Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?

[absoluteZChi]

It does bother me when I see a GLO that was founded as a HLGLO change from Hispanic Oriented to MC. My Org has many Hispanics that didn't want to joing a HLGLO simply because they wanted to expand their knowledge of other cultures and teach others about theirs. This is something I think HLGLO were seeing start to happen, so they came up with changing their marketing to MC.

I know memembers of such orgs that are considered "old school" and they have told me that they don't agree with this change.


I agree with preciousjeni....the only GLO in my opinion that have kept their course since founding is HBGLO. Many others have altered their marketing or started meantioning that they accept all religions. This to me isn't MC. Again, just my opinion.]

[33girl]

This is all interesting.

Has anyone ever heard of an Asian oriented GLO changing over, so to speak, and proclaiming that they are a multicultural GLO?

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is all interesting.

Has anyone ever heard of an Asian oriented GLO changing over, so to speak, and proclaiming that they are a multicultural GLO?

Yep, I'm resurrecting it again. Whatcha got to say? It's for a good reason though. I happened back across this thread from another thread (using the links at the bottom of the screen) and I saw this post. Yeah, I know it's like three years old, but check this out:

http://www.sigmabetarho.com/home.html

I may have been in a cave for the last few years, but I could have sworn that this organization used to promote itself rather heavily as a South Asian fraternity. No offense intended in case anyone gets any ideas about my post. I had recently been talking about this new image and then just saw 33girl's old post.

[PrettyBoy]

^^^^I haven't seen you on here in a while.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by PrettyBoy

^^^^I haven't seen you on here in a while.

I've posted here and there, but my life has gotten very busy. Glad to see you noticed!

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

http://www.sigmabetarho.com/home.html

I may have been in a cave for the last few years, but I could have sworn that this organization used to promote itself rather heavily as a South Asian fraternity. No offense intended in case anyone gets any ideas about my post. I had recently been talking about this new image and then just saw 33girl's old post.

You are ABSOLUTELY right. When I studied cultural and multicultural based GLOs more closely, Sigma Beta Rho was most certainly a SOUTH ASIAN FRATERNITY.

But look what I found here:

"One of my brothers is from El Salvador and another one is from Jamaica. Sigma Beta Rho was primarily South Asian to begin with but now the ideal has become to learn about other cultures. Even within the South Asian culture, there are so many diversities. I know other South Asian fraternities that have stayed predominantly Desi, but I think we're growing because we're not like that and we don't discriminate."


Sigma Beta Rho is the nation's largest South Asian fraternity with 1000 members and 30 colonies coast-to-coast.


Uhhhhh.... contradiction? Are you a South Asian Fraternity or are you a Multicultural Fraternity?


Would I sound ignorant if I started using the term NJGLO? Because seriously, that's what these orgs sound like to me -- seems like every GLO I've seen from New Jersey is multicultural in membership and they all look like each other. Yes, the girls all have the "wet n wavy" hair and the guys all look like the Gotti boys, regardless of their actual race. It is the damndest thing!

[poeticace]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Would I sound ignorant if I started using the term NJGLO? Because seriously, that's what these orgs sound like to me -- seems like every GLO I've seen from New Jersey is multicultural in membership and they all look like each other. Yes, the girls all have the "wet n wavy" hair and the guys all look like the Gotti boys, regardless of their actual race. It is the damndest thing!

Okay, I busted out laughing at this. & yes I'm a (proud?) Jersey girl. All joking aside though, I think a lot of orgs (or chapters of orgs) in Jersey are diverse because the state itself is pretty diverse. So, no, I don't take your NJGLO as ignorant, it's a relatively accurate description (minus the looking alike part, lol, at least for my org anyway).

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Would I sound ignorant if I started using the term NJGLO?

Bwahahahahaha! Where is Ch2tf? She needs to see this post. By the way, I love the edgy Rashid!!! LOL!

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Would I sound ignorant if I started using the term NJGLO? Because seriously, that's what these orgs sound like to me -- seems like every GLO I've seen from New Jersey is multicultural in membership and they all look like each other. Yes, the girls all have the "wet n wavy" hair and the guys all look like the Gotti boys, regardless of their actual race. It is the damndest thing!

Te amo mi amor!
In some ways I don't think it is fair to say it is a NJGLO, but it is sorta accurate as well. Chapters of orgs are re-marketing themselves as multicultural to gain more members because the Greek population is small.

I think the problem with this whole re-marketing/"everyone" trying to be multicultural stems from several factors:

1. It's what's HOT right now! hahaha, j/k sorta. It's a way for more people to buy their product, and younger/smaller orgs are trying to get brand recognition. (Sorry for the business analogies, it's what is in my head right now)

2. Younger/Smaller orgs not expanding strategically and as a result after the founding class/line and maybe one or two additional classes/lines, the chapter is struggling for members and opens up to new markets. With respect to younger/smaller orgs, it is a lot easier for this trend to catch on within the organization, especially if they are experiencing low membership numbers across the board.

