Probate Season !

This is a phrase you may hear towards the end of the fall semester or during the middle/ending of spring semester. Different schools do probates differently. Some require all shows to be on the same day, other require all lines to be out the week before exams, it really just depends on the school. Probates are also called neophtye presentation shows where new members or lines are introduced to the campus. It is an extra special moment in your life when you finally make it and are able to show off your most recent accomplishment. I remember my probate like it was yesterday. There is no feeling like it! You have so much adrenaline rushing through you at once. Poppin out to do your part of a greeting or just giving your all when spitting information and hearing your family and friends all calling out your number! But the best part of it all was that moment i ripped off the top shirt to show those letters across my chest! I was so proud of myself in that very moment and i know those who were there supporting me were as well.

a world of its own...

Greek life is in a completely different world esp undergrad. They have their own lingo and "insiders" that you won't know unless you're greek or even in that same org. It takes some time to get used to esp if you've never been around greek life before college. you have different relationships within greek life which most people will attach a name to. you have different relationships within each org and chapter. and everything is so secretive. then there's greek rules that apply to gdi's or people who aren't greek. like don't dare make their sign or make their calling. and if they're strolling you better move out of their way! it's truly something you can't understand or get used to if you're not greek.

Do we even exist?

So I attend a PWI and I find it very interesting that the Black Greek Orgs or even the Latino or Asian sororities and fraternities are not recognized under the fraternity and sorority life at my school. I'm not exactly sure what those reasons are but I don't think it'll make me agree with that decision. When recruiting prospective students, the minority greek organizations go unrecognized as far as fraternity and sorority life. They do however mention the other council which oversees the other greek orgs on their website. That was thoughtful but I don't think it is enough. This kind of makes me wonder if they take the minority greeks seriously. We do just as much if not more work than the other greek orgs. The main thing they have over the minority greeks is numbers. I know the intake processes are different but is that the only reason we aren't or can't be recognized under fraternity and sorority life? I could be over thinking this whole situation but these are just some of my thoughts...

Lets take a step back...

I realized I jumped straight into this topic without really giving any background on myself. If you haven't figured out, yes I am greek. For purposes of this assignment, I think it's better if I remain as neutral as possible but I am a member of one of the D9 sororities. I had very little knowledge about greek life because of my participation in certain activities in middle and high school. Those activities plus some of the women in my life and the lessons I learned from them helped influence my decision to join my organization. I joined my sorority during my sophomore year, Spring 2012 to be exact and that has been one of the best decisions I've made in my college career, and even in my life. My sorority has brought out the very best in me. It somehow gave me this extra boost of confidence to step out of my comfort zone and take on more leadership roles, etc. Trying to understand greek life is a very complex process. Going into this situation there are a few things you need to know. One, discretion is key for basically all of the orgs. Two, RESEARCH! You may go into college thinking you know which org you want to join but you need to do your research on them all to make sure the org you join is the right org for you. There is no flip flopping once you've expressed interest.

"Greek Life" in the Media

People who do not know first hand about greek life will probably make assumptions about it based on a few popular t.v. shows and movies like The Parkers, Moesha,House of Payne, Drumline, and Stomp the Yard. Outside looking in you wouldn't give much thought to how accurate greek life is portrayed in the movie. However greeks do! I've personally had conversations with greeks about these movies. Greek life is often portrayed as a social activity when it is so much more. The stepping and partying is just a very small aspect of greek life. Another aspect of greek life that is commonly portrayed is the "pledging process." When you see these things in movies, greek life can kind of look like a negative thing. In these tv shows and movies names of the different sororities and fraternities are altered but typically keep similar colors or fulfill common stereootypes which leads viewers (who know about greek life) to assume which org they're portraying. First, all of the D9 have a zero tolerance for hazing. Secondly, D9 orgs do so much more outside of social activities. Although I can't name specifically what each org does, I can speak for my own sorority. We are about sisterhood, scholarship, and service. We are very active in our communities all across the world. My sorority comes together to make a difference in this world and have been doing so since our founding. It is offensive to not see that being put in the movies and tv shows. Stepping and partying is fun don't get me wrong, but we work much harder than we play! I don't see anything wrong with showing greek life in the movies about college BUT if you're going to show the fun we have also show the work we do.

I was on facebook one day and my cousin, who goes to ODU, sends me a screenshot from an ODU confessions page. What I read completely pissed me off. It was the most ignorant racist bs I've read in a very long time. How could you speak so negatively about something you know NOTHING about?! It may just be my personal opinion, but I don't feel like you'll ever truly understand D9 if you are not a part of one of the organizations. With that being said, DON'T SPEAK on what you DON'T KNOW! The fact that this person felt completely comfortable writing this and even the person who operates the page feeling comfortable enough posting this on that page just completely blows me. There were many things about this post that was just stupid! "Tribal dance shit" you say. "Slaves dance in public" you say. Go EDUCATE yourself! Whether it's strolling, party hopping, stepping, whatever, there is PURPOSE behind it. Of course I could sit here and tell you the importance of these aspects of our orgs but that would be too easy. Wake up and take a look around. Even with such ignorance still alive in people today, we can't and won't be stopped!