not so nice article about sisterhood

[CardinalSM]

We had an article like this in this week's Cluster (mercer news paper). This guy writes a column every week and sometimes he promotes and sometimes he bashes, he just needs to make up his mind. Ooooh he makes me so mad because he talks about having "one token member does not make you diverse." Everyone knows what org you are talking about and that "token member" happens to be one of my best friends and the fiasco about her affilitation has finally died down, dangit, lets leave it forgotten not bring it back up again! (end rant)

[Kappa crow]

Originally posted by ktsnake
(snip)
Who knows though? What campus is this? What she saying might actually be what she observed. To be fair to folks like this, there are still chapters of large nationals (yes, even sororities) that haze like crazy. If this is behavior that she's observed, then who could blame her?(snip)

state university of new york at new paltz. she was offered a chance to speak in front the UGA meeting to talk about it or answer any questions for the greeks but she turned them down.

[winneythepooh7]

I am planning to write a letter discussing my positive experiences with the sorority. I don't want to verbally attack this woman though because she was expressing her opinion, and I think a lot of us can admit that some of this stereotypical behavior does go on in numerous organizations. Besides, that will just make us Greeks look bad attacking her for her beliefs. She is probably young too and inexperienced in writing. I think the best thing to do in these cases is talk about the positive aspects of being Greek. It's not for everyone, and that is fine. I am wondering what we can do as Greeks to promote a more positive image for Greek life? Sometimes I feel wierd telling a co-worker that I am hanging out with my sorority alumnae organization. I feel like they look at me funny or something since I have been out of college for awhile now (almost 6 years). But my GLO is still part of who I am and I am proud of that. I am wondering if we asked some of these anti-Greek people what would be the things that could change THEIR minds about GLO's, what would they say? Like if they were to decide to join a GLO what would it have to be like?

Allison D*Phi*E
SUNY New Paltz Class of 1998

[winneythepooh7]

You know, I just re-read the article and it doesn't mention anything about fraternity guys. Just an interesting observation. KappaCrow, are you a current KDPhi at SUNY New Paltz?

Allison D*Phi*E

[Taualumna]

Two words: Oh dear!

[Kevin]

Originally posted by Kappa crow
state university of new york at new paltz. she was offered a chance to speak in front the UGA meeting to talk about it or answer any questions for the greeks but she turned them down.

That doesn't really prove anything though.. Well.. other than the possibility that she may not enjoy speaking in front of large and hostile groups

I'm not saying I agreed with what was said here. I have no way of knowing. But you said it yourself (or another poster that knows this school) that some of the GLO's on this campus fit the stereotypes quite well.

Groups like that are really hurting all of us. This appearing in a column is just evidence of that.

[Kappa crow]

Originally posted by winneythepooh7
You know, I just re-read the article and it doesn't mention anything about fraternity guys. Just an interesting observation. KappaCrow, are you a current KDPhi at SUNY New Paltz?

Allison D*Phi*E

alumni. pledged spring 95.

[astroAPhi]

LOL, this reminds me of the kid on our campus that wrote an editorial last year and got his ass torn apart. Basically, he said that if you're part of any campus organization (but especially Greeks), you're insecure because you feel you need an identity. The rebuttal articles were the funniest things ever. Basically all the fraternities wrote in and said, "Hey that's nice. Sorry no one wanted you." Great stuff. No one on campus liked the kid because we're very organization-oriented.

[Kappa crow]

Originally posted by ktsnake
(snip)
I'm not saying I agreed with what was said here. I have no way of knowing. But you said it yourself (or another poster that knows this school) that some of the GLO's on this campus fit the stereotypes quite well. (snip)

i never said that and i don' think anyone else did either. someone said suny greeks haze. there are over 20 suny campuses.

[AchtungBaby80]

Wait, wait, hold up...yes, that article reinforces negative stereotypes of GLO members, but that's what a lot of non-members think. I used to believe the exact same stuff...and I'd be willing to bet that things similar to what was in the article have come out of my mouth on more than one occasion. You don't know what it's really like to be Greek unless you are...or unless the ones on your campus do something to make you think otherwise. It's not really her fault, it's just ignorance.

[CatStarESP4]

I would like to see a deluge of responses from New Paltz's GLOs on that article. It does reinforce all the negative stereotypes we are trying to fight against. She had some nerve to put a very negative spin on the community service that GLOs perform. She also thinks that we pay for our friends . I would like to tell her the dues are to help keep the organization running, cosponsor events and other things, not to buy friendships. A good argument to back this would be that there are plenty of non GL organizations out there that charge fees/dues to their members. Are they buying they friends? She also made it sound like we are incapable of having friends outside our GLOs and that we aren't involved in other organizations. Not true, we also have friends outside our GLOs and we involve in other clubs/organizations.

BTW, speaking of NYPIRG, my sorority had collaborated with our NYPIRG chapter for a holiday drive for the homeless.

[Tom Earp]

Oh a modacum of stupidity poorly written by some one who may not have a true clue other than what is seen in the dark or heard in whispers.


OOH, OOOh, they were in study classes, damn of all of the stupid thjings for a Soroity to do!

Last I heard, the reason for students to be in School is to learn in the least amount of time so they can graduate. Da to graduate, and stay Active in a Greek org. you must have a GPA that is exceptable.

[jwoods9]

Since when would a "pledge" of any organization says, “I’m so nervous! I wonder what they’re going to make us do tonight" in front of a sister of that GLO????

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally posted by jwoods9
Since when would a "pledge" of any organization says, “I’m so nervous! I wonder what they’re going to make us do tonight" in front of a sister of that GLO????

Probably the first night only, as you're walking up to the house about to knock on the door following closing ceremonies. (then the door is opened to a house full of cookies, pop, and hyper girls singing on the top of their lungs).

[adpiucf]

Although a column is an opinion piece based on the writer's point-of-view, it has failed to do the following:

1) Did not pass the "So What? Who Cares?" test. This topic has been covered many, many times. It would be more acceptable if it was an original spin on a topic that has been beaten to death. It has failed to do so.

2) Where is the lead? In non-journalism speak, this means that the thesis statement has not been presented in the first three paragraphs. There is no thesis. The lead isn't buried because the writer never developed a lead.

3) This is not a news article, or an opinion story. It's stream of consciousness writing one might find in a personal journal or an unedited letter to the editor. Any news source worth its salt would not publish a piece like this.

I don't say these things to speak bad of the writer, or because she is anti-Greek. But this is a piece of writing in the Seinfeld-ian tradition: it's a story about nothing. That's honest constructive criticism.