A local sorority at USC?

[SC2013]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

How does one know what Greek organizations "aim to be" and how they are or aren't fulfilling that when one is not a member?

How does one intend to start a sorority and gain support for it on the grounds of basically saying "all the other groups have NO VALUES?"

Good luck with that.

I may be presuming too much, but most Greek organizations' mission statements, mottos, creeds, etc. all stand for very noble endeavors, seeking to improve not only themselves and their brotherhoods/sisterhoods but the community and academic environment. That's what I was assuming, and I've noticed a steadying dichotomy between the face houses put on when parents and nationals are around, and when left to their own devices.

We as a culture--youth culture, USC culture, Southern California culture, Greek culture--have started to value, or rather place too much value, upon the more superficial aspects of Greek culture that nationwide have negatively stereotyped GLOs. The social aspects of the Greek system are certainly strong, valuable, and beneficial to all. However, other aspects have fallen to the back burner.

I love USC and this has given our university specifically a terrible and largely unsubstantiated reputation. I'm thinking of ways in which we could reverse this, and if it took a local sorority that refocused on the founding principles of sisterhood to try and turn this ship around...

Maybe I'm just being outdated. But my sister just received a copy of her sorority's magazine in the mail and I was reading through it, and many of the facets that nationally the sorority is proud of and supports are not satisfactorily represented on a regular basis in my opinion. Furthermore, the founding members' goals and beliefs on how the sorority's members should act and behave are only present when adults come around.

These founders' ideals and mission statements are what attracted me to the Greek system. I still believe in the importance of the bond of GLOs but perhaps I was just too idealistic in believing that the symbols of these GLOs go beyond surface level?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by SC2013

I may be presuming too much, but most Greek organizations' mission statements, mottos, creeds, etc. all stand for very noble endeavors, seeking to improve not only themselves and their brotherhoods/sisterhoods but the community and academic environment. That's what I was assuming, and I've noticed a steadying dichotomy between the face houses put on when parents and nationals are around, and when left to their own devices.

We as a culture--youth culture, USC culture, Southern California culture, Greek culture--have started to value, or rather place too much value, upon the more superficial aspects of Greek culture that nationwide have negatively stereotyped GLOs. The social aspects of the Greek system are certainly strong, valuable, and beneficial to all. However, other aspects have fallen to the back burner.

I love USC and this has given our university specifically a terrible and largely unsubstantiated reputation. I'm thinking of ways in which we could reverse this, and if it took a local sorority that refocused on the founding principles of sisterhood to try and turn this ship around...

Maybe I'm just being outdated. But my sister just received a copy of her sorority's magazine in the mail and I was reading through it, and many of the facets that nationally the sorority is proud of and supports are not satisfactorily represented on a regular basis in my opinion. Furthermore, the founding members' goals and beliefs on how the sorority's members should act and behave are only present when adults come around.

These founders' ideals and mission statements are what attracted me to the Greek system. I still believe in the importance of the bond of GLOs but perhaps I was just too idealistic in believing that the symbols of these GLOs go beyond surface level?

You didn't really answer my question. How do you know? You know all of this about sororities from reading your sister's sorority magazine?

If you were to start a local, you wouldn't get far with the attitude that the existing groups are somehow "not measuring up" to their values (that you don't know about because you aren't actually in them.)

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

You didn't really answer my question. How do you know? You know all of this about sororities from reading your sister's sorority magazine?

If you were to start a local, you wouldn't get far with the attitude that the existing groups are somehow "not measuring up" to their values (that you don't know about because you aren't actually in them.)

Geez because she sees all the drinking and sex and KNOWS that those people are not, in their non partying times, living up to the standards that she KNOWS are there. Duh.

[SC2013]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Geez because she sees all the drinking and sex and KNOWS that those people are not, in their non partying times, living up to the standards that she KNOWS are there. Duh.

Well I live with 2 sorority girls. I know that they don't just drink and have sex all the time, but thank you for generalizing my concerns into black and white.

