Greek Decline

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by NewBee
Words are powerful things, aren't they?

I'm sitting back, eating my popcorn and drinking my Kool-Aid. I have my pearls. Good luck in finding what you seek in an organization.

[NewBee]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
I'm sitting back, eating my popcorn and drinking my Kool-Aid. I have my pearls. Good luck in finding what you seek in an organization.

Why thank you, Steeltrap, I intend to.

Hope you enjoy the show, admissions free right?

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by NewBee
Why thank you, Steeltrap, I intend to.

Hope you enjoy the show, admissions free right?

Oh, I intend to watch this because GC is something that I enjoy. But more importantly, I intend to be active, financial and working for my sorority for the rest of my life, God willing.

[NewBee]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
Oh, I intend to watch this because GC is something that I enjoy. But more importantly, I intend to be active, financial and working for my sorority for the rest of my life, God willing.

I enjoy it, too. I am glad that you intend to keep the promises that you made to your sorority, but I fail to see why you mentioned it. I guess I'm one of those people who will never get it, huh, lol. Like I said, words are powerful. You have a nice day, Steeltrap. Sincerely...

[encouraged1]

Originally posted by NewBee
Words are powerful things, aren't they?

I may be wrong but I thought BGLO's were non-profit organizations. I think some of them are trying to keep up with the times but some of their members don't want to adapt. That's when it becomes a problem.

[NewBee]

Originally posted by encouraged1
I may be wrong but I thought BGLO's were non-profit organizations. I think some of them are trying to keep up with the times but some of their members don't want to adapt. That's when it becomes a problem.

Non-profit organizations like NPHC orgs are still business that are incorporated and render a service,(somebody correct me if I am wrong.) I don't necessarily think that NPHC organizations should change but again when the market changes/reduces for potential candidates why complain about if you aren't willing to change???

[LADY_1908]

Originally posted by Steeltrap
I intend to be active, financial and working for my sorority for the rest of my life, God willing. [/B]

Raising my teacup to you Soror......I think your words are an example of what membership SHOULD truly be about.

My .08 cents....If there were a TRUE decline in interest then we would not have this many posts on the subject.

[allsmiles_22]

You can call it Lemon-Lime Slice, 7-Up, Sierra Mist, but it still isn't Sprite (IMHO). New businesses pop up everyday and many of them get swallowed up because they can't compete no matter how hard they try. The reputation/goodwill our orgs have acquired over the years is what has and what will keep us in existence. Those who seek to bypass the flaws and strive to continue the great legacy of our orgs will also contribute to its existence. The market will change and we will continue to adapt to the new needs of our communities by shifting our focus like we have been doing in the past.

Is there a strong presence-I'm not talking about car tags either-of these other greek orgs in the communities besides on a college campus? Are they really getting down to business after the fun of college is over? When I see a NPC, IFC, Mulitcultural, or other newer and “improved" frat or sorority in a not so hot part of DC volunteering at a soup kitchen or elementary school giving us some competition, I'll blink an eye, but I won't worry. LOL

If there is a raggedy XYZ, who most likely was a raggedy interest that complained about the problems of BGLO's, but wanted to be down anyways, what makes one think these "newer and dare I say improved orgs" won't have Raggedy Jane/Joe as a member either? No amount of new color and greek letter combinations or new purposes/objectives will stop raggedy people from tainting an image of a good org.

Maybe we should adapt by stopping intake which won't matter to those who feel we aren't catering to their individual needs and work on Reclamation. Let's revive that good old AKA SPIRIT in our lost pearls.

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by LADY_1908
Raising my teacup to you Soror......I think your words are an example of what membership SHOULD truly be about.

My .08 cents....If there were a TRUE decline in interest then we would not have this many posts on the subject.

Soror LADY_1908, excellent point about all these posts (especially from non-greeks) being contradictory to whether there was a true decline in interest.

And may I also give a to Soror all_smiles22 for her post.

[AKA_Monet]

As a former Graduate Advisor here is what I saw:

No matter how often it was told to undergraduate interests, the exact order of the correct documents were NOT presented to the screeners at the time rush...

