Perception of sororities nationally

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

It is short-sighted to think that if your GLO is "top-tier" then you can afford to look down your nose at the others. The fact of the matter is that the Greek system has always had, and continues to have, enemies who would like nothing better than to do away with ALL of us.

Our best defense is to be strong - to offer a way of college life that embraces the widest possible variety of women, that can offer sisterhood to women of all backgrounds, religions, races and economic means, that seeks to embody in our day to day living the fine words and noble sentiments we have as our creeds, symphonies, and statements of purpose.

I do agree with you.

When Colby College had problems with the fraternities...they did away with the women's groups too.

I'm all for each group in NPC to be the best they can be. We are only as strong as our weakest link, I believe.

[breathesgelatin]

Am I the first Pi Phi to post in this thread?

I have a comment pertinent to the OP's original perception of Pi Phi (which does not offend me at all).

I was a Pi Phi in college, and not in a "top tier" chapter. That was fine by me! I knew in college, though, which Pi Phi chapters are generally considered some of the strongest/most popular/top tieriest. It was a topic of conversation! There was even some fascination with them... like... oooh... top tier Pi Phis. Of course, since this has already been pretty clearly outed in this thread, the Texas Pi Phis were one of the chapters that was mostly frequently mentioned.

Fast forward to me graduating and moving to Austin to go to grad school at Texas.

I have had Pi Phi benefit me in ways that are sometimes surprising. When I get around certain types of people and Greek Life comes up and they find out I am a Pi Phi, some kind of switch goes off in their head. Sometimes they get nicer to me. Sometimes they tell me chatty stories or start to think of me as their peer when maybe they did not before. A lot of times they say "You really need to meet and talk with my high school daughter!" In one extreme situation I was even given pictures of the daughter to evaluate.

I honestly believe that being a Pi Phi (specifically a Pi Phi, not having been president of a sorority and an award-winning member on a regional level in general) has helped me with job applications and that sort of thing. Because people see that I am a Pi Phi and suddenly assume that I am "one of them."

It is very interesting and I never would have guessed how widespread it is.

The funny thing is, that when I was active in my sorority I had a strong sense that Pi Phi was not nerdy everywhere or cool everywhere. I also knew, for example, that the "hot chapter" at my campus was only average at my best friend's college campus and bottom tier at some other schools I had friends at. But for these people in Texas who make assumptions about me because I am a Pi Phi, they don't seem to realize that the socioeconomic/class values they associate with Pi Phi may not apply to every Pi Phi chapter. I just don't understand how these people don't get it or don't "see through me."

I guess part of it is that my chapter, despite not being "top tier," was in many respects pretty preppy and southern-like. The new members we took were not like that, but the seniors we graduated were. So I guess people see me looking preppy or cute or put together or being socially competent or whatever and just assume I'm from an awesome chapter. eg I can pass, until they start asking me questions about politics or something. ROFL. And also a lot of Texas people go to my school so maybe they just assume W&L's tiers mirror Texas or UT tiers.

Anyway just my .02.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

I have had Pi Phi benefit me in ways that are sometimes surprising. When I get around certain types of people and Greek Life comes up and they find out I am a Pi Phi, some kind of switch goes off in their head. Sometimes they get nicer to me. Sometimes they tell me chatty stories or start to think of me as their peer when maybe they did not before. A lot of times they say "You really need to meet and talk with my high school daughter!" In one extreme situation I was even given pictures of the daughter to evaluate.

I honestly believe that being a Pi Phi (specifically a Pi Phi, not having been president of a sorority and an award-winning member on a regional level in general) has helped me with job applications and that sort of thing. Because people see that I am a Pi Phi and suddenly assume that I am "one of them."

This is exactly what I meant when I wrote previously that it was a pleasant surprise to discover what an excellent reputation Tri Delta has nationally. I've had numerous times when people looked at me differently when they discovered I was a DDD, treated me with more respect, and assumed I must have been in a "top" house in college simply because that is their perception of Tri Delta. In my extreme example, one woman was completely flabbergasted and blurted out, "I didn't know you came from a wealthy family!" (I didn't.) But her perception of DDD based on her limited experience from her school was that Tri Delta = very big bucks.

I do think that the leadership opportunities were of great benefit to me from the non-Greek perspective, especially when you have the opportunity to explain what it involves. Very few college women get to take on the kinds of responsibilities a chapter president or treasurer does during their college years. (I was president, not treasurer. Just using it as an example.) In many of those cases, I don't think it mattered a bit to them which sorority I was in or where I went to school. They were interested in how the leadership experiences had shaped me and contributed to my growth as a person.