One is very involved in student government, volunteers, is double majoring, and was strongly considering dropping her sorority because it didn't enable her the time to have these extracurriculars, and she doesn't spend too much time at the house generally. She eventually decided to stay in the sorority because she decided that whenever she did have free time she'd have a group of girls to go out to the Row with. She and my other roommate both agree that their organizations rely mostly on social activities. I mean, that's what makes them successful and I understand how that is. My other roommate sees the philanthropic requirements as a nuisance, as do many of my friends in GLOs. It's not like since I'm not in a GLO I'm completely unaware of GLO members' mentality. Many girls are very involved in service work, many girls are very driven in their studies; that's a given. However, that seems to come in conflict with their involvement in their sorority rather than enhance their experience. What I'm saying is, it shouldn't be that way.

And hopefully that wouldn't take a new colony, and instead being on probation to have members reexamine the meaning of being Greek. So far it doesn't seem to have that effect, however. I personally see USC's Greek community as what should be the future leaders of a student body already comprised of incredibly involved, talented, well-rounded, intelligent people. And the Greek community already contributes a great deal; I just feel like it's missing the mark in other instances too.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SC2013

Well I live with 2 sorority girls. I know that they don't just drink and have sex all the time, but thank you for generalizing my concerns into black and white.

One is very involved in student government, volunteers, is double majoring, and was strongly considering dropping her sorority because it didn't enable her the time to have these extracurriculars, and she doesn't spend too much time at the house generally. She eventually decided to stay in the sorority because she decided that whenever she did have free time she'd have a group of girls to go out to the Row with. She and my other roommate both agree that their organizations rely mostly on social activities. I mean, that's what makes them successful and I understand how that is. My other roommate sees the philanthropic requirements as a nuisance, as do many of my friends in GLOs. It's not like since I'm not in a GLO I'm completely unaware of GLO members' mentality. Many girls are very involved in service work, many girls are very driven in their studies; that's a given. However, that seems to come in conflict with their involvement in their sorority rather than enhance their experience. What I'm saying is, it shouldn't be that way.

And hopefully that wouldn't take a new colony, and instead being on probation to have members reexamine the meaning of being Greek. So far it doesn't seem to have that effect, however. I personally see USC's Greek community as what should be the future leaders of a student body already comprised of incredibly involved, talented, well-rounded, intelligent people. And the Greek community already contributes a great deal; I just feel like it's missing the mark in other instances too.

OK, I'm sorry, but I just gotta say it.

How old are you? REALLY?

Heaven knows I love when current students come on here and are well spoken - it reaffirms my faith in the youth of today - but you sound like a 50 year old professor teaching a sociology course. It's more than a tad off-putting.

[SC2013]

Originally Posted by 33girl

OK, I'm sorry, but I just gotta say it.

How old are you? REALLY?

Heaven knows I love when current students come on here and are well spoken - it reaffirms my faith in the youth of today - but you sound like a 50 year old professor teaching a sociology course. It's more than a tad off-putting.

I'm nineteen! Sorry if that's off-putting...

Anyhow...to clarify. Oh boy. I have every intention of rushing that small sorority that many of you have recommended to me in the fall, but as of now I am ineligible to rush because of formal recruitment rules. As such, I decided to reach out to the GC community in the meantime to see if perhaps starting up a new sorority with a 100% clean slate would be an even better bet. I saw that there was a local forum, didn't know much about locals, but asked the question to get the cogs in my brain turning while I bide my time til the fall.

The resounding response is first and foremost I already have to be within the Greek community (which I plan to be for sure) in order to make effective change, and that joining an already established but smaller sorority is better than starting from scratch (which I definitely didn't know). This is the advice I had been seeking so I thank you.

So I hope that we are all actually somewhat on the same page in terms of, you need to become Greek to know Greek to improve Greek. I thought that forming a local could be that "becoming Greek", but maybe I jumped the gun by posting on here without thoroughly scanning the locals forum, where locals are viewed more negatively than I anticipated. I did not realize locals were viewed as anti-Greek-but-trying-to-be-Greek organizations, and that colored my question badly. I am not anti-Greek. In any case, I still see the inherent problems of our university's social system (Greek vs. GDI, the Row vs. the University, guys' treatment of girls, girls being ok with it, alcohol being necessary for people to attend things, etc.) and still hope to turn things into a more positive environment, hopefully in the fall in that sorority.