Moreover, classes that were below 100 level for semester universities, are NOT considered FULL TIME CREDIT EARNING HOURS--hence the applicant may have been taking 4 classes, but if these classes were below 100 level courses--or remedial courses--and they were not at the same school--'cuz some applicants attend a junior college at the same time when they attend a 4 year university, then basically, the applicant could not be admitted for membership into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Kids are going to school all kinna ways now. It is not just that traditional U of whatever anymore. Many more creative curriculums now... Whether or not these changes can be made to understand student difficulty while not reducing an organizations prestige--because that is what maintaining the 501c4 status means, will be tough to reconcile.

[lovelyivy84]

Ahh the passive aggressiveness is in the air....

Lovely.

I don't know why people are attempting to make this into a blame game. Accusations are not conducive to any kind of real discussion. Let's discuss these ideas, shall we?

ZPhinest I just wanted to cosign on almost everything you said. It was pretty much the same thing at my school- lots of orgs, few interests (really small Af-Am community). The behavior of the Greeks on campus could and did make or break their orgs. We had to be very careful.

Also and on a different note- of the small number of black people on my campus, most came from a West Indian or an African background. African-Americans (as in family originates from slavery in America) were in the minority.

Growing up in a West Indian household you don't see much of any Greek life outside of tv and movies. Getting to college, AKA and Delta or Alpha don't mean much to Second generation black people. It's African-Americans who have that history and there just weren't a lot of them on our campus so Black Greek life was not central. What made me want it was meeting a dynamic Soror who treated me with great kindness- I was a black woman she respected and treated like a sister before I was a Soror. Her behavior is the kind that I hold in highest regard and have always striven to copy. Seeing that in her led me to seeing it in her organization. But not everyone has that experience. Not by a long shot.

It's all well and good to say that we have what "they" want, but it is our behavior that will make others see why they should want it in the first place. It is up to us to uphold the values of our orgs and make people who have no history with them see what they're about.

I personally think that the "Greek Decline" is just a function of a changing society and the widening economic range of blacks that go to college. At the end of the day even though it is not something that can be BLAMED on the HBGLOs, responsibility for ending the it lies with us.

So to end, can't we all just get along?

Geez.

[NewBee]

Some of you are being a little too sensitive. Why ask for input from non-greeks and then get mad at their answers? Why read more into a sentence than whats there? Why does XYZ organization have to be raggedy? Why must we assume that there is a "passive aggresiveness in the air"? Why can't we all get along? Here is another quote I am reminded of, "Why cry over spilt milk?" If greeks declining doesn't mean anything why is this an 8 page discussion about it, and does that really mean that it isn't a problem or that it is a bigger problem than people thought? Look I hope the NPHC is around for many years too come, all I am saying is that it isnt going to be around forever and neither is the IFC, the NPC, or the Latin or Multicultural orgs. I know it hurts to think of your organization dissolving, or of some org being better than yours, but at some point it is going to happen. That's how society works, a group comes to power for a time and then enventually another group overtakes them. It's not like I am wishing that on the NPHC, but sooner or later it'll happen, either prepare for it or pray it doesn't happen in your life time.

[Senusret I]

But what about solutions?

I'll give five bucks to the next ten people who post tangible solutions to the greek decline problem.

Okay, not really, but it's time to start getting productive.

By the way, to the Zeta in Albany, I totally understand you.....thanks for keeping it real.

[gamma_girl52]

I would love to get $5 but now I'm confused...

Are we now discussing a decline in membership for ALL Greek organizations, or NPHC specifically?

Now if we're talking about Greeks overall, then I may have a suggestion or two. However, if it's only NPHC then I don't feel it's my place to suggest anything. I'm not in any of the NPHC organizations, so what is there for me to suggest? Frankly I don't know how each NPHC organization works.

So I will kindly wait for clarification.

[Senusret I]

*waving at gamma girl* you like my new name?

To answer your question, I think maybe it was an implied NPHC concern....but heck, it's a public website, so whaddya do?