Southern Mississippi: Diversity in NPC Sororities

[tld221]

interesting conversation. I see both sides of the argument. I definitely see DrPhil's point - while this could work NPHC -> NPC, I don't see this as successful the other way around. The formats of the new member process is too different - NPCs is streamlined in a way that most people could learn how it works but I don't know if an outsider can learn potentially 9 different NPHCs organizations' way of membership. The length of time alone is enough of a a difference: a couple weeks at the start of the semester versus a few weeks/months.

I was pretty active on my campus and while NPC wasnt the route I took in the road of Greekdom, it doesn't make me totally inept in learning how to be a Rho Chi or whatever your campus calls the role. I can't imagine any NPHCer who was not down for Pan(H/h)ellenic spirit to jump at this chance, and im sure there are just as many NPCers who would o_O at me escorting PNMs from house to house.

Again, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world as an NPHC member, and even if this was a silly "hey let's do diversity today!" ploy by said college, OK. Is it on my radar? No, because my biases will lean towards my greek culture. But I see the value in students becoming greek regardless of which council they chose, and ideally I'd set that aside.

I know, multicolored mini-horses and all that. In my head, this is akin to orientation leaders. Everyone's experience on their campus is their own, with respect to gender, race, religion, major, etc. But the role, at its core, is to show students around and give information about the campus. Now, if a student asked me something specific about MY experience, what's my obligation to giving the university's perspective versus my own?

Again, I see both sides.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by tld221

In my head, this is akin to orientation leaders. Everyone's experience on their campus is their own, with respect to gender, race, religion, major, etc. But the role, at its core, is to show students around and give information about the campus.

In that case, do schools get students from other schools to be orientation leaders?

Serious question, some schools may, I don't know. LOL

Originally Posted by tld221

Now, if a student asked me something specific about MY experience, what's my obligation to giving the university's perspective versus my own?

The assumption is that an orientation leader will not say "oh, I live off campus and don't know much about this school beyond my major courses...I just know what I was trained to tell you all."

[tld221]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

In that case, do schools get students from other schools to be orientation leaders?

Serious question, some schools may, I don't know. LOL



The assumption is that an orientation leader will not say "oh, I live off campus and don't know much about this school beyond my major courses...I just know what I was trained to tell you all."

AFAIK, orientation leaders are current students, typically undergraduates. I'm sure there are exceptions. Just like, Rho Chis are traditionally current NPC members across a variety of orgs

And if an orientation leader or Rho Chi ever says something like "I just know what I was trained to tell you," maybe that's not the role for them. To me, shows a complete disconnect to me. and while said person may feel that disconnect, if my OL or RC gave me that response, i'd lose a lot of confidence in them. In that case, i'd much rather get an "I don't know" than "i'm telling you what they told me."

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

NPHC aspirants, applicants, and prospective members figure out the process while they undergo the process. They have plenty of resources.

Is it fair to say that figuring out the process is part of the process?

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

No, that would fail miserably.

NPHC aspirants, applicants, and prospective members figure out the process while they undergo the process. They have plenty of resources.

Yea, I was going to say.

I don't think any amount of training trumps actual membership in the respective council. I would not like it if non-LGLO individuals participated in our intake process. Meet The Greeks? Sure, and even then, it would need to be an "all campus MTG" not a "NALFO/MGC MTG" event.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Is it fair to say that figuring out the process is part of the process?

Yes and using available resources, and finding additional resources, is also part of the process.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I would not like it if non-LGLO individuals participated in our intake process.

Then I should shred the invitation that I received to participate in the NALFO intake process?

I was going to tell all of the aspirants to "follow your dreams, you can reach your goals, they are living proof...NALFO! NALFO!"
~ Eric Cartman

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Then I should shred the invitation that I received to participate in the NALFO intake process?

No need to shred it. The message will self-destruct in 5..4..3...

-----

Expanding on my previous post:

I think I am wary of mingling of the councils in this way because it's very difficult to divorce yourself from your council's way of doing things. I remember a few years back, my alma mater had an "all Greek symposium" to encourage interaction between the councils. Many of the suggestions that were brought up were basically "IFC/NPC-ing" the other groups' traditions. That doesn't always work.

I think that having a natural fallout is much better. Instead of having (in tld221's words) diversity day and OMG SHOWING OFF OUR 8 BLACK PEOPLE, different groups should consider participating in other groups' events or philanthropies if they want to be known as inclusive. Seeing Tri-Deltas helping out with a Delta voter registration drive (for example) would hopefully seem genuine and not cause an aspirant to give the organization a side-eye.

[amIblue?]

Vanderbilt has a Greek tri-council, which I have been impressed by. They match an NPC org, an IFC org, and an NPHC org for several philanthropic activities through the year. I think this is awesome.

[amIblue?]

double post from my iphone.

[winnie_tuck]

I believe the issue is that having a African American is considered being diverse. It's like all colors are the same but African American. I can name numerous Asian and Hispanic girls in the NPC chapters on campus but that is never seen as being diverse it's only when there is one African American it is seen as being open and my school has one to two in each chapter excluding KA and Sigma Chi.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by winnie_tuck

I believe the issue is that having a African American is considered being diverse. It's like all colors are the same but African American. I can name numerous Asian and Hispanic girls in the NPC chapters on campus but that is never seen as being diverse it's only when there is one African American it is seen as being open and my school has one to two in each chapter excluding KA and Sigma Chi.

I'm not trying to oversimplify things, but the reason African Americanness is has the appearance of the standard of diversity is because of the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I'm not trying to oversimplify things, but the reason African Americanness is has the appearance of the standard of diversity is because of the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade.

Add to that the stereotype of Asians as the "model minority" (e.g., stereotyped as "the good minorities" who are nonwhite enough to be a racial and ethnic minority but not so nonwhite as to pose a threat to white people) and the fact that Hispanic is an ethnicity and a culture rather than a race.

Therefore, chapters with a few Asian and Hispanic (many of whom are racially identifiable as being of the white diaspora) students will claim diversity if diversity becomes a hot topic. Otherwise, "we don't see race" will be the catchphrase. In general, the whites in the chapters see themselves as being around "minorities who are not REALLY minorities" or "they are a different kind of minorities who don't see race...they think this whole race thing is really stupid just like we do...so I am able to breathe a whitepeople-sigh-of-relief when I'm around them."

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

breathe a whitepeople-sigh-of-relief when I'm around them."

LOL at "whitepeople-sigh-of-relief."