Research I've Already Done

In my Chi Omega subculture thus far, I haven't done as much interviewing as I should be. However, I've talked to a few of the girls and they seem really excited to let their opinions be known in my paper. I know I want to talk to them about how they feel about the sorority and the stereotypes. I want to know if they've been stereotyped and what they feel about them. Also I want to know what being in this subculture means to them, if it's been a good experience, a negative experience, etc. 

I've been in my culture spot quite a few times, I was there tonight actually. Our suite! Sensory details there are lots of comfy couches, maroon and gold colors all around, lots of pictures. There's a sense of sisterhood, we're all broadcasted around the room. Also, our mascot is the owl and there's so many cute owls around the room!

I know there will be lots of differences between academic and nonacademic research for me throughout this process, simply because I'm going to do lots of interviews. Not saying that they aren't academically capable, just saying that it's more of their own thought and not straight published books. I have tried the internet though for sources, and the Chi Omega website is a definite amazing research place for me to look!

Discussing my Subculture

With much thought, I've decided to write about my own personal subculture, Chi Omega sorority here at Ball State. My possible fieldsites include our suite, which is located in Woodworth, possibly the houses of some of my sisters, etc. I may also get in touch with the Make a Wish foundation because we sponsor a little girl and raised money to make her wish come true. By being to our suite so many times, there are many sensory details I can remember. It's a very comfortable and relaxing room, adorned with couches and a tv, with little owl memorabilia everywhere. There's also pictures of each new group (as new girls come in and old girls go) all over the room. It's not a very big room and when we get all 80 of us in there, it can get quite chaotic and filled. Since I'm already an insider, I'd like to learn more about Chi Omega and what it means to each girl in our sorority. I'd like to figure out on a deeper level what some of my sisters believe that our sorority stands for and how it's affected their lives (positively or negatively). 

Positioning Yourself

By being an active member in my subculture of choice, I'll face many different obstacles, conveniences, and difficulties. For example, as a nineteen year old female, writing about my sorority will seem simple. I just went through my pledgeship period, therefore I can talk about the transition from being a pledge to an active is like. By being a younger girl (some of the youngest in the sorority) it may affect what I see because the other girls are older and more experienced. As far as subjective positions go, I may become very biased since I'm a member and fight against the stereotypes that me and other girls and also fraternity boys have been given. I wanted to write about being in a sorority because it's convenient since I'm in one, I know a lot of knowledge about it, and I want to learn more about what people assume and what they feel Greek life is all about.

Chi Omega - In Relation to Rick Zollo's Piece

Chi Omega Sorority -
1. Sources of data: my own personal experience and thoughts, interviewing other members in the sorority, our sorority website, encyclopedias, Chi Omega symphony, songs, etc. Also, Greek legends.

2. Methods beneficial to the project - interview process, a survey or a response as to what most people assume when they think of sororities on campus, statistics (having a certain GPA to be in it, how many people are in one compared to not, etc). Observing our meetings and trying not to be as biased as possible

3. Expectations (behaviors, rituals, rules, etc) - I'll be able to watch our sorority function and how we all act together. Rituals like our initiation, pinning ceremonies, etc. Behaviors include maybe arguments as to who we should be paired for homecoming, talking about policies, rules and regulations of the new executive board. Rules - drinking policies, having certain GPA, expectations, etc. Difficulties I may face include not being biased because I'm in the sorority and I know what it's all about. Also, others getting mad at the perceptions of sororities, for example, my sisters when others think we're just "stupid sorority girls". Successes I'll find are being a first hand source and a member of what I'm going to talk about.

Box 2 Page 15 - Response

Getting on the computer - checking all my stuff.

