When you were in High School...

[MD2BE]

We did have high school sororities and frats at just about every high school in my city. I had an interview with one in the 10th grade. I so called "made line". As I was going through the process the big sisters were telling us to do all kinds of things from buying them goody bags to saying degrading things about ourselves. We couldn't wear makeup, jewelry,talk to boys, etc. I dropped soon because I had more respect for myself than that. After I dropped they told me "you shouldn't have done that because we were just about to be easy on you." It just wasn't worth it to me.

A lot of these individuals do carry these ideas and attitudes on to college. It's a sad thing. Maybe some sororities and fraternity members can educate these high school students.

[joykhunt]

When I was in both middle school (junior high)and high school both the AKAs and the Deltas had junior groups called AKAteens and Delteens. The Omegas also had a junior club they sponsored. Within these groups they made up strolls and steps for different events that would take place in the Detroit area. However they also would haze new members. The notion to haze new members was more or less a behavior these members learned from older family members that were members of BGLOs as well as movies (i.e. School Daze).

[LadyNRed]

At my High school which is located in the Southern Region, I was a memeber of Delteens and I thoroughly enjoyed it. We visited HBCU's, we helped with the needy and elderly, but it wasn't to the point of which we thought we were GREEK. Nowadays, there are high school groups that do think their greek, so I suppose this is because the aux. group's name is closely associated with the Greek org. like Sigma Beta for Phi Beta Sigma, Pink Pearls for AKA, Archonettes and Doves for ZPHIB and RHors for SGRHo. Of course the list goes on,Unfortunately, these groups have taken a spin for the worse.

N'Quisitive
Reigning with Divine Wisdom

[lastpoetnsite]

much respect...

When I was in high school I was in a high school "sorority".
Fortunately for us we were advised by a member of a BGLO. And it is because of her and her tuteledge(sp?) that we did not become like the other organizations in our high school.

We were "on line" for 3 weeks...but she taught us the value of sisterhood, service, unity, loyalty, trust, a simplified version of Roberts Rules, motivation, ambition, leadership etc.
Yes, we cried and sweated and sometimes hated how we had to wear the same thing (right down to the underwear) on our meeting day...and damn how it was hard to get signatures from our "Big Sisters" on the daily. But we made sure that we stuck together no matter what. And our advisor protected us and expressed to us the respect that we should have for REAL greeks.

I remember the day that we "crossed" and some of her sorority sisters from a nearby university came to visit. They, after our excitement wore off, expressed to us with total seriousness that this was just high school not college. And if we were interested in a GLO black or otherwise we better know the extent of respect that we must show those members.

They implored us to make sure that we have fun, that we give to the community, that we love one another as sisters etc. But when graduation came...this "sisterhood" ended.

And we did. Once we graduated we gave all our jackets and shirts to our little sisters. Anything associated with that part of our life we left behind.

But I do know of people who were in high school "sororities" and "fraternities" that thought..."hey i'm in this and it was advised by such and such and s/he is a member of XYZ soror/fraternity...then that means i'm in!"...oh no my sista/brotha you gots ta get your own!

As far as the miseducation...I can answer yes and no. When I joined the org...my grades shot up! We had a mandatory gpa of 3.0 (4.0 scale)...you had a semester of probation...that meant no participation whatsoever...and then if you didn't pull them up you were out. I also became much more aware of my community...because of the service.
But on the other hand I do know of organizations that were just like gangs...with no concern for grades or community...just about emulating the false ideas of "greek life".

i think organizations that stress service, education, sister/brotherhood etc. are positive for young people...particularly those who feel marginalized. It can be an opportunity to bring their self-esteem up. To give them a positive outlook on life and the world around them. But these organizations need to be carefully regulated and controlled so that they don't become some unorganized opportunity for people to brutalize one another.

*sorry so long*

peace

[112Soul]

*BE ADVISED* This is a VERY long post and some of the things contained in it may offend, but my purpose is to bring light on some of the actions going on around me and to make everyone else aware of the possible situations that are involved with these groups. I do not reveal names or locations because some members of these organizations are silent readers and this is for respect purposes.

