Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of people on this board who simply hate greek life and can't imagine why anyone would do it. Got news for you, many of them don't even have kids in college and once they do, their kid may well be interested themselves. Why? because it's a way to make a large college smaller, to find "your people" which we are always talking about on this board. It's much easier to find your people in a group of 200 sorority sisters, as opposed to 15,000 under grads.
It's also just fun. They have an active social life, lots of parties and activities including charity events, and there are lots of leadership opportunities.
And again, there is a huge emphasis on diversity in greek life these days. These are not white blond girls anymore, though I can't speak for the SEC schools. My DDs house represents every ethnicity on campus and is a home for all their members, from the studious to the party girl and everyone in between. She has met a group of girls that she really enjoys being around (especially the older girls) and never would have met them had it not been for her sorority.
In reality, it's not much different than any other social club or even sports, or academic etc. Yes the rush process is tough, and that's because there are SO many people interested. When you have 15 houses and a thousand people interested, you are going to have to have a selection process.
Actually, my kids have always steered clear of groups and organizations that cause drama, treat people unfairly, and judge others based on superficial traits. They have done this since ES, when they quickly realized the Queen Bees were downright mean to many kids and excluded them and made fun of them. While my kid was not excluded, they were smart enough to realize this was wrong and didn't join those groups. Similarly in MS and HS, steered clear of the "mean girls" and "popular crowd" where your status could change daily. She watched a good friend go thru it in HS and just supported her; watched the friend wander around alone at Homecoming because she'd been ditched by the "popular friends" yet wouldn't/couldn't talk to her other group of friends 4 of them for fear of being further excluded from the popular group. My kid is nice enough to remain good friends with this girl, and just be there when she "has the time for her and that group of friends", but they all hurt watching the friend deal with the ups/downs/meanness of the popular group and wish she could see she doesn't have to do that to herself.
I wonder if your kids inherited your superiority complex? The women in my sorority weren’t half as judgmental as you demonstrated yourself to be in one post.
HA NP, I was JUST coming on here to say how the anti-greek people in this thread are some of the most judgemental people I have ever seen, with one heck of a superiority complex.
As someone what was in a popular fraternity at a rich southern school, I’d call the anti-Greek people entirely rational. My experience of Greek life was that it was abusive, exclusionary, sexually predatory, racist, and dangerously drug and alcohol fueled. I have no problem with people judging Greek organizations.
So with your two posts you have made PP's point. You are anti-Greek, judgmental and one heck of a superiority complex. Got it.
And here’s the gaslighting I mentioned. I say “I experienced racist, criminal, sexually predatory behavior.” PP responds “You have a superiority complex.”
Thanks for proving my point.
Then you should have reported them to the proper authorities. You could have experienced all of that and done the right thing. You being called judgmental and told you have a superiority complex is from you inferring that labeling the whole based off of your experience is acceptable, it is not. In the end, you accepted the bid, stayed long enough to experience bad things which says a lot about you and your decision making.
Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of people on this board who simply hate greek life and can't imagine why anyone would do it. Got news for you, many of them don't even have kids in college and once they do, their kid may well be interested themselves. Why? because it's a way to make a large college smaller, to find "your people" which we are always talking about on this board. It's much easier to find your people in a group of 200 sorority sisters, as opposed to 15,000 under grads.
It's also just fun. They have an active social life, lots of parties and activities including charity events, and there are lots of leadership opportunities.
And again, there is a huge emphasis on diversity in greek life these days. These are not white blond girls anymore, though I can't speak for the SEC schools. My DDs house represents every ethnicity on campus and is a home for all their members, from the studious to the party girl and everyone in between. She has met a group of girls that she really enjoys being around (especially the older girls) and never would have met them had it not been for her sorority.
In reality, it's not much different than any other social club or even sports, or academic etc. Yes the rush process is tough, and that's because there are SO many people interested. When you have 15 houses and a thousand people interested, you are going to have to have a selection process.
