Objective Summary Blogpost #2

  Lois C. Olden recorded the history of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in, The Timeless Legacy of Zeta Nu Omega. In chapters through seven of The Timeless Legacy of Zeta Nu Omega the author focuses on how the AKA sorority worked together achieve goals. It is very clear through the novel that the AKA sorority had a strong sense of team work and wanted to use this to help as many people as possible. The AKA provided "ground breaking social action" and this sorority rose up in a time of segregation and sexism," Hedgemen and cohorts worked to honor an everlasting debt to raise them (negros) up and make them better..."(Olden 87). Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded by nine undergraduates at Howard University in Washington, D.C. The author concludes that the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority has fulfilled its obligation to become an indomitable force for good.

Essential Question: sororities

Essential Question: 
What if hazing laws did not exist?
Claim:
Hazing laws do not have an effect on reducing hazing in sororities.
Reason:
Though laws exist against it, older sisters encourage and force younger sisters to partake in drinking, drugs and other illegal activities.

New sorority sisters are peer pressured into drinking during hazing 

Objective Summary

          Lois C. Olden recorded the history of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in, The Timeless Legacy of Zeta Nu Omega. In chapters through three of The Timeless Legacy of Zeta Nu Omega the author focuses on the goals the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority tried to accomplish, for example; creating a support network for women with like minds. Ethel Hedgeman created the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority to benefit others by making a group that would bring out each others strengths. The main concern of the AKA sorority was to educate the masses and encourage lifelong learning, the author also makes it clear that AKA wanted to help their community. Olden states that the AKA, "Not only fostered interaction, stimulation and ethical growth among members; but also provided hope for the masses"(10). Olden also highlights that the AKA received a scholarship award and adopted more than twenty-seven African villages, earning Africare's 1986 Distinguished Service Award. These chapters conclude with the fact that the Alpha Kappa Alphas focused on helping their community in anyway they could, whether it was providing education or help to the sick and poor.

Alpha Kappa Alpha

Ethel Hedgemen

Olden, C. Lois. The Timeless Legacy of Zeta Nu Omega. New York: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Zeta Nu Omega chapter, at Smashwords, 2014, print.

Survey Results

The results were varying for each question, each question also had unique responses. Most people would join a sorority for life experience and friendships. However, seventy five percent of the responses thought of parties and exchanges when thinking about greek community. There us so much more to sororities than parties and friends. Fifty percent of students who took the survey find charity work in greek life somewhat important. Also, hazing makes fifty percent of users nervous about joining a sorority or fraternity. The financial aspect of becoming a Greek member does not affect most students in their decision.

Sorority/Fraternity survey

Survey

Discussion Question #3

Discuss the affect social media would have on the book Sorority Sisters.

The book Sorority Sisters is set in the 1970's in Los Angeles, California. It is clear how different communication was in the 1970's as opposed to modern day communication. Karen, one of the main characters, mentions her boyfriend Greg sending her letters and also waiting at her house for her to get home to make sure she was okay. This is a prime example of how different the times have become. If this book were set in modern times, then Greg could have texted or called Karen if he was worried about her. At another time Karen was at a frat party, which Greg was not thrilled about, and if social media was around, pictures could have been posted from the party. These pictures could have upset Greg and caused a rift in their relationship because Karen isn't the most loyal," It was definitely a case of what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him"(13). Social media like; facebook, instagram, snapchat, and twitter, affect many relationships today because people post about every moment. Sometimes these accounts can be the start of fights and bullying as opposed to staying in touch with friends and family. Social media can give people a false sense of courage, which can lead to dangerous situations.

Discussion Question

What is the most important theme of Sorority Sisters? Justify why this theme is an important aspect of the book. :

The most important theme in Sorority Sisters is friendship. Friendship is what the girls searched for, found, and kept. In the first chapter we met Karen who didn't expect to find any friends and never had any girl friends growing up. However, a quick bond is made between; Karen, Laurie, Ellen, and Diane. The girls were faced with; heartbreak, family issues, and internal conflict, but always had each other to count on. All the girls, at one point, are heartbroken by a guy they thought they loved, and when they felt the most alone and helpless, they would have a friend to pick them up. Also, as we learn more about the characters, we find out the kind of childhood each of them had, along with the baggage they carried due to that. Some of the girls self conflict and insecurities stem from this, and threaten to take over. When they find themselves spinning out of control, no matter how hard it is, they know they can ask each other for help. The four of them share a sisterhood they never thought they would have found.