Cultural "Greeks"

[Kevlar281]

I just don’t care about what other people do; do what’s best for you.

[LatinaAlumna]

The fight between Pi Alpha Phi and Lambda Phi Epsilon further shows the gang mentality that many of these orgs have, a bad influence in the greek community and the community in general.

Listen up, and listen good: This was an ISOLATED incident. To say that MANY of these orgs. have this "gang mentality" is truly ignorant. I sense that you have very little understanding of what our organizations stand for.

Let me tell you why MY organization was needed on MY campus: The IFC and Panhellenic Councils (up until even the 1990s) were throwing "Cross-the-Border" parties, in which attendees had to dress like "illegal aliens" and further, have their backs sprayed down with water (read: "wetback") AND crawl in the dirt under a fence to get into the parties. They were also throwing "Mexican Fiestas" that were so full of stereotypes that I don't even have time to list them all here. Further, we had a few fraternity songbooks exposed, and among the contents, were songs that were extremely derrogatory to Mexican women...yeah, in the 1990s.

Would you have felt comfortble in joining one of these councils if you were I? I don't think so. Most Latina women did not. What's even worse, my roommate was constantly telling me to go through Panhellenic Rush because "every house would want me." When I asked why, she said, "Well, we really need to increase the number of ethnic girls this year." Sorry, but I wasn't going to be ANYONE's "token Chicana." You mentioned that many IFC and Panhellenic groups desegregated a while back...well, sorry again, but I was NEVER going to join something in 1994 that would not have accepted me or other women of color in 1944.

Don't get me wrong, I feel comfortable with people of all backgrounds who demonstrate respect and courtesy. However, I did not feel that a Panhellenic sorority was right for me. The Latina sorority chapter that I went on to found made an effort to reach out to ALL greeks on our campus, with great success. We worked with everyone who was interested in serving the community (and, yes, our work included serving MANY DIFFERENT communities, with an emphasis on empowering the FEMALE community). I didn't feel segregated at all, and I made many great friends in each of the various councils, including IFC and Panhellenic, NPHC, and Asian Greek Council. It was a great feeling to be so supported by the greek community at large.

Bottom line, my feeling is that each individual should join the organization that he or she can call "home." All organizations are needed, and if a fraternity or sorority of ANY type can help a person feel supported, and reach the goal of college graduation, it is a very good thing. My advice to the person who posted the original comments is to take some time to get to know and understand ALL the greeks on your campus. You will learn a lot and might even make some new friends.

[sigmadiva]

Starang21, White_Chocolate and others have made very good comments. I would like to add that the reason there are cultural greeks is because when historically White glos were started, in the late 1800's and early 1900's, Blacks, Hispanics and Asians were not generally welcomed on predominately White college campuses, and definitely not in secret societies where membership was dependent on being accepted by the group. Since White society as a whole were/are not accepting of minorities, then the children of White people were most likely not going to be either. So, cultural glos were started to give non-Whites the same experience.

I can only speak for NPHC glos when I say that in addition to their social aspects, there is a HUGE emphasis on service to the community, particularly the Black community. Usually, you will find NPHC groups listed as service organizations on campuses because most of our activities are service oriented.

When I got to college I wanted to join a sorority and I knew for a few reasons that it would be a Black sorority. One, because that is what I grew up with, two, because NPHC sororities do an excellent job of addressing issues in the Black community and three, I felt that NPC orgs at my univeristy (here in the south) would not give me a bid, simply because I am Black. And lastly, I picked who I felt most comfortable with.

Despite all of what has been said, this topic is not simply black and white (no pun intended). In my historically Black sorority we do have White and Hispanic members. When society as a whole breaks down racial barriers, then maybe a student of any race can join any glo of his or her choice because that particular glo has some traits the he/she likes.

[FuzzieAlum]

SigmaDiva, while I agree in essense with what you said, I'm not aware of any Asian or Hispanic GLOs that were founded before the last 25 years. You're absolutely right that Asians and Hispanics were not welcome in most GLOs in the late 1800s or early 1900s, but that was not when they were formed.


*edited for typo

[White_Chocolate]

And with "multicultural" orgs, how exactly does one "promote" multiculturalism? Does that mean that IFC/Panhellenic orgs, that no longer limit their membership by race, do NOT promote multiculturalism?

After pondering Randall, the webstarters question. . .I wonder through the official webpages of both multicultural and IFC/Panhell groups. I could see where someone would mistaken multicultural with 'celebrating'. Multicultural is just what it means. . .encouraging men and women no matter what race to unite in the bonds of friendship and 'hood. I guess they feel that they promote it thorough the fact that there is no ONE dominant race. Everyone is seen as equal.

As for the other organization, I don't know how they promote it. I've seen one group that attends every kind of lecture, film festival, cultural shin-dig possible. I guess that is promotion. Funny, this group was a NPHC sorority.

[aopinthesky]

>>>And, in areas like the South, where there still is high racial sentiment, MAYBE cultural orgs would be ok, but I'm sure many of the IFC and PHC greeks there have members of various races as well.<<<

I am FROM and LIVE IN the South, so I am not cracking on the South when I say this, but I would guess that on any large Southern campus where a high number of NPC and IFC organizations are represented, you would not find, all totaled, more than a dozen members of other races - especially in NPC groups. Ways to bring about change have been discussed on this board AD NAUSEUM and I am not advocating anything. Just don't kid yourself into thinking that NPC and IFC groups at Southern colleges are diverse. They are not.

