Attend Rush, even if an ex-interest for another org?

[Senusret I]

Interest groups for MCGLOs confuse me sorta.

They seem like "Pledge Clubs" but the people in them aren't actually pledging. They're learning more about the org and each other, and doing service and fundraisers for about a semester. They are learning about the org while the org is learning about them. There comes a time where a girl is either picked to pledge or she isn't and everybody moves on. I have also heard of "carry-over" interest group members who were still wanted, but still needed the grades, the money, the paperwork, whatever.

From what I have observed, you can quit an interest group with no hard feelings, because you haven't actually made line or dropped line.

But I imagine it would be challenging to join an NPHC org *on the same campus* after one has been in an interest group for another org.

So maybe I'm not confused after all.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Interest groups for MCGLOs confuse me sorta.

They seem like "Pledge Clubs" but the people in them aren't actually pledging. They're learning more about the org and each other, and doing service and fundraisers for about a semester. They are learning about the org while the org is learning about them. There comes a time where a girl is either picked to pledge or she isn't and everybody moves on. I have also heard of "carry-over" interest group members who were still wanted, but still needed the grades, the money, the paperwork, whatever.

From what I have observed, you can quit an interest group with no hard feelings, because you haven't actually made line or dropped line.

But I imagine it would be challenging to join an NPHC org *on the same campus* after one has been in an interest group for another org.

So maybe I'm not confused after all.

Soror LG or other more seasoned NPHCers correct me if I am wrong but I believe that 'back in the day' (pre-1980s), NPHC orgs had similar groups.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by mccoyred

Soror LG or other more seasoned NPHCers correct me if I am wrong but I believe that 'back in the day' (pre-1980s), NPHC orgs had similar groups.

I have heard of an interest group known as "AMOT" existing on some campuses (Alpha Men of Tomorrow) but I am uncertain of its connection to the Sphinx Club of pre-1990 or how ubiquitous it really was.

[ladygreek]

Yes, we had recognized interest groups. But they were ruled illegal (at least in DST) when they were used for 1) pre-pledging, 2) people assumed if they were in an interest group they would automatically become a pledge and 3) chapters started using them for fundraising. (Among other reasons I am sure.)

However, there were no pins or other outward manifestations of being in an interest group (at least there weren't supposed to be.) Initially they were really just a way for a group of like-minded young women to learn about their org of interest and support them. Somewhat like the Sigma's or Zeta's (sorry can't remember which one) official non-member group, but not as formalized.

And yes, if you were known to be in the interest group for one org and changed your mind, chances are you wouldn't be accepted by another.

Dr. Phil thanks for the QFPs. I can't believe I missed this discussion. I also agree that it sounds as if the OP needs to reserach the NPHC better. Her use of terminology and certain perceptions are way off.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

However, there were no pins or other outward manifestations of being in an interest group (at least there weren't supposed to be.) Initially they were really just a way for a group of like-minded young women to learn about their org of interest and support them. Somewhat like the Sigma's or Zeta's (sorry can't remember which one) official non-member group, but not as formalized.

Some HBCU yearbooks in the 1960s had photos of the "clubs" (Pyramid Club, Sphinx Club), etc. as if they were a campus organization.

This always confused me because 1) I don't know whether these were nationally recognized "pledges" and 2) some of the members of these clubs ended up becoming members and others dropped prior to initiation (some of them dropped not knowing the initiation was a few days away, which sucks).

If it's the first one (1) then I assume there were photos of these groups because, by the time the yearbook hit the press, they hadn't completed (I assume they had started) the intake process and couldn't be in the chapter photo.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Some HBCU yearbooks in the 1960s had photos of the "clubs" (Pyramid Club, Sphinx Club), etc. as if they were a campus organization.

This always confused me because 1) I don't know whether these were nationally recognized "pledges" and 2) some of the members of these clubs ended up becoming members and others dropped prior to initiation (some of them dropped not knowing the initiation was a few days away, which sucks).

If it's the first one (1) then I assume there were photos of these groups because, by the time the yearbook hit the press, they hadn't completed (I assume they had started) the intake process and couldn't be in the chapter photo.

Your assumptions are correct. Our pledge groups were called Clubs--Pyramid, Sphinxman, Lampado, Scroller, Ivy, Crescent, Aurora, ? (Zetas weren't on my campus yet, so I don't know what they were called, and Iotas didn't exist.) When yearbook pics were taken the end of year initiations hadn't happened.

And yes, people dropped or were dropped all the way up to initiation. Remember the pledge period was for determining if there was a fit on both sides. It was not a foregone conclusion that because you became a pledge you would become a member. And either side could make the decision to depledge, because voting could occur multiple times in the process up until Probation (Hell) week.