Non-social GLOs...do you honestly consider us fellow Greeks?

[sairose]

I am a proud sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraterity for women. We are a professional organization but in most ways, SAI is like social GLO's. We have ritual, rushing, pledging, pins and badges, songbooks, membership manuals, etc etc. We also have big and lil sisters...socials/sisterhood activities...colors, symbols, etc...we get those shirts with the letters on them, as well as other goodies like keybhains, decals, and lisence plates. So basically, SAI is pretty much like the traditional sororities, except that it is a "professional" organization and we are only open to musicians.

When I was pledging, one of the priveledges of membership we had to learn was to be esteemed as a fellow Greek by members of all other Greek letter organizations. However, I don't feel like the social GLOs, at least on OUR campus, really consider us Greek. But we very much are. We hold SAI and its ideals dear to our hearts and we cherish our sisterhood. SAI was founded in 1903, so it is as old as many of the social GLOs. But my experience with other Greeks is that they look down on us and one girl even told me that we weren't "real" Greeks. This made me very angry.

Music GLOs like Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, Delta Omicron, etc are very much true Greeks and we all hold our sister/brotherhood dearly.

My question is this. To those of you in social fraternities/sororities, what is your view on the music GLOs? Do you really consider us Greek, and why or why not? Be completely honest, because I really want to know.

For me, you guys are Greek just like any organization. I know of a couple of chapters of orgs. that arent social ones and hold parties and do other stuff that you would normally see social greeks doing.

[lifesaver]

Yes and No.

While of course you are greek, and your ceremonies and such prove that.... youre not a social greek, so I dont see you as a peer group.

I guess it depends on your defination of "real." you are a real greek, as you are an intiated member, therefore, you're a real group.

I do not see you as a social greek tho, as 1, your membership is only open to music majors, 2)it is stated that you arent social in your constitution, and on my campus, you dont do the same things as social greeks, mixers, hang withthe other greeks (I have never seen a group of SAI's roll up to the Kappa Sig table to chill between classes.) 3) on my campus they're not well known outside of the Arts builidng, while the social greeks are known by people in all majors. They dont report nor are accountable to the greek advisor, and dont sit on a greek council, IFC PHC, or NPHC.

Adittionally, I dont believe that professional greeks have many chapters where they have active alumni associations, or housing corporations. All those things are what make social greeks to me, social.

now that doesnt mean that your membership means any less to you than mine does to me. I am sure your greek experiences are near and dear to you. They are just from a different setting than mine. However when we strip away the social aspects and who we hang out with, alums, school requirements, we are all probably very simular. We jsut experience our greek affilliations differently. Not better or worse, just differently.

PS: Also, clouding the picture a bit is the groups that have a foot in both camps, Triangle, the social engeneering and science fraternity, and farmhouse, the predominately ag social fraternity.

[dzsaigirl]

I would just like to let everyone know that SAI is in no way limited to music majors! About a third of our chapter doesn't major in music! The only requirement is that you have taken one music course ever in the history of your college life. That means, clapping for credit, music appreciation, marching band, ANYTHING musical....just letting you know....

And although I do consider SAI's fellow greeks (from my DZ point of view, not just 'cause I am also an SAI), I do not think that they are the same as social greeks. I get something totally different out of SAI than I do for DZ. The same goes for my membership in APO...Each group serves its own purpose.

[Senusret I]

In many ways, I was lucky to have pledged Alpha Phi Omega at Georgetown University. We did not have a traditional Greek system, so pretty much every organization was treated equally.

Our chapter is the proud home of the Alpha Chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon Professional Foreign Service Fraternity (and Sorority). . .two business fraternities. . .several NPHC organizations. . .a few Latino orgs, as well as Alpha Phi Omega. While we all have different purposes and programs, I think we have a healthy respect for each other. I mean, the community is so small, we try to respect one another.

I feel your plight, sairose, because not every chapter of Alpha Phi Omega is as lucky as mine. Because the APO experience is so diverse, other Greeks don't always understand that some chapters are highly social, and some are not; that some chapters have strict pledging, and others do not; that some chapters step and stroll, and other don't. . . .

I guess what I'd like to say is that it doesn't matter what other people think of what and who your organization is as long as you stick to its principles the best way you know how. You know what SAI is all about, and I know what APO is all about. It is not up to anyone else to tell us how we should behave as members.

[Dionysus]

It depends on the campus.

On most campuses, professional and service GLO's are considered as greeks by non-greeks, however non-greeks by greeks (social).