I am a founder of a high school step team when I was in school and I advise the team now from my university. We also had Greek letters but we made it clear that our name was "XYZ/The Best High School Step Team." That name is even on the website. Our advisor is non-Greek, however, the BGLO’s (yes, more than one) that taught us our steps are undergraduates at the local HBCU, in fact, all of the BGLO's know who we are when they see us. The Vice-Principal and Guidance counselor who helped us organize our team are Greek also.

Although our main purpose is to step, we (meaning I and the members of the fraternities that work with us) are molding the team to be like a youth auxiliary organization as well. In fact, all the youth auxiliary organizations on the web know about us and see us as such. Our initiations are nothing like what has been described above by previous posters, in fact, parents of the new members as well as other faculty members who teach the new members are invited to attend our meetings so that way there can be no questions about whether or not we "haze" the new members in our “process.” I guess you can say they see the good, the bad and the “ugly” (Ugly meaning the worst things one could say that we do the new members is actually comical and we have gotten request to do them again). Our co-ed step team also has an unofficial bond with the Black service club on our campus; some of our members have memberships in both. Most of the Greeks that work with us know what our name means and other things and they do not see us a "junior fraternity." The Greeks at the campus I am at now that know me see me as a step team member and advisor and not a “junior fraternity” member. Nor are they offended when we do our call and hand sign at high school step competitions and during performances. Now that I think about, that is the only time we even do the hand sign or the call, unless we are on the net chatting with other youth auxiliary club members. Because we have Greek letters, we were/are under watch at all times and the one or two times we messed up, we heard about it from everybody. Other than that, my experience is just like what lastpoetnsite said; and once we graduate, that part of you is left behind. I was taught, and I continue to teach the value of knowing African American history and to be good role models.

I will admit that there are other "organizations" in this state that do refer to themselves as a "junior fraternity/sorority." Some of these organizations have even taken it as far to say that they are “incorporated” (Yes, I DID say Incorporated). This has caused problems when they try to enter high school step competitions (A stipulation is that you are a high school step team or a regional/nationally recognized youth organization that is affiliated with a graduate or undergraduate chapter of a fraternity. No fraternities/sororities of any type may compete in these competitions, even honors societies.). Another problem the members of “junior fraternities and sororities” have caused for themselves is when they graduate and go to instate colleges (especially the HBCUs) and try to gain memberships in the BGLO’s. To my knowledge, there is only one “junior fraternity” that could actually claim affiliation with a BGLO and as we speak they are in the process of changing part of their name to reflect this affiliation. Back to the earlier statement, I have noticed that all the members of these “junior fraternities and sororities” did not gain membership into the organization of choice, and some have been trying for 3-4 years now.

Now even though majority of the groups do perform community service and the members are real friendly people once you get to know and they have all of the accolades (National Honor Society, Who’s Who of American High School Students, etc.) that a parent would want for their child; it is in the matter that they have claim to be a “fraternity/sorority,” junior or otherwise that have become a complete turnoff for the BGLO’s at the campuses I’ve seen.

Again, I state my intent is not to hurt feelings, anger anyone or to bring a negative vibe; but to make all people aware that your actions do come back to "haunt" you.

Humbly,

112

[DirectorDST99]

My concern is when the HS organizations bring to the college campuses this misconception about greeklife. I work at an HBCU and can count the times I've heard freshman tell me they are afraid to pledge in college because they know how hard it was in HS. Where does it start? In HS. How do we help control this miseducation?

------------------
"Director" #2
LMAC Spr 99

[Nubian]

It's good for me to learn that not everyone's experience with these types of groups was negative. While I was not a member of one of these groups, I am one of the people who thought all greeks were followers who needed acceptance by the time I entered college. (2 yrs. ago) Why? Because this is what I saw in high school. Some of the things those girls were put through (as far as being hazed) is pathetic, and on top of that, it served no purpose, other than to pad someone's pockets (yes they paid dues) and to give the girls a feeling of acceptance. For this reason, I think any high school group without supervision and support from seasoned BGLO members should be banned. The existence of any other type of group only serves to cloud the perception of real greek life. Just my .02 cents.

[112Soul]

I understand your concern DirectorDST99. To tell the truth one can only do so much to curb the miseducation about Greeks in High Schools. The teachers that are Greek can only do so much; but the teachers who aren't also have an impact on how the student thinks about Greeks. If the non-Greek teacher had a good experience with Greeks, then they would say positive aspects about Greeks. If not, they don't and even get to the point to where they discourage the students from going for scholarship awards given by Greeks.

