Can I get an honest answer?

[pinktulips]

I've checked out all out the NPC,NPHC, and MGC at my school. I'm interested in the NPC, but I noticed most of the girls were stereotypically White and thin. I'm Black and kinda chunky, so should I just avoid NPC all together. I know it sound silly, but I'm wondering this could affect me? Should I just stick to the NPHC and the MGC?

[tld221]

Originally Posted by pinktulips

I've checked out all out the NPC,NPHC, and MGC at my school. I'm interested in the NPC, but I noticed most of the girls were stereotypically White and thin. I'm Black and kinda chunky, so should I just avoid NPC all together. I know it sound silly, but I'm wondering this could affect me? Should I just stick to the NPHC and the MGC?

well if YOU know it sounds silly, what are we supposed to think?

in short, so where you feel like you fit in. go where you feel like you can be your black and kinda chunky self. it could affect you getting a bid fron an NPC or an invitation for membership in an NPHC/MCG, but i doubt it would more or less than anything else.

and if you're joining an organization based on stereotypes... well, i think you need a little more time.

signed,
tld221
longtime GC contributor
fellow black and kinda chunky NPHC member

[AlwaysSAI]

NO NO NO NO!

Go for whichever group you feel most comfortable!

There are at least two GC members who are african american and in NPC orgs-KSUViolet and BabyPink_FL and many more out there.

The most important thing is to join the org that you are most comfortable with.

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by pinktulips

I've checked out all out the NPC,NPHC, and MGC at my school. I'm interested in the NPC, but I noticed most of the girls were stereotypically White and thin. I'm Black and kinda chunky, so should I just avoid NPC all together. I know it sound silly, but I'm wondering this could affect me? Should I just stick to the NPHC and the MGC?

go with what u are familiar with...do ur research...go to interets meetings or rsuhes whatever have you ...but in the end if you already know u dont feel comfortable or if you got other motives for wanting to wear soem pretty letters on a shirt besides positive representation then please dont waste time joining...last thing anyone needs is a T shirt wearer or another pretty face with no brains

[pinktulips]

Originally Posted by tld221

well if YOU know it sounds silly, what are we supposed to think?

in short, so where you feel like you fit in. go where you feel like you can be your black chunky self.

and if you're joining an organization based on stereotypes... well, i think you need a little more time.

I'm not basing my decisions on stereotypes, I'm just wondering if it would be looked down upon.

[Senusret I]

Let's be honest here..... wouldn't it depend on her school?

[AlphaFrog]

For some good reading - check out "What? An NPC/NPHC Hybrid Retro Recruitment thread"...

Good stuff.

ETA: Actually, I think it depends on her more than the school. If SHE wants to be in an NPC, even at a HBCU, I think she should go for it.

[banditone]

I've got a question. What's rush like at Bama?

[pinktulips]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Let's be honest here..... wouldn't it depend on her school?

It's a school in the South, it's a large public university, but not an SEC school.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by pinktulips

I'm not basing my decisions on stereotypes, I'm just wondering if it would be looked down upon.

well considering that PEOPLE in general tend to look down on "kinda chunky" people, i would imagine a small subset of PEOPLE fall into greek organizations, and an even smaller subset in NPCs.

so will members of NPC organizations look down on you because youre bigger than the norm? some will, some wont. that's not to say that NPHC/MCG members accept bigums far and wide, but in the grand scheme of things, it's not that serious. concentrate on where you feel like you can be YOU, chunkiness and all. that may mean the million+ member-ed NPC/NPHC, the ever growing MCG, or the 3-person local. whatever it is, you'll know when you find it.

but that's my honest answer as a PERSON. I'm not in NPC so if you're looking for an answer from an NPC member... my bad.

and yes, do check out my retro thread - not to toot my own horn, but AF shouted me out above so... TOOT TOOT!

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by pinktulips

It's a school in the South, it's a large public university, but not an SEC school.

There's no harm in rushing and seeing where you come out...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't there's anything stopping someone who's been BID by and NPC, but decides for whatever reason not to INITIATE from later joining an NPHC....

I guess this question needs to be asked (and I know it's sorta been answered by tld's thread...)...is it taboo to rush NPC and decide it's not for you, and then persue NPHC...is it sort of on the same level as persuing one NPHC, and getting nowhere, and then persuing another??? I understand if no one can/wants to answer this question.

