Ask an AKA...Random Questions...

[futurestar1]

Thanks, ladies. Here is my question:

What misconceptions about sorority life were disproved after gaining membership?

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by wannabeina
What I hear you saying is that if I become an undergraduate member, the community service aspect is secondary to academics until after graduation.
Would it be safe to say that the day to day goal for an undergraduate member is to support her sisters in making it through their college years?

The chapter on my campus is currently suspended, so I have no way of asking or watching them to see what their priorities and goals are. Because they are suspended, I am aware that I may have to wait for an invitation into a graduate chapter.

Thank you in advance for your responses.

You just have to find a balance between the two and that is when organization comes in. Academics should be your focus, but finding that time to partake in community programs that the sorority sponsors is also important. This is my opinion because my new job participates in a lot of community service projects and they look for employees who have that background and are willing to participate when the time comes.

[AKA2D '91]

REMEMBER, I ASKED SISTERFRIENDS. Please refer to the intital post. Thanks.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by Senusret I
How do you really feel about an Alpha you don't know calling you "Soror?"




Personally, I wait to be called "Frat" by an AKA first.

Even though you aren't a Sisterfriend, I'll let this one slide.

I do not have any feelings about it at all. When I met my sweetie, he was one of the first Alpha since college to call me "soror", no it was "sis". So, I and took it in stride and was like "okay". We know we both share a bond, but...

I didn't and still don't call him or any other Alpha frat.

I haven't used that term in person since college.
Maybe it's an age thing.

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
Even though you aren't a Sisterfriend, I'll let this one slide.

I do not have any feelings about it at all. When I met my sweetie, he was one of the first Alpha since college to call me "soror", no it was "sis". So, I and took it in stride and was like "okay". We know we both share a bond, but...

I didn't and still don't call him or any other Alpha frat.

I haven't used that term in person since college.
Maybe it's an age thing.

We both share a bond, but... LOL. That had me crackin up....

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by wannabeina
What I hear you saying is that if I become an undergraduate member, the community service aspect is secondary to academics until after graduation.
Would it be safe to say that the day to day goal for an undergraduate member is to support her sisters in making it through their college years?

This is what I know. Sorors on the undergraduate campuses are like SuperAKAs. They have their lives, their academics, and their extra activites/memberships. Sorors are balancing it out! Sorors are doing things. There efforts are highlighted at our conferences. Undergraduate sorors are rewarded and awarded annually for their community service and academic efforts. They both have their place.

Priorities are determined individually.

The chapter on my campus is currently suspended, so I have no way of asking or watching them to see what their priorities and goals are. Because they are suspended, I am aware that I may have to wait for an invitation into a graduate chapter.

That info is TMI. It has nothing to do with the life of a CURRENT member of AKA. But, since you have mentioned it, I'd say get out and do your service while you get your degree.

Dang, you're a newbie. See what one thread will do. Who's the next newbie to come out? LOL

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
Even though you aren't a Sisterfriend, I'll let this one slide.

I'm humbled by your graciousness.

[UpPinkies]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91
This is what I know. Sorors on the undergraduate campuses are like SuperAKAs. They have their lives, their academics, and their extra activites/memberships. Sorors are balancing it out! Sorors are doing things. There efforts are highlighted at our conferences. Undergraduate sorors are rewarded and awarded annually for their community service and academic efforts. They both have their place.

Priorities are determined individually.


That info is TMI. It has nothing to do with the life of a CURRENT member of AKA. But, since you have mentioned it, I'd say get out and do your service while you get your degree.

Dang, you're a newbie. See what one thread will do. Who's the next newbie to come out? LOL

You didn't know. When they have their AKA week, it's like, "When do you have the time and where did you all get the energy from?" That's why undergrads deserve those awards.

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by futurestar1
Thanks, ladies. Here is my question:

What misconceptions about sorority life were disproved after gaining membership?

I have to admit it, but I didn't have any misconceptions. When I came through we didn't have all of these discussion boards/internet, etc. So, we didn't know who was interested in ANY organization, if they were interested at all. IT WAS NOT DISCUSSED! I didn't hear about this organization and that organization, nor Alpha Kappa Alpha. What I knew about AKA came from my mother. I knew she left to go meetings, activities, etc. I knew I had to wear this dress or that dress when I was in the Fashionetta, Or, I had to wear this to that activity. I knew that we had to stop by this nursing home as my mother did this that and the other. I knew that the "Honey Don'ts (kids of her chapter members) got together to do different things. So, I had no misconception about sorority life.

I knew I would be joining ladies with common goals. I knew that I would be around many ladies. I have friends (females) and I knew that we didn't always agree, so why when I gained new friends/sisters would I think that things would be different.