And BTW - cultural organizations have a valuable place just like NPC and IFC organizations do. To each his own.

[Optimist Prime]

this is one of THOSE threads.

[starang21]

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
SigmaDiva, while I agree in essense with what you said, I'm not aware of any Asian or Hispanic GLOs that were founded before the last 25 years. You're absolutely right that Asians and Hispanics were not welcome in most GLOs in the late 1800s or early 1900s, but that was not when they were formed.


*edited for typo

and off top, who really cares when the orgs were founded. it really doesn't matter. what matters is what they do for the community.

[White_Chocolate]

Originally posted by aopinthesky
I am FROM and LIVE IN the South, so I am not cracking on the South when I say this, but I would guess that on any large Southern campus where a high number of NPC and IFC organizations are represented, you would not find, all totaled, more than a dozen members of other races - especially in NPC groups. Ways to bring about change have been discussed on this board AD NAUSEUM and I am not advocating anything. Just don't kid yourself into thinking that NPC and IFC groups at Southern colleges are diverse. They are not.

i'm glad she said it because it is true. the first school that i went to is living proof. . .and i'm not going to call any names.

however, it's looking past these petty things and encouraging all groups to look past the skin. . .which i don't think will ever be done.

[KSig RC]

Originally posted by starang21


and off top, who really cares when the orgs were founded. it really doesn't matter. what matters is what they do for the community.

No - that's what matters to you.

My organization was founded as a social fraternity, with emphasis on improving its members.

Now, one vital aspect to this would, of course, be found in community service - service to others is perhaps the most fruitful undertaking. However, to judge my organization based upon community impact would be to miss the point - this would be akin to ranking all baseball teams on home runs hit, rather than wins and losses. Instead, the impact/improvement on individual members must be judged, as that is the ultimate goal.

This is where we begin to agree, however - "cultural" organizations, or rather organizations based around and dedicated to specific (or multiple) cultural backgrounds are VITAL for those who seek that kind of environment, just as (primarily) social organizations are important for those seeking out that particular environment.

Look at the Divine Nine - I don't think any would argue that these nine organizations don't serve an amazing and important role in college life for many who actively seek out what they provide. And how did the NPHC houses reach this level? Time and effort - allow these 'newer' groups, which we're calling "cultural" groups, this time, and hopefully they can raise themselves to the heights that the NPHC organizations are attaining.

[LeslieAGD]

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
How would you like it if I asked why your organization was necessary? After all there are so many other fraternities, why do we need yours?

I think the very fact that these organizations exist is proof that someone felt they were needed - it takes a lot of hard work to establish a new organization, especially in the face of negative attitudes. They don't have to justify their existence to you or to me or anyone else.

Originally posted by 33girl
If I was an Asian who joined a "regular" group and they decided they had to have a program on Asian culture because of me, I would be pretty offended.

Amen!

[Richard(SNU)]

[ ... ]I'm not aware of any Asian or Hispanic GLOs that were
founded before the last 25 years. You're absolutely right that Asians
and Hispanics were not welcome in most GLOs in the late 1800s or early
1900s, but that was not when they were formed.

Pi Alpha Phi was founded in 1926 at UC Berkeley. Unfortunatly their
web site has been taken down so there's no way to verify this right
now.

Lambda Phi Epsilon was founded at UCLA in 1981.

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
SigmaDiva, while I agree in essense with what you said, I'm not aware of any Asian or Hispanic GLOs that were founded before the last 25 years.

FYI
Sigma Omicron Pi--Asian American sorority-- 1930 @ San Francisco State University (that chapter was re-established in 1988) They have since added several more chapters.

[Shark In Skirt]

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
No matter what your intent is, don't expect responses to stay polite. How would you like it if I asked why your organization was necessary? After all there are so many other fraternities, why do we need yours?

I think the very fact that these organizations exist is proof that someone felt they were needed - it takes a lot of hard work to establish a new organization, especially in the face of negative attitudes. They don't have to justify their existence to you or to me or anyone else.

Excellent post, FuzzieAlum!! While I certainly would never want to join an any type of all-Asian club or association, nor would I ever want my daughter to, I don't think that they're "unnecessary." And you're right, these clubs don't need to justify anything to anyone.

XOXO,
Annie.

[wishinhopin]

I think you can look at this from a broader perspective and see that it makes perfect sense. When we went greek, the vast majority of us chose an organization that was gender exclusive. As a woman, I enjoy being in a sorority because it gives me a chance to bond with other women and prove what we can do in our own lives. I'm assuming men join fraternities for the same reason- as much as we are diversified in life, sometimes it's nice to be with someone who have something inherently in common with us. We can then promote that, and thus promote ourselves into better people. It really only makes sense to me that some people want to add another identifying aspect to their group- a lack of outlets for activities based on (for example) Asian awareness, would obviously prompt interested people to come together. I'm not sure if all of this makes sense- I guess my point is, before you think "cultural" organizations are wierd and/or pointless, consider how similar they are in basis to your own org.