NPHC vs. 25/52 Family-Why the animosity?

[sweetylo]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I think the reason why there is so much tensions is because the 25/52 orgs are the major non-NPHC orgs with a large minority representation, and an old minority representation.

The first Alpha Phi Omega chapter at an HBCU was at Johnson C. Smith University (Delta Phi) on April 17, 1947, while the first Gamma Sigma Sigma Chapter was at Southern University (Alpha Delta) in 1963. While both organizations picked up numerous chapters at HBCUs in the 70s, I would venture to say that similar arguments such as ours were going on two generations ago. So this is not a new problem, this is an old one that has never been resolved, but revisited over and over again. I think the NPHC, while I understand their concern for wanting to hold on to something near and dear, it is a moot point.
As far as to the sororities complaining that GSS is biting off their colors, calls, etc., I think the root issue is that GSS does this period, and they are not NPHC. Because even if the sign did not resemble SGRho, the sororites would invariably nitpick and find something else that remotely resembled something of the sororities. I had a Delta approach me and complain that GSS was using their colors (Maroon/White vs. Crimson/Cream)? Okay. It is an uphill battle to that end.

The bottom line, it seems is that 25/52 is not NPHC and NPHC wants a monopoly on their traditions. Between the Latino(a) Greek community and the growing # of Black non-NPHC orgs appearing, It is not going to happen. I think the progress will begin when NPHC works in service with 25/52 and stop fighting against them over finger formations, colors of the rainbow, whether we use the letter O as opposed to Q, and gold boots. That's childish and counterproductive to our collective contributions to the Black communtiy. (Say that 3 times real fast)

Let it go, all of us, and let's get to work!

Match Game '73

Well said! Most divine 9 members feel if your not in the NPHC family..your not "real" GLO...these ppl need to get over it!

[Senusret I]

No one was thinking about this thread for seven years.

[preciousjeni]

LOL

[Little32]

LOL. What is up with all of the necroposting lately?

[cheergurl2145]

Originally Posted by gamma_girl52

Oh boy Rain Man...hopefully this thread will not get flames all over it!

Before I start I want to say that I am speaking only for myself and for my chapter, not for anyone else. Every chapter has its own experiences.

Having said that, from my experience it is been because Gamma Sigs carry themselves as an African-American based sorority on campus. We Gamma Sigs know that our sorority was not founded by black women alone.

Also, a lot of the things we do aren't looked at as "original" such as our call, "Wee-Oop" (which is grounds alone for raised eyebrows) our handsigns and our colors. In short, we are viewed as a fake sorority who has nothing better to do but copy what other sororities have already. I have heard that numerous times and in a nutshell, that is the problem. On some campuses, if you are a Gamma Sig it isn't even feasible for you to pursue a sorority in the Nine.

Now my response to this is simple. Everything I do as a Sig, everything that Sigs do means something to us. We aren't fake, we're not trying to be like anyone else. We are who we are. We are a sorority whose main focus is service, and it is in our hearts in minds with everything we do. When I wear my letters I wear them with pride. I do the best service that I can do because the people that I serve deserve it. That's my explanation everytime I get asked why Gamma Sigma Sigma is the way it is on my campus. We are supportive of our greeks and in turn, we get invited to many greek events and are asked to participate. Trust, it was not like that in the beginning, but my chapter continues to do their required service and we just be ourselves. We've earned the respect of the greek community even though we're not "greek" by NPC/NPHC standards.

Another thing, it is not the same on every campus. Every GSS chapter doesn't have a line, or stroll, or do things of that sort. Some chapters are all-black, others all-white, others a mix, I can go on and on. The point here is, no matter what, every last one of them is a sister and I will be there for them. I will serve with them and I will support them.

Sorry bout the long rant...but I always welcome questions if I didn't cover everything in this post!

In Service,
gamma_girl52
Gamma Sigma Sigma National Service Sorority

I so agree with you on this one!!! get it Soror!!

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by Little32

LOL. What is up with all of the necroposting lately?

Yeah

[gamma_girl52]

Originally Posted by cheergurl2145

I so agree with you on this one!!! get it Soror!!

I forgot I wrote that. LOL I was on a roll that year!

[LoveDove]

Originally Posted by pirate00

This is the first I've heard about any feud between the NPHC and APO/GSS family. Maybe it's because I don't attend a HBCU, but I am an APO Brother. I can only speak for ECU, though. We have both APO and a GSS chapter here and the "Divine Nine" are represented here (except for Iota Phi Theta) and we seem to co-exist peacefully.