[irishpipes]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

This is exactly what I meant when I wrote previously that it was a pleasant surprise to discover what an excellent reputation Tri Delta has nationally. I've had numerous times when people looked at me differently when they discovered I was a DDD, treated me with more respect, and assumed I must have been in a "top" house in college simply because that is their perception of Tri Delta. In my extreme example, one woman was completely flabbergasted and blurted out, "I didn't know you came from a wealthy family!" (I didn't.) But her perception of DDD based on her limited experience from her school was that Tri Delta = very big bucks.

I read this and interpret it as somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, you are saying that people think DDD is strong based on their limited, regional experience. On the other, you say that DDD's strength is national. (As in stronger than other NPCs.)

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I read this and interpret it as somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, you are saying that people think DDD is strong based on their limited, regional experience. On the other, you say that DDD's strength is national. (As in stronger than other NPCs.)

I feel like people are trying to make out that I'm saying something that I'm not.

I was in a lower tier Tri Delta chapter in college at a Big Ten university where it was very evident and tiers mattered a lot.

I discovered that Tri Delta has an excellent reputation nationally, something that never crossed my mind when I joined a sorority as a person with a totally non-Greek background.

I never said anywhere that Tri Delta was better than any other NPC group. I'm just elaborating on my own personal experience as someone who joined a group she liked for friendship, finding a place on campus, and leadership opportunities. After suffering through some of the stigma of being in a lower tier group, it was an amazing experience to attend our Centennial Convention (as a collegian) and discover what a tremendous organization Tri Delta was nationally.

People keep pointing out that all the NPC groups are strong nationally and I haven't disputed that fact at all. But when I simply say how great it was for me to discover what a great national group I belonged to I'm somehow doing something wrong.

Please don't read more into my posts than is actually there.

[NutBrnHair]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

I feel like people are trying to make out that I'm saying something that I'm not...

Please don't read more into my posts than is actually there.

Welcome to my world.

[als463]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

I feel like people are trying to make out that I'm saying something that I'm not.

I was in a lower tier Tri Delta chapter in college at a Big Ten university where it was very evident and tiers mattered a lot.

I discovered that Tri Delta has an excellent reputation nationally, something that never crossed my mind when I joined a sorority as a person with a totally non-Greek background.

I never said anywhere that Tri Delta was better than any other NPC group. I'm just elaborating on my own personal experience as someone who joined a group she liked for friendship, finding a place on campus, and leadership opportunities. After suffering through some of the stigma of being in a lower tier group, it was an amazing experience to attend our Centennial Convention (as a collegian) and discover what a tremendous organization Tri Delta was nationally.

People keep pointing out that all the NPC groups are strong nationally and I haven't disputed that fact at all. But when I simply say how great it was for me to discover what a great national group I belonged to I'm somehow doing something wrong.

Please don't read more into my posts than is actually there.

TriDeltaSallie...I understood what you were trying to say. I think a lot of people find out how great of a national reputation their organization has-especially after being in the "low tier" chapter on campus-when they go to convention. Keep in mind, I'm from a Big Ten school, as well. I recognize that where you and I have gone (or still go-I graduated already) may not be the SEC but, it can be somewhat competitive too.

The fact that there are women who live and die...eat, sleep and breathe XYZ is, in a sense, endearing because it lets us know that our NPCs will be around for a long time. When I went to convention-I was floored by how many older women were still involved. It really made my day and made me even more proud to be a Phi Mu. So, good for you TriDeltaSallie, that you got a chance to experience convention.

[TigerPiPhi]

Originally Posted by irishpipes

I read this and interpret it as somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, you are saying that people think DDD is strong based on their limited, regional experience. On the other, you say that DDD's strength is national. (As in stronger than other NPCs.)

Exactly! Which is why, as a Pi Phi, I can't help but be a little offended by the OP's original comment.

Pi Phi is considered by many to be a strong national sorority because there are a number of strong chapters in areas all over the country, not just in Texas or the South. The same with Tri-Delt. So while the OP may not have had the experience of a "top-tier" Pi Phi chapter (or any other GLO, for that matter) in her area, she should not have stated that it is a "surprise" to learn that Pi Phi or another GLO is considered strong. I found that kind of tactless.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by TigerPiPhi

Exactly! Which is why, as a Pi Phi, I can't help but be a little offended by the OP's original comment.

