Can you pay the rent?

I never thought it was enough to be just a member. I can't state enough how important it is to stay connected to the reasons why you joined your distinguished organizations. Whereever you are in your current stage of life, you joined for the sense of life long support and hope that your connections will always be there. You can rest assured that your sands, you dean, and a few of your favorite chapter brothers will still be there for you but what about those who were there with you in the days of undergrad, but don't know you after you graduate? There are haters everywhere, even in your organization so you are going to find out for yourself, that when it really comes down to it, your bond is paper... not steel, not metal, fluid. I eternally feel obligated to my oranishation to hold the name and values up high, but I have learned that the brothers won't always be there when you turn to them. A number of brothers in some form have, I must admit, felt the pressure of needing to help a brotha out. One day that brother will need help any may not know the route to take to receive it. You all of a sudden have this worldwide connection that you know was described fror you as being there ever you need it, but the race goes to the rich and the fortunate. The organizations are made for the creme de la creme in many ways making it exclusionary to those who need more help than those who are well off. Thats just the nature of things. Your experience is your own and the relationships forged are your own, but they are yours because you paid for them.

Graduates pinned down by dues

One of the most disappointing things about Black Greek Life is the number of members that maintain their active financial status after graduating. Too often, our members will live out there college years lively and with absolute pride in their Greek symbols and make it to each and every chapter meeting and every community services but due to a disconnection from the organization post graduation, they fall to the rafters of inactivity or the dreaded "t-shirt wearers." Some argue that they outgrow their orgs paraphanalia but its always in their hearts. I agree with the previous. The fact is however, that you work for what pleases you in life and you put your energy into what you think will benefit you most. If you meet a juncture in you life where you feel you have completed your obligation to your frat, then that really is a personal decision. But we all remember what it was like making sure that your chapter account was where it needed to be in order to function and that wasnt always such an easy task. The general body of your fraternity or sorority definitely needs that same support today. Your physical body may not be the life blood of the organization today, that position is reserved for undergrads. However, financially, it is the alumni that inspire the orgranization to flourish and contiue to uphold the ideals you pledged your heart to.

Treasured Trinkets

What happens to the pledge pillow given to you by a sorority member that was proud of you for crossing the burning sands, or the ceramic dolls with your fraternity letters on it that may or may not quite fit the motif of your new place? I would say, about ten years after leaving college, most of your fraternity and pledge memorabilia no longer have a place hung from your bedroom wall and cluttering every flat surface you can find. Although decorative, greek paraphanilia in most cases isnt very "stylish" and often doesnt compliment most modern living decors. So one must ask, what happens to all that stuff. Does it all fill a box stuffed away in the attic in case some hot footed neophyte from your undergrad chapter shows up on your doorstep with open arms? Or do you keep in as a keepsake that you can turn to or discover one day when cleaning up? Maybe you are saving it for your children who you plan to lead down the road to Greekdom. Really I'm curious about those of us who say whatever and just toss it. How did you find the strength? Every item I own has a deeply fond memory attached to it that not only connects me to the person who gave it to me but also to the specific fraternity experience that it reminds of me. I've lost some things over the years, and given a lot away. If I new some worthy young bloods, I would have a great deal of knowledge and frat junk to drop on the, I can guarantee you that. But until then dont be surprised if you see it all on an ebay store or something. lol. No but seriously, I'm talking, clothes, dolls, pillows, pins, posters, drawings, paintings, accessories, statues, figurines, boxes, chests, plaques, picture frames, classic prints, custom para... you name it. Some have shrines to their fraternity. I've done it before, in every dorm room and every apartment I've lived in since graduating. Truthfully, I'll always make space for my frat in every aspect of my life, but I've realized that it can get outta control. You think I'm bad, you should meet my D.O.P. His shrine was so intense, you could build rituals around it. The fraternity experience is a beautiful thing regardless of how you immortalize it.

Who is the GDI

What a name right?
Its funny that we Greeks refer to non-Greeks with such a derogatory phrase considering that their interest and membership to our orgs. is truly our lifeblood. Hopefully I can shed some insight on where this term comes from. Whether you go to an HBCU or not, your college community is a microcosm of hoods, scholars, entrepreneurs, low-lifes, and wannabes that all at some point depend on your Greek letters. The Greeks on any campus are role models and leaders. Ideally the local chapter of the organization that the individual is focusing on at that particular moment is a pillar in its campus community and making the decisions on campus as far as programming, community service, and social activities geared toward the campus population. The goal of the frat is to include everyone in their activities thereby proving their overall usefulness to the school administration and building notoriety of their organization on a local level as they already have a rich legacy of national contributions far and wide.

So who is the G.D.I. ?

The person who watches from the outskirts with speculative eyes is who we are calling the G.D.I. Whether you are interested in joining or not, initially you are speculating all types of notions as to the purpose and true value of these organizations on your campus. How many members they have on the yard, how many people show up to their events, even down to the camaraderie that the members display toward each other is constantly under the judging eye of the campus purveyors.

I for one was a long time lover of Greek life before I really know much about it. The idea of "paying" for membership however was interesting to me seeing as how it was a service based group. I figured like any other group that seemed popular with the community, you should be judged eligible based on merit and prospective contributions, not whether or not you could afford to be a member. As a freshman I quickly said, "Pay for brothers? Hell to the NO." That soon changed after I saw the brothers that came with membership. As I got to know more brothers I quickly learned that my opinions as an outsider soon got contradicted by the actions of its members and all I thought I knew and all that I was told my gossiping campus chums soon became meaningless words and ideas that would get proved wrong after officially joining the organization. The same people who were naysayers actually went on to pursue membership after seeing me in the aura of my letters.

So to all the G.D.I.'s and members of Me Phi Me who choose NOT to understand. STAY OUT. You wouldn't get it.