Actually, my kids have always steered clear of groups and organizations that cause drama, treat people unfairly, and judge others based on superficial traits. They have done this since ES, when they quickly realized the Queen Bees were downright mean to many kids and excluded them and made fun of them. While my kid was not excluded, they were smart enough to realize this was wrong and didn't join those groups. Similarly in MS and HS, steered clear of the "mean girls" and "popular crowd" where your status could change daily. She watched a good friend go thru it in HS and just supported her; watched the friend wander around alone at Homecoming because she'd been ditched by the "popular friends" yet wouldn't/couldn't talk to her other group of friends 4 of them for fear of being further excluded from the popular group. My kid is nice enough to remain good friends with this girl, and just be there when she "has the time for her and that group of friends", but they all hurt watching the friend deal with the ups/downs/meanness of the popular group and wish she could see she doesn't have to do that to herself.
I wonder if your kids inherited your superiority complex? The women in my sorority weren’t half as judgmental as you demonstrated yourself to be in one post.
Nothing judgmental at all. These are simply the facts of what was happening. And yes, HS students who would ditch a person from their group if they "talk/associate" with kids who are not part of the "popular crowd" are nasty, mean kids. My kid and their friends literally watched their good friend wandering around ALONE at Homecoming but too afraid to associate with them, despite their best attempts. They witness this everyday at school as well, but yet this friend will Hang with them outside school (when schedule allows), went on a "senior getaway" with them, just not during the prized senior week. Sorry for you if you view this as normal, but it's not.
Similarly, if you think the queen bees who start controlling groups and being downright mean by excluding other girls in ES are normal, then you have issues. My kids were taught to be inclusive and kind. Not everyone is apparently.
Holy lack of self awareness!
Can you expand upon your criticism of pp's comment? Is it that you want more tolerance of intolerance? Less judging of a judgmental process? Not to put words in your mouth but would like to understand.
Anyone who broadly stereotypes based on perceived social group is judgmental. Pp continues to insist that her children are perfect and any child who is popular is mean and exclusionary. It doesn’t take much emotional intelligence to see this in her posts. Life simply isn’t that black and white, and even if it was, I personally find her need to put down other children while describing her own as perfect odd. Adults shouldn’t be so invested in the k-12 social scene.
You need better reading comprehension.
Never did I say my kid is "perfect", far from it. However, if my kid were to be mean to others I would work hard to put a stop to it, by educating my kid/having discussions. It is not acceptable to allow your 2nd/3rd grader to be mean to others and exclude others, encourage others to not play with/associate with another 2nd/3rd grader. My kids knew they didn't have to like everyone, but that being mean is not acceptable. We worked hard to teach our kids to try to include everyone. I also witnessed these events/behaviors while actively volunteering during ES, so it's not just a 7yo story or a stereotype, I've witnessed it. It's called parenting. If you think those behaviors are acceptable and just a normal part of life, then I feel sorry for your kids.
Also I never said any child who is popular is "mean and exclusionary". However, providing details of real life facts of what my kids have witnessed is not "judgmental". It's facts, and not a stereotype.
When my daughter and 2 of her 3 best friends come home from homecoming and spend an hour discussing how sad they were for the 3rd friend who seemed so sad/miserable at homecoming (was crying at homecoming and left to wander alone and wouldn't join them), I will listen to the discussion. Yes, I know that my kid and the other 2 friends would never ditch another friend at any event, no matter what happened. That isn't me saying my kid is perfect (she's not). It's me stating my teen/young adult has grown up with empathy and the ability to be nice. If that bothers you so much, maybe you need to look deep and try to understand why it does.
FWIW, I don't care if my kid is "popular" or not. What matters most to me is that my kid is a genuinely nice person with empathy for others, even when it's not the "easy choice". So yes, I am proud that time and time again, when my kid has witnessed drama (my kid is a competitive dancer, so that ramps up the potential for drama on a daily basis), she has almost always just stayed out of it and happily supported those who were being "pushed aside". So yes, I am proud that I've helped raise a genuinely nice, empathetic young adult who is a joy to be around (well most of the time, as long as it's past noon )
Go back and read your prior posts again.
This is the same lady that said her daughter and her friend watched another friend wander around alone at homecoming and did nothing....but now she says she's proud of her daughter's kindness and empathy while also being judgmental and lacking empathy. Amusing.
