Comments on: It’s all Greek to me

By: Vidar

Vidar — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 19:38:53 +0000

I don’t see what these girls are so concerned about, i.e. that “American white bread” girls won’t understand them. It seems to me like that a) they’re worried about others’ opinion of their hijab b) their parents won’t allow it. but what i wanna know is, what exactly will this sorority do? why don’t they just start a Muslim Females Club or something, cuz i don’t see them doing bikini carwashes with frat guys or mixers.

I also agree with ANNA. Greek life is all about socializing with a tight knit group of friends, so why not get the full experience and rush a “white” frat/sorority? yes, back in the day, they didn’t let non WASPs in, but those days are long gone. why try to pretend that American college society is the same as it was a hundred years to justify one’s aversion to mainstream Greek life? i have respect for black and Jewish houses ,cuz they were started when blacks and Jews weren’t welcome into white Greek life, and thus have established something of a tradition. But I’m in a “white” frat, and no one actually cares about anybody’s ethnicity. I didnt hafta do a hundred extra pushups during just cause I happened to like curry.

By: aizaz akram

aizaz akram — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 20:43:29 +0000

the REAL question is:

What kind of ceremonial initiation will these muslim sorority members implement for newcomers?

I'm trying to think of something funny/daring, but I'm drawing a blank.

Maybe "race-walk across the quad with your hijab slightly revealing four times"

hyuk!

By: rage

rage — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 19:35:41 +0000

two quick points:

1) african american and latino/a fraternities and sororities have traditionally had a very strong focus on community service and leadership. So I don't think that it's strange to have fraterities/sororities that are separate from the usual animal house crowd.

I don't feel the same can be said about south/asian greek organizations, though I'm certainly not an authority. I would welcome greek organizations, just like any other, that are actually community-focused (and I agree that SASA just plain sucks and should be co-opted).

2) On the whole tip about an alternative space, anything know what Chingari is up to?

By: Jai Singh

Jai Singh — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 16:59:58 +0000

We don't have fraternities/sororities here in the UK.
However, I guess some university "Halls of Residence" are more ethnic than others, especially in London and the Midlands (Leicester, Birmingham etc), so can become unofficial focal points for fraternity-type South Asian social life.
When there are very large numbers of South Asian students -- eg. in the aforementioned locations -- they often tend to voluntarily segregate themselves off from other ethnic groups, during "lecture hours" along with their on- and off-campus social life. At least, that's how it was when I was at university in London about a decade ago. Perhaps BongBreaker or other UK-based Mutineers in their early 20s would be in a better position to comment on how things are these days.
The medical students tended to be regarded as the "frat bros" of South Asian college life and the centre of "where it's at", often in conjunction with the particular college's "Asian Society". This was obviously less the case in colleges without a medical/dental faculty.

By: Salil Maniktahla

Salil Maniktahla — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 08:30:24 +0000

Basically Muslim is not an ethnicity whereas all those other categories are.So its not the same as your other examples

You're so right, Fat Tamil. Hey, did anyone mention how much fun religious social organizations are?

Right, they did not. 'Nuff said.

The girls can have their sorority, but it won't help them assimilate any faster. As support networks go, this is an idiot idea.

And to anyone who gets their ire up over me assuming they WANT to assimilate--well. They DID start a sorority at a college, didn't they?

By: Fat Tamil Middle Finger

Fat Tamil Middle Finger — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 06:48:13 +0000

When you say this, “I realize that we already have predominately Jewish houses, as well as African American, Asian, and even Indian houses. This Muslim sorority is not a whole lot different” It is misleading. For a Muslim there is a framework for dealing with. For most ethnic fraternities/sororities and for most ethnicities in general there isnt an established framework for this.Meaning that yeah, you can be Hindu and be accepting of other peoples cultures, but youre no less of a Hindu lets say if you dont and even look down on other peoples cultures. Now the question is is this Muslim sorority doing stuff thats inclusive or are they not? The article doesnt delve into that. It just jumps into “well Muslims are just like jews, blacks, Indians, etc” All of those categories are ethnicities and are determined by superficial stuff such as skin color, last name, language, etc. Someone is Muslim based on their actions. Even if you use the argument of being “born Muslim” well thats kind of moot because everybodys “born Muslim” in Islam. Basically Muslim is not an ethnicity whereas all those other categories are.So its not the same as your other examples

By: Abhi

Abhi — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 05:52:28 +0000

Uh I think some of you people dont realize that Muslims come in all colors so this is not simply a question of hanging out with "just brown people."

Uhh no. Read the whole post please. The post isn't just about the Muslim sorority. It is also about the all brown South Asian ones.

By: Fat Tamil Moustache

Fat Tamil Moustache — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 05:33:38 +0000

Uh I think some of you people dont realize that Muslims come in all colors so this is not simply a question of hanging out with “just brown people.” I think because of your desiness that once you hear “Muslim” you only picture “desi” Muslims and not others (like “gasps” white and or black or latino american ones)I mean first girl interviewed is most likely an Arab,judging from her name. Don’t project your “rebellion towards your desi parents” onto this situation.

By: A N N A

A N N A — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 03:23:44 +0000

Amen, Turbanhead. And a “Stothrum!” while I’m at it. I was a Delta Gamma and we also had Catholic, Jewish, Agnostic girls and a Zoroastrian if I recall correctly. There were no Jewish sororities b/c there was no need for them…this isn’t 1909. If you want to go Greek, then GO GREEK and rush the real thing. Sure it was mostly white. So what? So was the rest of my childhood and neighborhood and judging from a year’s worth of comments, so were yours.

If you want to hang out with just brown people, you can join SASA or your school’s equivalent. And before someone says that they felt left out and THAT’S why they joined a brown house, then why the hell is SASA doing something like a GREEK dating game and…leaving…people…out?

:+:

Abhi-kins, I don’t think any of the mutineers has to worry about not getting a bid to speak at SASA. We’re bloggers, we’re not party-hard material.

By: turbanhead

turbanhead — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 23:57:20 +0000

As a not-so recent college grad, I would like to add that i was part of greek life as an undergraduate and happy it was in what was traditionally a "white" fraternity. Our chapter was the most diverse on campus - we had jocks, nerds, jews, blacks, black-jews, surfers, guidos, pretty boys, queers (some closeted some not so closeted)and yes Indians - (i was the third one in the chapter).

Since I graduated (and eons passed) new chapters at other insitiutions had an influx of Indian members as well. This despite a presence of all Indian fraternities - which frankly I never cared for.

lastly, some of the chapters of my fraterny in these schools are now predominantly Indian and thus changed the demographic of a fraternity that was founded by two white guys who in the 1800s didn't take kindly to people of color!