Should you join a Black Greek Letter Organization? Well it depends on your goals, your personality and what you envision for yourself in the future. This is a big decision that could have a great affect on your personal and professional life. It is essential that you make the best choice for your situation. Below I have put together a list of pros and cons that should help you make your decision.
Pros:
Networking: Once you join a BGLO you will be exposed to many networking opportunities which will help you in many of the goals you strive for in life.
Popularity: Some people may also enjoy the thought of gaining popularity within their College, as many members of BGLO are well known on around campus.
Historical Significance: Last but not least there is great historical significance of BGLOs. People from these organizations have gone to do great things which have broken gender and racial barriers.
Cons:
Pre-Membership Activities: BGLOs have come under a lot of fire in the past years due to hazing*. This can be very uncomfortable and time consuming for many people who decide to participate in pre-membership activities. Although all of the BGLOs have banned the use of hazing, there are still many cases of mental hazing and other actions to show loyalty to the organization.
Time Commitment: Students must also consider the time commitment when deciding to join a BGLO. The current members expect a lot of personal time which can affect grades and social interaction. Many members also spend countless hours planning on and off campus events for their sorority or fraternity. Therefore time management and priorities must be in line before joining a BGLO.
Making the right choice: Choosing the right BGLO can also be a challenge due to a number of reasons such as family affiliation or accessibility to a particular sorority or fraternity that may be suspended (due to hazing). Making the wrong choice could potentially turn into a negative situation as many members of BGLO look down upon lack of loyalty. Therefore odds are you will not get a chance to make a second choice.
Losing Personal Identity: It is possible that you could lose your personal identity, or the person you were before joining a BGLO. One should never pledge to be a part of something that they believe will bring value to their life as the individual should be ultimately adding value to the organization. Therefore it is very important to know who you are before deciding to join a BGLO.
Financial Commitment: A lot of people do not take into consideration the amount of money involved in joining a BGLO. Cost of membership can easily run over $5000 plus yearly dues. The financial requirements can also be stressful for some people seeking membership as it can be looked down upon if you are not financially active within the organization. However, many students save up personal money and receive sponsors in order to meet the financial membership requirement.
I hope this helps you decide as to whether you would join a BGLO. There are many Pros and Cons to everything that you do in life so make the decision that is best for you.
Tips:
Below are some books that should be very helpful.
The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities
Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities
Pre-Membership Activities: BGLOs have come under a lot of fire in the past years due to hazing*. This can be very uncomfortable and time consuming for many people who decide to participate in pre-membership activities. Although all of the BGLOs have banned the use of hazing, there are still many cases of mental hazing and other actions to show loyalty to the organization.
Making the right choice: Choosing the right BGLO can also be a challenge due to a number of reasons such as family affiliation or accessibility to a particular sorority or fraternity that may be suspended (due to hazing). Making the wrong choice could potentially turn into a negative situation as many members of BGLO look down upon lack of loyalty. Therefore odds are you will not get a chance to make a second choice.
Losing Personal Identity: It is possible that you could lose your personal identity, or the person you were before joining a BGLO. One should never pledge to be a part of something that they believe will bring value to their life as the individual should be ultimately adding value to the organization. Therefore it is very important to know who you are before deciding to join a BGLO.
Financial Commitment: A lot of people do not take into consideration the amount of money involved in joining a BGLO. Cost of membership can easily run over $5000 plus yearly dues. The financial requirements can also be stressful for some people seeking membership as it can be looked down upon if you are not financially active within the organization. However, many students save up personal money and receive sponsors in order to meet the financial membership requirement.
I hope this helps you decide as to whether you would join a BGLO. There are many Pros and Cons to everything that you do in life so make the decision that is best for you.
Tips:
Below are some books that should be very helpful.
The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities
Black Greek 101: The Culture, Customs, and Challenges of Black Fraternities and Sororities
The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities
*The practice of rituals and other activities involving harassment, abuse or humiliation used as a way of initiating a person into a group.
No comments:
Post a Comment