinks we are all alike, so when something bad happens we are all guilty by association.
I'm kinda surprised, Ladygreek, that NPHC members wouldn't be up to speed about other member GLOs. Heck, I'm familiar with all 9, and they were not all at either of my colleges. Do the orgs only cover their individual org history? I know we had to learn NPC history as part of our pledgeship.
I think membership is enhanced when you know more about your own org, and others. It helps to understand how the system evolved, and gives you an appreciation for the struggles and achievements of all the other GLOs.

[luv n tpa]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Not with me. National name recognition means that across the nation one would hear the name and know it was a NPC sorority.

For argument's sake ...

If you came to my area and mentioned Pi Phi, AChiO, etc, and other more or less "southern" sororities, people would look at you with a cocked head and react with WTF is that?

So do those considered as having "national name recognition" no longer have it, or does my area just not count?

[62231]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

Oh silly me, after reading all of your narrow-minded posts, I realize you won't even speak with anyone outside the SEC or Big-12. Sounds like Fratty.

Haha, you're letting him get to you!

Also, this isn't directed at you specifically ( although you are an Ohio State fan! ), BUT:
I've noticed that in many of these North v South debates, the northerners continue to call out southerners for being "narrow-minded". I think it's narrow-minded to discount tradition and fairly ironic that those who accuse others of being anti-progressive don't want to consider the culture of the southeast or take the time to try and understand it.
Again, for emphasis, it's nothing personal towards Benzgirl, it's just a pattern I've been noticing in these arguments.

[pbear19]

Originally Posted by SECdomination

I've noticed that in many of these North v South debates, the northerners continue to call out southerners for being "narrow-minded". I think it's narrow-minded to discount tradition and fairly ironic that those who accuse others of being anti-progressive don't want to consider the culture of the southeast or take the time to try and understand it.
Again, for emphasis, it's nothing personal towards Benzgirl, it's just a pattern I've been noticing in these arguments.

A pattern that I have noticed is that northerners often express a distaste for the idiosyncracies and customs of their southern brothers and sisters (often a vehement distaste), but they don't deny them being brothers and sisters. Some (definitely not all, but some) of the southerners are claiming that their northern brethren are not in fact brethren at all, and have in essence disowned the northern chapters for not being exclusive enough, or elite enough, or whatever their specfic standard may be that they find lacking. That I think is probably very troublesome and offensive to the northerners.

[SWTXBelle]

Hey, hey, hey - it's mainly southern FRATERNITY men, pbear! I see nothing but love from sorority women - for all their sisters (and NPC cousins)