Say it with me, joining the divine nine is a decision that I will make after doing my research. Maybe your parents have been bringing you to Greek cookouts since you learned to walk. You’ve been amazed by competitive step shows, elaborate strolling, and countless donation drives. Or maybe you’re watching viral new member presentations and seeing celebrities rep their orgs and you’d like to know more. No matter if Greek life is a family tradition or completely new to you, I’m sure you have questions. In this article, I will put you on to the do’s and don’ts of joining the Divine Nine. The greatest take away I’d like you to remember is that discretion is key! With that in mind, I won’t encourage you to join one org over the other or even join the Divine Nine at all. I hope this article is one of many resources you use to make your decision about this life-long commitment.
What Should I Be Searching About The Divine Nine?
Before you get to saying, “I’m going to be a [insert D9 org]” you must first learn about the council. In my opinion, it is important for men to research all five fraternities, and for women to research all four sororities. Doing this keeps you open-minded and well informed of the characteristics that might help you decide which org is the best fit for you. Don’t get me wrong, I understand the pressure of maintaining the family legacy but you have to discover which org is right for you. After all, you’ll be gaining hundreds of thousands of family members after you join.
Below I’ve broken down the two categories to focus your research on. First, learn the national perspective of the fraternities or sororities. Second, for the current college students, do your research on the active chapters at your university. These perspectives can give you an idea of what your undergrad experience and post-grad experience might be like as a member.
National Perspective:
- What is the organization’s mission? Is this something you personally align with? In general, do you feel this organization is striving toward its mission?
- What are the values of the organization? Do you also possess these values? Would you like to surround yourself with people that share these values?
- What philanthropy does the organization support? Would you invest time and money into these charities? Is this a philanthropy that truly benefits those in need?
- What are the identifying characteristics of this organization? When and where was this org founded? What are the org’s colors? What is the official symbol of the organization?
Campus Perspective:
- How many chapters of the National Panhellenic Council are active on campus? Has any chapter been suspended… if so why? Who serves on the council E-board?
- Who is currently on the E-board of each chapter? How many members are in each chapter? Are these members also involved in other clubs or organizations?
- How often are new members brought into each organization? Where is information posted about attending interest meetings?
Additionally, when I was doing my research I tried to think of people I knew that were in these organizations. I would ask myself if they withheld the mission and values that the fraternity or sorority intended to represent. That information shed light on how one might be expected to carry themselves after joining. In contrast, if I did not personally know a member of a specific organization I researched personality traits of that org. Naturally, social media and Google might give biased answers about the stereotypes or personality traits of the members. Regardless, it is valuable information to know how you might be perceived if you commit to joining the Divine Nine.
How Do I Show Interest In The Divine Nine?
After completing a deep dive of each council organization, you’ve decided which org is your favorite. Now it’s time to show current members that you want to join their organization. Sounds simple right? WRONG. You must be discrete when showing interest in joining a Divine Nine organization. This means making it evident you want to be a member without outwardly stating that and definitely not posting anything on socials! Keeping reading for tips and tricks on how to expertly show interest without ending up black-listed.
When Attending In-Person Events…
- Be social! Try to talk to multiple members, ask questions, and show your personality. Don’t act as though you already know everything about their org, instead show them that you want to learn. Furthermore, try to highlight how you would be a great asset and not just another member.
- Make sure to attend service events. It’s easy to show face at the scholarship gala, game night, or tailgate but the real ones know to pull up to service. This proves that you’re ready to do work in the community and that’s the mission of the entire council.
- Exchange contact information. You want to keep in touch with current members so you have to get their number/email/social media. This can help you form a connection and give you the heads up when it’s time for an interest meeting.
Furthermore, be sure to follow the current chapters on social media. You want to see what upcoming events are happening, but don’t like and comment excessively! For the college students reading this post, see if your university has a newsletter for campus life. These often feature Greek events or donation drives you can actively participate in.
Who Can I Talk To About The National Panhellenic Council?
Despite the importance of discretion, you can still talk to people about the Divine Nine. I suggest having conversations with active members as opposed to other people also interested in joining. Talking to active members is beneficial because they have first-hand experience to share with you. These members have been in your position before and can guide you with pure intentions. Consider family members as a great source of information or any one from your community such as a church member or former teacher. Another alternative is speaking with friends that attend a different university. That way if the word spreads that you want to join it’s not getting back to your campus chapter.
I hope you’ve found this article helpful and if you have any questions please leave a comment below. For more information about the Divine Nine, check out the council’s national website. Lastly, if you’re a student looking to save money on food and entertainment, check out this article!
