What do you think of Greek Life?

[DST_philoso4]

For those who have been members of your particular orgs for a few years or more, what do you think of Greek Life today? has it changed? If so, for better or worse? Where do you think it'll be in 10 years? And for those who have been members for 10 years or more, can you tell us how decades, and social changes have caused change, positive or negative, within our orgs?

I'll post my opinions on it, I just want to see what you all think first.

[Lady of Pearl]

There has definitely been a change in greek life from when I first became a member of a GLO, but that is due to the changes in society as well, all of our institutions have been impacted by social change-so why would GLOs be any different? All change in society is not good -so goes society -so goes GLOs.

[Divalawgirl]

Greek life has definately changed significantly. In earlier years, I think many of members became members for a more defined cause. They were all seeking to have a stronger voice in society issues. Today, I think many of the members just want to name drop or to "belong". The other day, my boyfriend's sister told me she wanted to pledge Delta. I figured she wanted to go that route, but was not sure. I asked her why did she want to be a Delta. She couldn't give me a good reason other than the Deltas are so cool at FAMU. I then asked her which Founder has inspired her the most. She did not know ONE Founder. That concerns me. Why do you want to belong to something you know nothing about. Would you apply for a job without knowing anything about that company? If you search the net today, all you see are photos of greeks sporting their letters. Who is in the community?

As far as where will Black Greek Orgs be in ten years, I'm positive we will be in a better. I pray we go back to our Founders drive to make the world adaptable to African American's concerns and progress. We definately need more unity, especially in the sororities. We are the faces of the future. You now have more women in power. If we stand together as black women, I think we can soundoff.

[DST_philoso4]

This is the problem I see, while we have more blacks in power, it seems as though, for many of them, as soon as they get there they turn their backs. Not only do they turn their backs, they, many times, try to alleviate programs that will help other minorities succeed. Let's take a look at the usual suspects:

1. Condoleeza Rice: need I say more?
2. Ward Connerly: successfully spearheaded a campaign in the states of California and WAshington to end affirmative action programs, and is now targeting Michigan [BUT HE WILL NOT PREVAIL!!!]
3. Clarence Thomas: again, need I say more?

these are people who are trying to alleviate programs from which they've benefit. Even the people in place who are so-called "down for the cause" seem to be more concerned with keeping the peace than representing their constituents. It also seems as though many of the top achieving students don't want to be bothered with greek life because everytime you look up someone has gotten seriously injured in a hazing incident. Why would anyone risk their schooling and FUTURE to pledge? Also, when the standards were lowered, across the board the gpa is 2.5 ALL of the Founders of each org were SCHOLARS!!!! I'm sure they are all turning over in their GRAVES knowing that we allow ppl in our orgs who are mediocre. Not saying that a 2.5 is the absolute determining factor in a person's character, but generally I think we should aim for higher!

[Divalawgirl]

Soror, I'm not sure I follow you. Are you saying that Condeelza Rice, Clarence Thomas are alleviating our programs? And if so what programs. Neither one of them are members of BGLO, so they are not affecting us directly.

[DST_philoso4]

Originally Posted by Divalawgirl

Soror, I'm not sure I follow you. Are you saying that CONDOLEEZA Rice, Clarence Thomas are alleviating our programs? And if so what programs. Neither one of them are members of BGLO, so they are not affecting us directly.

I'm not speaking specifically of BGLO members, I'm speaking of blacks in general. like you said, hopefully it'll be better with more blacks/women in power, but I'm saying yes, but look at the blacks who ARE in power, not necessarily on our side. And the programs of which I speak are Affirmative action, programs that funded public school music and sports programs etc. All of which were things around when they were coming up of which they, I'm sure took FULL advantage!

[Divalawgirl]

Ok, in your initial post you asked about Greeks today and where will we be 10 years from now?

YOUR QUESTION: "what do you think of Greek Life today? has it changed? If so, for better or worse? Where do you think it'll be in 10 years? And for those who have been members for 10 years or more, can you tell us how decades, and social changes have caused change, positive or negative, within our orgs?"

[DSTdimepiece]

Greek life is interesting now. When I speak to older members (initiated in 40s, 50s and 60s), it seems like everyone regardless of affiliation pulled together and wanted everyone to make it. There was true unity. Not to mention, that they looked good, represented themselves well. There wasn't so much hazing as long pledge periods.

Now it seems like, all it's about is the hazing...how real or how hard are you? we are too busy tearing our own orgs down with this and other destructive behaviors that we're missing the big picture--uplifing our communities and living out our creeds. Also, there seems to me to be more of the "it's a lifetime commitment rather or not I pay dues, work, etc." However, everyone shows up at a new member presentation or initiation or worse during the process.

In the future,I'm not sure where we are headed. I truly think more of our talented students will either wait until alumnae chapter or just opt out all together.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by DSTdimepiece

Greek life is interesting now. When I speak to older members (initiated in 40s, 50s and 60s), it seems like everyone regardless of affiliation pulled together and wanted everyone to make it. There was true unity. Not to mention, that they looked good, represented themselves well. There wasn't so much hazing as long pledge periods.

Now it seems like, all it's about is the hazing...how real or how hard are you? we are too busy tearing our own orgs down with this and other destructive behaviors that we're missing the big picture--uplifing our communities and living out our creeds. Also, there seems to me to be more of the "it's a lifetime commitment rather or not I pay dues, work, etc." However, everyone shows up at a new member presentation or initiation or worse during the process.

In the future,I'm not sure where we are headed. I truly think more of our talented students will either wait until alumnae chapter or just opt out all together.

I agree with everything you've said.