Pi Phi is considered by many to be a strong national sorority because there are a number of strong chapters in areas all over the country, not just in Texas or the South. The same with Tri-Delt. So while the OP may not have had the experience of a "top-tier" Pi Phi chapter (or any other GLO, for that matter) in her area, she should not have stated that it is a "surprise" to learn that Pi Phi or another GLO is considered strong. I found that kind of tactless.

Well, my original comment is not really as sinister as some people have thought. I contemplated letting this go, but I'm going to explain my original thought and then people can think whatever they want.

When I said it wasn't hard to guess most of the rest perhaps I could have worded it more carefully. However, if I had to guess six top sororities I already knew two of them. I knew Theta was a top group from reading about Jenna Bush pledging there. I knew from hearing about and discussing top chapters (as breathesgelatin mentioned in her own Pi Phi experience) that Tri Delta was strong at Texas. For wrong or right, panhellenic or not, I would have immediately guessed that Chi O and Kappa were two of the others. They are two groups that I automatically expect to be top groups. I also know from experience that they are not top groups on every campus. No sorority is top everywhere. But that is my personal perception of them based on both local and national experience. I expect them more often than not to be a top group. I won't get into the ins and outs of the other two guesses I would have made for fear of making even more people mad at me.

Others here may have their own groups that they would automatically expect to be strong and that is fine. My very original point was that our perceptions are shaped by so many different experiences we have that we are all going to look at things differently.

So that was the thought process behind the original comment. Hopefully that clears things up.

[TigerPiPhi]

Originally Posted by breathesgelatin

Am I the first Pi Phi to post in this thread?

I have a comment pertinent to the OP's original perception of Pi Phi (which does not offend me at all).

I was a Pi Phi in college, and not in a "top tier" chapter. That was fine by me! I knew in college, though, which Pi Phi chapters are generally considered some of the strongest/most popular/top tieriest. It was a topic of conversation! There was even some fascination with them... like... oooh... top tier Pi Phis. Of course, since this has already been pretty clearly outed in this thread, the Texas Pi Phis were one of the chapters that was mostly frequently mentioned.

Fast forward to me graduating and moving to Austin to go to grad school at Texas.

I have had Pi Phi benefit me in ways that are sometimes surprising. When I get around certain types of people and Greek Life comes up and they find out I am a Pi Phi, some kind of switch goes off in their head. Sometimes they get nicer to me. Sometimes they tell me chatty stories or start to think of me as their peer when maybe they did not before. A lot of times they say "You really need to meet and talk with my high school daughter!" In one extreme situation I was even given pictures of the daughter to evaluate.

I honestly believe that being a Pi Phi (specifically a Pi Phi, not having been president of a sorority and an award-winning member on a regional level in general) has helped me with job applications and that sort of thing. Because people see that I am a Pi Phi and suddenly assume that I am "one of them."

It is very interesting and I never would have guessed how widespread it is.

The funny thing is, that when I was active in my sorority I had a strong sense that Pi Phi was not nerdy everywhere or cool everywhere. I also knew, for example, that the "hot chapter" at my campus was only average at my best friend's college campus and bottom tier at some other schools I had friends at. But for these people in Texas who make assumptions about me because I am a Pi Phi, they don't seem to realize that the socioeconomic/class values they associate with Pi Phi may not apply to every Pi Phi chapter. I just don't understand how these people don't get it or don't "see through me."

I guess part of it is that my chapter, despite not being "top tier," was in many respects pretty preppy and southern-like. The new members we took were not like that, but the seniors we graduated were. So I guess people see me looking preppy or cute or put together or being socially competent or whatever and just assume I'm from an awesome chapter. eg I can pass, until they start asking me questions about politics or something. ROFL. And also a lot of Texas people go to my school so maybe they just assume W&L's tiers mirror Texas or UT tiers.

Anyway just my .02.

What I always thought was kind of neat was that at alum club meetings, or any function where sisters from different chapters would interact, everyone got along as if we would have all pledged the same chapter in college, when that reality that wouldn't have been the case. It's like all the superficial stuff that gets judged to determine "tiers" or whatever gets overlooked when you meet someone who shares the same bond of sisterhood as you. Instant stuff in common. Sounds cheesy, but it's true.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by NutBrnHair

When Colby College had problems with the fraternities...they did away with the women's groups too.

Sigh...