What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[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.

[12dn94dst]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

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.

LG referenced our name recognition in the Black community as a whole, not within the NPHC community specifically.

Bottom line regarding name recognition for anyone or anything, you can't be familiar with that which you are not exposed.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

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.

We were taught basic information, and respect given to, about other NPHC organizations.


If people want to know more details about other NPHC (or other) organizations they could "research" them before or after the membership intake process.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I'm kinda surprised, Ladygreek, that NPHC members wouldn't be up to speed about other member GLOs.

Why would be taught about other GLOs? Let's not get into the reason why BGLOs were formed in the first place. Very honestly, I never new much about the NPC until my sorority constitutionalized four years ago that anyone who was a member or had been a member of a NPC could not seek membership in Delta (which was caused by the increased number in recent years of those who wanted to do so.)

So I researched just who were the NPC. Between that and GC is how I have gained my knowledge of the NPC in the last four years, and I have been a member of the NPHC for 39 years. The NPC just wasn't on my radar. Again that doesn't denigrate the NPC, it just bolsters my point about national name recognition even within the total GLO--BGLOs, LGLOs, AGLOs, MCGLOs, etc.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Why would be taught about other GLOs? Let's not get into the reason why BGLOs were formed in the first place.

Yep.

Are all GLOs taught about BGLOs, LGLOs, and MCGLOs? If not, then what's the point of acting surprised that BGLOs don't formally teach about all GLOs?

Those of us who exist on campuses with GLOs have the opportunity to learn about GLOs, collaborate on programs, and work closely together. That's what we did and that's more than enough.

[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?

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by luv n tpa

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?

Did you type this in agreement with ladygreek's post?

[SWTXBelle]

Just to kind set the scene - bowsandtoes ( a member of a national/international fraternity, I believe) implied that Theta Phi Alpha did not have national name recognition. My point is that they are indeed a national NPC GLO, and thus they have a national name recognition. That doesn't mean that everyone knows it, or that you can stop any greek and they would know it. It does mean that anyone active in NPC activity would know it, and I think certainly all NPC members should at least recognize it as part of the NPC. No man is an island, and no NPC exists alone. The more you know, the more you appreciate both your own history and the movement in general. Because fraternities co-exist with the NPC groups, I'd expect them to be familiar with the groups, just as I am with both large and small IFC members and the like groups.
I just hate the implied superiority in the idea that if a group is not at YOUR campus or YOUR part of the country, they are somehow inferior.