Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by shinerbock
So are we talking about multicultural as a whole (takes people from all backgrounds) or by system (a black fraternity, an asian, etc.) I think they serve a purpose, but not for everybody. Our fraternity is all white, so i'm not sure where that fits into a multicultural greek system. Guess we'll be the "white" fraternity.

shinerbock, read Senusret's posts above. He mentions that this specific issue was addressed at the NMGC conference. RIF, my dear.

[Erik P Conard]

very few "minorities" were in college in the 50s. We had four
Hawaiians (sent by their teacher, an alum) and the Sig Eps had
a really popular mexican (second generation). Many of us had a
foreign student or two, not considered as a racist move, and it
was surprising to find a mexican or person of color to graduate
at all. It had nothing to do with prejudicial. Sometimes we were
so patronizing it was embarrassing.
Even today the minority GLOs are small but they have fewer to
pick from...
Aside from the east coast and west coast, minorities still have a
tough go to mainstream.

[brownsugar952]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
very few "minorities" were in college in the 50s. We had four
Hawaiians (sent by their teacher, an alum) and the Sig Eps had
a really popular mexican (second generation). Many of us had a
foreign student or two, not considered as a racist move, and it
was surprising to find a mexican or person of color to graduate
at all. It had nothing to do with prejudicial. Sometimes we were
so patronizing it was embarrassing.
Even today the minority GLOs are small but they have fewer to
pick from...
Aside from the east coast and west coast, minorities still have a
tough go to mainstream.

For some reason, this post doesn't make sense to me. Maybe because of the thread that it is in...

I still don't think people "get" what multicultural organizations are about...

[Drolefille]

I'm usually confused by his posts... It reminds me of Finding Nemo when Squirt (baby turtle) is giving Dory and Marlin advice.

" It's like he's trying to speak to me, I know it."

[L.O.C.K.]

Good discussion...

I know a lot of Black, Latino/a, and Asian Greeks are marketing themselves as Multicultural these days in the fact that usually you see a statement along the lines of "we are historically serving the X community, but we are NOT X exclusive".

However, it is clear that most have a high percentage of one race/ethnicity. My fraternity is like 95% Asian I think (I counted, I'm a nerd. ).

In any case, we're obviously not Asian exclusive (I'm like the waspiest kid you'll meet )

However, I think Multicultural Greeks (not BGLO, LGLO, AGLO) are in a difficult situation. We're such a segregated society, that it's hard to find people like this. I commend the orgs that are about Multiculturalism though for their work.



And to diane128634 that was posting earlier about Asian Greeks:

You make a lot of excellent points. It's a constant battle that is being fought. I think you have viable concerns and points, and I'd love to help with your frustrations. Feel free to PM me.

Thanks
Nate

[ilikehazing]

Multicultural sororities are completely shallow. They look at the color of their skin, not the content of their character (hmm... someone once said that...who was it again?), they exist on the sole fact that someone out there wants to be sisters with white people, or mexicans, or blacks. Black people love us! There are fraternities and sororities that accept all races. Ours specifically would not, but there are at least two on our campus who would. Multicultural sororities exist solely to say "hey look how liberal i am, i can hang out with black people and not care!"

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by ilikehazing
Multicultural sororities are completely shallow. They look at the color of their skin, not the content of their character (hmm... someone once said that...who was it again?), they exist on the sole fact that someone out there wants to be sisters with white people, or mexicans, or blacks. Black people love us! There are fraternities and sororities that accept all races. Ours specifically would not, but there are at least two on our campus who would. Multicultural sororities exist solely to say "hey look how liberal i am, i can hang out with black people and not care!"

While this post is not worth replying to, I don't want you to lead people astray who might not understand the value of these organizations. So, I'll say, it's not simply a race thing.

There must be a place for people to be openly accepted as people and not simply tolerated, as a function of the organization. I'm not saying that some chapters of some non-MCGLOs don't do this, but at this time in history, Greek life is not an altogether pleasant environment for homosexuals, practicing pagans (e.g. wiccans, neo-druids, etc.), obese individuals, etc...essentially all those who are in some way marginalized beyond the traditional categories of marginalization. While such generous acceptance is not the core purpose of MCGLOs, it is indicative of the ethos of these organizations.

