Is It For Me?
18 replies
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11362 views
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Started by C Nels
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Nov 2007
I'll say this and I'm speaking generally, not talking about or referring to any specific person.
If you want to know if an organization is for you, get the basics first. A lot of folk will say "I want something other than information on a website from their National Headquarters, they don't tell you everything! I want the real stuff!" 
Huh?! The websites tell you all you need to know to join an organization; BASIC history, their mission and membership requirements. The only thing the websites don't have are campus requirements and those vary, you can get that info by contacting your respective school, normally the Office of Student Affairs. Want to know more? Read the history book of the organization(s) that you're interested in. Reading "The Divine Nine" by Lawrence Ross will also give you a good start. All of these books can be found in a library.
Once you have those basics, get some personal perspective, talk to a member of an org, ANY ORG, and see if they are willing to offer any words of advice in becoming a member of the greek family. Don't wait for someone to approach you b/c we don't know everyone who's interested. You don't have to broadcast your affinity or dislike for an organization to the public, just pull somebody to the side and have a conversation.
If you're on campus and are interested in a particular organization, attend their events. You don't have to be all in their faces about it, "I'M HERE!! 
It's me! Remember me?!" Speaking when passing is good enough. They don't have to know your name, but let them see your face. Asking questions, lending a hand, participating, etc.
And lastly, no one that you've just met can tell you which org is right for you. Sure, we can talk up our respective organization, making it sound like the best thing since sliced bread and tell you "XYZ is for you! 
" But you have to make that final decision. It is a lifelong committment and someone else shouldn't be dictating it for you.
It's not that greeks have an elitist attitude(though some individual members do), think everything is secret and/or don't want to share our knowledge. It's just that we've put in the work to get where we are and expect you to do the same.
That's my .06 cents, take it how you want!
"Can you get on my level?" 
Huh?! The websites tell you all you need to know to join an organization; BASIC history, their mission and membership requirements. The only thing the websites don't have are campus requirements and those vary, you can get that info by contacting your respective school, normally the Office of Student Affairs. Want to know more? Read the history book of the organization(s) that you're interested in. Reading "The Divine Nine" by Lawrence Ross will also give you a good start. All of these books can be found in a library.
Once you have those basics, get some personal perspective, talk to a member of an org, ANY ORG, and see if they are willing to offer any words of advice in becoming a member of the greek family. Don't wait for someone to approach you b/c we don't know everyone who's interested. You don't have to broadcast your affinity or dislike for an organization to the public, just pull somebody to the side and have a conversation.
If you're on campus and are interested in a particular organization, attend their events. You don't have to be all in their faces about it, "I'M HERE!! It's me! Remember me?!" Speaking when passing is good enough. They don't have to know your name, but let them see your face. Asking questions, lending a hand, participating, etc.
And lastly, no one that you've just met can tell you which org is right for you. Sure, we can talk up our respective organization, making it sound like the best thing since sliced bread and tell you "XYZ is for you! " But you have to make that final decision. It is a lifelong committment and someone else shouldn't be dictating it for you.
It's not that greeks have an elitist attitude(though some individual members do), think everything is secret and/or don't want to share our knowledge. It's just that we've put in the work to get where we are and expect you to do the same.
That's my .06 cents, take it how you want!
"Can you get on my level?"
#4
Reply
**** this reminds me of Barbershop Shop 2 with cedric the entertainer with queen latifah "You need a hint, you need a clue??"" lol continue
Great Post Boi Boi. I'll be picking up "The Divine Nine" tommorow.
#7
Reply
Thank you for posting this!!!! Even though there will STILL be people asking dumb questions in this forum...oh well...
C_Nels wrote:It's not that greeks have an elitist attitude(though some individual members do), think everything is secret and/or don't want to share our knowledge. It's just that we've put in the work to get where we are and expect you to do the same.
Anyway, it is a good post. I'm trying to figure out what do most people want to know that isn't on the national websites. The national websites give all the information people need to know. I guess people want to know what goes on when people are on line. Most people tell that anyway, even though they aren't supposed to. So it is really easy to find out about the pledging experience. The key is to not ask the wrong person or to give away your interest in a particular organization. So if the person isn't your best friend or a relative, it is best not to ask certain questions because that individual might reveal what your key interest is.
One thing that was questionable to me, in your advice, was that you should go up to a person of the organization and ask questions. I don't think that is wise to do that. It has to be in the right timing. If you know that they aren't going to have a line until the next year, it is best to go up to that person closer to when they are having a line (such as the semester before). It wouldn't make any sense to go up to them a year in advance for them to be watching you, or have the potential to haze you for a whole year before they even have a line. Hey, lets keep it real! Not all the times those people are approachable if they think you want to pledge their particular org. Some of them will be nice but then you will have some idiots too. So you pretty much have to play it by ear.
but better because my suit is Black & Gold. 
