What makes Greek life "hot" in the south?

[luv n tpa]

Originally Posted by honeychile

-I'm still not wild about the 6-8 week new member period. I can understand it for individual GLO purposes, but I think the Panhellenic concept gets lost. Does any school still have Junior Panhel?

I haven't been at a computer for a while so excuse the 3-page backtrack.

We just established Junior Panhel this semester. Each chapter sends two girls, one from each of the two most recent pledge classes (already initiated). Some chapters also send various new members each week.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

When we think sorority, we think tri-delt, chi-o, zeta, pi phi, kappa, theta, the ones that have national name recognition.

Originally Posted by bowsandtoes

As for the issue of chapter size and national recognition, I referenced a few sororities that I thought had greater name recognition in any region. Chi-o for instance, has about 175 chapters according to wikipedia. The site I looked at for the other sorority showed about 40-50 chapters, mostly in the Midwest. I'm not saying that makes it 'bad' by midwest standards, just that it wouldn't be viewed the same way in the South.

Though I agree with you that most of the sororities you named are known well nationwide, it's probably news to you that many greeks in the West have never met a member of, or heard of, Zeta. ZTA is a huge sorority, but it has relatively few chapters in the west whereas this territory is the bread & butter of other organizations. The only reason I even knew of ZTA when I was in college was because my aunt was a Zeta. And Phi Mu and AOII? I had only heard of them from looking at the NPC badge photos that were in our new member ed binders. I just met members of those organizations for the first time a month or so ago at an alumnae panhellenic meeting!

So, I believe you unintentionally made the point that others were trying to make - the world is much bigger than your own back yard, and if you haven't strayed far from home, it's best if you don't try to speak with much authority as to places/things you've never experienced.

[MysticCat]

It's the humidity. It makes everything hot here. You don't think Tennessee Williams had all those women sittin' on the front porch drinking tea in their slips as a fashion statement, do you?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

It's the humidity. It makes everything hot here. You don't think Tennessee Williams had all those women sittin' on the front porch drinking tea in their slips as a fashion statement, do you?

LOL--This is what I thought about posting early on and decided not to since I didn't think folx would appreciate the joke.

[PhiGam]

He was probably referring to the hippie/ drug/ anti-war movement.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

He was probably referring to the hippie/ drug/ anti-war movement.

Like I said, those things don't necessarily mean that people weren't in fraternities.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Like I said, those things don't necessarily mean that people weren't in fraternities.

No argument -- the point was only as to why the comment "You call it a meltdown, we call it the civil rights movement" didn't fit. He wasn't talking about the Civil Rights movement.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

No argument -- the point was only as to why the comment "You call it a meltdown, we call it the civil rights movement" didn't fit. He wasn't talking about the Civil Rights movement.

well, I think that had something to do with it, when big chapters at big Northern private schools are turning in their charters over white clauses.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

well, I think that had something to do with it, when big chapters at big Northern private schools are turning in their charters over white clauses.

No one's arguing with the effects, pro or con, of the civil rights movement on Greek life. We're just saying that when oldu referred to "the meltdown of the late 1960s," we don't think he wasn't talking about the civil rights movement. Therefore, your statement "You call it a meltdown, we call it the civil rights movement" didn't really fit.

[Zillini]

I grew up in the Midwest, primarily Illinois and graduated from the UofI. I moved to Alabama 14 years ago. I've been amazed at the cultural differences in Greek life from the Midwest/Big 10 and the South/SEC. I've read through all the opinions here explaining why and have agreed with many. Love of tradition certainly plays a part of it, but it's more than that. Yet I can't find the words to fully explain it.

I remember a conversation I had with one of my brothers years ago. He's a Pike, also from the UofI and was living in Chicago at the time. I had just survived the exhausting weeks of Recruitment workshop and Formal Recruitment. I was physically and emotionally exhausted, which is the norm. He asked a reasonable question "What exactly do you do there? Why is it so hard? You're just an advisor. It's just Rush. It's just a sorority." There is no easy way to explain it. Even when I explained what all I did, he still didn't get it. Years have passed since then and I still can't explain it. I've come to realize until/unless you experience it firsthand, it's nearly impossible to comprehend.

