Liberal and creative alumni - is there a place at the table?

[33girl]

Personally, I think the leadership NOT doing a webinar is a good thing. Those are a complete waste of time.

Again, I'm a little amazed that you're younger than me and I'm telling you this, but MANY groups are using Facebook more and more in an official capacity. To say it's an "informal" communication route these days just shows that you're out of touch with what's going on. Many people are advisors, volunteers etc from a huge distance away. You don't have to live in the same time zone.

And even as far as those things are concerned...AlphaFrog can back me up on this. We were bitching one day on our sister forum about chapters closing and we didn't like the manner in which it was done (long story short). Several months later, I was contacted by one of our magazine's editors about a story on closed chapters. I was quoted (Jess, I forget, were you in it too?) along with a picture of our chapter, other women from closed chapers were as well, the editor wrote a wonderful piece, and many people said it was very healing and cathartic. So the moral of the story is, don't shut your big mouth.

As far as who's what, I can only tell you about my fellow alums (small public school in the northeast) from a very unscientific self-study on Facebook. Sigma Chis are moderate to liberal, Phi Sigma Kappas are mostly conservative, and the Crows are trending to the right of John Birch.

[AlphaFrog]

I don't think I was quoted in the Closed Chapters article, but I have been quoted before. Why? Because I use our sorority's social networking sites, and I'm VOCAL there.

I'm also applying for a grant through our foundation, and one of the requirements for the grant is including your picture and a bio for the magazine, should you be awarded the grant.

[zinnia]

BrightBlue, sometimes big donors are recognized/rewarded by being featured in alumni magazines. I know that's the case at Wharton/UPenn. Also, sometimes if they want a big donation from someone they'll feature them in the magazine, ask them to be a speaker at the school, etc. So for your alumni magazine, maybe they're featuring the people who give the most $$$$....

[kddani]

By the way, the very people that you're complaining of are the ones that keep nonprofits open by donating and sitting on the board of directors to those nonprofits. They're also the ones that patronize the arts, donate money to your fraternity to keep it running, etc.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by zinnia

BrightBlue, sometimes big donors are recognized/rewarded by being featured in alumni magazines. I know that's the case at Wharton/UPenn. Also, sometimes if they want a big donation from someone they'll feature them in the magazine, ask them to be a speaker at the school, etc. So for your alumni magazine, maybe they're featuring the people who give the most $$$$....

That's not true.

One of my chapter sisters has been a consistent and huge donor for 35+ years and I have yet to see her "featured" in our magazine. By the same token, the features we do have are often about people who are far from being big donors.

College magazines are different than fraternity and sorority magazines.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by brightblue

I'm saying I don't like doing business with organizations that don't have some level of participative leadership. I can't wholeheartedly support organizations that are operated from a top-down perspective. The issue is I have trouble giving money or time to an organization that isn't seeking to improve based on input from its stakeholders, who are alumni and undergraduates. I'm not asking for them to come calling me personally, but I would be more willing to support them if they offered everyone that opportunity.

Being four hours away from the nearest chapter has been the only thing that has kept me from interacting in that way.

And because the magazine seems extremely conservative in who they write about, it makes me wonder if the organization itself is that conservative. I haven't seen that the organization has changed much in the last 10 years as far as their programs for undergraduates, and that concerns me. It seems pretty obvious that they're not progressive.

As far as your question about if some NIC fraternities are more liberal or more conservative than others, I don't know the answer to that one. Maybe someone here does. I haven't seen a list anywhere, but I would bet that some lean more one way or the other. I'd be curious to know.

There is no list. NIC fraternities are not liberal or conservative. However, individual members of the GLO may be.

When I was an undergrad, we had brothers who were members of the Young Democrats and brothers who were members of College Republicans. And those that were Independents. Other chapters were the same. Politics aside, some chapter members went on to be employed in what may be viewed as “conservative” fields of work. While others went on to work in “liberal” fields. As an alumnus, I still see both “views” being represented within my fraternity and other GLOs as well.

I do understand your point of view and how it may be frustrating for you.

Between family and friends, I would guess I have read 10 to 15 different GLO magazines within the past year alone. (Not regularly, but picked it up while visiting etc.) And more than 15 when it comes to checking out websites for various reasons. Generally speaking, many of the articles and updates I have seen might fall within the “conservative” side of life. But that does not mean that the GLO – as a whole – is “conservative”. Just that the article might be of a "conservative" bent.

From what I have seen, at some point in the magazine there is some sort of solicitation by the GLO for updates by their members. Maybe “How ABC made me a better man”, or “What were your favorite brotherhood moment as an undergrad?” The point here is that it is now up to the individual members to decide if they want to submit something or not. If the only articles / replies being received are of a “conservative” nature, then that is all the fraternity has to work with.

So what to do?

To help ease some of your frustration, I would suggest that you contact your fraternity regarding your GLO’s publications to see what are the policies regarding submission of articles etc. Once you have this information, you may have a better idea as how you would like to continue – and at what level - your involvement with your fraternity. Maybe they are looking for other points of view. You may not know unless you ask.

Best of luck on this. Remember that there are other members out there that may have the same beliefs as you. But for the time being, it may be up to you to make that voice known. Don't wait for someone else to speak for you.