07.02.08
Greek Life Is Overrated. Yes. I said It.
Greek Life is overrated. Yes, I said it. Let the outrage begin. Tip a few cars. Look for an honesty box that doesn’t exist for you to throw in anonymous hate messages. It’s ok. You will live. Now while I’m content with the decisions I’ve made, I’m not content with the state of Black Greek Letter Oranizations across the United States. Or maybe, just maybe I’m not content with the individuals that decide to join them…particularly at the undergraduate level. I know. More outrage and anger. Again, you will be ok.
But Slim, didn’t you join a fraternity in college?
Yes. I did. And if you were to see me or you have seen me, your assumption as to which one would be grossly incorrect. I don’t brag. I don’t wear colors or letters everywhere I go. I don’t have a brand on my arm, calf, chest, or ass. Not because I abhor them, but because I didn’t think it was necessary. Besides, it wasn’t worth the risk of having a bad keloid that looked like a underdeveloped baby hanging off my arm. But, I am still prone to strolling when certain songs come on. I do have a shiny license plate border that shows my affiliation, and I will throw up the sign when appropriate.
Is that all you do? No community service?
I have my whole life to do community service. When I leave my apartment everyday and come home in a suit, I’m doing community service. I don’t need to do a food drive or work at a homeless shelter just for the sake of doing it. I’d rather be involved with something I am passionate about so that I can give 100% effort. I’m young. I have priorities. I like track and field, and I like writing. I’m actively involved in both, plus I have a job. My downtime is for my sanity, not to be involved with something just because. See my entry on Only Children to understand what I’m talking about.
So why is Greek Life overrated?
It’s watered down. “Networking” and “making connects” has taken a back seat to “being cool” and being able to jump in a stroll line at a party or another social function. Driving from campus to campus to attend parties does not count as professional networking. Going to Howard homecoming to see a step show and party does not count as professional networking. Letting off a resounding collective roll call sound does not count as professional networking. This is my problem with many an undergraduate. At the graduate membership level, people have families and jobs to worry about. Throw in attendance at Church and time is all the more limited, so people have to make the best of it. Additionally, as you get older, the impact of your decisions becomes greater. So people are better off making good ones.
**Attending social functions is crucial because you do meet a lot of other people, but you learn limited information about them and usually the contact thereafter is limited. Plus a lot of these functions put the proceeds toward a good cause. And I’m sure some women/girls find their husbands at these events. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing…**
So where does the overrated part come in?
People feel pressured to join for whatever reason. Some people go through great lengths to join an organization, then do absolutely nothing other than what’s stereotypically expected. There should be no pressure. It should be a personal decision reached without the influence of others. You shouldn’t join a BGLO to be involved in the community. You should be doing that anyway. You shouldn’t join a BGLO because you want to start networking. You should be doing that anyway. You don’t join a BGLO because you want to be extraordinary. You should be extraordinary already. Simple as that.
The Last Thing That Drives Me Nuts…Frat Courage & Sorority Esteem
Some people get a little bursty when they cross. I can always tell the individuals that struggled with themselves internally, because when they became Greek they suddenly had a lot more testosterone and courage. Or, they suddenly thought their hair became less kinky and their face became a lot more pleasant. I’ve almost had to put a few young bursty individuals on the floor. I’ve also come very close to asking certain people “Have you realized you’re just regular?”
This is one of those topics I could go on and on about, telling anecdotes. Unfortunately, I have to work. Feel free to comment, without insulting me or specific organizations. I’m a little edgy today. Can’t you tell?
:D said,
July 24, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Wow, simply well put. These words are like music to my ears. Someone is freeing themselves from groupthink! I’m not part of BGLO but I am part of a GL. I don’t want to regurgitate what you said, but there is nothing special about it. The bonds you make with regular people are just as special, if not more special than with GL members. If feel if people are that insecure that they need to be in a GL to be validated, then they should’ve just stayed in high school for that crap. Now, I have a question: Do you think that BGLOs serve as an advantage for someone who came from the projects without a stable family or does the idea of being brainwashed instead of being free thinkers hinder them?
slimjackson said,
July 25, 2008 at 12:01 am
An advantage? Not at all. Sounds like you were watching the CNN documentary! In an ideal world, BGLOs are supposed to select people who have already had significant accomplishments, or the abilities to effectively contribute to the values of the organization. If someone came from the projects without a stable family, becoming Greek isn’t suddenly going to turn his or her life around. Unfortunately, some people look toward groups like this to compensate for the shortcomings of their lives. This is part of the reason people join gangs or other groups and become brainwashed. Unfortunately, BGLOs often fall in this category because of the stuff that happens when people congregate in numbers.