[SATX*APhi]

I do consider non-social Greek members to be Greek. All Greeks have 1 main goal, and that is to be the best that we absolutely can be. The difference between the different types of Greek organizations is that they all have different ways of running their organizations.

I do not consider them to be social Greeks. Yes, I do know that they do things that social Greek organizations do, but that does not make them a social Greek organization.

Of course, no type of Greek organization, whether it be social, service or music, is better than the others. They are all Greek.

[TrojanGirl]

Being an SAI is to me being more of a "greek" than some other GLO's (mainly honnor and some other professional orgs) I am very familliar with SAI and PMA Sinfonia (I am a sinfonian sweetheart!) and I must say I see them as greeks. Some chapters of Sinfonia have gone social. I think that is the way to go. Groups who have mostly the same structure as social GLO's should go social, because there is not that much difference in the two.

TG

[PM_Mama00]

I'm not sure if I can give an unbiased opinion. Alpha Omega Epsilon (women's engineering sorority) on our campus is considered Greek. They participate in Greek Week (although they do screw up a lot of events because they don't show up). Obviously they're not social Greeks. Some of the girls are nice and come around alot, but I never see them wearing letters. They may hold true to their ideals, but I can't see them as a true sorority because they don't respect Panhel during Formal Recruitment. They "stole" a few girls by telling them that social sororities make you "skip class for Greek Week and other things, all they do is party, and once you join one you'll start smoking and turn into an alcoholic". Ok, even during COB we don't disrespect other organizations, so why should we consider them a real, true sorority?

As for Theta Tau, the engineering fraternity, I consider them Greek. They have mixers with us, they party (that's not too important tho), and most of all they come around and have the same rivalry with all 2 other fraternities. They might as well just be a social fraternity!

[LeslieAGD]

Honestly, I consider these groups Greek because of their letters, but not necessarily "fellow greeks." They are more of a professional/interest groups. For example, Pyschology majors have "Psi Chi," and the Christian group has "Chi Alpha"...but they're not considered "real Greeks."

On my campus, sometimes these groups even look down upon social Greeks. We once had an awesome new member who was involved in band. She was pretty much leading a double life and lying to her band friends about us because she was afraid that they would look down upon her. She ended up de-pledging and joining the band sorority.

I'm sure that their ideals are just as important but, IMO, these non-social GLOs are just in a different category.

[ladybug1116]

I was active in in both Tau Beta Sigma (band/music) and Phi Mu while in college. I was in Tau Beta Sigma first and I have to say that when I was only in TBS I didn't consider myself "greek." The group was social and very active around campus and the community but the sisters didn't consider themselves "greek peers" either. Not to be crass, but on our campus (FSU) unless you were a social greek then you weren't considered greek. In fact, and I am sorry to admit this, the non-social GLOs were actually looked down upon b/c they were often seen as trying to "act greek". At times it was very hard to be active in both organizations as well as other extracurriculars b/c the 2 GLOs didn't understand the need for membership in the other. I wouldn't change my experience at all though b/c I learned so much and have tight, irreplacable friendships in both groups.

[ChaosDST]

Speaking as a member of a HBGLO, we're not social GLOs, we're moreso community service GLOs (that enjoy the social aspects, too). I thought the same applied to the IFC and NPC, but perhaps I was mistaken. When we speak of social GLOs, many of us are speaking of Groove Phi Groove, Swing Phi Swing (check www.everythingblack.com if you're not familiar), and (usually) music fraternities such as yours.

I can speak for myself only, and some may agree with me. I don't see a music fraternity as being a GLO or HBGLO as I would Kappa Kappa Gamma or my own (Delta Sigma Theta), despite the fact that you have adopted some traditions and rituals.

At the same time, I don't see you in the same light as I would an honorary (such as a law fraternity). I definitely do not see honoraries as GLOs (eventhough they would be, technically).

Is your membership in this international music fraternity for women perpetual?


Much Love!

Originally posted by sairose
I am a proud sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, an international music fraterity for women. We are a professional organization but in most ways, SAI is like social GLO's. We have ritual, rushing, pledging, pins and badges, songbooks, membership manuals, etc etc. We also have big and lil sisters...socials/sisterhood activities...colors, symbols, etc...we get those shirts with the letters on them, as well as other goodies like keybhains, decals, and lisence plates. So basically, SAI is pretty much like the traditional sororities, except that it is a "professional" organization and we are only open to musicians.

