Why do multicultural GLOs/organizations exist?

[TheEpitome1920]

This horse is dead. Let it rest in peace.

Organizations exist to fill a void that the founders felt was significant. If you don't agree or don't understand, don't become a member.

[TheEpitome1920]

Originally posted by JocelynC
I *heart* TheEpitome1920

Thanks precious! *hugs*

[Tom Earp]

Paleeze, What does Multi mean to you?

More than one type of individual! That means all colors of people who are Hes or Shes on that type of Organization.

Oh, that might mean Hes to Hes and Shes to Shes.

If it dont fit for you, then, dont try to do it! Da Ha!

Sounds like a Movie, "Dumb and Dumber".

[brownsugar952]

diane8284, I think you are a little confused about the subject. We aren't talking about cultural based organizations. We are talking about multicultural organizations. An Asian American interest sorority (to me) is not a multicultural based organization. Multicultural organizations such as Zeta Sigma Chi, Theta Nu Xi or Delta Xi Phi aren't and to my knowledge ever based on ONE cultural. It seems like you have an issue with Asian American sororities not multicultural sororities....

[diane8284]

you are right, i am confused because at my college, the dominating multicultural organizations are asian-american interest, hispanic interest, or african interest. its no wonder i have never realized there are those that actually mean multicultural.

the ones you mention do not exist here so i was confused. however, my issue isnt with asian-american, i am just sharing what i know based upon my school and wanted to understand further.

i apologize if people find what i have said offensive. i only meant to share my experiences in hopes to give another side to this discussion thread. it seems everyone here just talks about the founders, but now we havejust headed into 2005, and all i asked was about purpose of them currently and what they do. and i just wanted to share what i have observed as well as experiences my friends have had in them. perhaps what i have said is offensive, and if it is, please no i do not intend to offend anyone.

[Senusret I]

First, let me preface this with words from Preciousjeni in 2004:

Originally posted by preciousjeni

Multicultural GLOs did not start in an environment in which membership, in the current GLOs, was unavailable for "multicultural people." We recognize this. We have a different purpose altogether.

We are not here because we were rejected by our desired organizations, nor are we here to hurt other orgs - and we certainly do not exist because we believe that other organizations are not open to diverse membership!

How audacious it is to me for some to assume that we discourage people from checking out ALL GLOs to find their match, simply because we "think" that other GLOs are discriminatory. As a general rule, this is not the case.

We were started by and for multiculturally-minded people. If you want to join an org that caters to needs of all people and actively works toward equality across the board, you can find that in a multicultural organization.

Other organizations do offer those qualities, but multicultural orgs are set apart in that they exist with the primary function of promoting multiculturalism. In theory, even if a "multicultural" organization were all-white/black/latino/asian/etc. but the members worked toward equality of ALL people, the organization could potentially be considered multicultural.

If, however, the thrusts and foci of that organization were primarily directed at a particular interest, that organization by definition cannot be "multicultural." It can have multicultural membership but it cannot be a "multicultural organization."

That said....

Weekend before last, I was invited to be a guest speaker for the National Multicultural Greek Council's Spring Conference, themed "Namaste." Because I know you're dying to see pictures of me in all my Lazarus-signing hotness, here is the link: http://www.nationalmgc.org/

I just wanted to say that it was very clear that one of the issues facing Multicultural Fraternities and Sororities is how they tell their story. They have reached an age of their existence where they are now "fighting" (too strong a word) to market themselves as multicultural by design. It's such a small statement, but on many of their respective campuses, both traditional and culturally-based organizations are re-branding themselves as multicultural in an effort to stay relavent.

It was a very interesting discussion at the NMGC conference....I had never really felt this was an issue, but I suppose it really is.... I mean, you have an entire council of GLOs whose very purpose was to BE multicultural by design, in both membership and programming, but then competing organizations market themselves as multicultural. By happenstance, usually.

The question was even posed to me why some NPHC organizations do that. Me, personally, I have never seen an NPHC organization rebrand themselves as multicultural. HOWEVER, I have seen diverse chapters that tend to stay diverse over the years.