Furthermore, multiculturalism is not the promotion of a melting pot. It is not a safe place where people can come to lose their identities to the American ideal (i.e. denying oneself in submission to the majority). Rather, it is a place rife with turmoil, even on the inside, as individuals subject themselves to situations that threaten to force them out of their comfort zones. We meet people and circumstances we wouldn't have dreamed about on our own. That's a tough place to be! No one honestly enjoys being uncomfortable, but members of MCGLOs live such a life daily. Those members who do not shut down from the overstimulation become more seasoned and wise individuals who gain a greater ability to remain calm and objective in even the most difficult of circumstances.

For you, and others like you, to reduce this experience to a mere popularity game or whatever it is you have in your mind is to minimize the personal sacrifice inherent in joining an MCGLO.

[zchi2]

I also agree his post isn't worth replying to, however, I have a question. Since you believe only the top fraternities and sororities do not except non-whites, why can't "others" have an organization to join? In case you didn't know, there are some people in this world that are mixed (black and white, white and asian, asian and black, etc.) A lot of people who are mixed choose to join a multicultural fraternity/sorority because they don't want to "choose." It's just not a group composed of radical liberals. I actually know of a few conservative Republicans that are in multicultural organizations....

But I do think that it is great that you have been able to use the internet to finally be able to voice your opinions of "others" in this country. It's has to be quite difficult to not be able to do it in your regular life. I wish others were as honest as you.

[PhoenixAzul]

I think it is also important to recognized that "multicultural" does not mean only "muti racial". There are many people who look a like, speak the same language, and come from a completely different culture. That, my friends, is worth exploring, and getting to know better.

I for one, am just happy to see women working together, whether they are a Tau Delta, an AKA, an APhiO a Theta Nu Xi or whatever other org you can think of. If these orgs are where women feel at home, supported, and grounded, then by all means, grow, prosper, God's speed! TD isn't for every woman, AKA isn't for every woman, APhiO isn't for every woman/man and Theta Nu Xi isn't for every woman...but they ARE for some. And that's important. Let those who feel the pull of sisterhood THRIVE in it.

Edit to fix a stupid statement.

[preciousjeni]

*BUMP*

We've gotten some new MCGLO posters that I'd like to hear from.

[shinerbock]

Jeni uses abbreviations I don't understand, so sorry if I've missed something. What I don't comprehend is the need for multi cultural groups. For example, one of the primary reasons I like greek life, is that it allows like minded people from similar backgrounds to join together both socially and in other endeavors. I don't wanna sound like a jerk here, but often people join fraternities to avoid the melting pot of society. The world is multicultural, why do you need a GLO acting as a microcosm?

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I don't wanna sound like a jerk here, but often people join fraternities to avoid the melting pot of society.

Hey shinerbock, do you happen to have the full results of the survey you took to come to this conclusion?

[shinerbock]

Yes. I polled 2 people, one being me, and the other being my friend. The results are as follows...

Did you join a fraternity in part to escape the "diversity" and urban social culture of society?

Yes 2 (100%)

No 0 (0%)

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Yes. I polled 2 people, one being me, and the other being my friend. The results are as follows...

Did you join a fraternity in part to escape the "diversity" and urban social culture of society?

Yes 2 (100%)

No 0 (0%)

LOL!

[Taualumna]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Jeni uses abbreviations I don't understand, so sorry if I've missed something. What I don't comprehend is the need for multi cultural groups. For example, one of the primary reasons I like greek life, is that it allows like minded people from similar backgrounds to join together both socially and in other endeavors. I don't wanna sound like a jerk here, but often people join fraternities to avoid the melting pot of society. The world is multicultural, why do you need a GLO acting as a microcosm?

But there are different types of "like-minded" people. Two people from completely different cultures can still think alike, just as two people from the same culture can be miles apart.