Once again, they didn't do nothing. They tried to get friend to hang out with them, but the friend wouldn't because that would ruin any future with this "popular group"---she pushed them away. So they can't force her to join them. It had been like this at HS since 9th grade...friend won't associate with anyone outside of the "crowd" while at school/school events.
PP what does this have to do with being in a sorority? If I were to compare my DD (in a sorority) to yours, I could tell you they are probably VERY similar. My DD was not in the popular group, nor even the second popular group, and she did not care at all. She had a small group of friends that were well liked and known to be nice and smart, but not invited to the HS parties really until summer after graduation. They are really good, smart, sweet girls who would never exclude anyone, and who have dealt with mean girls themselves. So what you're trying to say is that because my DD is in a sorority, she is not as good of a person as yours? She is not a nice, sweet smart girl who tries to be a friend to all? How do you know this?
What you do not understand is that there is a WIDE range of girls who join sororities. Yes, some wealthy white girls absolutely but there are all diversities in many of the houses. Of 15 options at UVA for instance, there are probably 4-5 that would be a great fit for your DD. There is literally a house for every type of person. My DS is in a fraternity, and had literally never been drunk (even buzzed) until May of his freshman year when HE decided he wanted to know what it felt like. Does that sound like the typical "frat boy"? He has also had a GF for over two years who he intends to marry. But based off your judgment, he is not a good person. Do you see why what you're saying is wrong?
I went to a big SEC school in the South in the '80s. I went to rush on a lark, just to see what it was all about. I hoped to meet people along the way. I had few expectations I would be picked. I was just average looking, but had great grades and graduated in the top 10 of my 900 person high school class. I was a bit quiet.
To my surprise, I found the perfect match for me. And it is one of the best known sororities in the U.S. I loved it and have lifelong friends from the time. There were a few rough spots dealing with 100 other strong personalities, but overall I found it such a welcoming community and it gave me a home base among the almost 35,000 students. I hung out with Greeks and non-Greeks. There was no exclusion. But there was endless support and a whole lot of great times spending time with very talented, smart women. These women are now doctors, journalists, university professors, teachers, lawyers, etc.
I was able to network with this group my whole life. When I moved to new cities, I found the alum group, and quickly had a home base of local people who could guide me to schools, doctors, dentists, etc.
One of the best choices I made in life, it turns out.
Yet this positive, logical and thoughtful response will be met with ire and vitriol with all of the usual tropes that go with that, it's a shame.
One person’s experience in the 80s.
Yet those of us with negative experiences are dismissed as trope. I lived the trope. It’s painful as hell to watch your daughter hurt at a time that should be full of fun and excitement. And rather than believe people have different experiences, you insult mine.
NP. Isn't that just life? Greek life was not for you. That's OK. It was a great experience for me. We're all different. You know what wasn't for me? The nursing major. It was painful. I had little in common with my classmates. The instructors showed no mercy! I dreaded the academic content and the work. So I dropped it and switched to something that fit me better. No drama, no hang wringing. I'm sure it was "painful as hell" for my mom to watch me hurt. But again...that's just part of life.
I'm curious how you were different from the other nursing students.
Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of people on this board who simply hate greek life and can't imagine why anyone would do it. Got news for you, many of them don't even have kids in college and once they do, their kid may well be interested themselves. Why? because it's a way to make a large college smaller, to find "your people" which we are always talking about on this board. It's much easier to find your people in a group of 200 sorority sisters, as opposed to 15,000 under grads.
It's also just fun. They have an active social life, lots of parties and activities including charity events, and there are lots of leadership opportunities.
And again, there is a huge emphasis on diversity in greek life these days. These are not white blond girls anymore, though I can't speak for the SEC schools. My DDs house represents every ethnicity on campus and is a home for all their members, from the studious to the party girl and everyone in between. She has met a group of girls that she really enjoys being around (especially the older girls) and never would have met them had it not been for her sorority.
In reality, it's not much different than any other social club or even sports, or academic etc. Yes the rush process is tough, and that's because there are SO many people interested. When you have 15 houses and a thousand people interested, you are going to have to have a selection process.