Part of the problem is that now alot of HS Step Teams and Black oriented groups are on White High School Campuses, where there are little to no BGLO role models to say yes, this is how it works and no, this is not how it works. I don't think that we as advisors can blame the children for what they see on television either. To tell the truth, if you are not a legacy or have not been exposed to Greek life as a youth, then you would believe every negative stereotype that you see on television and the news. So by time they get into these groups, they already have the preconceived notion as to what they think it means to be Greek or to be in a group with status. People come to our tryouts and want to join our team because they think this is a stepping stone to AKA, DST, ZPB or SGRho. Then when they find out this is not the case at all (how can it be, we work with fraternities), they don't want to be apart of it because they want the hazing the other things they think being Greek or in a group of status entails.

I don't mean to overstep my boundaries but I believe teenagers, especially Black ones, begin to choose which organization they think is right for them around the 10-12 grades. Many times, theses judgements are based on what they see the groups do at stepshows and in the communities. I know in high school I used to hear rumors all the time about which organization pledged the hardest or which one has more respect and different things like that. Then, based on the rumormil and where there priorities are, they make the decisions about each organization. And you are right, I have seen people I have competed against in step shows come to campus and see that they were completely wrong about the organization of choice.

I am not Greek, so I wouldn't know how to tell you directly what I think you should do to get rid of the miseducation that many High Schoolers think about Greeks. I guess I can say that the only hope is that all youth organizations are run by Greeks, but realistically we know that is not going to happen. So I guess the next best thing is making sure the advisors (myself included) are teaching these teenagers how to by young responsible African Americans and if they are doing that, the teenagers will make the best decisions about Greek life or any social organization.

112

[De6]

I am still in high school and last year a few other girls and myself tried to start a "sorority-like" organization. We even came up with a mission statement. The whole goal of our organization was going to be to revive our school and community,as well as,teach other young ladies that there is more to being in a sorority than stepping and partying. But,due to LACK of commitment in the group the whole idea was STOPPED. This was a sad outcome,because we had all the support we needed from both a Delta and an AKA. Grant it, we took the idea of starting such an organization,very seriously(at one time), but we realized that in doing this we still had to be high achievers.

[so anxious]

I guess since I’m fresh out of high school (3 years ago) and was apart of one of those "sorority-like" clubs I can respond to the post. The name of the club is S.I.S.T.E.R.S- Sisters Intelligently Striving To Enhance Real Sisterhood we where somewhat parallel to sororities we had an induction ritual, a pin, jacket, verbal call, colors, and a hand signal. We also had an interview process and we all had to wear white shirts until we were officially members. There wasn't any hazing, hitting, violence, or learning the history. As I look back on it I think that it was more of a social thing but I'm still in contact with the other members. Funny someone mentioned that the advisors may belong to a BGLO but in my case I think the advisor started the club because she wanted to belong to something. Luckily we had other faculty members that help us especially when we had our little step show. Now that I’m in college I realize the differences between my little clubs in high school opposed to official BGLO.

[honestlyspeakin]

since i am still in high school i can speak from the younger POV. There are the jr. fraternities and sororities around at school and ppl who are interested DO get hazed and thats what the majority of high school kids think its all about. Wearing letters, stepping, strolling, and hazing is all that most think its all about when they get to college.

The only teens that i can honestly say that know better are the ones involved in youth orgs. that are under BGLOs(in BR). We have to do community service and we ENJOY it. Yeah we like to step too but only for regionals. We attend workshops and have special days set aside for learning things that we need in the future. We are more concerned with our service and the way we portray the org. from our level. No one in a BGLO would want misinformed kids running around giving the impression to others that wearing letters, stepping, strolling, and hazing is all XYZ is about and their youth doesnt know any better either.

[NewBee]

At my sister's high school, there are no fraternities or sororities (its against school policy) but you have different cliques that want to be greek. For instance, my sister is on the cheerleading team and they ( the cheerleaders) have a call, a hand sign, para, and they get hazed. Most of them want to be greek in college so I guess that's why this happen. I think if the school allowed it, they would have letters and everything...