Hating Greek Life??

[JenMarie]

The sad thing that I've noticed on my campus is that when a chapter has been in trouble with either hazing, low numbers, or low grades, the other organizations turn a blind eye and deaf ear.

It's not until the chapter is threatened with closure that suddenly there is a wave of public support. And then the chapter closes and the campus is sad... for two minutes.

I mean, those are things that people notice over time. Lower numbers or consistant low grades just don't suddenly appear one semester and the chapter is threatened.

I guess the lack of constant support within the system is what bugs me. You all are greek together, always. Not just when shit happens.

[exlurker]

#1. I still think one of the best things I've read about problems with Greek life is the first post in this thread:

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...er+true+values


#2. Escalating costs (on at least some campuses) -- we can talk all we want about how important it is for members and new members to meet their financial responsibilities to their GLO, but I think sometimes we're paying a price and losing some excellent prospects. With college costs soaring, on some campuses Greek life either is or appears to be financially out of reach for some students from middle-class or working-class backgrounds. I'd like to see ways to make fraternity and sorority membership more affordable for (and therefore available to) undergrads who would be interested, and who would be valuable members, but who find the cost a real barrier. (Sometimes it's not just the national and chapter dues plus room and board; it's the "extras" that can be financial killers.)

[Tom Earp]

What really IRKs Me is that National Greek Councils all work together for The Betterment of All Of OUr GLOS. Then with the trickle down theory, when it gets to individual Campi, it is strictly dog eat dog!

There is not helping each other as We dont want anyone to get ahead of us as We may be the next to fall and wont get any help!

Solodarity of GREEKS on any campus is BS isnt it!


Escalating Costs for Knowledge on Campi is cutting into the Population of GLOs especially when GLO Costs are raised and people cannot afford to join. True, dont You think?

It is called dimishing returns! Not enough Members to pay the bills, raise the cost and then not get anymore new Members! No New Members, then dwindle and the Chapter is gone.

Others dont join because they dont like the GLOs there or cannot afford it.

[PhoenixAzul]

1) On a personal note: Having to defend being local to people. People assume that local= founded yesterday or that local= we want to be national. There's nothing wrong with locals that do that, it's probably an easier transition and the national sororities have a long and storied history, but our sisterhood has stood alone for 85 years now, we've got the sorority thing down, thanks. I about blew a gasket when I read in another post that someone said "is that a budget sorority?". Not cool.

2) On a chapter note: KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER ORGS OUTSIDE OF OUR CAMPUS. We have one NIC chapter (alpha sig) and I believe 4 NPHC sororities and 2 (perhaps 3...don't know what Phi Beta Sigma's status is currently) NPHC fraternities here. We know PLENTY about our local organizations as we all came about in the same ways, but I think it is important to recognize, respect, and know a little bit about how the others do things, if nothing else to maybe get some tips on how to run our things a little better (note: not ritual, the "business" side).

[a.e.B.O.T.]

-people who think being in a fraternity is for four years and four years only

-the fact that people see it as a division between people and not as one whole greek community

[UKTriDelt]

I hate it when people assume that, because you're in a large national sorority/fraternity, you must be a spoiled-rotten rich kid. Granted, I don't pay my own way in my sorority (school is my "job" and my parents won't have it any other way), I know plenty of girls that DO have to provide their own dues. And honestly, whose business is it anyways??

[Betarulz!]

What irks me:

in my chapter
Two things, one being that no one wants to extend themselves to be any better. Yes, we've won all our awards and been recognized by the NIC, but I look at the guys we have and what we could accomplish, it would be amazing.

The other is that we so often change things for the sake of change, rather than looking at what is positive change.


in my Greek community

The ineffectiveness of IFC to police dirty rush tactics. Yes, it's summer, but we do have an IFC rush chairman to hold people accountable. A lot comes from a lack of rushees not knowing what is legal, which stems from no one telling them that. And it has to be something that is done every year (another thing that seems to be a problem).


in the larger Greek world

How little help most chapters get from their inter/national/general organization. That and unreal expectations for some chapters.

