Minorities in 'white' frats/sororities

[sambadoll]

Originally posted by jubilance1922
Well, everyone has their own interpretation of "homework" and "research". When I tell an interest to do her research, I want her to do several things. First, she should have an understanding of the basics of each org, such as founding date, location, number of founders. She should be aware of the community service projects that each org does on a national level. She should know some of the accomplishments that these orgs have made in the community. Beyond that, an interest should also take the time to get to know the young ladies in the chapter. She should come to events, educational, social, and community service, so that we can have an interaction in various settings. She should talk to members informally about the org to get an understanding of the dynamic of the chapter. Overall, before an interested young lady shows up to an informal rush for my org, she should at least a few members of my chapter, she should know basic history (which can be found in numerous places), and she should also know about the other 3 NPHC sororities, so she can choose which org is best for her.

The things I learn at GC. Thanks, that was really helpful

[jubilance1922]

Originally posted by sambadoll
The things I learn at GC. Thanks, that was really helpful

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by NutBrnHair
I have to share that even 25 years ago...at the small, Southern, Baptist, liberal arts school that I attended...we had 4 NPC groups & 2 NPHC groups -- On the first day of NPC Rush, each of the NPHC groups made a presentation to all of the rushees. None of the groups were racially diverse, but we had a better understanding & sense of mutual respect which started, for me, from those presentations.

I've said this before, but my mom, who became a Delta in 1971, tells me that all organizations rushed together on her campus. Everyone had a tea, and even if you only wanted to join one particular org, you had to attend every org's tea, NPC and NPHC.

She still kept her souvenier from the Delta Zeta tea (a pink and green mitten made of felt).

[msn4med1975]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I've said this before, but my mom, who became a Delta in 1971, tells me that all organizations rushed together on her campus. Everyone had a tea, and even if you only wanted to join one particular org, you had to attend every org's tea, NPC and NPHC.

She still kept her souvenier from the Delta Zeta tea (a pink and green mitten made of felt).

That's cool and it would probably be a good idea now so we don't have folks joining the colors they think they could rock the best but you know some campus climates now would still make a big deal out of who went to what rush or spent x amount of time at each one. I know when I went to the rush in undergrad the other sororities SAT in front of the buiding and wrote down the names of folks that went in. Now that was just a hot mess. Especially since the AKAs were up in two windows scoping out folks and when one of them saw me they SHOUTED "there goes my RA", oh the memories ROFL.

[jubilance1922]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I've said this before, but my mom, who became a Delta in 1971, tells me that all organizations rushed together on her campus. Everyone had a tea, and even if you only wanted to join one particular org, you had to attend every org's tea, NPC and NPHC.

She still kept her souvenier from the Delta Zeta tea (a pink and green mitten made of felt).

I think that's a great idea. I encourage interests to look at all orgs available: NPC, NPHC, NALFO, local. Why? Because I KNOW that Sigma Gamma Rho is the best, and I only want women who also believe that Sigma Gamma Rho is the best. As msn4med1975 stated, I don't want a woman who thinks blue and gold look good on her. I want a woman that believes in what my sorority stands for, and is committed to working hard and being an asset to the sorority and a sister to every member.

[TheEpitome1920]

While I agree with Jubilance and Msn4med...let's be honest.

There are indeed some campuses where it is heavily looked down upon for an interested man/woman to attend everyone's informational...

[starang21]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
While I agree with Jubilance and Msn4med...let's be honest.

There are indeed some campuses where it is heavily looked down upon for an interested man/woman to attend everyone's informational...

VERY.....

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by TheEpitome1920
There are indeed some campuses where it is heavily looked down upon for an interested man/woman to attend everyone's informational...

Maybe I missed it higher up in the thread, but I'd still like to know why this is considered such a faux pas on some campuses. I have NPHC members in my family who feel the same way, but when pressed, they can't really give me a good answer.

Maybe it's just my family members, though.

[msn4med1975]

Originally posted by Sistermadly
Maybe I missed it higher up in the thread, but I'd still like to know why this is considered such a faux pas on some campuses. I have NPHC members in my family who feel the same way, but when pressed, they can't really give me a good answer.

Maybe it's just my family members, though.

It's part of that whole "research" thing that jubilance mentioned before. As a NPHC interest folks truly expect you to be certain of your choice prior to showing up for rush. Now you could still get there and be totally wrong about what you were thinking, fine to a certain degree, but unless you have a very open campus you would be frowned up greatly for attending all the informationals. Attending a meet the greeks is different but as some orgs have closed rushes (ie you submit your app that night, at least they did on my campus) then you would be highly suspect after attending that event and then applying to another org.