In terms of my prior recruitment: I am not a status hungry person. (If you're wondering, then, why on earth I would want to be the founder of a local, it would be in order not to alienate girls already in a house, a new member coming in with a new mission statement and direction and things. But! You have all said that I would be more effective already in an established sorority for reasons ranging from financial to practical and I appreciate that, because I hadn't considered it and came to you for advice.) I was gung-ho to get very involved with leadership positions in my sorority, but I went to pref for a sorority I felt comfortable in and one I did not. I received a bid to one I did not feel comfortable in, and that one happened to be the house that has trouble during formal recruitment.

I had a whole moral dilemma with declining that bid, which you are free to PM me about or check out my recruitment thread. But I would have declined a bid at any house where conversation was forced and stilted during pref. (I consider it practically a sacred thing. I'm weird.) Status was not an issue. I mean...starting a local would mean having a group of 8 girls tops, and that's pushing it.
Being a writer, I decided to share my recruitment story with you on GC because I feel like it's an interesting case and in any case learned things that future PNMs could benefit from. But I had moved on, immersed myself in classes, work, volunteering, relationships, and my professional fraternity. Meanwhile my best friend has been going through dilemmas of her own within her sorority, and one roommate dropped hers out of lack of time. It wasn't until these recent USC scandals that I reexamined the Greek system and how we (as in USC, as in the Greek community, as in the media in general) are handling it.

USC students received an email from the administration after the Kappa Sig email, saying how it was wrong, offensive, etc...and then essentially "but someone from Harvard wrote it, thank god it wasn't us! So we're good!" which I and many people felt was a cop out. It was no comfort to those offended by the email, and they would prefer to see something along the lines of, yes it was wrong, and doesn't matter who wrote it, but this is a good opportunity to discuss what caused this email to be written and to discuss how to treat each other with respect. Instead no discussion came of it.
And now recently the Greek system was put on probation, which sucks because a girlfriend said that formal recruitment might be cancelled in the fall if more problems occur this semester. However, the overwhelming response to the punishment has been "shit! When can we party again!?" I say overwhelming but lots of people are negatively affected by this apart from partying. I know because I have friends that are officers in Kappa Sig, other fraternities, other sororities, student government, leaders in Panhellenic, and they often say how difficult it is to make positive change in a group that already has an entrenched history. As a member of a fraternity trying to move forward and be the best we can be, I know how that is. I'm not saying any group is perfect, and I'm not saying that I am better than anyone. I thought that a clean slate might be effective and your advice has been pointing to look elsewhere. So I appreciate your advice and will do so.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by SC2013

maybe I jumped the gun by posting on here without thoroughly scanning the locals forum, where locals are viewed more negatively than I anticipated. I did not realize locals were viewed as anti-Greek-but-trying-to-be-Greek organizations, and that colored my question badly.

There are many locals that have long histories on their campuses and are very highly respected. There are other locals that are newer, but have a specific purpose that differs from most of the groups in the NPC. Nobody looks down on "locals". We look down on women with founderitis that think starting a local is the solution to their failed formal recruitment attempt.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by SC2013

I'm nineteen! Sorry if that's off-putting...

Anyhow...to clarify. Oh boy. I have every intention of rushing that small sorority that many of you have recommended to me in the fall, but as of now I am ineligible to rush because of formal recruitment rules. As such, I decided to reach out to the GC community in the meantime to see if perhaps starting up a new sorority with a 100% clean slate would be an even better bet. I saw that there was a local forum, didn't know much about locals, but asked the question to get the cogs in my brain turning while I bide my time til the fall.

The resounding response is first and foremost I already have to be within the Greek community (which I plan to be for sure) in order to make effective change, and that joining an already established but smaller sorority is better than starting from scratch (which I definitely didn't know). This is the advice I had been seeking so I thank you.

So I hope that we are all actually somewhat on the same page in terms of, you need to become Greek to know Greek to improve Greek. I thought that forming a local could be that "becoming Greek", but maybe I jumped the gun by posting on here without thoroughly scanning the locals forum, where locals are viewed more negatively than I anticipated. I did not realize locals were viewed as anti-Greek-but-trying-to-be-Greek organizations, and that colored my question badly. I am not anti-Greek. In any case, I still see the inherent problems of our university's social system (Greek vs. GDI, the Row vs. the University, guys' treatment of girls, girls being ok with it, alcohol being necessary for people to attend things, etc.) and still hope to turn things into a more positive environment, hopefully in the fall in that sorority.