Actually, my kids have always steered clear of groups and organizations that cause drama, treat people unfairly, and judge others based on superficial traits. They have done this since ES, when they quickly realized the Queen Bees were downright mean to many kids and excluded them and made fun of them. While my kid was not excluded, they were smart enough to realize this was wrong and didn't join those groups. Similarly in MS and HS, steered clear of the "mean girls" and "popular crowd" where your status could change daily. She watched a good friend go thru it in HS and just supported her; watched the friend wander around alone at Homecoming because she'd been ditched by the "popular friends" yet wouldn't/couldn't talk to her other group of friends 4 of them for fear of being further excluded from the popular group. My kid is nice enough to remain good friends with this girl, and just be there when she "has the time for her and that group of friends", but they all hurt watching the friend deal with the ups/downs/meanness of the popular group and wish she could see she doesn't have to do that to herself.
I wonder if your kids inherited your superiority complex? The women in my sorority weren’t half as judgmental as you demonstrated yourself to be in one post.
Nothing judgmental at all. These are simply the facts of what was happening. And yes, HS students who would ditch a person from their group if they "talk/associate" with kids who are not part of the "popular crowd" are nasty, mean kids. My kid and their friends literally watched their good friend wandering around ALONE at Homecoming but too afraid to associate with them, despite their best attempts. They witness this everyday at school as well, but yet this friend will Hang with them outside school (when schedule allows), went on a "senior getaway" with them, just not during the prized senior week. Sorry for you if you view this as normal, but it's not.
Similarly, if you think the queen bees who start controlling groups and being downright mean by excluding other girls in ES are normal, then you have issues. My kids were taught to be inclusive and kind. Not everyone is apparently.
Holy lack of self awareness!
Can you expand upon your criticism of pp's comment? Is it that you want more tolerance of intolerance? Less judging of a judgmental process? Not to put words in your mouth but would like to understand.
Anyone who broadly stereotypes based on perceived social group is judgmental. Pp continues to insist that her children are perfect and any child who is popular is mean and exclusionary. It doesn’t take much emotional intelligence to see this in her posts. Life simply isn’t that black and white, and even if it was, I personally find her need to put down other children while describing her own as perfect odd. Adults shouldn’t be so invested in the k-12 social scene.
You need better reading comprehension.
Never did I say my kid is "perfect", far from it. However, if my kid were to be mean to others I would work hard to put a stop to it, by educating my kid/having discussions. It is not acceptable to allow your 2nd/3rd grader to be mean to others and exclude others, encourage others to not play with/associate with another 2nd/3rd grader. My kids knew they didn't have to like everyone, but that being mean is not acceptable. We worked hard to teach our kids to try to include everyone. I also witnessed these events/behaviors while actively volunteering during ES, so it's not just a 7yo story or a stereotype, I've witnessed it. It's called parenting. If you think those behaviors are acceptable and just a normal part of life, then I feel sorry for your kids.
Also I never said any child who is popular is "mean and exclusionary". However, providing details of real life facts of what my kids have witnessed is not "judgmental". It's facts, and not a stereotype.
When my daughter and 2 of her 3 best friends come home from homecoming and spend an hour discussing how sad they were for the 3rd friend who seemed so sad/miserable at homecoming (was crying at homecoming and left to wander alone and wouldn't join them), I will listen to the discussion. Yes, I know that my kid and the other 2 friends would never ditch another friend at any event, no matter what happened. That isn't me saying my kid is perfect (she's not). It's me stating my teen/young adult has grown up with empathy and the ability to be nice. If that bothers you so much, maybe you need to look deep and try to understand why it does.
FWIW, I don't care if my kid is "popular" or not. What matters most to me is that my kid is a genuinely nice person with empathy for others, even when it's not the "easy choice". So yes, I am proud that time and time again, when my kid has witnessed drama (my kid is a competitive dancer, so that ramps up the potential for drama on a daily basis), she has almost always just stayed out of it and happily supported those who were being "pushed aside". So yes, I am proud that I've helped raise a genuinely nice, empathetic young adult who is a joy to be around (well most of the time, as long as it's past noon )
Go back and read your prior posts again.
This is the same lady that said her daughter and her friend watched another friend wander around alone at homecoming and did nothing....but now she says she's proud of her daughter's kindness and empathy while also being judgmental and lacking empathy. Amusing.
