<p>I’m originally from New England. I went to college in the northeast and pledged a national sorority while I was at school. When I arrived as a freshman, I knew little about Greek life. Over the years as an alumna, I have joined my sorority’s alumnae associations in the South, the West, back in the Northeast (2 states), the Plains and now in the MidAtlantic area. They each have their own makeup of personalities and types and yet they have all been highly enjoyable memberships. Despite the myriad of chapters from which we hail, we all have the common bond of sisterhood.</p>
<p>Next January, my daughter is planning on going through sorority recruitment as will be many of her classmates. Girls (and boys) affiliate with Greek organizations for a variety of reasons. Some want what they think will be prestige (methinks this is Laxer’s goal ), some want long-term connections (my aspiration as I knew I would be moving around as an Army officer’s wife once I graduated), some want simple cameraderie and friendship. Of course there are other reasons and combinations of reasons as well.</p>
<p>The 5 sororities at W&L are all strong nationally with fantastic alumnae support. Your daughters will not go “wrong” joining any one of them. Sorority recruitment is a mutual selection process. If a potential new member keeps an open mind, she will find a house to call her home. Look at the Panhel links on the wlu website and link to the national hq websites as well as the local chapter websites to see all the wonderful things that these organizations do for the school and the community.</p>
<p>“Here, there seems to be some discrepancy between what you think these words say and what they mean to me. I rest my case.”</p>
<p>Fair enough! Please note that, from my very first post in this thread, I have encouraged people interested in WL to check the article for reference. In the same post, I offered both a disclaimer for the relative age of the research and for my own perspective on frats. </p>
<p>I did not expect anyone to accept my opinion as gospel. I have mostly pointed to the writing of others, mainly the students quoted in the book and the articles. However, it is not possible–nor permitted on CC–to copy and paste the entire sections.</p>
<p>I’m sorry I haven’t been around to answer - I was out playing soccer with students, professors, and Lexington residents (raise your hand if that’s common at your school). A couple of points. First off, Xiggi I am very impressed that you are so informed as to the recent history of W&L. Clearly you have done your research. However that research is not the same thing as being on campus and hearing what students are saying. First of all while yes President Ruscio has been around for only five weeks, President Burish has been out more than a year. None of the policies are going back to what they were pre-Burish. Students who graduated this past year (like Mike Julius) were around for the pre-Burish policies and thus will not be satisfied with anything but going back to them. Students of my generation who came in after Burish took over (most students now left at W&L) never really knew those policies and are satisfied that the course of the University has been slowed (and understand it cannot be reversed). Do not confuse the current situation on campus and the opinions of current students (that is, class of '07, '08 and '09) with the opinions of grumpy recent alumni who can do nothing but come back and grumble during homecoming and alumni weekend (I got an earful at alumni weekend this year about the “good old pre-Burish days”). Policies you list like the 3-strike policy for students are not that controversial anymore, they are considered a little strict but not overwhelming. Again, current students seem to understand current policies are here to stay and we can’t change them and because we were not around before they were implemented, there is not the divisive atmosphere you believe exists here. And with President Ruscio in office, I cannot foresee the animosity returning.</p>
<p>Also, look at student newspapers at just about every college in the nation. They are there for students to complain. You can never get the “feel” of what a University’s students believe solely from a student newspaper.</p>
<p>Yes we have been switching presidents a lot recently, five in five years as you said. But if you don’t count acting presidents, we’ve only had three in the past eleven years (since President Elrod took over in 1995) and counting, which can happen when you have one unsuccessful president. It’s all in the way you look at it. You are absolutely right that past history cannot be unwritten, but it also has as much to do with the satisfaction of students on campus TODAY as the coeducation debate of the 1980’s does.</p>
<p>Now to the OP’s concerns. Sorority rush is no fun. The reason for that is we have 5 sororities and 200 freshman girls. If the girls of a sorority do not get to know you during fall term, they will have one week to decide on your fate (which is actually generous, because really they have to decide “keep or cut” every night of rush week). So how do the sororities decide who to keep every night? Well for the most part they try to find girls who fit their image. Does that mean that you might get cut for superficial reasons? Well, if the girls of that sorority don’t really know anything about you what else would they be able to make a decision on? It is VERY VERY rare to go through rush without getting cut by any sorority. But it is also quite rare to get cut from every sorority, especially if as planned a sixth one is constructed within the next two years. Will you always end up in the sorority you want to end up in? No. Will you get cut from the “best groups on campus” for superficial reasons? That’s hard to say. What’s the best group on campus? If you think the sorority that is full of snobby southern conservative rich prep school girls (sscrpsg’s - my abbreviation) is the best sorority? Well then you might get cut from the best sorority for not being a sscrpsg. But not everyone wants to spend their lives surrounded by sscrpsg’s. Just like no college is the best college for everyone, no sorority is the best for everyone. Everyone has an opinion as to who the best sorority is (I think I already know laxer’s).</p>
<p>I will tell you this. Just about every girl I know in my class ended up in a sorority that fit her perfectly. Some of them did not know it until long after they joined, but half a year later I could tell you that I can’t think of a single girl in my class who is in the “wrong” sorority for her. And they are all very happy, even if they were not the night they found out which sorority wanted them.</p>
<p>Thank you, that definitely eases some of my concerns. Not to mention any names but a particular poster has kind of frightened me about the whole sorority thing (I know, I know, 1 person shouldn’t influence my opinion so greatly lol) but now I think I understand that that may be a small portion of the student body and doesn’t necessarily represent the view of the majority</p>
