Okay, so I keep seeing these groups and websites and reading blogs, etc from former Greeks who have renounced their various orgs in the name of religion. I'm not hating on that. If they feel they have to separate themselves in order to live holy, so be it. But why must they blame the organization and imply that it's impossible to love God and be a member of a BGLO. That is just stupid. I know numerous preachers, evangelists, teachers, etc. that are Greek-affiliated. I've seen real-life examples of those who are Greek but are exemplary Christians. So why do some feel the need to tear these orgs down? It's one thing to admit that they were not strong enough to live right while in an environment where it is easy to do wrong. But that does not mean that BGLOs are evil! It's upsetting to me because what they say diminishes the good things that Greeks do, and is misleading for those that do not have that much exposure to Greek life. And I'm in no way saying that I'm a perfect Christian--I'm far from it. But even I know that this whole notion of having to give up one for the other is preposterous. I love God, I love Zeta. It is possible!
*oldie FB note from Dec. 2006*
Showing posts with label BGLOs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BGLOs. Show all posts
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Greek Week: Where Are Our Positive Images?
[caption id="attachment_1533" align="aligncenter" width="336" caption="Photo Credit: NJ Coalition of Divine 9 Online"]
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It is said that a good name is better than riches and should be desired above silver and gold. This definitely applies to Greek life as well. Too often we see negativity about our organizations brought to the forefront. Hazing incidents, accusations of excessive alcoholism and simply existing to party, financial scandals and negative stereotypes are usually the first thing out of the mouths of those unfamiliar with Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs). But how is this so when our fraternities and sororities were created with high ideals in mind?
Think about the Principles that your founders laid out. Then ask yourself, "Am I helping to promote these principles, or am I hindering them?" More and more, I ask what I am doing to display Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood, both within the confines of Zeta Phi Beta and in everyday life as simply Tori D. At some point, we have to realize the importance of our own organizations, otherwise, how will the rest of the world? It is a must that we strive to make a difference on our campuses and in our communities and then make it known. It's okay to take your own horn, especially when you are combating negativity.
When people think of you and your organization, they should think of more than the scandals and lawsuits. They should say more than, "XYZ has the hottest parties" or "ABD makes the best punch/oil/juice." What service activities do people see? What can they say about you academically? What can be said of the character of your chapter/org members? I challenge all Greeks, myself included, to do more to honor our founding principles and portray our esteemed organizations in a positive light.
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[/caption]It is said that a good name is better than riches and should be desired above silver and gold. This definitely applies to Greek life as well. Too often we see negativity about our organizations brought to the forefront. Hazing incidents, accusations of excessive alcoholism and simply existing to party, financial scandals and negative stereotypes are usually the first thing out of the mouths of those unfamiliar with Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs). But how is this so when our fraternities and sororities were created with high ideals in mind?
Think about the Principles that your founders laid out. Then ask yourself, "Am I helping to promote these principles, or am I hindering them?" More and more, I ask what I am doing to display Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love and Finer Womanhood, both within the confines of Zeta Phi Beta and in everyday life as simply Tori D. At some point, we have to realize the importance of our own organizations, otherwise, how will the rest of the world? It is a must that we strive to make a difference on our campuses and in our communities and then make it known. It's okay to take your own horn, especially when you are combating negativity.
When people think of you and your organization, they should think of more than the scandals and lawsuits. They should say more than, "XYZ has the hottest parties" or "ABD makes the best punch/oil/juice." What service activities do people see? What can they say about you academically? What can be said of the character of your chapter/org members? I challenge all Greeks, myself included, to do more to honor our founding principles and portray our esteemed organizations in a positive light.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Greek Week: "The MRS Sorority Chick"
Our first Greek Week submission comes from Lo. She is a 24-year-old member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Spring 2010). College grad, up and coming community leader. You can catch her at http://singleblackfemale.tumblr.com and Twitter (@NoNamesJustLo). My, has my view on Greek Life changed since February 27, 2010. Whoever said that your perception of Greek Life will change after crossing wasn't lying. If anything I've become annoyed with the dynamics of the social aspect of being Greek, but I guess my reasons for joining plus my age and mindset have something to do with that.
Soon as I hit college at the tender age of 18 I always dreamed of becoming a Delta. I loved what they did for the community as well as my personal upbringing, but the social aspect caught my eye as well. Just looking at how the Greeks interacted with each other made it look fun to be a successful college student. Then once I turned 23 I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to become a member so I was anxiously awaiting the exposure to the inside of being Greek.
And what a world it is.
[caption id="attachment_1529" align="alignright" width="259" caption="This is bad sorority behavior to the EXTREME, but don't think you're off the hook!"]
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Now don't get me wrong, soon as I got pinned I was ready to hit the ground running in service, but part of me still wanted to see if all that glitters in the social aspect is still gold. And outside of the usual Greeks overcompensating for what they lacked while on line (second chance pledgees are what I call them) I saw a whole "new" monster brewing....the MRS Sorority Chick.
We all know of at least one MRS Sorority Chick; shoot you might know a line/chapter of them. A group of thirsty chicks who saved up wads of money to wear letters and increase their chances of getting chose. The sorority chick that will steamroll past her Sorors to speak to her "frat" (the quotations are intentional for those whom it may apply). The sorority chick who has no issues selling out her Soror to get approval from the frats.
I've seen this in EVERY sorority as they interact with others and it disgusts me to no end. I know the dating scene is kind of tough and womenfolk are trying to get serenaded by her Sorors on her special day and all, but since when has it been okay to exchange sisterhood for a joint license plate?