Once again, they didn't do nothing. They tried to get friend to hang out with them, but the friend wouldn't because that would ruin any future with this "popular group"---she pushed them away. So they can't force her to join them. It had been like this at HS since 9th grade...friend won't associate with anyone outside of the "crowd" while at school/school events.
PP what does this have to do with being in a sorority? If I were to compare my DD (in a sorority) to yours, I could tell you they are probably VERY similar. My DD was not in the popular group, nor even the second popular group, and she did not care at all. She had a small group of friends that were well liked and known to be nice and smart, but not invited to the HS parties really until summer after graduation. They are really good, smart, sweet girls who would never exclude anyone, and who have dealt with mean girls themselves. So what you're trying to say is that because my DD is in a sorority, she is not as good of a person as yours? She is not a nice, sweet smart girl who tries to be a friend to all? How do you know this?
What you do not understand is that there is a WIDE range of girls who join sororities. Yes, some wealthy white girls absolutely but there are all diversities in many of the houses. Of 15 options at UVA for instance, there are probably 4-5 that would be a great fit for your DD. There is literally a house for every type of person. My DS is in a fraternity, and had literally never been drunk (even buzzed) until May of his freshman year when HE decided he wanted to know what it felt like. Does that sound like the typical "frat boy"? He has also had a GF for over two years who he intends to marry. But based off your judgment, he is not a good person. Do you see why what you're saying is wrong?
I went to a big SEC school in the South in the '80s. I went to rush on a lark, just to see what it was all about. I hoped to meet people along the way. I had few expectations I would be picked. I was just average looking, but had great grades and graduated in the top 10 of my 900 person high school class. I was a bit quiet.
To my surprise, I found the perfect match for me. And it is one of the best known sororities in the U.S. I loved it and have lifelong friends from the time. There were a few rough spots dealing with 100 other strong personalities, but overall I found it such a welcoming community and it gave me a home base among the almost 35,000 students. I hung out with Greeks and non-Greeks. There was no exclusion. But there was endless support and a whole lot of great times spending time with very talented, smart women. These women are now doctors, journalists, university professors, teachers, lawyers, etc.
I was able to network with this group my whole life. When I moved to new cities, I found the alum group, and quickly had a home base of local people who could guide me to schools, doctors, dentists, etc.
One of the best choices I made in life, it turns out.
Yet this positive, logical and thoughtful response will be met with ire and vitriol with all of the usual tropes that go with that, it's a shame.
One person’s experience in the 80s.
Yet those of us with negative experiences are dismissed as trope. I lived the trope. It’s painful as hell to watch your daughter hurt at a time that should be full of fun and excitement. And rather than believe people have different experiences, you insult mine.
NP. Isn't that just life? Greek life was not for you. That's OK. It was a great experience for me. We're all different. You know what wasn't for me? The nursing major. It was painful. I had little in common with my classmates. The instructors showed no mercy! I dreaded the academic content and the work. So I dropped it and switched to something that fit me better. No drama, no hang wringing. I'm sure it was "painful as hell" for my mom to watch me hurt. But again...that's just part of life.
I'm curious how you were different from the other nursing students.
Anonymous wrote:OP there are lots of people on this board who simply hate greek life and can't imagine why anyone would do it. Got news for you, many of them don't even have kids in college and once they do, their kid may well be interested themselves. Why? because it's a way to make a large college smaller, to find "your people" which we are always talking about on this board. It's much easier to find your people in a group of 200 sorority sisters, as opposed to 15,000 under grads.
It's also just fun. They have an active social life, lots of parties and activities including charity events, and there are lots of leadership opportunities.
And again, there is a huge emphasis on diversity in greek life these days. These are not white blond girls anymore, though I can't speak for the SEC schools. My DDs house represents every ethnicity on campus and is a home for all their members, from the studious to the party girl and everyone in between. She has met a group of girls that she really enjoys being around (especially the older girls) and never would have met them had it not been for her sorority.
In reality, it's not much different than any other social club or even sports, or academic etc. Yes the rush process is tough, and that's because there are SO many people interested. When you have 15 houses and a thousand people interested, you are going to have to have a selection process.