In terms of my prior recruitment: I am not a status hungry person. (If you're wondering, then, why on earth I would want to be the founder of a local, it would be in order not to alienate girls already in a house, a new member coming in with a new mission statement and direction and things. But! You have all said that I would be more effective already in an established sorority for reasons ranging from financial to practical and I appreciate that, because I hadn't considered it and came to you for advice.) I was gung-ho to get very involved with leadership positions in my sorority, but I went to pref for a sorority I felt comfortable in and one I did not. I received a bid to one I did not feel comfortable in, and that one happened to be the house that has trouble during formal recruitment.

I had a whole moral dilemma with declining that bid, which you are free to PM me about or check out my recruitment thread. But I would have declined a bid at any house where conversation was forced and stilted during pref. (I consider it practically a sacred thing. I'm weird.) Status was not an issue. I mean...starting a local would mean having a group of 8 girls tops, and that's pushing it.
Being a writer, I decided to share my recruitment story with you on GC because I feel like it's an interesting case and in any case learned things that future PNMs could benefit from. But I had moved on, immersed myself in classes, work, volunteering, relationships, and my professional fraternity. Meanwhile my best friend has been going through dilemmas of her own within her sorority, and one roommate dropped hers out of lack of time. It wasn't until these recent USC scandals that I reexamined the Greek system and how we (as in USC, as in the Greek community, as in the media in general) are handling it.

USC students received an email from the administration after the Kappa Sig email, saying how it was wrong, offensive, etc...and then essentially "but someone from Harvard wrote it, thank god it wasn't us! So we're good!" which I and many people felt was a cop out. It was no comfort to those offended by the email, and they would prefer to see something along the lines of, yes it was wrong, and doesn't matter who wrote it, but this is a good opportunity to discuss what caused this email to be written and to discuss how to treat each other with respect. Instead no discussion came of it.
And now recently the Greek system was put on probation, which sucks because a girlfriend said that formal recruitment might be cancelled in the fall if more problems occur this semester. However, the overwhelming response to the punishment has been "shit! When can we party again!?" I say overwhelming but lots of people are negatively affected by this apart from partying. I know because I have friends that are officers in Kappa Sig, other fraternities, other sororities, student government, leaders in Panhellenic, and they often say how difficult it is to make positive change in a group that already has an entrenched history. As a member of a fraternity trying to move forward and be the best we can be, I know how that is. I'm not saying any group is perfect, and I'm not saying that I am better than anyone. I thought that a clean slate might be effective and your advice has been pointing to look elsewhere. So I appreciate your advice and will do so.

You say you are a writer. Is editing still considered part of the writing process? Please review Grice's maxims or cooperative principles. That's a great place to start.

Print is flat; no facial expressions or intonations to illuminate intentions. That said and understood, your last post still comes across to this reader as preachy and better-than.

Good luck with your fall recruitment, if you should decide to try again. And remember that recruitment is a mutual selection process, so every GLO is looking carefully at the pool of PNMs as well.

[crescent&pearls]

Originally Posted by SC2013

I had a whole moral dilemma with declining that bid, which you are free to PM me about or check out my recruitment thread. But I would have declined a bid at any house where conversation was forced and stilted during pref.

This is such a mistake, no matter what school you go to, or how "competitive" the recruitment process is perceived to be.

Of course the conversation is stilted! In what other social situation will you be invited to a "party" where it's all women, dressed alike, greeting you by singing or cheering at the door, then pairing you up to have a serious conversation with one to three people you barely know intermittently interrupted by the reading of poems, singing, tossing flowers into fountains or lighting battery operated candles? It's awkward. So what? You're going to spend your whole life experiencing and overcoming a lifetime of awkward social situations but ultimately making friends and meeting career contacts, maybe even finding your true love. People make meaningful lasting connections by doing things together, not trying to impress each other with their social skills.