Its a rush to be one of the big guys (at least in number of chapters), without substantially investing time in doing research about the climate of the school, the commitment and dedication of interests, and being able to support your chapters as an organization.

Another problem is in expansion when interests really only have info from the org's representatives to go off of (sometimes because the org is small and sometimes because the interests are lazy and just want to be down/have letters). They might know someone from back home who joined ABC org and they think the "concept" is cool, but they have no idea what the organization is actually about and what they are doing (for members, communities, etc). In the case of MC orgs, you have organizations that say they are multicultural, but that operate almost entirely on a different platform, yet the interests do not spend time doing the research on the "product" that the "Sales Team" is selling. About a year ago I had someone say to me, if I had known about TNX before I joined my org, I would have def pursued TNX. I guess she was trying to complement us but to myself I'm thinking,"You Fool!". The internet has been on and poppin' for a good minute, there is NO way you couldn't have done a google search and found out about other mc sororities. And of course there's greek pages, wiki, but I digress.

In the case of NJ, I think it happens in part because many MC orgs have been founded there, and newer groups that are ethnically based may view the "success" that they have on campus as a way to gain a foothold in the market.

I just love the "We are X with multicultural membership schpeal [sp?]" It gives me a chuckle every time. To me I feel like it is obvious that there are internal identity dynamics going on in an organization when that happens. Trying to come at it from an interests perspective, I can't understand why you approach an organization with apprehension about joining the group because you may not be of the same ethinicity as the group majority. It's cool if a black girl wants to join LTA (just using them as an example not saying they are culprits of this) because she sees something in them she aspires to, or that she feels they are really holding it down. That doesn't make LTA a latina sorority with multicultural membership; it is a Latina sorority, period. They were founded as a latina org, they service the latino community. 1 black girl, 100 black girls, or a diverse chapter does not change that fact.

We (MC orgs) need a (strong and viable) council, like ASAP.

And that my friends is my rant of the day.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Uhhhhh.... contradiction? Are you a South Asian Fraternity or are you a Multicultural Fraternity?

Generally speaking, I feel this might be more applicable to NIC members, but does it need to be "either/or"? I'm not sure I understand how it might be a contradiction when the two identities might be appropriate. Especially when an organization self identifies as such.

[CULater]

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

It's cool if a black girl wants to join LTA (just using them as an example not saying they are culprits of this) because she sees something in them she aspires to, or that she feels they are really holding it down. That doesn't make LTA a latina sorority with multicultural membership; it is a Latina sorority, period. They were founded as a latina org, they service the latino community. 1 black girl, 100 black girls, or a diverse chapter does not change that fact.

ignorance is bliss, but I can't blame you. I would love to tell you a little more about our history, but fortunately (or unfortunately) that is only privy to our members. but, I guess the Universal Woman has always been and is now exclusively a latina. sorry, I did not get that memo.

To clarify (you are only half correct):

"Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. was established in 1975 as the FIRST sorority to cater to the needs of Latinas.

Since then, Lambda Theta Alpha has grown to over 90 chapters across the United States and Puerto Rico. We are an organization that strives to promote academic excellence, work hard for our community and for the advancement of Latinas and the Universal Woman."

so yes, we were founded as a latin org, but to say we only service the latino community is quite limited.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Ch2tf

It's cool if a black girl wants to join LTA (just using them as an example not saying they are culprits of this)...

CULater, maybe you missed this part?

Just sayin...

[SoEnchanting]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

http://www.sigmabetarho.com/home.html

I may have been in a cave for the last few years, but I could have sworn that this organization used to promote itself rather heavily as a South Asian fraternity. No offense intended in case anyone gets any ideas about my post. I had recently been talking about this new image and then just saw 33girl's old post.

Hmm this IS interesting.... only because I do remember them promoting themselves as a SW Asian fraternity when they were trying to get established at my school a few years ago. Now their website mentions nothing of it.

[Tom Earp]

Times, People, and Ideals Change.

If there is an idea, you go with it. If it doesnt work, then you modify to stay Viable.

To keep Your Ideals, do what is necessary to keep the Organization together and in operatation!

absoluteZChi, yes, that is your opinion, but if you have not walked in the shoes?

[Tom Earp]

Times, People, and Ideals Change.

If there is an idea, you go with it. If it doesnt work, then you modify to stay Viable.

To keep Your Ideals, do what is necessary to keep the Organization together and in operatation!

absoluteZChi, yes, that is your opinion, but if you have not walked in the shoes?