I think the problem lies with folks thinking that organizations are perfect. They put the members and the org on this great pedestal where they expect a certain life or something (I really don't know). I guess I'm just a nonchalant kind of girl, so I don't get "excited" by many things (unless it's Maxwell or other recording artists/celebrites etc.) LOL

[RedefinedDiva]

How do you handle family members/close friends that are interested and feel that private information will just be freely given to them? Do you ever give them a little more info than the "average" interest would receive or do you prompt them to research like everyone else?

[AKA2D '91]

What's good for the goose...

ETA: I think we have a thread on it...

[AKA2D '91]

Originally posted by exquizit
1.How do you ladies feel about members who decide the org isn't for them anymore because of the actions of their particular chapter?

This is how I feel... Go to the nearest store and purchase a bubble envelope. Get your card, pin, etc etc and mail it to 5656, ahem I mean Chi-town, Illinois.

'nuff said!
If you know someone like that, make that suggestion to them, see what they say.

[abaici]

Originally posted by Senusret I
How do you really feel about an Alpha you don't know calling you "Soror?"




Personally, I wait to be called "Frat" by an AKA first.

I'm all about the Phrist Pham love. I don't mind at all. Like my soror said, if he's cute, he can call me anything. LOL!! Yeah, I get "sis" more than soror.

Co-sign on the sending of materials to Chi-town. That problem can be solved right away. Again, AKA is bigger than a chapter.

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by wannabeina
What I hear you saying is that if I become an undergraduate member, the community service aspect is secondary to academics until after graduation.
Would it be safe to say that the day to day goal for an undergraduate member is to support her sisters in making it through their college years?

As my Sorors have pointed out, you MUST (and that is a very important and critical word) strike a balance... The sooner you learn that, the better off you will be. Now, you can go through life, living with excuses as the rules of the incompetent and build mountains to nowhere... You can be quite happy just going to class, doing the bare minimum and become mediocre... You can lack aspiration, see little use for extending yourself and expanding your understanding in your life... But at the end of your life, what will your dash mean between the year of your birth and year of your death? (ponder that question for yourself, discreetly)...

To bluntly answer your question, you have to do both, do well in school and do all voted and approved activities for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. if you become a member. How do most of my younger sorors do that while in school, with a parttime job to pay for school and sorority activities? That is amazed me the most when I was a graduate advisor. I think my younger sorors were very eager and energetic to be of service to all mankind. My job, as graduate advisor (and on the NPHC graduate advisor's board) was to slow their roll a bit and make sure they are doing their work. Just to let you know, my undergraduate sorors constantly work with the graduate sorors, that is the rule in my Sorority (I am unable to speak for other NPHC Sororities or other Sororities in general).

The other issue is academic success and maintain our mantra of supremacy in service... Like my Sorors said, the undergraduate sorors are given academic internships to Pillsbury and Daimler-Chrysler for the summer. That was negotiated at least 10 years ago through the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Educational Advancement Foundation (EAF). When I was a graduate advisor, I determined through working with my younger sorors and then other NPHC members, that many who attended non-HBCUs where encountering overt and institutionalized racism from their fellow classmates and professors in their major. Although, I myself was a graduate student, I was given access to the professors and started asking questions regarding my younger sorors and other NPHC members academic records--basically was their truly a learning problem or absences to class. Those incidences turned out to be completely falsified, that in fact my younger sorors and NPHC members were being outright biased against for whatever reason. I reported my findings to both my Regional Director and my graduate chapter--who sponsors my younger soror's undergraduate chapter. I also reported that to the NPHC graduate advisory board. Within a few months, some of the incidences encountered were minimized simply because a few of my graduate sorors, who are lawyers, judges, city council and federal national party committee members made some phone calls for me asking stronger questions I had yet to consider. But that took a concerted effort with all parties involved.

Originally posted by wannabeina
The chapter on my campus is currently suspended, so I have no way of asking or watching them to see what their priorities and goals are. Because they are suspended, I am aware that I may have to wait for an invitation into a graduate chapter.

How do you know they are suspended? Did you go to the Student Affairs office (or whatever you call it on your campus) and ask? You have yet to know what suspension entails or what lengths it takes to have a chapter suspended--and you have yet to be privy to that kind of information. The best you can do is to send a physical letter to the National Office of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and request membership information as it becomes relevant. You can also participate in a public graduate chapter event as much as you would like. My graduate sorors always welcome those who have a seriousss interesting in my Sorority.

[UpPinkies]

How do you know they are suspended? Did you go to the Student Affairs office (or whatever you call it on your campus) and ask? You have yet to know what suspension entails or what lengths it takes to have a chapter suspended--and you have yet to be privy to that kind of information. The best you can do is to send a physical letter to the National Office of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and request membership information as it becomes relevant. You can also participate in a public graduate chapter event as much as you would like. My graduate sorors always welcome those who have a seriousss interesting in my Sorority. [/B][/QUOTE]

So true Soror, so true. I love this reply.