[Senusret I]

For me as an NPHC fraternity member, I would not have a problem with an aspirant who went through IFC formal rush or informally rushed different fraternities. I mean, the way you research NPHC frats and NIC orgs is very different. He'd almost have to know that an NIC org wasn't right for him by going through rush.

Now if he pledged and dropped.....eh..... I dunno.

[adpiucf]

None of these conferences discriminate among potential members or members on basis on race or background. The differences you see where the majority of NPC women are white or NPHC women are black are due to historic circumstances. If you are interested in NPC membership, go through NPC recruitment. There are black women in NPC organizations throughout the US. Just as with NPC and MCGLO membership, going through recruitment is not a guarantee you will be offered membership.

To gain a little perspective on why it appears there is still this unintentional segregation of sororities, one must look at the history of sororities, women in education and the equal rights movement.

Women in the US did not gain the right to a college education until around the time of the Civil War. Once women started going to college (of course, at this time young women in college were privileged white women), sororities formed. Later, black women gained this right, and formed sororities, as well. Thanks to the end of segregation, you can now find NPCs and NPHCs on the same campuses. But think back to the history-- there was a time when Jews and Catholics experienced discrimination in this country -- there were some NPC groups that formed originally to cater to these two minority groups b/c they were barred from joining exisiting NPC groups at that time. After a period of time, social conventions changed and today all of the NPC organizations welcome members of all backgrounds, religions and races.

So you won't find a lot of black members in NPC groups or white members in NPHC groups, and that's why. But I think it is very encouraging when a young woman interested in a sorority looks at all of the sorority conferences available on her campus and selects the one she thinks is best for her.

Good luck with whatever you decide. I will say that if you feel your personal appearance is an issue and it is something you can work on for your own health and confidence, you should certainly do that-- but don't do it if you're just trying to fit in or if you feel you need to change yourself just to make someone else accept you.

[DSTRen13]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

There's no harm in rushing and seeing where you come out...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't there's anything stopping someone who's been BID by and NPC, but decides for whatever reason not to INITIATE from later joining an NPHC....

I guess this question needs to be asked (and I know it's sorta been answered by tld's thread...)...is it taboo to rush NPC and decide it's not for you, and then persue NPHC...is it sort of on the same level as persuing one NPHC, and getting nowhere, and then persuing another??? I understand if no one can/wants to answer this question.

Yes, it will be looked down on. Maybe more or less so depending on your campus environment, etc., but the general answer is yes. Attending NPC rush will be looked down on; pledging then dropping NPC is DEFINITELY going to be looked down on.

I don't know about with with the MGC groups.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

There's no harm in rushing and seeing where you come out...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't there's anything stopping someone who's been BID by and NPC, but decides for whatever reason not to INITIATE from later joining an NPHC....

I guess this question needs to be asked (and I know it's sorta been answered by tld's thread...)...is it taboo to rush NPC and decide it's not for you, and then persue NPHC...is it sort of on the same level as persuing one NPHC, and getting nowhere, and then persuing another??? I understand if no one can/wants to answer this question.

i think it depends on the NPHC member... if someone came to me interested in my org and said:

Scenario A: I pledged an NPC, dropped my letters because i see [NPHC org] is what i really want... i'd be really hesitant and skeptical. i'd want to watch them a little. i'd lean to the side of not recommending them for membership - you know, questioning loyalty, etc. but also since i understand a LOT more how NPC rush works (i mean you ARE making a decision within a WEEK as a FRESHMAN)... i'd at least THINK about it. but if a soror came to me and said, "what you think of so-and-so?" don't think that i wont put the biz out there.

Scenario B: (after they became a member of NPHC) hey, by the way, i was an XYZ (NPC org) and here's what happened... well, @zz kicking would occur, verbally, physically, in some way because that makes you a LIAR and who wants a LIAR as a sister/soror?


Again, depends on the person how'd they react. Of course, since yall know my situation, i feel like im a little more tolerant. The next NPHC member may say "If you aren't down for XYZ from day one, then i can't mess with you - sorry."

Then of course, depends on campus culture, location, etc. I can't imagine if, for example (and here goes the train wreck) the HU Pike boys decided, hey i wanna pledge ABC, Inc. now because they're what's hot on the yard... that ABC (or any of NPHC) would be there with welcoming arms.