What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

Maybe it's just my fraternity, who enacted a 'Balanced Man' program that's met widespread criticism for lowering the standards of admittance. I talk to friends from other schools and there we are known as "Sigma Phi Everyone" because the chapters have a reputation of bidding anyone who walks in the door.

I think that as far as that's concerned, it IS fraternity specific since that's a fraternity specific program.

In this case, a policy has been enacted that is directly having an impact on who is chosen for membership and how.

[LegallyBrunette]

Originally Posted by banditone

I’d like to give exalts to the thread creator, as well as the girl that went off on the couple page tirade on what Theta Phi Alpha is.

I really hope this isn't about me. In no way was what I said a "tirade." If it is about me, I would hope that anyone on these boards would understand the desire to defend their org (be it on the local or inter/national level).

Oh well.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

That's one way to look at it. The only problem is that a lot of the time they haven't gone through the same experience. From rush to pledgeship their experience is not nearly as intense. In our eyes, they haven't "earned it". Maybe it's just my fraternity, who enacted a 'Balanced Man' program that's met widespread criticism for lowering the standards of admittance. I talk to friends from other schools and there we are known as "Sigma Phi Everyone" because the chapters have a reputation of bidding anyone who walks in the door.

You may say that, but as a Northern greek who knows many Sig Eps personally, I can say with confidence they are one of the top fraternities around, 'despite' their Balanced Man program.

So shut up. I can't believe I have to defend your own fraternity brothers to you.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by PhiKapSkulls

Love sweet tea. Everytime I vist family in NC I make sure to get me some sweet tea. Anyway, with McDonalds serving sweet tea , I don't think you can use that test anymore as you can find sweet tea in the North now.

Not as far as I know. I'm pretty sure they only sell unsweetened...at least in the Deep North.

[banditone]

lol to the "so shut up" post above. Good stuff.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Hold up.

You're from ARKANSAS?

And you're talking smack about northern brethren not being good enough.

To hang out with you in ARKANSAS?

Oh, the jokes, the jokes I'm holding back! But my northern etiquette won't allow me to take the cheap shots.

THAT is what makes Greek life hot in the South: the fact that he is from Arkansas and your reaction to it. The average income per household may be lower in most (all?) Southern states compared to those in the North, but that's part of what makes Greek life so elite down here. You think he is some redneck wearing overalls, but it is probably quite the opposite, due to the fact that he is Greek. You don't see that in the North, where your average fraternity brother/sorority sister is more or less the mean as far as average income goes (from what I have seen). I'm having a hard time putting it into words, but hopefully that makes sense. Basically what it all boils down to is the fact that the lower the average income is, the larger the social class division gap is.

[srmom]

Basically what it all boils down to is the fact that the lower the average income is, the larger the social class division gap is.

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by srmom

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

I never said anything about my own financial situation. What you quoted is true and everyone here knows it.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by srmom

Uggh..

Snobby McSnobberson, you are in college right? You BASICALLY have never earned your own money and are living off of your parents. Quit with the I'm so classy and rich, because a) classy people do not talk about how much better they are than others, and b) really rich people do not talk about how rich they are - they've been raised better than that.

Applause.

Thank you, srmom.

[sasquatch]

I'm not sure what I said that was so offensive, but whatever.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

I'm not sure what I said that was so offensive, but whatever.

The fact that you don't see how offensive it is illustrates further that it was meant with the most sincerely offensive assumptions possible.

Ask yourself this... if you think your brotherhood should be exclusive to only the *right* types of men (i.e. men from a certain wealth bracket because you think this corrollates to class) then what more is your brotherhood then a country club? And why should anyone in your fraternity feel "chosen" based on them as individuals v. their parents money?

To me, the fraternity or sorority that ignores wealth (besides the ability to pay dues) is the FAR SUPERIOR organization because it judges people based on who they actually are, rather than how much of their parents money is coming along with them.

Perhaps you and some of the other southern fraternity men in this thread could learn an important lesson on brotherhood from your brothers up north. My guess is that they wouldn't hesitate to acknowledge you as their unconditional brother like you have with them.

[sasquatch]

I was answering in the context of the original question. I wasn't saying it's better or worse, just that people (greek or non greek) view Greek life entirely different in the South for that reason. Most people here in the South who have little to no knowledge of Greek life don't view members of fraternities and sororities as drunken slobs, but as huge SUV driving, trust fund having rich kids. I'm not saying it's always true and I'm not saying it makes it better, I'm just saying that in the minds of non-Greeks that's how it's viewed. Therefore it's more respected by the community as a whole, because these kids are viewed (and are) as the future of the community (the lawyers-turned-judges, local politicians, doctors, mayors). I was answering the question in regards to why it is viewed in an entirely different light for the most part, by the communities as a whole. Hope that clears some things up.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by fantASTic

You may say that, but as a Northern greek who knows many Sig Eps personally, I can say with confidence they are one of the top fraternities around, 'despite' their Balanced Man program.

