*The Machine* Won't Let Sorority Vote For Its Own Member For Homecoming Queen

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by carnation

This makes me crazy. I have seen it happen over the years when a sorority ends up with more than 1 Homecoming candidate and can you imagine the pain of the candidate(s) who don't get their sorority's backing.

I suppose if someone chooses to run despite the fact that their sorority has already selected their top candidate, the individual deciding to run against their group's best wishes is sort of making that an inevitable outcome, right?

[carnation]

Well, you don't always know beforehand who a sorority will select. See, at several schools, each fraternity chooses its own Queen candidate and so do many clubs (like BLEND), including the sororities. So you could have several members of one sorority being chosen to run due to that and often, a sorority will choose to throw its weight behind one member to increase its chances of winning.

It's even harder when a sorority has more than 1 member in, say, the Top 5. Somebody is going to get hurt. What pisses me off here is that girls were being told who to vote for.

[BlueCarnation]

Northerner here...

We didn't really even "do" Homecoming when I was in school, and at the school I work for, I think there is a Homecoming queen, but it's definitely not something that is a big deal.

What is the big deal of being Homecoming queen? Is this the first step in running for office/marrying into the right family/getting into medical school? I'm not trying to be sarcastic. I just don't understand why this is such a big deal that it has gotten to this point.

And thinking back to when I was 18, wow...I feel for all the girls. It's hard being in that position. I'd like to think I'd do the right thing, but I don't know. Peer pressure is a hard thing to go against at that age. I know I wasn't all that confident and secure in myself.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by carnation

Well, you don't always know beforehand who a sorority will select. See, at several schools, each fraternity chooses its own Queen candidate and so do many clubs (like BLEND), including the sororities. So you could have several members of one sorority being chosen to run due to that and often, a sorority will choose to throw its weight behind one member to increase its chances of winning.

It's even harder when a sorority has more than 1 member in, say, the Top 5. Somebody is going to get hurt. What pisses me off here is that girls were being told who to vote for.

At KSU, there is usually not a candidate from every sorority on court, much less more than one from a particular chapter.

I know that other student orgs (i.e. Res Life, etc.) have had multiple candidates come out of their orgs and I have no clue how they figured out which person to vote for. I think all the members went with their own choices and the chips fell where they fell.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I suppose if someone chooses to run despite the fact that their sorority has already selected their top candidate, the individual deciding to run against their group's best wishes is sort of making that an inevitable outcome, right?

Having served on her chapter's EC, she would have known this would be an awkward situation for her chapter when she accepted the backing of another org knowing her own chapter would be supporting the Phi Mu.

Not that frats should be dictating the slate, but she probably also realizes that people are free to vote for whomever they choose, regardless of what banner hangs on the house. Which is apparently how it played for the latest SGA election -- her boyfriend is SGA President (defeated the machine-backed candidate).

[Katmandu]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Having served on her chapter's EC, she would have known this would be an awkward situation for her chapter when she accepted the backing of another org knowing her own chapter would be supporting the Phi Mu.

Yes of course, it's her problem and she should have known better than to put her loving and loyal sisters in such a pickle.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

her boyfriend is SGA President (defeated the machine-backed candidate).

SHOTS FIRED.

[OHRebel]

Heard about this a couple of days ago and was just waiting for this to hit GC. From my perspective, it just seems sad that your sisters would not support you in your efforts AND adding salt to the wound would display someone else's banner on the house.

[Katmandu]

Yea, for a sorority to display a banner backing another sorority's candidate for queen because of pressure from a shadowy organization that likes to exert control and because fraternity guys hold a "no swaps" threat over the group... I guess the vows of sisterhood just aren't strong enough to go against all of that. Hopefully the young woman in question is strong enough and confident enough to overlook all of that when Homecoming is over. Also hope she wins. That would be sweet. As more and more out of staters enter schools in the south, this may end due to a massive load of "who the hell cares about The Machine?"

[IndianaSigKap]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

Yea, for a sorority to display a banner backing another sorority's candidate for queen because of pressure from a shadowy organization that likes to exert control and because fraternity guys hold a "no swaps" threat over the group...

This....nothing says desperate more than letting the thought of not having certain fraternities ask you to come to a party with cheap beer in their basement justify you turning your back on a sister. I hope she wins and and fails to mention them at all so they get no PR out of this whatsoever. Or tells all who will listen that she won despite the lack of support she received from her chapter.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

I guess the vows of sisterhood just aren't strong enough to go against all of that.

This is not directed to you specifically -- just an observation about the vows/bonds of sisterhood (that bugs me sometimes):

Before we all get all indignant about the sisterhood of it all, let's remember that if she (or any other sister) transferred to another campus, that her "lifelong sisterhood" there -- that she (and they) have vowed to uphold -- could vote not to even affiliate her. And no one would think a thing about it, because that's just how it's done.

[3StringedLyre]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

This is not directed to you specifically -- just an observation about the vows/bonds of sisterhood (that bugs me sometimes):

Before we all get all indignant about the sisterhood of it all, let's remember that if she (or any other sister) transferred to another campus, that her "lifelong sisterhood" there -- that she (and they) have vowed to uphold -- could vote not to even affiliate her. And no one would think a thing about it, because that's just how it's done.

Who are you to make such "observations?"

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

This is not directed to you specifically -- just an observation about the vows/bonds of sisterhood (that bugs me sometimes):

Before we all get all indignant about the sisterhood of it all, let's remember that if she (or any other sister) transferred to another campus, that her "lifelong sisterhood" there -- that she (and they) have vowed to uphold -- could vote not to even affiliate her. And no one would think a thing about it, because that's just how it's done.

Originally Posted by 3StringedLyre

Who are you to make such "observations?"

Just an alum on an internet message board. Like you.

NPC chapters voting on affiliating transfers is actually fact rather than observation. I don't know how many chapters other than Alpha Xi have a blanket acceptance policy, but I'm not sure why my pointing that out makes you angry.

[DubaiSis]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

Before we all get all indignant about the sisterhood of it all, let's remember that if she (or any other sister) transferred to another campus, that her "lifelong sisterhood" there -- that she (and they) have vowed to uphold -- could vote not to even affiliate her. And no one would think a thing about it, because that's just how it's done.

Not for every sorority. In Alpha Xi Delta, if you are a sister, you are welcomed into any chapter.

This isn't an election for POTUS. I can't imagine the scenario where a chapter would support another sorority's member over their own. If she is not worthy of their support then they may need to put her in front of standards. And if she hasn't done anything so heinous as to justify that, then she should have the support of her sisters.

These girls REALLY need to start exerting their power on campus. Maybe we should be providing free copies of Lysistrata to every pledge to see the power of women across boundaries and what they can do when they are motivated. Deny one or two fraternities any parties with the sororities and see how long they last. Panhel on every campus should be a feared and revered organization. Because that many women can accomplish ANYTHING. And do it in heels with full makeup.

[amillionlights]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

These girls REALLY need to start exerting their power on campus. Maybe we should be providing free copies of Lysistrata to every pledge to see the power of women across boundaries and what they can do when they are motivated. Deny one or two fraternities any parties with the sororities and see how long they last. Panhel on every campus should be a feared and revered organization. Because that many women can accomplish ANYTHING. And do it in heels with full makeup.

I agree. I would also say this is more a case of internalized sexism than anything intentionally going against vows of sisterhood. They want to be popular with the fraternities, they want to be popular on campus with the boys - it's a shame that they don't realize they don't need them!