If you want to join, go through recruitment. If you get a bid, take it and make it the experience you want it to be. That's what the process is really all about!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by SC2013

Anyhow...to clarify. Oh boy. I have every intention of rushing that small sorority that many of you have recommended to me in the fall, but as of now I am ineligible to rush because of formal recruitment rules.

OK, pussyfooting over. Since ellebud called a spade a spade I will too. Peggy Olson was obviously AXO, so who is the "small sorority many of us recommended"? SDT? All I saw was DTD Alum saying that it sounded the most like what you are saying you want. I don't think he outright "recommended" that you rush them after not getting the sorority you wanted in formal rush, turning down the bid you did get, thinking of starting a local sorority, finding out that someone on GC said something negative about locals, and abandoning that prospect.

As far as conversation being "forced and stilted" at pref, if you are as loquacious in real life as you are when posting, I question how the sorority member even had a chance to get a word in edgewise.

If you find SDT to be a good match, super for them, and super for you. But in the meantime, please zip it about how the Greek system has misplaced its values.

[Barbie's_Rush]

Nothing like a non-Greek lecturing Greeks on the meaning of being Greek. *sigh* I really thought you showed a lot of maturity and thoughtfulness when you wrote about your recruitment experience. Now I can see where you’re really coming from and it isn’t pretty.

You were a sophomore when you rushed after a year of observing what Greek life was all about at USC. You had an entire year to evaluate it and you still went through recruitment because you wanted to join. Sisters didn’t just start walking down the row in miniskirts. They didn’t just start having philanthropy events that don’t meet your exacting expectations. They didn’t just start being interested in having the best social life, looking good and hanging out with the hottest guys. You knew that going into recruitment. You wanted that.

How dare you have the audacity to tell sorority members that their behavior doesn’t represent the ideals of their organizations and that they don’t have a “true” sisterhood? You are not privy to any group’s inner workings. You do not know anything about secrets, rituals and anything else that happens inside the chapters. You’re not there when an entire group of sisters stays up all night to comfort a girl through a nasty breakup. You’re not there to support the sister who just lost her father to cancer. You’re not there to make the late night run for frozen yogurt because you’ve all been studying until your brains are about to seep out of your ears and yogurt is the only antidote. How dare you presume anything about anyone’s sisterhood? You know nothing.

You had a chance to be Greek and make a difference from the inside out. You were offered a bid to the struggling chapter and chose not to accept it. You are actually part of the problem.

You don’t really want to start a local. What you really want is to start an interest group with the expectation that some magical NPC group will come in and scoop you up and give you some kind of shiny new start and eliminate the stigma that you feel you’d have as a member of those struggling groups. Christ on a cracker with cream cheese on top, you’re even looking at potential groups. Do you really think an NPC group is going to come in and spend millions of dollars and man hours to establish a chapter on a campus like yours simply because you perceive yourself to be somehow more virtuous than those awful sorority girls you sought to join just a few months ago? Good luck with that.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

Nothing like a non-Greek lecturing Greeks on the meaning of being Greek. *sigh* I really thought you showed a lot of maturity and thoughtfulness when you wrote about your recruitment experience. Now I can see where you’re really coming from and it isn’t pretty.

You were a sophomore when you rushed after a year of observing what Greek life was all about at USC. You had an entire year to evaluate it and you still went through recruitment because you wanted to join. Sisters didn’t just start walking down the row in miniskirts. They didn’t just start having philanthropy events that don’t meet your exacting expectations. They didn’t just start being interested in having the best social life, looking good and hanging out with the hottest guys. You knew that going into recruitment. You wanted that.

How dare you have the audacity to tell sorority members that their behavior doesn’t represent the ideals of their organizations and that they don’t have a “true” sisterhood? You are not privy to any group’s inner workings. You do not know anything about secrets, rituals and anything else that happens inside the chapters. You’re not there when an entire group of sisters stays up all night to comfort a girl through a nasty breakup. You’re not there to support the sister who just lost her father to cancer. You’re not there to make the late night run for frozen yogurt because you’ve all been studying until your brains are about to seep out of your ears and yogurt is the only antidote. How dare you presume anything about anyone’s sisterhood? You know nothing.

You had a chance to be Greek and make a difference from the inside out. You were offered a bid to the struggling chapter and chose not to accept it. You are actually part of the problem.

