NPHC Greeks - how do you feel about this?

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by 33girl

In the past few years, I've seen several NPC and NIC groups' websites where they make reference to their "sands", "crossing", "line brothers/sisters" and other terms that previously were used pretty much exclusively by NPHC groups. A lot of the time, these are at schools that aren't just predominantly white, they're REALLY predominantly white.

Does this tick you off, or do you just find it sort of silly?

It makes me no difference. NPHC doesn't corner the market on words. For many NPHC groups, "crossing the burning sands" is just a phrase in the first place.

When it comes to NPC and NIC Greeks having crossing jackets... so? What's a crossing jacket anyway? I know NPCs and NICs may have nicknames or pledge names, too. Otherwise, why not have a jacket that reps your chapter, season you pledged, etc?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

When it comes to NPC and NIC Greeks having crossing jackets... so? What's a crossing jacket anyway? I know NPCs and NICs may have nicknames or pledge names, too. Otherwise, why not have a jacket that reps your chapter, season you pledged, etc?

You can put all that on a jacket without making it in the style of a "crossing jacket."

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by 33girl

You can put all that on a jacket without making it in the style of a "crossing jacket."

What's wrong with having it in that style?

[cuteASAbug]

I personally don't get why girls in the NPC would put their line numbers on jackets. And ASA is not the only sorority there that does that.

[BYXEagle]

I think its not that big of a deal. I think there is already too much division amongst fraternities and sororities based on race. These phrases are not copyrighted. If its a major problem maybe the NPHC should file to have them copyrighted for their private use. I mean we say by becoming initiated you have been welcomed to the brotherhood but thats not copyrighted.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by cuteASAbug

I'm glad you posted this, because I was looking at facebook photos of one of our nearby chapters, and they take line pictures and pictures of them making handsigns wearing crossing jackets. I just don't get it. Your school has both NPHC and multicultural sororities. If you like the way they do things, why did you try to join one of those instead?

And another note, after going through the ASA group, I have found at least four different handsigns- each one from a different chapter. Why are some of them so intent on having one?

The handsigns could be a joke. My chapter used to have one that started as a joke. One of the sororities always does a "woo woo" thing with one of their chants. One of my sisters noticed that when you watch sports games, it looks like people are saying "woo, woowoo" so we started doing that. They don't always start because of NPHC, some just start as a joke.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

What's wrong with having it in that style?

Nothing, I just don't understand why you would want to do something that makes you look like you're biting off another group.

NPC/NIC groups have had jackets and such for years, but the things I'm talking about are fairly recent - they're not long-held traditions for them or something. I was under the impression crossing jackets were so correct me if I'm wrong.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Nothing, I just don't understand why you would want to do something that makes you look like you're biting off another group.

NPC/NIC groups have had jackets and such for years, but the things I'm talking about are fairly recent - they're not long-held traditions for them or something. I was under the impression crossing jackets were so correct me if I'm wrong.

I understand what you're saying.

NPHC organizations have shared ideas and practices with NPC and NIC orgs for a long time. Sure, crossing jackets as we now know them may have been around since the 70s. But to me, it's just a jacket.

And don't forget.... just because one org in the NPHC does things doesn't mean it was truly meant to be shared by the entire NPHC. Ten years ago, I only knew the Ques to wear painted boots and it was more or less a national thing. Ten years later, I've seen Alphas with one black boot and one gold boot, Sigmas with blue boots, APO members at HBCUs with gold boots with blue laces....

I know that was a long tangent to just say that it doesn't matter, lol.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

It makes me no difference. NPHC doesn't corner the market on words. For many NPHC groups, "crossing the burning sands" is just a phrase in the first place.

When it comes to NPC and NIC Greeks having crossing jackets... so? What's a crossing jacket anyway? I know NPCs and NICs may have nicknames or pledge names, too. Otherwise, why not have a jacket that reps your chapter, season you pledged, etc?

Agreed. Blacks Greeks can't be myopic about this. We basically took over much of the structure, terminology and traditions of existing GLOs in founding our organizations.If my understanding of history serves me, members of white GLOS gave founders of some of our BGLOs their ritual to help them on their way.And the founders of my fraternity did library research on fraternities to help them when they decided they wanted to form a fraternity. So, in a sense, there has been some interchange of traditions. Similarly, GLOs took over traditions and practices from the literary and debating societies, which in turn drew heavily on practices and traditions in the guilds of scholars of the Middle Ages.There's no place for any hatin' in this game!This is the way it's always been, if you see the big picture.

[ladygreek]

Doesn't bother me. In fact the term sands means different things within org in the NPHC depending on the chapter. Where I pledged in IL., we didn't use the term at all. We used a different one to denote someone who crossed with you in the same chapter.

[James]

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

[DSTCHAOS]

If you borrow, just give respect to where you got it from. If you don't know, find out.

Similar to the respect that GLOs that came before the NPHC orgs should be given for the things the NPHC learned and "borrowed" from them.

****

As far as why NPC members wouldn't just join an NPHC org if they like the way we do things:
Many traditions aren't attached to our specific founding purposes. So women who don't want to be in an organization with a starting purpose of being a vessel for black college women and servicing the black community, don't have to join an NPHC sorority just b/c they like to wear "line jackets" or call each other "sands."

That would be superficial and an insult to the depth of our organizations.

[Phrozen1ne]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

Doesn't bother me. In fact the term sands means different things within org in the NPHC depending on the chapter. Where I pledged in IL., we didn't use the term at all. We used a different one to denote someone who crossed with you in the same chapter.

Sands definitely has a different meaning if you crossed in the state of Illinois!

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen1ne

Sands definitely has a different meaning if you crossed in the state of Illinois!

Beginning with s and ending with p?

[cutie_cat_4ever]

Originally Posted by 33girl

In the past few years, I've seen several NPC and NIC groups' websites where they make reference to their "sands", "crossing", "line brothers/sisters" and other terms that previously were used pretty much exclusively by NPHC groups. A lot of the time, these are at schools that aren't just predominantly white, they're REALLY predominantly white.

Does this tick you off, or do you just find it sort of silly?

Not just NPC/NIC groups, a lot of MGLOs (esp Hispanics and Asians) heavily used the terms "syands" (which I assume is the same as "sands"?) and have line jackets too. Not to mention they perform "steps" quite often at cultural shows etc.