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

[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.

[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.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by BlueCarnation

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.

It's not that big of a deal -- the media escalating HQ into something major seems to be using the situation to criticize the "machine" and use as fodder to spin into racial discrimination. Otherwise, it's not much of a story.

I don't see this as a situation that pertains to her race. However one feels about Greeks block voting or the influence of the machine, it wouldn't have mattered what race she is or what other org put her up for HQ. But this is an easy angle for a sensational story.

[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.

[tcsparky]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

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.

I don't think that is what was meant. It was more that she knew going into this the entire reality of the situation- she went in with her eyes open, and wasn't surprised when it shook out like this. It's not a matter of "she should have known better," implying that she did something wrong. It is a matter of "she knew what would happen, and moved forward with her candidacy." In my opinion, this implies that she is a strong, confident woman who is willing to make her own choices, in spite of what others may be thinking or planning.

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by tcsparky

I don't think that is what was meant. It was more that she knew going into this the entire reality of the situation- she went in with her eyes open, and wasn't surprised when it shook out like this. It's not a matter of "she should have known better," implying that she did something wrong. It is a matter of "she knew what would happen, and moved forward with her candidacy." In my opinion, this implies that she is a strong, confident woman who is willing to make her own choices, in spite of what others may be thinking or planning.

Thanks, yes, exactly.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Hartofsec

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

SHOTS FIRED.

[33girl]

I'm going to ask this and please know I'm not trying to offend anyone.

AGD is the group that caused the furor over rush a short while ago - correct? I'm speaking of the deal where they wanted to bid the African-American girl and their alum advisors took her off the bid list. Could any of those alumnae have their hands in the Machine (or even in BLEND) and be doing this to teach the chapter a lesson?

If this makes no sense or I got the group wrong please let me know and I'll delete this ASAP. I find this Machine business fascinating,.in the same way I find the Mafia fascinating.

[Jill1228]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I'm going to ask this and please know I'm not trying to offend anyone.

AGD is the group that caused the furor over rush a short while ago - correct? I'm speaking of the deal where they wanted to bid the African-American girl and their alum advisors took her off the bid list. Could any of those alumnae have their hands in the Machine (or even in BLEND) and be doing this to teach the chapter a lesson?

If this makes no sense or I got the group wrong please let me know and I'll delete this ASAP. I find this Machine business fascinating,.in the same way I find the Mafia fascinating.

You are correct...

[Hartofsec]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I'm going to ask this and please know I'm not trying to offend anyone.

AGD is the group that caused the furor over rush a short while ago - correct? I'm speaking of the deal where they wanted to bid the African-American girl and their alum advisors took her off the bid list. Could any of those alumnae have their hands in the Machine (or even in BLEND) and be doing this to teach the chapter a lesson?

AGD was one of the publicized groups involved in the situation you reference, though for accuracy's sake, the allegations against any of these chapters did not involve removing anyone from a bid list.

But no, I don't think there would be any plausible reason (or way) for any alum to "teach the chapter a lesson."

Originally Posted by 33girl

If this makes no sense or I got the group wrong please let me know and I'll delete this ASAP. I find this Machine business fascinating,.in the same way I find the Mafia fascinating.

The Machine is basically the Greek system's method of block voting. It has been around as long as I remember -- when the Greek numbers were far fewer than they are now. Numbers + organization = influence/political power.

It's really not a secret, or as fascinating as the Mafia, even if often portrayed as such. Almost every sorority and fraternity participates -- they decide who among them is the best candidate from the Greek community and all chapters support them.

This situation would be the same regardless of the chapter or candidate involved. I think what is most bothersome is the prospect of retribution (snubbing by other fraternities and sororities) if a chapter doesn't support the chosen Greek candidate.

No one forces individuals to vote for a specific person. Since the current SGA President was not the machine-backed candidate, it appears that people probably vote for whomever they choose (even sorority and fraternity members).