[starang21]

Originally posted by Sistermadly
Maybe I missed it higher up in the thread, but I'd still like to know why this is considered such a faux pas on some campuses. I have NPHC members in my family who feel the same way, but when pressed, they can't really give me a good answer.

Maybe it's just my family members, though.

when i was pursuing Iota.....there were no other choices on the horizon. i only went to ONE organization's smoker.

if you're attending everyone's interesting meeting it's going to get around, and you're going to be labled as someone who just wanted some letters.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by starang21
if you're attending everyone's interesting meeting it's going to get around, and you're going to be labled as someone who just wanted some letters.

On the one hand, I understand that attitude. On the other, and I'm just speaking purely from my personal perception here, how could I possibly say I knew everything there was to know about all of the NPHC sororities without attending each of their interest meetings? Sure, the websites are informative, and there are books and magazine articles available, but these materials can only tell you so much.

It seems that the mental model for the NPC is "get to know the women, then get to know your organization". The model for the NPHC seems to be the exact opposite: "get to know the organization, and then get to know your sisters." Would that be a correct assumption, or am I way off base?

What about attending the meetings just to get a "feel" for the women in the different chapters? Yeah, I know -- you're joining "the whole organization", but for the four years a woman is in college (and the umpteen years after that), she's going to have to put up with the sisters on a chapter/local level. From what I've read/gathered, it's almost like a few folks are saying that even if they hated every member on their campus, the fact that they're an XYZ carries more weight than the interpersonal relationships they might build. If that's true, that's just.... I don't get it.

But that's the great thing about GC - we can learn so much from each other.

[Sistermadly]

Originally posted by msn4med1975
Attending a meet the greeks is different but as some orgs have closed rushes (ie you submit your app that night, at least they did on my campus) then you would be highly suspect after attending that event and then applying to another org.

I know you probably can't answer this publicly, but I'm going to ask it anyway.

Is it common practice to distribute applications for membership at a rush meeting, or would there be several other information sessions held before the chapter held a proper rush meeting?

[PhoenixAzul]

Well, everyone has their own interpretation of "homework" and "research". When I tell an interest to do her research, I want her to do several things. First, she should have an understanding of the basics of each org, such as founding date, location, number of founders. She should be aware of the community service projects that each org does on a national level. She should know some of the accomplishments that these orgs have made in the community. Beyond that, an interest should also take the time to get to know the young ladies in the chapter. She should come to events, educational, social, and community service, so that we can have an interaction in various settings. She should talk to members informally about the org to get an understanding of the dynamic of the chapter. Overall, before an interested young lady shows up to an informal rush for my org, she should at least a few members of my chapter, she should know basic history (which can be found in numerous places), and she should also know about the other 3 NPHC sororities, so she can choose which org is best for her.

That sounds like good rush advice in any system.

[starang21]

Originally posted by Sistermadly
On the one hand, I understand that attitude. On the other, and I'm just speaking purely from my personal perception here, how could I possibly say I knew everything there was to know about all of the NPHC sororities without attending each of their interest meetings? Sure, the websites are informative, and there are books and magazine articles available, but these materials can only tell you so much.

It seems that the mental model for the NPC is "get to know the women, then get to know your organization". The model for the NPHC seems to be the exact opposite: "get to know the organization, and then get to know your sisters." Would that be a correct assumption, or am I way off base?

What about attending the meetings just to get a "feel" for the women in the different chapters? Yeah, I know -- you're joining "the whole organization", but for the four years a woman is in college (and the umpteen years after that), she's going to have to put up with the sisters on a chapter/local level. From what I've read/gathered, it's almost like a few folks are saying that even if they hated every member on their campus, the fact that they're an XYZ carries more weight than the interpersonal relationships they might build. If that's true, that's just.... I don't get it.

But that's the great thing about GC - we can learn so much from each other.

there are websites that give you adequate information. there are members who can give you some insight. the organization is bigger than an individual chapter. if you don't like those that are on the yard, and the organization is in your heart....you'll wait until it's your time to pledge.

you won't really ever truly be able to grasp the concept until you do more research.

[starang21]

Originally posted by carol9a
Then how do you know where you belong?
Starang, you said you knew you wanted to pursue Iota, how did you know right off the bat?


//THANK YOU to everyone who answered my question. The reason for the curiousity is because one sister of a LGLO sorority knew that I planned on rushing them next semester and just telling me about future events. One of her friends is a guy who wants to join a NPHC fraternity and he made a big deal about how they cant even hint about what fraternity they are interested in or they get into BIG trouble. So it started this whole discussion about differences in all the recruitments of all the sororities and fraternities. Hmm..good conversation.

that's between me, myself, and I. but no one knew.