You don’t really want to start a local. What you really want is to start an interest group with the expectation that some magical NPC group will come in and scoop you up and give you some kind of shiny new start and eliminate the stigma that you feel you’d have as a member of those struggling groups. Christ on a cracker with cream cheese on top, you’re even looking at potential groups. Do you really think an NPC group is going to come in and spend millions of dollars and man hours to establish a chapter on a campus like yours simply because you perceive yourself to be somehow more virtuous than those awful sorority girls you sought to join just a few months ago? Good luck with that.

Amen!

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

Nothing like a non-Greek lecturing Greeks on the meaning of being Greek. *sigh* I really thought you showed a lot of maturity and thoughtfulness when you wrote about your recruitment experience. Now I can see where you’re really coming from and it isn’t pretty.

You were a sophomore when you rushed after a year of observing what Greek life was all about at USC. You had an entire year to evaluate it and you still went through recruitment because you wanted to join. Sisters didn’t just start walking down the row in miniskirts. They didn’t just start having philanthropy events that don’t meet your exacting expectations. They didn’t just start being interested in having the best social life, looking good and hanging out with the hottest guys. You knew that going into recruitment. You wanted that.

How dare you have the audacity to tell sorority members that their behavior doesn’t represent the ideals of their organizations and that they don’t have a “true” sisterhood? You are not privy to any group’s inner workings. You do not know anything about secrets, rituals and anything else that happens inside the chapters. You’re not there when an entire group of sisters stays up all night to comfort a girl through a nasty breakup. You’re not there to support the sister who just lost her father to cancer. You’re not there to make the late night run for frozen yogurt because you’ve all been studying until your brains are about to seep out of your ears and yogurt is the only antidote. How dare you presume anything about anyone’s sisterhood? You know nothing.

You had a chance to be Greek and make a difference from the inside out. You were offered a bid to the struggling chapter and chose not to accept it. You are actually part of the problem.

You don’t really want to start a local. What you really want is to start an interest group with the expectation that some magical NPC group will come in and scoop you up and give you some kind of shiny new start and eliminate the stigma that you feel you’d have as a member of those struggling groups. Christ on a cracker with cream cheese on top, you’re even looking at potential groups. Do you really think an NPC group is going to come in and spend millions of dollars and man hours to establish a chapter on a campus like yours simply because you perceive yourself to be somehow more virtuous than those awful sorority girls you sought to join just a few months ago? Good luck with that.

...one of the best posts I've seen in a longgggg time.

[trojanpride]

Originally Posted by Barbie's_Rush

You were a sophomore when you rushed after a year of observing what Greek life was all about at USC. You had an entire year to evaluate it and you still went through recruitment because you wanted to join. Sisters didn’t just start walking down the row in miniskirts. They didn’t just start having philanthropy events that don’t meet your exacting expectations. They didn’t just start being interested in having the best social life, looking good and hanging out with the hottest guys. You knew that going into recruitment. You wanted that.

I can't speak for the OP, I bet she is burned from rush. Some friends went through girls rush in the fall too and I think all cried a lot which makes me glad guy's rush is how it is.

I'll say it seems like this year has gotten much worse from last year, so wanting to join after last year, but now being disappointed does make sense. This year Nikias has put more restrictions that makes people more pent up, ranks are changing so girls are bitches to other houses, and collegeACB and TFM are really popular so the parts of Greek life that are douchey are exaggerated happily here.

I do get what the OP's saying, but you can't change that with a small sorority, any other house would laugh. I'm thinking about if any house tried to be more "moral" and only the Christian sorority could. AGO is super successful but the frat system is different.

[SC2013]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

You didn't really answer my question. How do you know? You know all of this about sororities from reading your sister's sorority magazine?

If you were to start a local, you wouldn't get far with the attitude that the existing groups are somehow "not measuring up" to their values (that you don't know about because you aren't actually in them.)

Founding principles and histories are readily available online, I can't pretend to know what is revealed during initiation, during chapter meetings, etc. but I'm assuming that the literature that is publicly available, not just from magazines, but from literature written by founding members (Google Books is awesome), from national organization websites, etc. still stands true. Like I said though, I could be presuming but my assumption is that the information given once being a member would delve further into what is publicly available, not deviate completely.