<p>Depends, my fraternity was actually 10% African-American this past year (and about 17% Hispanic). We also have two traditionally black fraternities on campus as well as two traditionally black sororities (though one of each is actually a joint chapter with two other schools) - though they do not have houses of their own.</p>
<p>Oh, and one more thing - GO YANKEES!</p>
<p>Nevermind actually one more thing. And I’m sorry I’m being picky, but I’m a history/politics major. The stars and bars is NOT the battle flag.</p>
<p>Unwritten, I wouldn’t worry about what a wannabe (if we’re thinking about the same person) thinks about the Greek system. If she’s not at school yet, she isn’t even in a house. If she is already at W&L and in a house, then she’s only one vote. Personally, I think she got cut from the group that she wanted to join and now wants to spread false rumors and unneccessary worry.</p>
<p>My daughter stayed overnight twice. Once she was with girls from the organization I think Dima references above (and I only say that because of the southernness NOT the attitudes), once with 2 roommates from 2 different groups. Both sets of young ladies were pleasant, friendly, and welcoming. </p>
<p>As I said before, Greek membership is for a lifetime, not just your 4 years in college. When you move around as much as we have in the military, it’s nice to have an immediate connection with local women through sorority alumnae associations. My college only has alumni groups in major cities, not in some of the smaller metropolitan areas.</p>
<p>One thing unique to W&L’s Panhellenic Recruitment is that sororities and potential new members are allowed to interact in the fall. This is a good way for the actives to meet the rushees over coffee etc and really get to know the freshmen girls on an individual basis.</p>
<p>“The stars and bars is NOT the battle flag.”</p>
<p>lol – further evidence of my un-southern-ness!</p>
<p>To Dima: I cannot thank you enough for your invariably informative and frank posts, both here and on the W&L board. They have been invaluable to me in forming a sense of current life on campus, from an articulate and honest student’s point of view. I am grateful for the time and energy you invest.</p>
<p>My husband, Michigan alum and lifelong fan, just cannot believe it when I tell him I put on tights and a Laura Ashley dress for a football game, to meet up with men wearing duckheads, blue blazers and rep ties–or bowties and braces, which a lot of them did.</p>
<p>“First off, Xiggi I am very impressed that you are so informed as to the recent history of W&L. Clearly you have done your research. However that research is not the same thing as being on campus and hearing what students are saying.”</p>
<p>Dima, I DO agree with you. As I said, I always try to look what the “other side” is saying -and WHEN it was said. One should have his sights set onto the future, but it is still worthwhile to review the recent history to better understand what the future might bring. </p>
<p>Best of luck with your remaining years in Lexington.</p>
<p>What a heated thread! I just have to chime in with a “narrow” northern view. In fact, Mattmom singled out NJ as especially narrow, so I’ll share a NJ story.</p>
<p>My 15 yr old NJ d attended a midwestern u lacrosse camp this summer with girls from all over the country. We have realtives in the south, have traveled there, etc. So she has ceratainly been exposed to the slower pace & different way of speaking. A Jersey girl, when asked by a caff worker if she’d like mashed potatoes, will reply, “Yes, please.” A southern girl might reply, “Why, yes, thank you. I’d love those potatoes. They sure look delicious. Thank you so much.” I think both replies are polite responses, each with a different regional flair.</p>
<p>Now, one particular Atlanta camper took it upon herself to tell my daughter how she hates the rudeness of NJ people. Went off on a long tirade about the abruptness. I asked my daughter how she replied. She said, “Mom, I wanted to tell her that in NJ we would consider it extremely rude to criticize people with different styles, but I thought that would be rude. So I didn’t say anything.” </p>
<p>My point is that narrow viewpoints can come from any region. And not all Southern belles are oozing with hospitality. Some can be downright hostile.</p>
Yep. I have some interesting stories about that… one person in particular who went on a tirade about the fact that I drink hard liquor, get pizza by myself at 8 pm instead of demanding that men escort me, and will kiss men before they’ve bought me dinner. </p>
<p>Now, where I come from, only Yankee girls on spring break drink daquiris, it’s rude to inconvenience someone so you can priss about like a damsel in distress, and putting a price on sexual favours makes you a prostitute.</p>
<p>Well, I can’t pretend to know the pace of the entire south. But Houston & Atlanta are two large southern cities that definately have a slower pace than northern NJ & NYC. </p>
<p>NJ has the greatest population density of the entire nation. We also have the highest median income & education level. Also one of the fastest growing immigrant non-white populations of any state. If you like diversity, this is the place. While the Peapack Jackie O region will out-preppy any place in the country, and rural 4-H areas have a slower pace, most of NJ moves at breakneck speed and can be a bit overwhelming for those from other regions.</p>
<p>“At W&L around 3% of the students are AfAm, what do these students do socially at a school that is 80+% greek?”</p>
<p>Based on common data set, currently 4% AfAm, with non-international minorities bringing total up to around 10%. </p>
<p>A story comes to mind. In Lee Chapel on Accepted Students Day this April, my S sat near a couple of AfAm future classmates and met another AfAm classmate who will also be playing lacrosse. They started talking, along with a couple of other guys. Many (but not all) planned to play a sport (1 out of 4 W&L students do). All decided to leave together to go watch lax practice. Had a great time together, just hanging out in the stands. Coaches even came over and welcomed them. Later that night, several of the group met up to go see the Wailers in concert on campus. </p>
<p>So we are hoping the answer is that AfAm students will often be doing the same things as their classmates, teammates, and friends, including participating in Greek life, whether as a brother/sister or an independent.</p>
), some want long-term connections (my aspiration as I knew I would be moving around as an Army officer’s wife once I graduated), some want simple cameraderie and friendship. Of course there are other reasons and combinations of reasons as well.</p>![http://civilwartalk.com/cwt_main/resources/images/starsbars.gif[/url]](http://civilwartalk.com/cwt_main/resources/images/starsbars.gif%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
