Lol well now that walk down memory lane wasn't entirely pointless entertainment. This song actually portrays the basic components of a true dilemma.
di·lem·ma
/dɪˈlɛmə/[dih-lem-uh]
–noun
1.
a situation requiring a choice between equally undesirable alternatives.
2.
any difficult or perplexing situation or problem.
So what are the undesirable alternatives or perplexing situations when it comes to fraternities and sororities? Well, for starters we want to increase interest in our organizations, but we also want to be respected and separated from harsh stereotypes. So that's really not a perplexing situation because people are just naturally interested in Greek life anyway right?? HA! Ok maybe some... but many people come to colleges and universities saying Greek who? And what are those funny looking symbols on your shirt. Where can I buy it?!! Sooo... what do the masses want? Um duh!
Educational programs catering to the needs and conflicts plaguing the community for betterment and enrichment of the college experience and beyond. Umm... Riiiiiight... We actually have these programs and people do show up... but it's the same people you see at every other program who are already interested in your organization and are already active on campus. Bless their hearts! So how do we reach the unknown portion of campus? What do we do to attract them and get their attention so maybe later on we can trick them into a program or two???PARTIES
Oh yay parties are fun! We can just kick it, make some money, stroll, laugh, relax with a drink if you so choose. And then we'll bring those people out that we've NEVER seen and now they'll want to come out to more constructive events once they get our schedule of programs that's on the back of this party flier... and in a perfect world this is how that scenario would play out. The reality is, the only other time that we see the people who come out to our parties is at OTHER PEOPLE'S PARTIES. So... yin and yang... where there is a dilemma, there is an OPPORTUNITY! We have an opportunity to get a more positive name our there and make our community service events bigger and better though a little thing called door price variation. We normally only have parties at the ends of special weeks (shameless plug for THINK PINK WEEK May16-22, more to come later...) So during these weeks there are always a series of community service opportunities. For those people who come out to do some comm serve and constructive activities with Theta Chapter, they will get a certain amount of money off of their admission. Now critics, let's think about this, the whole point of having a party is to make money, so why give discounts?! Well... what's the point of a sorority or fraternity?? Let that marinate for a little bit while we move on...Basically to just go suuuuuper broad on the topic... the major dilemma in fraternities and sororities occurs between our founding principles and values, and current views of success (ie. money, fame, glory, competition, etc.) Some people will come up to your face, whether they are in your organization (tsk tsk) or just a random person who "knows" everything about your organization, and say, "your goals and principles are too old fashioned and out dated"
*moment of silence for the death of common sense*
Thank you captain obvious! Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1908 and the ideas and principles were thought of in 1907, so wording and presentation is old fashioned, but are the principles actually out-dated?? Am I that old where high scholastic and ethic standards are out-dated? Have we run out of time to promote unity and friendship among college women?? Are we in an age where alleviating problems among girls and women is forbidden? Can we no longer work to maintain a progressive interest in college life? And is it really that old fashioned to be of service to all mankind? I mean really?? Oh we just can't make any money off of that so we need to: promote parties, create drama and separation among girls and women, maintain progressive interest in our bank accounts, be of service for all mixed drinks...
We can't monitor the success of our organizations using the same standards as everything else. As members of the Greek community we're constantly told that we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard, so how can we allow ourselves to fall just because 'people want us to have parties so they can have a place to get drunk'? Ok... time for opportunity. We first need to raise our standards to the standards of our original founders. Then, we need to uplift the community instead of bringing them down. Of course we will get support for parties and bar-b-ques and everything fun... because it's fun... people like fun things. But the minute something goes wrong, there is no one to support you because no one takes you seriously. You're just the organization that had a little too much fun... But if you constantly put in efforts of change and try to better your community and then expand beyond that of your community, you will get the attention of big fish. And when people see a group making constant efforts to change the world for the better, they support you. Now say something happens that is out of your control. When you have big wigs on your side who can vouch for you, your head isn't on the chopping block for the tiniest of things. I mean that sounds pretty good to me...
In conclusion, can we just push pause, gather ourselves, push play and stop making ourselves and our community (college students united) look bad?
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