One thing that pisses me off is that when I'm at a Greek function and there is a performance going on. Some of the sororities may cheer their Sorors on, yadda yadda yadda...but when the fraternities get on stage they go SICK. Seriously? Why are you cheering on the frats harder than YOUR OWN SORORS?! And then the choreography of these strolls along with your attire....ma'am. I understand that times are different from when people did strolls before, but synchronized stripping while representing your organization will never be the business. Who are you repping for; it can't be your Founders! I'm sure that every woman in a sorority has been taught the importance of sophistication and ladylike behavior, to hold yourself and your org in its highest esteem. Buttcheek isolation while holding up your hand sign is the exact opposite of that.
"Girl, bye the guys can be sexual in their strolls so we can too." Absolutely not. Double standards still apply; plus you shouldn't try to govern your actions in a SORORity based on a FRATERnity.
To be honest it feels as if a great deal of women with membership cards and a shield to lean on are more about the approval of men than their own Sorors. I mean, any time you blast your Soror in front of "your" frat (another intentional quote) to prove how "hard/made" you are you're doing the exact opposite of that....but you should know that already. I'm well aware of the bonds that some frats/sorors may share due to similar intensities of their intake process, but you NEVER forsake the bond you have with your Soror for that. Your loyalty is to her; you both share the same shield, say the same oath, wear the same letters/symbols. This mess should go without saying but looking at parched broads embarrassing their organization for the peen I guess it needs to be said. Yes there are guys who blast their frat and act the same way, but its more common amongst us ladies and it looks worse when we do it. You don't see guys skipping over their frat to speak to you, and if he does its only a matter of minutes before you see him in the center of a huddle with his frat. If you can't be loyal to your Soror why would he think you'd be loyal to him? You're in a SISTERhood...you protect her before any other Greek no matter what.
Can we chalk up this new wave of Pillow Talk 2.0 to the floodgates being left open for who were letting in our orgs? Has loyalty become an optional lesson when teaching new members and potential Sorors how to govern themselves? Are more women seeking MRS by way of XYZ nowadays or is this Neo only seeing the fervent actions of people excited about being Greek?
I just want to see women rep their sorority in the proper manner because they are proud of what they have accomplished and what they stand for, not because the fraters love it *shrugs*
Soon as I hit college at the tender age of 18 I always dreamed of becoming a Delta. I loved what they did for the community as well as my personal upbringing, but the social aspect caught my eye as well. Just looking at how the Greeks interacted with each other made it look fun to be a successful college student. Then once I turned 23 I was given the opportunity of a lifetime to become a member so I was anxiously awaiting the exposure to the inside of being Greek.
And what a world it is.
[caption id="attachment_1529" align="alignright" width="259" caption="This is bad sorority behavior to the EXTREME, but don't think you're off the hook!"]
[/caption]Now don't get me wrong, soon as I got pinned I was ready to hit the ground running in service, but part of me still wanted to see if all that glitters in the social aspect is still gold. And outside of the usual Greeks overcompensating for what they lacked while on line (second chance pledgees are what I call them) I saw a whole "new" monster brewing....the MRS Sorority Chick.
We all know of at least one MRS Sorority Chick; shoot you might know a line/chapter of them. A group of thirsty chicks who saved up wads of money to wear letters and increase their chances of getting chose. The sorority chick that will steamroll past her Sorors to speak to her "frat" (the quotations are intentional for those whom it may apply). The sorority chick who has no issues selling out her Soror to get approval from the frats.
I've seen this in EVERY sorority as they interact with others and it disgusts me to no end. I know the dating scene is kind of tough and womenfolk are trying to get serenaded by her Sorors on her special day and all, but since when has it been okay to exchange sisterhood for a joint license plate?
One thing that pisses me off is that when I'm at a Greek function and there is a performance going on. Some of the sororities may cheer their Sorors on, yadda yadda yadda...but when the fraternities get on stage they go SICK. Seriously? Why are you cheering on the frats harder than YOUR OWN SORORS?! And then the choreography of these strolls along with your attire....ma'am. I understand that times are different from when people did strolls before, but synchronized stripping while representing your organization will never be the business. Who are you repping for; it can't be your Founders! I'm sure that every woman in a sorority has been taught the importance of sophistication and ladylike behavior, to hold yourself and your org in its highest esteem. Buttcheek isolation while holding up your hand sign is the exact opposite of that.
"Girl, bye the guys can be sexual in their strolls so we can too." Absolutely not. Double standards still apply; plus you shouldn't try to govern your actions in a SORORity based on a FRATERnity.
To be honest it feels as if a great deal of women with membership cards and a shield to lean on are more about the approval of men than their own Sorors. I mean, any time you blast your Soror in front of "your" frat (another intentional quote) to prove how "hard/made" you are you're doing the exact opposite of that....but you should know that already. I'm well aware of the bonds that some frats/sorors may share due to similar intensities of their intake process, but you NEVER forsake the bond you have with your Soror for that. Your loyalty is to her; you both share the same shield, say the same oath, wear the same letters/symbols. This mess should go without saying but looking at parched broads embarrassing their organization for the peen I guess it needs to be said. Yes there are guys who blast their frat and act the same way, but its more common amongst us ladies and it looks worse when we do it. You don't see guys skipping over their frat to speak to you, and if he does its only a matter of minutes before you see him in the center of a huddle with his frat. If you can't be loyal to your Soror why would he think you'd be loyal to him? You're in a SISTERhood...you protect her before any other Greek no matter what.
Can we chalk up this new wave of Pillow Talk 2.0 to the floodgates being left open for who were letting in our orgs? Has loyalty become an optional lesson when teaching new members and potential Sorors how to govern themselves? Are more women seeking MRS by way of XYZ nowadays or is this Neo only seeing the fervent actions of people excited about being Greek?
I just want to see women rep their sorority in the proper manner because they are proud of what they have accomplished and what they stand for, not because the fraters love it *shrugs*
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