We have 'Seasoned Sorors' in our grad chapter (we are not allowed to call them older sorors) who were initiated in the 40's and 50's and it could be 90 degrees and 90% humidity during our June meeting and they will show up to chapter meeting in full Sunday attire - dress, stockings, 'pocketbook', and heels.

When my mother was pledging during the early 60's they had to do stuff, but it was kinda silly stuff like walk backwards into a classroom, carry an old cigar box that contained gum, candy and tissues - had to be ready when Big Sister asked for that stuff. No one was ever beaten, humiliated or asked to do insane stuff.

I don't know when the whole 'pledging hard' idea got started. I have a blood sister who I would not beat, hurt or degrade. I love my sister and I don't want to see her harmed. That is how we should think about our GLOs. If you want to call this person your sister or brother, then treat them as such. I never understood the rationale of hazing someone 'on-line' for weeks, then initiate them into your sisterhood / brotherhood and say you love them as your soror (sister) or frater (brother).

Where do I think we are headed in the future? I don't know. I want to be hopeful, but like you said, it is our own members who are hurting our organization.

Yeah, we've got some 'paycheck' sorors too. All they do is pay their dues and only show up to the chapter events - they are never around to do the hard work when it needs to get done.

[DST_philoso4]

Originally Posted by Divalawgirl

Greek life has definately changed significantly. In earlier years, I think many of members became members for a more defined cause. They were all seeking to have a stronger voice in society issues. Today, I think many of the members just want to name drop or to "belong". The other day, my boyfriend's sister told me she wanted to pledge Delta. I figured she wanted to go that route, but was not sure. I asked her why did she want to be a Delta. She couldn't give me a good reason other than the Deltas are so cool at FAMU. I then asked her which Founder has inspired her the most. She did not know ONE Founder. That concerns me. Why do you want to belong to something you know nothing about. Would you apply for a job without knowing anything about that company? If you search the net today, all you see are photos of greeks sporting their letters. Who is in the community?

As far as where will Black Greek Orgs be in ten years, I'm positive we will be in a better. I pray we go back to our Founders drive to make the world adaptable to African American's concerns and progress. We definately need more unity, especially in the sororities. We are the faces of the future. You now have more women in power. If we stand together as black women, I think we can soundoff.

when you said this, it didn't sound "greek specific" it sounded like an empowerment to women, as many women in sororities have benefit by women in power who are NOT in sororities [mentorship programs, internships, sponsorship of programs aimed at inner city youth etc.]. What happens in greek life is affected by greater society and people who are not a part of greek life. So while my initial post was about greek specifically, I thought you were generalizing what's going on in greater society and how it will affect us. For instance:

1. more women in power, could mean a push for more scholastic programs aimed at young women to attend college! More women to attend college with scholastics in mind would lead to a greater pool of candidates from which to choose.

2. more minorities in power, could mean a push for the same types of programs aimed at minorities, which could have the same result.

what I was saying is that sadly many of the women and Blacks who are in power now are not pushing for such programs, and in addition to not pushing for more funding for programs of this nature which are in place, they are pushing for these types of programs in existence to be alleviated, which could in fact reduce the number of women/minorities who attend college, and/or scholarship and grant money aimed at assissting these groups in paying for college.

[DSTCHAOS]

Greek life is cool until people start taking it too seriously. Positive change is a result of a desire for social action and philanthropy. Not because people become members of GLOs.

I've noticed some changes in my 8 years but I take it with a grain of salt, since I have daily interactions with people who have been Greek for 40+ years. Nothing is stagnant and as long as our organizations and members are still doing big things, IN GENERAL, I won't become too concerned with what the idiots are doing on the sidelines.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

...as long as our organizations and members are still doing big things, IN GENERAL, I won't become too concerned with what the idiots are doing on the sidelines.

I'm going to have to disagree with you here. Yes, our orgs are doing big things, in general, but it is those few members who can ruin it for the rest of us, those 'idiots on the sidelines'. All it takes is one or two stoopid ack'tin' members (financial or not), to put a blemish on the whole organization. We can all think of examples from each of our orgs where our own members put the whole organization in jeopardy.

[treblk]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

I'm going to have to disagree with you here. Yes, our orgs are doing big things, in general, but it is those few members who can ruin it for the rest of us, those 'idiots on the sidelines'. All it takes is one or two stoopid ack'tin' members (financial or not), to put a blemish on the whole organization. We can all think of examples from each of our orgs where our own members put the whole organization in jeopardy.

Granted that those "fools on the sidelines" cause a blemish on the whole org, but that does not stop the others that continue to strive upwards. The number of "fools" does not out weight those doing well. Maybe we need to focus more on the positive aspect of each and every org. and not on the bad. It is up to us to "advertise" our good deeds and promote our acomplishments in the face of "foolish fools"! The more those good deeds are seen and heard, the less you hear about the fools!

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by treblk

... the less you hear about the fools!

Not really. I can think of several examples. For instance, just go to the 'Risk Management' forum. Without getting too specific, not too long ago a HBGLO received national headlines because of a hazing incident where two pnms died. It was so sensational that that a major magazine wrote a focus article about it. As much as you (the general you) would like to ignore the actions of the renegade members, there are others who won't let you forget so you still have to deal with them, at least in terms of damage control for your org.

[Divalawgirl]

[QUOTE=DST_philoso4]when you said this, it didn't sound "greek specific" it sounded like an empowerment to women, as many women in sororities have benefit by women in power who are NOT in sororities [mentorship programs, internships, sponsorship of programs aimed at inner city youth etc.].

Sorry, I was very specific about what I was referring to.

(YOU)What happens in greek life is affected by greater society and people who are not a part of greek life.

I beg to defer. Can you give an example how the greater society is affected by us?

(YOU)So while my initial post was about greek specifically, I thought you were generalizing what's going on in greater society and how it will affect us. For instance:

No, I was not.