This may be a stupid question...

[Sen's Revenge]

Originally Posted by kayfaith

Thank you all for taking the time to reply!

UVA17 - The D9 members in my family have told me to stay away because of hazing, too. D9 sororities and fraternities have such rich history as well. I just hate that they don't have formal or informal recruitment information avaliable. Were I to skip rushing for a Panhel in hopes of some type of NPC winter recruitment, I'd be really disappointed if it didn't work out. I guess when you think about it, some of the traditions aren't that different (stepping vs. skits?) and I definitely understand why D9s are historically important. I'm just drawn to the other more because I like being able to see exactly how involved they are on campus, exactly which philanthropies they represent, what the chapter GPAs is, etc.

I think you're just not interested in NPHC sororities, and that's okay. But you can't really say you prefer one because they give you more information than the other.... that's kind of... I don't know, not really accurate. The information is there, it's just not presented in the same manner.

I think your families just tell you about the hazing because they know you wouldn't fit in an NPHC org -- and you know you wouldn't fit, either, and that's fine.

[kayfaith]

Originally Posted by Sen's Revenge

I think you're just not interested in NPHC sororities, and that's okay. But you can't really say you prefer one because they give you more information than the other.... that's kind of... I don't know, not really accurate. The information is there, it's just not presented in the same manner.

I think your families just tell you about the hazing because they know you wouldn't fit in an NPHC org -- and you know you wouldn't fit, either, and that's fine.

You're probably right about my family. I know that NPHC or not, greek organizations have that element of secrecy. I do not believe I'm entitled to excessive information. The five D9 members I know all seem so vague when I ask questions, though! It's not like I unleash my full petulant journalist potential on them either. My main question is always "how was your chapter involved in your campus?" or something about philanthropy, which I did not think was exclusive to one type of GLO.

Also the whole "they'll come to you" advice that I keep getting from family/ex-mentors is just, well, confusing.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by kayfaith

You're probably right about my family. I know that NPHC or not, greek organizations have that element of secrecy. I do not believe I'm entitled to excessive information. The five D9 members I know all seem so vague when I ask questions, though! It's not like I unleash my full petulant journalist potential on them either. My main question is always "how was your chapter involved in your campus?" or something about philanthropy, which I did not think was exclusive to one type of GLO.

Some NPHC members have the idea about NPHC membership this way: "If you're in, then you know. If you're not in, then you don't need to know."

NPHC orgs are involved in philanthropy - we just call it by a different name, community service. That is probably why you are getting this look from your NPHC family members. Ask them about their community service projects. Or, better yet, look up the community service projects of the D9 orgs on their international websites.

That's another philosophy behind D9 membership - if you want to be a member you will do your own research to gain knowledge, and not ask anyone questions you should be able to figure out on your own.

Also the whole "they'll come to you" advice that I keep getting from family/ex-mentors is just, well, confusing.

Back in the day, early 1960's, when my mom was an undergrad, the DST chapter on her campus (Texas Southern Univ.) would invite a young lady to membership by tapping her on the shoulder. Up until the early 1990's, a person could not become a member of a D9 org, or 'pledge', until their sophomore year in school. So that meant the D9 chapter had a year to 'check you out', so to speak. If they liked what they saw, you were extended an invitation to membership, if they did not like what they saw, then you never got the invite.

For the most part, the way D9 orgs handle membership today is there are about 2 -3 open invitation information sessions. There you will leave your contact information. If the chapter is truly interested in you, then you will be invited to a closed (invitation only) information session. If the interest is still mutual, then you will be given the specific information for membership. Usually, at this point you are given information about dues and MIP (membership intake process).

I think the big difference you see between NPC and NPHC is how we handle our recruitment process.

[Titchou]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

Some NPHC members have the idea about NPHC membership this way: "If you're in, then you know. If you're not in, then you don't need to know."

NPHC orgs are involved in philanthropy - we just call it by a different name, community service. That is probably why you are getting this look from your NPHC family members. Ask them about their community service projects. Or, better yet, look up the community service projects of the D9 orgs on their international websites.

That's another philosophy behind D9 membership - if you want to be a member you will do your own research to gain knowledge, and not ask anyone questions you should be able to figure out on your own.



Back in the day, early 1960's, when my mom was an undergrad, the DST chapter on her campus (Texas Southern Univ.) would invite a young lady to membership by tapping her on the shoulder. Up until the early 1990's, a person could not become a member of a D9 org, or 'pledge', until their sophomore year in school. So that meant the D9 chapter had a year to 'check you out', so to speak. If they liked what they saw, you were extended an invitation to membership, if they did not like what they saw, then you never got the invite.

For the most part, the way D9 orgs handle membership today is there are about 2 -3 open invitation information sessions. There you will leave your contact information. If the chapter is truly interested in you, then you will be invited to a closed (invitation only) information session. If the interest is still mutual, then you will be given the specific information for membership. Usually, at this point you are given information about dues and MIP (membership intake process).

I think the big difference you see between NPC and NPHC is how we handle our recruitment process.

Great explanation!