It's a normal, average, gloomy day in the month of January. The dreariness outside makes it impossible for one to want to step out into the cold, or even outside their own dorm room. However, luckily in my college life, I've got one thing that keeps me posted without having to leave my dorm. Oh wonderful technology, thank you for the internet. Drudging out of bed, I slide over to my nicely designed (with magazine clippings on a purple case) Macbook and open it. Instantaneously, the lights light up and I'm subjected to a world of color and brightness. Next, I click on a little icon that looks exactly like a compass, leading me into a technological world full of anything and everything one would like to know. With my fingers as my guide and the keyboard as my trail, I type my way along the path of internet glory. By typing in a familiar address, I can check my email - my own personal mailbox full of what is occurring at school, at home, in my sorority, etc. With other websites (or places of travel) it's easy to spend numerous hours on one's own computer. Perfecting my skills of typing and looking things up, it's a glorious thing I've been taking part of ever since I've gotten access to a computer and one I'm sure I'm nowhere close to being done with.

Sub Cultures - In Class Exercise

Subcultures to which I belong:

Chi Omega Sorority - symphony "...to be, in the best sense, democratic rather than 'exclusive', and lovable rather than 'popular'; to work earnestly, to speak kindly..."; rush & initiation, holding yourself to a high standard - not only represent yourself but the sorority and the girls as a whole; sisterhoods once a month, chapter once a week, philanthropies, initiation, chi omega flower, symbol, greek letters, etc., sense of family - home away from home, power of sisterhood, image that girls in sororities join them because they can't find other friends or are desperate for attention; the image that we party all the time

Photo Editor of High School Yearbook Staff - deadlines, when photos should be taken, composition, what not to put in a yearbook, kind of look dorky from the outside, lots of time and patience to put an entire yearbook together & people don't usually understand how indepth and time consuming it really is

Zesto Ice Cream Employee - located in Fort Wayne, Indiana; work 15-20 hours a week, know the menu like the back of my hand; dealing with people from the outside and trying to please them and make what they want perfectly


Chi Omega Sorority
"You know not only represent yourself but the sisterhood of Chi Omega and all of the members as a whole," our President said, "You must always hold yourself to a higher standard, you're a beautiful woman, and a Chi Omega." The subculture I belong to is one of promise, friendship, and loyalty... a sorority. It takes up a lot of time and yet, in the end, it's all worth it. From the outside, people may see us as the snobby girls, with our big red bags displaying our Greek letters, believing that we're something better than everyone else. However, one does not hold our bag in this way, but displaying the love we share for our sorority, its sisters, and our club. As a sorority, we do much more than the standard thought of us partying, boy chasing, etc. We have philanthropies where we raise money for organizations such as breast cancer research and the Make A Wish Foundation. We also participate in other Greek life activities on campus. All Greek members share a special bond. We have important rituals like pinning ceremonies, initiation, etc. in order for all of us to learn more about our sorority and its teachings. However, I cannot share personal information of our sorority, like that of our initiation, for that's a secret ritual that only members take part in. Chi Omega is a group of random girls however joined together by sisterhood. Yes, there's girls that don't like each other and yes there's drama, like that in any club, but we're family and when we're all joined together in our suite in Woodworth, it's obvious to see that we can put these differences aside and support, fight, and care for our sorority.

Creative Writing Process - Post 1

Whenever I begin the process in writing a paper, any type of paper, the process is quite simple. To most, writing can be somewhat of a challenge. Beginning anything, no matter the task, can seem to some unbearable, scary, and nerve-wrecking. However, I find most solace and comfortability in writing creative pieces. I find that writing exactly how I feel is an excellent way to express myself. In high school last year I had to write a journal entry (2 pages in length) about an experience that had been life changing for me, in a creative style. Instantly I thought of a time when I worked in the Burn Unit of a hospital in my hometown for two months. In order to write this paper or any creative paper, I usually make lists of important memories and ideas that I'd like to convey to the reader. This helps me a lot because when something's important to me, I want to get EVERYTHING out and make it apparent to the reader that I am passionate about it. I also usually always have music playing whenever I write. It calms me down and makes it seem like it's more carefree. Also, when I write, I'm very picky. I've written four page papers before and erased the whole thing because I knew it wasn't the best I could of done or that nothing made any sort of sense. Therefore, revising and editing is very important in my writing process. I like to go through and make changes to make my paper the best it can be, so I can feel confident turning in it. We've all had those papers we've turned in and hesitated letting it slip between your finger tips into the teachers, knowing what you've turned in is complete crap. So, my process is simple.. sit down, turn on some tunes, make a list, and just let your mind go!