Actually, my kids have always steered clear of groups and organizations that cause drama, treat people unfairly, and judge others based on superficial traits. They have done this since ES, when they quickly realized the Queen Bees were downright mean to many kids and excluded them and made fun of them. While my kid was not excluded, they were smart enough to realize this was wrong and didn't join those groups. Similarly in MS and HS, steered clear of the "mean girls" and "popular crowd" where your status could change daily. She watched a good friend go thru it in HS and just supported her; watched the friend wander around alone at Homecoming because she'd been ditched by the "popular friends" yet wouldn't/couldn't talk to her other group of friends 4 of them for fear of being further excluded from the popular group. My kid is nice enough to remain good friends with this girl, and just be there when she "has the time for her and that group of friends", but they all hurt watching the friend deal with the ups/downs/meanness of the popular group and wish she could see she doesn't have to do that to herself.
I wonder if your kids inherited your superiority complex? The women in my sorority weren’t half as judgmental as you demonstrated yourself to be in one post.
HA NP, I was JUST coming on here to say how the anti-greek people in this thread are some of the most judgemental people I have ever seen, with one heck of a superiority complex.
As someone what was in a popular fraternity at a rich southern school, I’d call the anti-Greek people entirely rational. My experience of Greek life was that it was abusive, exclusionary, sexually predatory, racist, and dangerously drug and alcohol fueled. I have no problem with people judging Greek organizations.
So with your two posts you have made PP's point. You are anti-Greek, judgmental and one heck of a superiority complex. Got it.
And here’s the gaslighting I mentioned. I say “I experienced racist, criminal, sexually predatory behavior.” PP responds “You have a superiority complex.”
Thanks for proving my point.
Did you report the behavior to police? The school?
Anonymous wrote:I guess it’s like, why would you willingly subject yourself to joining an organization that will only attract negative attention and assumptions about your character for the rest of your life?
Anonymous wrote:I guess it’s like, why would you willingly subject yourself to joining an organization that will only attract negative attention and assumptions about your character for the rest of your life?
Says who? This isn't my experience or my daughter's experience. She was in a sorority and found it to be a great part of her college years, even helping her some with her pre-med stuff. It gave her driven, like-minded friends which was invaluable as they went through the very stressful application period and tough classes like organic chemistry. She gained valuable leadership and service experience that she was able to talk about in her medical school applications. She feels it made her a more well-rounded person. Obviously being in Greek life wasn't what got her into medical school, but admissions and hiring committees see frat/sorority leadership for applicants all the time. NBD. It's just treated like a club. Not sure why you are so sure it will "only attract negative attention and assumptions about your character for the rest of your life."
Anonymous wrote:Wow, the interns from the national office really jumped in all over this thread for PR.
Seriously. This is absurd. No one in real life loves Greek life as much as these people claim to. The astroturfing on DCUM is getting out of control.
And the people that hate Greek life would know this how? Sorry to disappoint, I’m a real person who had a great time as a member of a sorority and hope my daughter chooses to rush as well.
Anonymous wrote:Wow, the interns from the national office really jumped in all over this thread for PR.
Seriously. This is absurd. No one in real life loves Greek life as much as these people claim to. The astroturfing on DCUM is getting out of control.
And the people that hate Greek life would know this how? Sorry to disappoint, I’m a real person who had a great time as a member of a sorority and hope my daughter chooses to rush as well.
It’s just seen as terribly gauche. The equivalent to someone who, 30 years later, continues to brag about having been a cheerleader in middle school as if it were the highlight of their life. And that’s a generous comparison — a less generous comparison would be someone who’s just very proud of being a member of the KKK. I’m sure 70 years ago, it was all the rage, too.
Anonymous wrote:Wow, the interns from the national office really jumped in all over this thread for PR.
Seriously. This is absurd. No one in real life loves Greek life as much as these people claim to. The astroturfing on DCUM is getting out of control.
And the people that hate Greek life would know this how? Sorry to disappoint, I’m a real person who had a great time as a member of a sorority and hope my daughter chooses to rush as well.
It’s just seen as terribly gauche. The equivalent to someone who, 30 years later, continues to brag about having been a cheerleader in middle school as if it were the highlight of their life. And that’s a generous comparison — a less generous comparison would be someone who’s just very proud of being a member of the KKK. I’m sure 70 years ago, it was all the rage, too.