I guess I am saying that I was very happy to be invited to speak to the NMGC, but more importantly to listen to the issues that face multicultural fraternities and sororities.

I was sad not to see any Theta Nu Xis there though.

[Senusret I]

I guess I should add that under much discussion was the definition of "multicultural."

People tend to use the term multicultural to lump all culturally-founded GLOs into one category. I know at L.O.C.K.'s school, for example, the Multicultural Greek Council included all orgs that were culturally based, and would theoretically also include orgs that were multicultural by design.

It's weird....a local MGC would include all orgs for people of color, but wouldn't include an NPC which happened to be diverse.

(Local MGCs are not chapters of the NMGC, by the way)

I had to begin to rethink the subtle differences between multicultural and diverse.....and I hesitated to even bring up cultural pluralism.

Anyway, it was great, great discussion.

[Ch2tf]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I was sad not to see any Theta Nu Xis there though.

I personally considered going as a non-conference attendee, but unfortunately I was not able to make it. But in general, and I'm sure you already know this, TNX is not a member organization of NMGC.

[Ch2tf]

Originally posted by Senusret I
I just wanted to say that it was very clear that one of the issues facing Multicultural Fraternities and Sororities is how they tell their story. They have reached an age of their existence where they are now "fighting" (too strong a word) to market themselves as multicultural by design. It's such a small statement, but on many of their respective campuses, both traditional and culturally-based organizations are re-branding themselves as multicultural in an effort to stay relavent.

A good topic, I would have loved to listen to that discussion!

[preciousjeni]

Thanks for the comments, Rashid. Is the phrase "multicultural by design" of your own formulation or was it put forth at the conference? That is a wonderfully descriptive phrase that distinguishes the issue.

I would have enjoyed that discussion as well! Is there any more you can tell us about what was said? You've mentioned that there was a discussion but you left us hanging on the specifics.

(By the way, you were looking fly as usual!)

[Senusret I]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
Thanks for the comments, Rashid. Is the phrase "multicultural by design" of your own formulation or was it put forth at the conference? That is a wonderfully descriptive phrase that distinguishes the issue.

I would have enjoyed that discussion as well! Is there any more you can tell us about what was said? You've mentioned that there was a discussion but you left us hanging on the specifics.

(By the way, you were looking fly as usual!)

Thank you!

To be honest, I am not sure where "multicultural by design" came from. I feel like I probably was repeating that phrase over and over in my mind, but I didn't want to dominate the discussion.

Let me think.....I know the primary focus of the first "public" session was what the NMGC can do for its members. There was some clarification on the differences between a governing body and an advisory body. (They are advisory.)

How to deal with orgs that market themselves as multicultural, but are not so by design. (I don't remember the resoultion.)

Ummmm....okay, so I really don't remember everything cuz I went to go find a kinkos for part of the discussion.

There were a good mix of both fraternities and sororities and there was a lot of idea sharing for programming.

[Private I]

if I remember correctly aren't there two organizations that both claim to be the umbrellas for multicultural Greek Letter organizations?

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by Private I
if I remember correctly aren't there two organizations that both claim to be the umbrellas for multicultural Greek Letter organizations?

http://www.nationalmgc.org/
http://www.nationalagc.r8.org/

[shinerbock]

So are we talking about multicultural as a whole (takes people from all backgrounds) or by system (a black fraternity, an asian, etc.) I think they serve a purpose, but not for everybody. Our fraternity is all white, so i'm not sure where that fits into a multicultural greek system. Guess we'll be the "white" fraternity.

[brownsugar952]

Originally posted by shinerbock
So are we talking about multicultural as a whole (takes people from all backgrounds) or by system (a black fraternity, an asian, etc.) I think they serve a purpose, but not for everybody. Our fraternity is all white, so i'm not sure where that fits into a multicultural greek system. Guess we'll be the "white" fraternity.

"Multicultural by design" I think means specifically a Multicultural fraternity or sorority. Not latina, asian, black, etc.