Pan-Hellenic

[Rain Man]

Originally posted by GtownGirl98
Yes thank you.

So if a GLO is looking to join either NPC or NPHC and they use the term pan-hellenic... one would assume that they are looking to join NPHC... correct?

How would one go about joining NPHC? Is there more than just the D-9 in NPHC (I need to do my homework)? Is NPHC open to expanding to the D-10?

...cause you just might get it!

Here is the thread on that very subject.....

....and it isn't a very pretty discussion thread, either

Is NPHC open to expanding to the D-10?

Enjoy!

[AlphaFrog]

Is it sad that I scrolled through all the actual information to watch the catfight on this thread???

[rocketgirl]

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
Geez, we might as well just start calling everything historically white, since most things in this country were historically white. I guess I'll put in my profile that I'm from historically white Michigan..

That's what I've been thinking this entire thread. I think that's why people mention things being historically something other than white. It's not news or out of the norm for things in this country to be historically white, so I think most people assume and/or understand that somthing founded in this country has a dominately white history unless it is distinctly pointed out that it's different. Which is probably why NPHC, Latina, Asian, Multicultural ect. organizations point out their history.

With that said, and knowing we live in a society where no matter how race blind people state they are, there are still racial issues in America. I've read on here several threads started by women of color about their concerns about going NPC, I have never heard of a chapter that has a majority or even a third women of color and about one school that has still never taken a women of color knowingly into any of their chapters (i don't remember the school or the thread right now...too early). Anyway, point is that those things about the history make it seem rational (even if not PC) to most that they are historically white. Challenge is to move past that history and live in the present. There is nothing wrong with that history, it appears to be a fact. As long as you are doing what you say you are doing..which is accepting and loving your sisters of all races...what does it matter?

edited because i can't spell before 8am

[AlphaFrog]

This Thread =

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by rocketgirl


I've read on here several threads started by women of color about their concerns about going NPC, I have never heard of a chapter that has a majority or even a third women of color and about one school that has still never taken a women of color knowingly into any of their chapters (i don't remember the school or the thread right now...too early).

If you've never heard of a chapter that is more than 30% "minority," then you've never been to the University of Toronto.

[Sistermadly]

Or UBC. But we're in Canada, and you know Canadians are just... weird that way.

[sigmadiva]

I can only speak for myself but when I hear/read NPC sororities referred to as white or historically white I feel like a person might as well say I'm a racist and member of the KKK. Yes, there was a time when the NPC sororities were all white. It's a fact.

Why? No one has said you (White people in general) are racist. Don't feel bad or guilty because of who you are. I don't. There are Black people who I feel do not represent Blacks well, such as the welfare moms and a few of the 'gangsta' rappers, but I am not any less proud to be Black, or Negro, as it says on my birth certificate, because of them.

As you point out, your alma mater was all male and white until 1965. Do you tell people that you went to a white college or historically white male college? Or do you just tell people that you went to college? I'll guess that you don't feel compelled to clarify that a college is "white" but I do understand the reasoning behind saying a college or GLO is historically black. Much like if I had attended an all women college I would likely point that out because it would be a different experience than a co-ed school.

Yes, I do. TAMU is a PWI - predominately White institute.

In regards to Barbara Delany, as my sister has already pointed out nobody was initiated in 1956. I checked and there was no Barabara initiated in 1955 but two in 1954 (maiden names Brodie and Ries).

The quote from Mr. Graham's book doesn't actually say that she was initiated. It saddens me to think that this could be true. However, I also take into account that the mid 50s was not the age on enlightenment and that greek men and women have never been considered to be "ahead of their time" when it comes to accepting anything outside of the socially accepted norm. I feel pity for the women that made the decision to close that chapter, assuming that was the real reason behind the closing. For all I know the chapter was well below total and could have been on the brink of having the charter pulled before the members decided to bid Ms. Delany.

Right, as I understood the passage, she was never initiated because the chapter was closed. Only SK national can answer that.

[_Lisa_]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
Right, as I understood the passage, she was never initiated because the chapter was closed. Only SK national can answer that.