The OP asked about rush. We are trying to give the OP some sense of what it's all about. Then people who know NOTHING about it come on here offer their uneducated opinion. No one goes around saying, oh I was in a sorority, did you know that? how cool am i? Honestly I think the only time I have spoken about it to people who I was not in a sorority with was to my boss because we were getting a fraternity client and he wanted to have someone who know what the heck it was about on the biz dev call. I've spoken about it with my kids and I told them it's their choice but I had a good experience. They also know from friends who have had a good experience, and others who have cautioned them. They made their own educated decisions.
No one is bragging. Its so frustrating that you people have to pile on when you know nothing. It was a question that you need not answer because you do not have the answer. Walk on by.
Anonymous wrote:Wow, the interns from the national office really jumped in all over this thread for PR.
Seriously. This is absurd. No one in real life loves Greek life as much as these people claim to. The astroturfing on DCUM is getting out of control.
And the people that hate Greek life would know this how? Sorry to disappoint, I’m a real person who had a great time as a member of a sorority and hope my daughter chooses to rush as well.
It’s just seen as terribly gauche. The equivalent to someone who, 30 years later, continues to brag about having been a cheerleader in middle school as if it were the highlight of their life. And that’s a generous comparison — a less generous comparison would be someone who’s just very proud of being a member of the KKK. I’m sure 70 years ago, it was all the rage, too.
I find you gauche and a bore. You are harping on something that does not concern you. Grandstand much?
Anonymous wrote:I would love it if someone could explain the appeal. I just finished Alexandra Robbins' book Pledged and could not find one redeeming feature, not even the ones she claimed. It seemed like a ridiculous bunch of shallow women keeping the middle school cafeteria going their whole lives because they had so little else to recommend them that they had to turn this rubbish into life-or-death. To say nothing of the rampant racism, debauchery, drunkenness, and promiscuity, while hypocritically claiming the exact opposite. I started the book hoping to get stereotypes dispelled and instead found them confirmed. Every sorority booster in the book seemed to have Stockholm syndrome. I felt like I was reading about alien life forms in a YA dystopian novel, it was so unrelatable.
The historically white national sororities, anyway. The independents and the minority ones sounded much more tolerable.
I came away with the same impression (I'm from Europe, so this wasn't part of my college experience and I can't speak to it firsthand). I will say that people I know in the US who took part in Black sorority and fraternity life did report hazing, though.
Anonymous wrote:I would love it if someone could explain the appeal. I just finished Alexandra Robbins' book Pledged and could not find one redeeming feature, not even the ones she claimed. It seemed like a ridiculous bunch of shallow women keeping the middle school cafeteria going their whole lives because they had so little else to recommend them that they had to turn this rubbish into life-or-death. To say nothing of the rampant racism, debauchery, drunkenness, and promiscuity, while hypocritically claiming the exact opposite. I started the book hoping to get stereotypes dispelled and instead found them confirmed. Every sorority booster in the book seemed to have Stockholm syndrome. I felt like I was reading about alien life forms in a YA dystopian novel, it was so unrelatable.
The historically white national sororities, anyway. The independents and the minority ones sounded much more tolerable.
I came away with the same impression (I'm from Europe, so this wasn't part of my college experience and I can't speak to it firsthand). I will say that people I know in the US who took part in Black sorority and fraternity life did report hazing, though.
its a well known fact that the ethnic sororities and fraternities are WAY worse with hazing than traditional ones.
Anonymous wrote:Wow, the interns from the national office really jumped in all over this thread for PR.
Seriously. This is absurd. No one in real life loves Greek life as much as these people claim to. The astroturfing on DCUM is getting out of control.
And the people that hate Greek life would know this how? Sorry to disappoint, I’m a real person who had a great time as a member of a sorority and hope my daughter chooses to rush as well.
It’s just seen as terribly gauche. The equivalent to someone who, 30 years later, continues to brag about having been a cheerleader in middle school as if it were the highlight of their life. And that’s a generous comparison — a less generous comparison would be someone who’s just very proud of being a member of the KKK. I’m sure 70 years ago, it was all the rage, too.
Invoking the KKK is a really bad look for your side of the argument. You people have some serious problems and not to be viewed in any serious way.
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