You can always tell the people who joined a BGLO for the right and wrong reasons. The people who joined for the wrong reasons are usually very extra when it comes to throwing up signs and wearing letters and sound offs. They are so excited to be a part of something beyond the time period that its acceptable (whatever that may be). They often become a completely new person, rather than the same person with new responsibilities. People who join for the right reasons are proud of their organization, but you’ll often find they were already involved in a lot and now have additional roles.
Undergrad life and post-grad life are different though. That whole group think/brainwash thing doesn’t fly in the real world, where significantly less people care what organization you were a part of and how many nights you spent in a creepy basement. People have more important things to worry about, or maybe that’s just me…
prometheustherebel said,
July 29, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Good and well thought out post. I was nervous when I read the title, however I think your points certainly derive from truth and experience. Well done.
slimjackson said,
July 30, 2008 at 11:04 am
My title for this entry accomplished it’s goal then! Thanks for the comment! I try to stay away from this topic, because of my own affiliation, but sometimes it just needs to be addressed.
Liz said,
July 31, 2008 at 8:27 am
First of all, what’s wrong with kinky hair? The more kinky the more “regular” you are? Don’t know how I feel about that analogy, but I digress.
While I agree and have seen a lot of what you talk about, I have to disagree about the service and networking aspect. You’re right, no one should join a BGLO in order to do community service. They should be doing it on their own anyways. However, many times there is power in numbers. Joining a BGLO is meant to enhance the service that you already do. There’s more hands to do the work so more people can be served and a bigger impact can be made. Also with numbers comes political clout. One person writing a letter to a Congressperson isn’t nearly as effective as 100,000+. When choosing an organization looking at the focus of their community service agenda and the methods used to carry it out is key. If you’re into raising money but don’t like to get your hands dirty, you’d probably choose one organization over another. Neither is better than the other (debatable, but that’s another topic), but one might be better for you.
As for networking, personally I can’t stand when people join BGLOs strictly for networking purposes. That’s selfish. Padding your contacts list so that you can call in favors in the future is lame. Networking is definitely an added benefit of being in an organization with tens to hundreds of thousands of college educated professionals, but it shouldn’t be the end all and be all. Nor should joining an organization be about trying to find friends/family/validation/cool points/etc. Although these things often are a side effect as well. Honestly, for a lot of Black Greeks joining their organization was a combination of feeling a fit with the goals, history, ideology, and people of a certain organization and also an unspeakable feeling of attraction to being a part of it. It’s very much so like a kid who’s just always known he wants to go to UNC one day. Sure the programs are great, the school has a great reputation, etc. but there’s also something in him that just feels meant to be a Tarheel.
While parties are not exactly the most professional of networking environments, it’s often the people we meet at these parties that become friends and later in life professional contacts. Black Greek Life is what you make it. You can sit on the sidelines or you can use it as an opportunity to change both your community and yourself for the better.
slimjackson said,
July 31, 2008 at 8:37 am
Liz,
I appreciate your well thought out comments. When I mentioned kinky hair, I was referring to specific individuals who have suddenly thought they were better than others because of the org. they joined. With regard to your other points, it sounds like we agree on a good portion of stuff. You’re representing what it is supposed to be about and I see all those points as well. However, I sometimes feel the number of people who share your views on what it is supposed to be about are in the minority. We should all be agents of change, though it doesn’t necessarily work out that way. And quite frankly, a lot of the purpose gets lost at undergraduate level. We all know a good number of people that crossed and didn’t finish college. That shouldn’t happen if we are supposed to all be scholarly and about the business, but there will always be casualties. Once again, thanks for your comments.
prometheustherebel said,
July 31, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Liz and Slim, I think you’re both right. I will say that I have personally witnessed how most people in BGLOs trivialize the experience. One should job because of the deep history and ideologoical framework instead of for the sole purpose of social clout, so to speak. This, of course, is what I would call an unfortunate byproduct. We as people have very fragile egos and once we get some sort of form/recognition many of us begin to act out to gain further attention. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard many fraternity men focus on trying to ‘tap’ this girl or what not and how many women are allowing themselves to be blinded by some sort of ‘rock star’ persona. It’s really sad that this type of behavior is more often the norm and that parties turn out to be the most popular events and service projects tend to fall by the wayside. BGLOs really need to re-evaluate membership standards currently in place. Misogyny and lackluster academic peformance have no place in organizations that emphasize integrity and good character.
Bombie =] said,
May 2, 2009 at 2:05 am
I am a senior in high school and I decided to do my senior project on BGLO’s. The points all of you bring up are all very interesting, It is nice to get some not so positive perspectives on people’s black Greek experience. Your honesty is refreshing because I find that allot of people sugar coat the negatives of BLGO’s, and elongate their positives.
My question is where BLGO’s went so wrong?