What do people think about ethnic GLOs

[Elephant Walk]

Okay I'll do this to you the same way I do every GreekChatter because they always back down and are always pathetic. How am I an idiot?

[daydreamer1112]

I don't really like the idea of ethnic GLOs. Having seperate fraternities and sororities for the seperate ethnicities creates additional seperation between races, and I think that's detrimental. At the same time, I do realize that many ethnic people are interested in joining ethnic GLOs because they don't believe they would be accepted and respected in traditional GLOs (and sometimes, this is true), they have a lot of pride in their race and want to show it, or they simply feel more comfortable with people who come from the same racial background as they do. So, in short, I can see how and why people might feel the desire to join ethnic GLOs, but I hope that at some point in the future we become colorblind enough as a society that those reasons are obsolete.

[jaynu]

Originally Posted by jubilance1922

I had never seen an AGLO until I found GC...neither my undergraduate or graduate campuses had any AGLO's.

My guess would be because the majority of AGLO's are still in its first decade (with the except of less than a handful). I'm sure in another decade or two, many, if not most, would have joined a council and become recognized.

[jaynu]

Originally Posted by daydreamer1112

I don't really like the idea of ethnic GLOs. Having seperate fraternities and sororities for the seperate ethnicities creates additional seperation between races, and I think that's detrimental. At the same time, I do realize that many ethnic people are interested in joining ethnic GLOs because they don't believe they would be accepted and respected in traditional GLOs (and sometimes, this is true), they have a lot of pride in their race and want to show it, or they simply feel more comfortable with people who come from the same racial background as they do. So, in short, I can see how and why people might feel the desire to join ethnic GLOs, but I hope that at some point in the future we become colorblind enough as a society that those reasons are obsolete.

I don't think ethnic GLOs create additional racial separation, but rather create more cohesive ones within an ethnic culture. I would imagine that African Americans earlier last century needed to have their own brotherhood, or perhaps, didn't have a choice but to.

If it was easy to break racial boundaries, I think it would've happened already and these ethnic GLOs wouldn't be so popular as an alternative.

[ejay286]

Originally Posted by daydreamer1112

I don't really like the idea of ethnic GLOs. Having seperate fraternities and sororities for the seperate ethnicities creates additional seperation between races, and I think that's detrimental. At the same time, I do realize that many ethnic people are interested in joining ethnic GLOs because they don't believe they would be accepted and respected in traditional GLOs (and sometimes, this is true), they have a lot of pride in their race and want to show it, or they simply feel more comfortable with people who come from the same racial background as they do. So, in short, I can see how and why people might feel the desire to join ethnic GLOs, but I hope that at some point in the future we become colorblind enough as a society that those reasons are obsolete.

I highly doubt that blacks and other minorities join these groups because they feel they wouldn't get accepted. Its all about preference. Noone wants to join something they wont enjoy being a part of. For example, go to a predominately white frat party and it consists of lots of alcohol use coupled with lots of people standing around talking and random crazy things happening. Go to a predominately black frat party and there is usually very little alcohol with lots of dancing and strutting. Take a person from each party and switch them and they probably wouldn't enjoy themselves. I know partying is not the main reason for joining a greek organization but that is just one aspect that I thought of.

[mccoyred]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Compared to several which are over 250 years old, yeah it's new. A chapter founded a century ago at many southern campuses is considered new row.

Touche. However, when you look at the NPHC orgs, you see orgs who are in the same form now as they were when they were founded almost 100 years ago. Many, if not the majority, of IFC/NPC groups changed/evolved/merged/consolidated/etc. to their current forms which flies in the face of your 'traditional' argument.

I won't even go into 'Southern Traditions'...

[Elephant Walk]

Go to a predominately black frat party and there is usually very little alcohol with lots of dancing and strutting.

And lots of fighting.

Black fraternities on campus here now have to have their parties at the HPER (gym) because all their registered parties end in fights in the parking lot.

[ejay286]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

And lots of fighting.

Black fraternities on campus here now have to have their parties at the HPER (gym) because all their registered parties end in fights in the parking lot.

Ok well if we are gonna go that route, look at how many deaths there are involving white frats and parties due to alcohol poisoning etc. And there is a very high incidence rate of rapes at these frat houses as well, many of which go unreported.

And why exactly was this brought up anyway? I thought we were discussing the reasons a minority would want to join a minority based organization, not the shortcomings of greek life.

[DSTCHAOS]

Threads like this are never a good idea.

And we've discussed this topic in some form or another on this board numerious times.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by ejay286

And why exactly was this brought up anyway?

Because BGLOs are not traditional Southern fraternities based on the white standard of "Southern tradition." We fight, dance and stroll too much. We need to fight, drink, and rape more to be considered traditional.

Since what ignorant members of any GLO do is about the organizational structures and not about the ignorant members themselves. It's a given on many campuses and in many cities that the mixture of alcohol, testosterone, group rivalry of some sort, and even local area nonGreeks in many cases often results in violence.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I think racially based GLOs make sense on some campuses, but needlessly divide students on others. At my school, in California, all the NPC/IFC groups were racially integrated anyway, so to add BGLO/AGLO/HGLO to the mix might have actually led to the NPC/IFC organizations becoming more white. From what southern GCers have said, though, these groups might have more of a basis/draw in the south or on other campuses.

[jubilance1922]

I swear, I am so tired of the "ethnic GLO's are just reverse racism, blah blah blah" speech. Get a new tune people.

The FACTS are that in 1906 - 1922, NO NPC or IFC organization was open to non-White members. Most weren't even open to non-Christian White people. Obviously there was a need for organizations for African-Americans. In later years there was a need for organizations for Latinos and Asians.

Now it is 2006, and these organizations have been around for many years, and I seriously doubt that any organization is going to want to close up shop just because a few misguided people (who have no idea what these organizations do in the community or even their purpose) think that they should.

I personally think that everyone who is in the "Let's get rid of ethnic GLO's cause they cause separation!" club should go kick rocks.

[Elephant Walk]

Agreed with GPhi, not idiot above.

While the sororities are more accepting, to my knowledge we only have one ethnic GLO which is Gamma Eta the hispanic sorority (besides the BGLO's). However, I have been down to Texas and other SEC schools where I have seen the ethnic GLO's. The Gamma Eta's tend to function basically like the BGLO's on campus.

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I think racially based GLOs make sense on some campuses, but needlessly divide students on others. At my school, in California, all the NPC/IFC groups were racially integrated anyway, so to add BGLO/AGLO/HGLO to the mix might have actually led to the NPC/IFC organizations becoming more white. From what southern GCers have said, though, these groups might have more of a basis/draw in the south or on other campuses.

But you are looking at it from the stand point of campus life. Because BGLOs continue to function after school there is a totally different reason for joining. The BGLOs are cultural institutions of the African American community, which is why the collegiate and alumnae membership processes are basically the same.

[Firehouse]

I envy this about the HBGLOs: whenever blacks gather, and it doesn't matter on what social level, if someone is introduced as, say, "an Alpha man", everyone in the room knows exactly what that means. All the black fraternities and sororities are known and admired throughout all levels of black society.

Black Greeks may have originated because blacks were not rushed by general fraternities and sororities, but they have successfully created their own organizations with their own unique culture, parallel to the "general interest" Greeks.

I think multi-cultural Greeks were founded, not because they were denied admission to the other groups, but because they wanted the same things the rest of us have and also to be around other minorities like themselves. In time they'll develop their own familiar profile and signatures.

One thing that would help the Multis is increasing their membership. Some of the chapters only have a few members. That doesn't attract attention or build prestige.