Somebody Help!!

[aoiicheer]

As most of you know, I'm writing a paper for my English Comp II class at Columbia College, where there is no Greek Life, called, "Greek Life; Is It More Than Just Letters?" I just transferred here this semester from a school where I was a member of the sorority AOII. Anyways, I am just having problems on finding stuff to write on. I currently am at 2 1/4 of pages and need about a 15 page paper! Yeah, A LOT to go. But I just am asking for help and advice. Any information you all can give me on your experiences as being a part of a sorority or fraternity, good and bad, would be greatly appreciated. Share your stories! Why are you happy to be part of such an organization? Why did you join? Anything! Thank you so much!!!

[hoosier]

Maybe it's a little different, but I think one of the major advantages of GLO life is "The oportunity to fail" and hopefully learn from it.

There's no other campus group or club with a budget the size of a GLO, and few with the large number of members.

There's few other campus things which last for 3 1/2 or four years. If you join the ski club, and you don't like it, you can simply quit and join something else next quarter.

IF the GLO doesn't plan a good rush, and doesn't get many pledges and their $$$, the whole chapter budget has to shrink, or the deficit has to be passed on to next year's members. Hopefully, the GLO learns to plan and rush better.

If the social chr. spends too much, everybody enjoys the parties, but they eat less to keep the budget balanced.

GLO members must learn to plan, budget, conduct meetings and make committees work - or it goes to hell. There's no other place on campus that has real $$$, real people, and real experiences. That's why 160 members of congress, and the leaders of most Fortune 500 companies, and President Bush and most others have Fraternity/Sorority membership on their resumes.

[Glitter650]

Did you talk about the history of why GLO's were started to begin with ? I'm sure you could take a few pages up with that. The reasons for the beginnings of greek life are definitely more than "we wanted to wear greek letters on our sweaters and party" so adding some history would help make your point.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by hoosier
Maybe it's a little different, but I think one of the major advantages of GLO life is "The oportunity to fail" and hopefully learn from it.

I think that is a very good point.

I would add that I think perhaps the major lesson of a GLO is learning "brotherhood." I know that, for the founders of my Fraternity, at least, part the goal is learning and experiencing the brotherhood of all humanity. In the close associations formed in a fraternity or sorority, we are called on to treat our fellow members not just as friends -- even good friends -- but as brothers and sisters, with all that is implied by that.

Some of my brothers are quite different from me and perhaps are people I wouldn't have paid much attention to because of that. But because I have taken on the obligation to call them my brothers and (more importantly) treat them as my brothers, I have learned to look for what we have in common rather than what separates us.

Because of that experience, I am also under an obligation to look at what I have in common with people everywhere and to find the links that make us all brothers and sisters.

Idealistic? Sure. But that's why we have ideals to live up to.

[adpiucf]

You could write volumes on this stuff. It has been done many, many times before. Do an internet search for ideas.

Other than that, organize it into sections: The history of the Greek System, a look at the rise of sororities, what happens in a Panhellenic recruitment, the new member process, Greek Life's position on community involvement, Boot camps and leadership trainings offered by various GLO's and famous leaders who were collegiate Greeks, a look at anti-hazing legislation and anti-hazing education practices by Greeks, and alumni life.

You will get plenty out of this organization. Rely on library sources and call NPC for assistance with some good titles. You might also want to contact the Executive HQ's for a sampling of fraternities and sororities.

Based on your title, this paper looks more like a backgrounder than a bias paper, correct?

[Tom Earp]

You really dont know how big a pile of Cow Potty that you stepped in do You?

Not being funny at all, but when you get into Greek Socals, it can get very trying.

Farmvile Four=Sororitys.

Union Triad/Miami Triad Fraternities.

Mergers and Colonoizations, oh those things that continually go forward, ever growing. Those that started in other places as individual GLOs.

Kappa Sigma that go back to Itilia, LXA that go back to Rene de Anjou of France.

Each GLO has thier own History that means something to them, when, what, and why they were started.

Good Luck!

[STL Kappa]

Which Columbia College? Saying you go there is like saying you live in Springfield...