Example: ADPi at Nebraska is the only NPC group without a chapter house. Obviously this is a huge disadvantage, and has meant that for the entire time I was in undergrad, they averaged at most 20 girls a year. The past three, they didn't even go through formal recruitment. And yet, their HQ was demanding that they be at total, and reach quota, things that weren't going to happen. Finally, and I don't know what changed it, but at somepoint in spring/summer 2005, the chapter, the international representatives and alumna group got together to say what can be done to repair this chapter. They finally agreed on what were appropriate goals, and ways in which they could be achieved. Still going through informal recruitment, they hosted a recruitment week starting the first week of school (after formal recruitment had ended) and from what I've heard, they've increased their numbers to almost 60 girls.

For years the chapter had floundered, bordered on shutting down and finally with help from above, they've become much more successful, all with a little help and patience...

I've seen plenty of other examples where that hasn't been the case and National representatives leave chapters to wither and die...

[tnx_soulanna]

What irks me is the fact that some greek organizations believe that any membership your organization acquires is membership you're taking away from them. A lot of people don't realize however that not every greek org. is for everyone. Members of XYZ might never join ABC or vice versa.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by tnx_soulanna
What irks me is the fact that some greek organizations believe that any membership your organization acquires is membership you're taking away from them. A lot of people don't realize however that not every greek org. is for everyone. Members of XYZ might never join ABC or vice versa.

This has been seen to may times in the past and will be seen in the future!

No single Chapter of No matter what GLO or Conference dont realize that Each is it stongest and weekest link.

Local Chapters on Campuses will never beleive this and blame everyone else. They will never look at the Bigger Picture.

[SigmaPezY60]

what IRKS me

everyone saying what IRKS them and not saying what they could do to make things better in their chapter, greek community, or nationwide.

[B]So how about....What do you think YOU as an individual can do to change the things that Irk you?

[sigmadiva]

Problem: What irks me is when Greeks don't know the whole greek alphabet, when all they know is their org (2 or 3 letters) and their chapter (can be 1, 2 or 3 letters). This is probably the underlying basis for some of them not knowing about other greek letter orgs because they don't recognize the greek letters.

Solution: Pick up a dictionary or any science or math text book and the greek letters are there with pronounciation. Read and practice.

Originally posted by sigmadiva
Problem: What irks me is when Greeks don't know the whole greek alphabet, when all they know is their org (2 or 3 letters) and their chapter (can be 1, 2 or 3 letters). This is probably the underlying basis for some of them not knowing about other greek letter orgs because they don't recognize the greek letters.

Solution: Pick up a dictionary or any science or math text book and the greek letters are there with pronounciation. Read and practice.

Learning the Greek alphabet was part of my Fraternity Education and I'm pretty sure that it's still part of the curriculum.

In my Frat Ed manual was also a listing of all the 26 NPC sororities and basic facts (something similar to ariesrising's pages). Not only that, but it also gave a summary on the NIC and NPHC!

[FSUZeta]

otw, i also had to learn the greek alphabet when i was a pledge(which is what we were called back in the day)-we were expected to be able to recite it, and to recognize and be able to write the letters. we also were expected to know all the fraternities and sororities on the campus and know how to write their names in greek letters, we even used to sing a song as we escorted our rush guests out of the house that incorporated the greek alphabet-i used to sing it to my kids when i would rock them to sleep, so now they know it too!

[sigmadiva]

Originally posted by OTW
Learning the Greek alphabet was part of my Fraternity Education and I'm pretty sure that it's still part of the curriculum.

In my Frat Ed manual was also a listing of all the 26 NPC sororities and basic facts (something similar to ariesrising's pages). Not only that, but it also gave a summary on the NIC and NPHC!

Great for you. You paid attention and learned. But, I've still met greeks who don't know the whole alphabet beyond their own letters.

[Sister Havana]

Originally posted by OTW
Learning the Greek alphabet was part of my Fraternity Education and I'm pretty sure that it's still part of the curriculum.

I had to learn it as a pledge, too. It was on one of our weekly pledge quizzes and I'm guessing it probably still is required.