This testimony is a good example of how to critically think about GLO's. How to people came together with opposing points of view, suspended all emotional feelings, and dealt with the facts.

"I have gotten into a number of debates about glos and for every point a bglo makes, there is a rebuttle. As a pre-law major, it is always great to know both arguments that way you can choose the one with the most validity and evidence. My boyfriend (also pre-law) and I debated joining bglos since we need to be in some kind of organization to get into law school. He represented the pro side and I was the con. In this case, the cons won.

Many of the members of BGLOS will tell you that they were created as an ORIGINAL entity designed to promote brother/sisterhood and provide service in the Black community. They will also insist that you do research. Well I did mine and none of the information is correct.

In truth, BGLO’s were created in the time of the early 1900’s (1906-alphas, 1908 aka’s, 1913-deltas,etc.) which was a time where Blacks were still heavily discriminated against even though they could be admitted into white colleges. White greek organizations at the time had NO interest nor did they agree with admitting a Black person into their organizations. That being said, college educated Blacks set out to make an organization for themselves. If you go back even further into history, glo’s were modeled from the ancient greek SECRET SOCIETIES, designed to separate the elite (typically those who were educated or royal, or in some other form “special”) from the masses. Their rituals and traditions stemmed from the their society’s religious beliefs which were and always have been pagan. We can see that the bglos are modeled off this idea by only extending membership to college educated people who have attained at minimum a 2.5 cummulative gpa and have a number of recommendations. This is not including the fact that in many smaller chapters, participants have been recruited or selected, and those who meet the qualifications are NOT ALWAYS admitted. Essentially, the bglos are selecting the creme of the crop, as did the white glos and ancient greeks. The idea of hazing is not an original entity either seeing that much of the greek religion revolved around sacrifices and offerings, usually involving blood, fire, oaths, and prayers. Hazing and rites of passage in bglos require that you make some oaths, shed some blood, and in essence sacrifice yourself which makes this no different from secret socirties. THE idea of a sorority or frat is as UNORIGINAL as one could possibly get.

While it remains true that you can not always trust an internet source, you also must consider your source of information and think critically.

If a dedicated sorority member is refuting the claims made by internet sources, ex members, and others who disagree with their organization, but yet can provide no sources or substantial evidence to verify that the information they are saying is true besides their word and is as we know sworn to secrecy of some of the doctrines of the organization, wouldn’t it also make sense that they would only tell you what THEY WANT TO HEAR or KNOW? They want to present their org in the best light, only showing you the good, not the bad. In addition, they want to show those aspiring to be in the org what they could have if selected: Networking, a supposed sister/brotherhood, popularity, and maybe even money, fame, and political power! All the material things that could draw a person. Of course they wouldn’t tell you that their gonna kick your butt, and maybe even your face, take your pride, money, self-esteem, offer you a fake friendship you paid for, which is good only if you do what they do, use you until your used up, and tell you that you’ll be a leader when you have been allowing yourself to be a follower THE WHOLE TIME! SO yeah, do your research, but in the meantime I don’t think these types of orgs is for me.

*Neither ONE of us will be joining! AN internship is much better." Kim