Hey Frat. Well on my campus (ECSU, which I know that you know about us, well at least u should) But anyway, many people don't like the name Alpha Phi Omega because it has Alpha Phi (A-Phi) and Omega (Que). Other then that, thats it. I really don't pay it any mind b/c I am a Brother of A-Phi-Que and I am in a divine nine org.
But many people don't, and I see that b/c APO isn't part of the divine nine. They think b/c people join a greek letter org. that isn't divine nine b/c they couldn't get into a divine nine org. which isn't the case. I became a brother because I love to help others and APO does more community service then any divine nine org.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by LoveDove

Hey Frat. Well on my campus (ECSU, which I know that you know about us, well at least u should) But anyway, many people don't like the name Alpha Phi Omega because it has Alpha Phi (A-Phi) and Omega (Que). Other then that, thats it. I really don't pay it any mind b/c I am a Brother of A-Phi-Que and I am in a divine nine org.
But many people don't, and I see that b/c APO isn't part of the divine nine. They think b/c people join a greek letter org. that isn't divine nine b/c they couldn't get into a divine nine org. which isn't the case. I became a brother because I love to help others and APO does more community service then any divine nine org.

Sometimes I wonder whether Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs would be better off if it didn't refer to itself as A-Phi-Que. Do the Omega's view us using Q to represent our Omega to be flattery or not?

I'm still trying to find out both when Omega Psi Phi started using Q to describe itself and when Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs started using Q as part of its self description.

Randolph Finder
Alpha Phi Omega History and Archives Cmte.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by naraht

Sometimes I wonder whether Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs would be better off if it didn't refer to itself as A-Phi-Que. Do the Omega's view us using Q to represent our Omega to be flattery or not?

I'm still trying to find out both when Omega Psi Phi started using Q to describe itself and when Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs started using Q as part of its self description.

Randolph Finder
Alpha Phi Omega History and Archives Cmte.

I think NOT.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by naraht

Sometimes I wonder whether Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs would be better off if it didn't refer to itself as A-Phi-Que. Do the Omega's view us using Q to represent our Omega to be flattery or not?

I'm still trying to find out both when Omega Psi Phi started using Q to describe itself and when Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs started using Q as part of its self description.

Randolph Finder
Alpha Phi Omega History and Archives Cmte.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

I think NOT.

Agreed. I'm an APO brother who detests "A Phi Que."

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by naraht

Sometimes I wonder whether Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs would be better off if it didn't refer to itself as A-Phi-Que. Do the Omega's view us using Q to represent our Omega to be flattery or not?

I'm still trying to find out both when Omega Psi Phi started using Q to describe itself and when Alpha Phi Omega at the HBCUs started using Q as part of its self description.

Randolph Finder
Alpha Phi Omega History and Archives Cmte.

Whether Omegas find it flattering is irrelevant -- most Ques I know really don't care one way or the other. It's usually people who aren't Ques who make it a big deal.

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Agreed. I'm an APO brother who detests "A Phi Que."

You also weren't initiated into a chapter where "A Phi Que" as a term was part of the chapter's heritage.

It is my belief that on those campuses where it is made into a huge problem, it isn't worth it to demand to be called A Phi Que. This would hold especially true on those campuses where the fraternity has been dormant for some time.

But why would the FAMU chapter stop referring to themselves as A Phi Que? It shouldn't.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

You also weren't initiated into a chapter where "A Phi Que" as a term was part of the chapter's heritage.

It's not just the name, though. It's what it represents. Chapters that call themselves A Phi Que are usually men-only by design.

[Senusret I]

I think chapters that call themselves A Phi Que because it's part of their campus culture or chapter culture. It's usually not meant to signify a difference between men and women except among an extreme minority of members (JayBee) who want it to signify that.

[gamma_girl52]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I think chapters that call themselves A Phi Que because it's part of their campus culture or chapter culture. It's usually not meant to signify a difference between men and women except among an extreme minority of members (JayBee) who want it to signify that.

I would have to respectfully disagree on this only because that still is used to signify a difference between all-male/co-ed chapters. I know a lot of A Phi Ques who would tell you in a minute that they are different from their APO counterparts and this is the reason they would give. A Phi Ques can only be males who pledged at an all-male chapter ("Vikes" are the other name used for these men too) and both titles are used interchangeably anyway all the time. So, for a woman/APO (somebody who pledged at a co-ed chapter) to call herself an A Phi Que would get some sideways looks.