So shut up. I can't believe I have to defend your own fraternity brothers to you.

Sig Ep struggles because of Balanced Man in the South. You've got to understand that it does not matter if "they are the top fraternity around" in the north, because they judge by different standards. In the South, Balanced Man is a detriment. It signifies inclusiveness usually. Fraternities are like country clubs. You don't want to join an inclusive country club, you want to join an exclusive one, to raise your social standing and so forth. Hell, Ole Miss Sig Ep took 90 one rush, am I correct? I believe it was close to that.

In my opinion, the top fraternity scenes in the nation are in Alabama and Mississippi some of the poorest states. That being said, you can insult Arkansas for being poor and so forth but we're among some of the best states for greek life.

People are judged by many circumstances not purely on wealth, but generally influenced by wealth. Where they are from, who they know, their manners and ettiquette, their character, their dress, and their actions go into a bid.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

I was answering in the context of the original question. I wasn't saying it's better or worse, just that people (greek or non greek) view Greek life entirely different in the South for that reason. Most people here in the South who have little to no knowledge of Greek life don't view members of fraternities and sororities as drunken slobs, but as huge SUV driving, trust fund having rich kids. I'm not saying it's always true and I'm not saying it makes it better, I'm just saying that in the minds of non-Greeks that's how it's viewed. Therefore it's more respected by the community as a whole, because these kids are viewed (and are) as the future of the community (the lawyers-turned-judges, local politicians, doctors, mayors). I was answering the question in regards to why it is viewed in an entirely different light for the most part, by the communities as a whole. Hope that clears some things up.

I think that the issue a lot of people have with that concept boils down to this: that if you don't have a trust fund or a family name, you're not going to get anywhere in the community.

I mean, what's the point of wasting money going to college (rather than a business school) if you're going to end up being president of the bank anyway?

Being from a small town, I do understand where you're coming from - if you say your last name (or in your case, Greek affiliation) is this or that, it immediately opens doors. You either find that nice and comforting and traditional, or you find it stifling and confining and kind of sickening.

I mean, I certainly didn't join my sorority to get ahead in my career - especially considering (at least when I pledged) the majority of the alumnae are teachers. I would rather stab my eyes out with a flaming stick than be a teacher. If someone HAD joined my chapter because she wanted to "network" among the teachers in the state, well, we'd have kind of looked at her funny and thought she was pretty shallow. People here tend to join a Greek group because they like the other members, not because it will help them "get ahead" in life.

If the main point of joining this fraternity or that is to further your social life and career, are you really close friends, or is it more like in Heathers "our job is being popular"? I'm not being rude, I'm honestly asking. I know guys and girls are different in the way they interact socially, but the whole thing is just 180 degrees from what I experienced.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think that the issue a lot of people have with that concept boils down to this: that if you don't have a trust fund or a family name, you're not going to get anywhere in the community.

I mean, what's the point of wasting money going to college (rather than a business school) if you're going to end up being president of the bank anyway?

Being from a small town, I do understand where you're coming from - if you say your last name (or in your case, Greek affiliation) is this or that, it immediately opens doors. You either find that nice and comforting and traditional, or you find it stifling and confining and kind of sickening.

I mean, I certainly didn't join my sorority to get ahead in my career - especially considering (at least when I pledged) the majority of the alumnae are teachers. I would rather stab my eyes out with a flaming stick than be a teacher. If someone HAD joined my chapter because she wanted to "network" among the teachers in the state, well, we'd have kind of looked at her funny and thought she was pretty shallow. People here tend to join a Greek group because they like the other members, not because it will help them "get ahead" in life.

If the main point of joining this fraternity or that is to further your social life and career, are you really close friends, or is it more like in Heathers "our job is being popular"? I'm not being rude, I'm honestly asking. I know guys and girls are different in the way they interact socially, but the whole thing is just 180 degrees from what I experienced.

No, it's more like, "this is the best fraternity/sorority and this is where you're gonna pledge...because it's the best". It's like people here say, "you'll end up where you belong". For those rushing who are from old line families they will end up at the top houses because that's who they have the most in common with and then networking is just kind of an extension of that. It's hard to explain.