I emailed HQ & they haven't responded. I did contact one of the alumna initiated in 1955 & she did confirm that Barbara Collier Delany was never initiated.

[Little E]

Originally posted by rocketgirl
I've read on here several threads started by women of color about their concerns about going NPC, I have never heard of a chapter that has a majority or even a third women of color and about one school that has still never taken a women of color knowingly into any of their chapters (i don't remember the school or the thread right now...too early).

Serious over generalization.

This is the same as saying that all sorority girls are blonde bimbos.

Unless you have been to every chapter of every NPC org and interviewed every single member to identify their ethinic heritage, there is no base for the statement.

[jubilance1922]

Originally posted by sigmadiva
I can only speak for myself but when I hear/read NPC sororities referred to as white or historically white I feel like a person might as well say I'm a racist and member of the KKK. Yes, there was a time when the NPC sororities were all white. It's a fact.

Why? No one has said you (White people in general) are racist. Don't feel bad or guilty because of who you are. I don't. There are Black people who I feel do not represent Blacks well, such as the welfare moms and a few of the 'gangsta' rappers, but I am not any less proud to be Black, or Negro, as it says on my birth certificate, because of them.

I think you are alluding to a good point here, soror.

Its acceptable in our society to be proud of being Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American, but being proud of being White is considered racism. Why?

I can be proud of my heritage and the accomplishments of my people without saying that I'm SUPERIOR to other races.

[OPhiARen3]

Originally posted by jubilance1922
I think you are alluding to a good point here, soror.

Its acceptable in our society to be proud of being Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American, but being proud of being White is considered racism. Why?

I can be proud of my heritage and the accomplishments of my people without saying that I'm SUPERIOR to other races.

I think it has to do with what "white" means in the first place. The entire history of whiteness is completely wrapped up in superiority and power issues - you can't really separate it from that. I don't want to go off on a complete tangent here, but people didn't used to be "white", they used to be different nationalities like English or French or Irish or whatever else - whiteness is something that has developed over time to distinguish who is "in" and who is "out", who is the "other", the non-white, and who gets to be in what club has changed over time completely based on power struggles (check out the Irish, for example). You can't ignore that history - "white pride" is inherently racist. You want to see people proud of being white? Check this out: www.natvan.com If you are white and want to be proud of something, be proud of family or national history and accomplishments - but don't get all puffed up over your skin color, it's a bunch of sh*t.

Edited to fix the URL so it works now ... oops.

[gpb1874]

rocket girl...i do like the firt part of your post. i have a BA in history and the reason i have a pet peeve about being called a white sorority is because there were few, if any, women of color in college at the time of many of our foundings. hell, there were not too many women.

i don't really think most of our founders set out to form a white girl's sorority. that was just the environment they were in - all white colleges. it's hard to say how our sororities would look if society had more integrated in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

I guess what this boils down to is that when people say NPC orgs are historically white, that it sounds like we did that on purpose and we all had a "white clause" in our membership requirements (i'm sure some did). some of that is also a product of the times that those women lived in and that does not reflect how we evolved into what we are now. it makes it sounds like our founders are being blamed for not including minorities or that they are being called racist. i don't know if all of that makes sense or not.

on another point.....there are chapters around the country that have a majority of minority members b/c i work at one of those campuses. the campus is about 60% hispanic and about 80% of the chapter memberships are minority. at my previous campus (also where my chapter is) my chapter is about 50% minority and they are very proud of the fact that anyone can find a home there.

i know these campuses are usually not the norm and there are many campuses with old greek systems where whites join NPC sororities, blacks join NPHC, latinas join a NALFO and so forth. again, i think you have to look at the history of the campus and see how far that goes back. we all know how hard it is to change "tradition" and the attitude of the entire campus, including that of all the alumni, would need to change in order for that to change. it's just not appropriate to say that blacks can't join an NPC sorority on those campuses and put the blame on the NPC sororities when that view can come just as much from the black students who are telling each other that they can't join an NPC or that they will be seen as a traitor to their race if they do join.

it's just too easy to say"they don't want us," whether "us" refers to your race or religion or whatever. there are just too many other factors that come into play and to blame it on just one thing is silly.

wow, that's a lot of thinking for the morning. i hope that actually makes sense.

