Question from someone I intitiated in 1974

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by rockwallgreek

My chapter was a struggling chapter when I pledged. It was a struggling chapter when I initiated. It closed within two years. I've served my fraternity, Alpha Gamma Delta, for many years. My four daughters are Alpha Gams...they learned the songs, chants, colors and how important squirrels were, their entire life. They watched me work with chapters and we even went to a convention as a family.

Yesterday, I met up with a sister from my chapter and it was wonderful! The years melted as we talked.

Now, my question. Why are there so many posts here about resigning? I get transferring schools. I get that your chapter closed. Been there, done that. Why are collegiates jumping ship so quickly? Why are there even big/little questions? I just don't get it. I made promises at initiation. They meant something. Can anyone answer?

I think it's because collegians think of sorority membership as being a college thing. Especially freshmen/sophomores who haven't been exposed to alumnae life at all.

[adpiucf]

People have more choices and more options than ever before. 30 years ago, it was common to work for the same employer for life. Now, the average shelf life of an employee is about 2 years. People are more mobile, have more opportunities, and quite honestly, don't feel the need to "stick it out" if they're not interested in doing something. Because there's plenty of other things for them to try.

Greek Chat seems very critical of someone who resigns from a GLO. There's a lot of talk about honoring your commitments. I disagree to a certain extent. You should try to make it work, but I'd rather someone who isn't interested or who is not cut for it leave the organization to pursue something that will make them truly happy. Leave the GLO with members who really want to be there and who will work hard, rather than poisoning the membership from within and who honestly won't be contributing anything but complaints anyway.

So, maybe it's just kids today don't have the grit their parents did. Or they just don't see the point in sticking it out with something they're not interested in. There are more opportunities to become a Greek than there were in the 70s. You're going to attract a large pool of candidates who gradually whittle down to a select few who stick it out all 4 years. People resign because they realize they signed on for something they're really not into once the excitement of being a new member has ended, or they have financial issues, or academic issues, or they don't like all the rules associated with membership, or they don't like the leadership or offerings their chapter can provide.

I'm sure plenty of people dropped out of their GLOs in the 1970s. There were just fewer chapters and members didn't have the internet to ask for opinions. Human nature hasn't changed that much. There's just a lot more ways to air dirty laundry. Today there are more Greeks than ever before, recruitment is a highly oiled and regimented machine, dues are expensive, and there are tons of rules and risk management hazards that someone in the 70s would not be able to comprehend.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by adpiucf

Greek Chat seems very critical of someone who resigns from a GLO. There's a lot of talk about honoring your commitments. I disagree to a certain extent. You should try to make it work, but I'd rather someone who isn't interested or who is not cut for it leave the organization to pursue something that will make them truly happy. Leave the GLO with members who really want to be there and who will work hard, rather than poisoning the membership from within and who honestly won't be contributing anything but complaints anyway.

I don't think this is true. Do people who say "I've been a sister for 2 weeks and don't have any close friends yet, I want to resign" get piled on? Yes. Do people who say "my dad lost his job and I have no money, I hate living with 20 people, the whole Greek thing isn't for me, I want to resign" get piled on? I don't think so. They get counseled to be sure before they make an unchangeable decision, but that goes with any big decision like transferring or changing majors. The problem is that people come on here saying "I want to resign because of A" and it sounds like a stupid reason, and then after 4 pages of dragging the rest of the story out of the poster, it turns out it's not just A, but A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't think this is true. Do people who say "I've been a sister for 2 weeks and don't have any close friends yet, I want to resign" get piled on? Yes. Do people who say "my dad lost his job and I have no money, I hate living with 20 people, the whole Greek thing isn't for me, I want to resign" get piled on? I don't think so. They get counseled to be sure before they make an unchangeable decision, but that goes with any big decision like transferring or changing majors. The problem is that people come on here saying "I want to resign because of A" and it sounds like a stupid reason, and then after 4 pages of dragging the rest of the story out of the poster, it turns out it's not just A, but A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

I also have a short temper, personally, with women who want to resign as seniors. I think it sucks to be like "oh, I went to all these mixers, made all these friends, loved my chapter for three years, and now that I am a senior, well, what's in it for me?"