When I was pledging, one of the priveledges of membership we had to learn was to be esteemed as a fellow Greek by members of all other Greek letter organizations. However, I don't feel like the social GLOs, at least on OUR campus, really consider us Greek. But we very much are. We hold SAI and its ideals dear to our hearts and we cherish our sisterhood. SAI was founded in 1903, so it is as old as many of the social GLOs. But my experience with other Greeks is that they look down on us and one girl even told me that we weren't "real" Greeks. This made me very angry.

Music GLOs like Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Phi Mu Alpha, Delta Omicron, etc are very much true Greeks and we all hold our sister/brotherhood dearly.

My question is this. To those of you in social frats/sororities, what is your view on the music GLOs? Do you really consider us Greek, and why or why not? Be completely honest, because I really want to know.

Love and roses,
SAIrose

[sairose]

First of all, SAI has many, many active alumni chapters! Someone on here said they didn't, but we do. In fact our chapter works hand in hand with our local alum chapter.

SAI is not a service or honorary organization. It is not an honor society. It's name is Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for Women. Anyone who would like to learn more can go to www.sai-national.org.

SAI is NOT only for music majors. In our chapter, about one third of the girls are not music majors. One is an early childhood education major, one is a marketing major, etc etc. It is not for music majors but for women with an INTEREST in music.

And I didn't mean that social GLOS should see us as fellow SOCIAL greeks. I just mean, do you guys consider us greeks in general. Because I consider all five social sororities on our campus(Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, and Chi Omega)fellow greeks even though they are different from us.

Because if you think about it, all Greeks share, to some degree, the same ideals. We all want to be the best we possibly can be. We all share a bond as sisters(or brothers) that we hold dear to us. We all had to earn our letters by rushing, pledging, and initiation.

Love and roses again!
SAIrose

[Delta_theta]

On our campus, where we have 5 fraternities, 2 sororities, and 2 "non-social" GLO's. (APO, and SAI)

On our campus, those two organizations are not part of either of the greek governing institutions(IFC and Panhel), and "take part" in greek week normaly by adding members of their organizations to other teams, so they don't have unified teams(they usualy don't have enough to field an entire team for the large events). there is a large greek BBoard in one of our main hallways. But both SAI and APO have their own boards, seperate from the main greek board. When matters come up that affect the greek system, they are not usualy considered part of it--both by choice and that the greek matters come up to the IFC and panhel councils, and doesn't reach them.

One of my main complaints is the ability to be in 2, or even 3 greek organizations with the SAI and APO duel membership options. I know a couple people who are in a sorority, and are also in SAI and APO. 3 rituals, initations. etc. I personaly would not feel comfortable joining another greek organization, for a number of reasons. One of the biggest being--I have great loyalty to the orgnizations I join. I would not be able to put my "all" into the other organizations. I am a Sigma Nu. I would not feel comfortable saying I am a Sigma Nu and a APO.

I do not consider them "real greeks" as you put it, for those reasons. I do not look down on them. But were they to ask to join IFC or panhel, I would be against it. I don't mind them being in Greek week, or participating in large "all greek" things, as long as they put in work and effort as well.

M.

[ChaosDST]

I think many people share that sentiment. We can not be a member of more than one GLO. While organizations such as APO are TECHNICALLY Greek lettered organizations, people can join these organizations AND be a member of an orgnization within the IFC, NPC, or NPHC. So, this would make the distinction.

Originally posted by Delta_theta
On our campus, where we have 5 fraternities, 2 sororities, and 2 "non-social" GLO's. (APO, and SAI)

On our campus, those two organizations are not part of either of the greek governing institutions(IFC and Panhel), and "take part" in greek week normaly by adding members of their organizations to other teams, so they don't have unified teams(they usualy don't have enough to field an entire team for the large events). there is a large greek BBoard in one of our main hallways. But both SAI and APO have their own boards, seperate from the main greek board. When matters come up that affect the greek system, they are not usualy considered part of it--both by choice and that the greek matters come up to the IFC and panhel councils, and doesn't reach them.

One of my main complaints is the ability to be in 2, or even 3 greek organizations with the SAI and APO duel membership options. I know a couple people who are in a sorority, and are also in SAI and APO. 3 rituals, initations. etc. I personaly would not feel comfortable joining another greek organization, for a number of reasons. One of the biggest being--I have great loyalty to the orgnizations I join. I would not be able to put my "all" into the other organizations. I am a Sigma Nu. I would not feel comfortable saying I am a Sigma Nu and a APO.

I do not consider them "real greeks" as you put it, for those reasons. I do not look down on them. But were they to ask to join IFC or panhel, I would be against it. I don't mind them being in Greek week, or participating in large "all greek" things, as long as they put in work and effort as well.

M.