[LadyLonghorn]

It's all about southern culture and tradition. Growing up, I was always aware of the organizations my relatives and the people around me were members of. All of the adults I knew were Greek, and it was still important to them no matter what their age. It's ingrained as a part of who you are here. I think the thing that people who weren't raised in the south don't get is how deeply ingrained being Greek is in this society. Sure, lots of alumni/ae throughout the country remain very involved with their organization throughout their lifetime. But here it is part of what defines who you are. A good example I can give is if you are meeting someone new, no matter what age either of you are, part of that initial introduction will include something like "Mary's an XYZ" before you even find out where someone is from or what school they attended. Although I am sure this happens other places, particularly if someone knows you are both Greek and assumes you'll have that in common, here it's just a typical and immediate part of social networking.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

But here it is part of what defines who you are. A good example I can give is if you are meeting someone new, no matter what age either of you are, part of that initial introduction will include something like "Mary's an XYZ" before you even find out where someone is from or what school they attended.

I have lived in the South all of my life and I come from a family and background where Greek connections are common, and I don't think I have ever experienced what you describe.

Everyone around here knows that the first thing that gets mentioned when you're introduced are where you're from and who your people are.

[bejazd]

LadyLonghorn, how do you feel southern culture/tradition as it relates to the importance of greek afffiliation is being influenced today by the migration of people from other parts of the country to the southern states? will these traditions become more insular, separating people raised in the South from those who were not, or will Southerners become more open? btw, I've always thought of my Texas relatives as incredibly hospitible. They love their state and they are glad to share it!

About 10-12 years ago, young college grads who couldn't afford to live in Calif were moving off to Colorado, AZ and Oregon for cheaper housing and job opptys. Today I'm seeing tons of young people from here headed for TX, FL and Arkansas. Just wondering how you think they'll influence the greek social networking culture as they settle in and become part of the larger community.

[twhrider13]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

It's all about southern culture and tradition. Growing up, I was always aware of the organizations my relatives and the people around me were members of. All of the adults I knew were Greek, and it was still important to them no matter what their age. It's ingrained as a part of who you are here. I think the thing that people who weren't raised in the south don't get is how deeply ingrained being Greek is in this society. Sure, lots of alumni/ae throughout the country remain very involved with their organization throughout their lifetime. But here it is part of what defines who you are. A good example I can give is if you are meeting someone new, no matter what age either of you are, part of that initial introduction will include something like "Mary's an XYZ" before you even find out where someone is from or what school they attended. Although I am sure this happens other places, particularly if someone knows you are both Greek and assumes you'll have that in common, here it's just a typical and immediate part of social networking.

It's a part of southern culture and tradition in some, i.e., moneyed, circles. Everyone in the South is not raised this way.

I grew up as blue collar and country as you can imagine. I was the first person in my family to go to college. I went to a tiny high school and knew absolutely no one who was Greek during their college days. There may have been some, but it wasn't talked about. I attended a small state university and went Greek as a sophomore, not because I'd been "groomed" for it my whole life, but because student life as a whole sucked at my school, and I thought it'd be fun.

It's not just people from the North who can't imagine being Greek defining your whole life. We poor Southerners can't imagine it, either.

[srmom]

LadyLonghorn is right about introductions and people knowing your greek affiliation. I find it kind of funny to be at an event and have somebody say, "This is @, she's a pi phi." I'm 44 years old!!! I know I'm still a pi phi, but, I'm also a wife, a mom, a business woman, etc.

I did move back, and am raising my family, in the same neighborhood where I grew up though, so everybody knows everybody's business. I guess greek affiliation is just one way to differentiate us from each other.