[AlphaFrog]

Originally posted by OPhiARen3
I think it has to do with what "white" means in the first place. The entire history of whiteness is completely wrapped up in superiority and power issues - you can't really separate it from that. I don't want to go off on a complete tangent here, but people didn't used to be "white", they used to be different nationalities like English or French or Irish or whatever else - whiteness is something that has developed over time to distinguish who is "in" and who is "out", who is the "other", the non-white, and who gets to be in what club has changed over time completely based on power struggles (check out the Irish, for example). You can't ignore that history - "white pride" is inherently racist. You want to see people proud of being white? Check this out: www.natvan.org If you are white and want to be proud of something, be proud of family or national history and accomplishments - but don't get all puffed up over your skin color, it's a bunch of sh*t.

I'm white. I can't say I'm proud to be German, Welch, Irish, Checz, Bohemian, etc...because I'm not enough of any of them (My highest percentage is 3/8) to be proud of my "national history". I am a true White AngloSaxon Prodestant mutt. Can I not be proud to be white then? I can't exactly be called racist, being that my husband is Mexican, and my daughter is half Mexican. I am proud of myself as white, my husband as Mexican, and my daughter as Mestizo. And yes, I can seperate my whiteness from superiority and power.

[Little E]

Originally posted by AlphaFrog
I'm white. I can't say I'm proud to be German, Welch, Irish, Checz, Bohemian, etc...because I'm not enough of any of them (My highest percentage is 3/8) to be proud of my "national history". I am a true White AngloSaxon Prodestant mutt. Can I not be proud to be white then? I can't exactly be called racist, being that my husband is Mexican, and my daughter is half Mexican. I am proud of myself as white, my husband as Mexican, and my daughter as Mestizo. And yes, I can seperate my whiteness from superiority and power.

I like how you said this. I was trying to formulate a response and it wasn't working.

The reality is that I am a white American. I have Irish, Scottish and English heritage. While I did spend 6 months living there, I'm hardly British or Irish, I really am just a white American. I'm not evil, I don't think whites should rule the world, nor do I think it should be ruled by Asians, Blacks or Latinos. This country focus' on race so much we forget that there are VERY few people who are of one ethinic orgin. People travel, they have sex. That is how the world works.

OPhiARen3- when you tell people they can't be proud of being 'white' because it is inherently racisit, at a level you are telling people to deny who they are. You identify me as white, I identify me as white, but you just said white is bad. That frustrates me. Why can't we embrace ourselves and accept each other?

[irishpipes]

Originally posted by OPhiARen3
I think it has to do with what "white" means in the first place. The entire history of whiteness is completely wrapped up in superiority and power issues - you can't really separate it from that. I don't want to go off on a complete tangent here, but people didn't used to be "white", they used to be different nationalities like English or French or Irish or whatever else - whiteness is something that has developed over time to distinguish who is "in" and who is "out", who is the "other", the non-white, and who gets to be in what club has changed over time completely based on power struggles (check out the Irish, for example). You can't ignore that history - "white pride" is inherently racist. You want to see people proud of being white? Check this out: www.natvan.org If you are white and want to be proud of something, be proud of family or national history and accomplishments - but don't get all puffed up over your skin color, it's a bunch of sh*t.

This post is extremely offensive. I am white, and my familiy's history has zero superiority or power in it. My Irish family starved at the hands of the English, was persecuted for their religious beliefs, and ultimately had little choice but to leave their beloved native land. My German family came here during the rise of Nazism, and my Grandmother spoke of having nothing to eat but old bread spread with lard.

Yes, whites do come from a variety of different nationalities, but so do black people. I have several friends who are from Nigeria, another from Uganda, and yet another from St. Lucia. Their family histories are completely different. To lump them all together by skin color would be ignorant.

Also, I couldn't get that link to work, so if I misinterpreted your post by missing what you linked, I apologize,.