Sigma Lambda Beta Coming Out Show

"The Line" - new pledging members 

       Stepping into an unknown cultural situation can be anxiety provoking, exciting, confusing, and incredibly awakening. When I attended the Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Incorporated, Alpha Beta Chapter, Coming Out Show, I stepped into a culture far from my own.  The show presents new pledging members, “the line”, to the Multicultural Greek community; it concludes a grueling ten-week pledging process and finalizes their membership to the fraternity. At the event I was presented the opportunity to experience being a member of the minority for the first time in my life. The event allowed me to confront some of my underlying ethnocentric tendencies, tread outside of my comfort zone, observe rich intercultural communication, and appreciate the aesthetics of cultural differences.

       When many people think of a fraternity, the stereotypical image of white “frat” boys wearing boating shoes, pastel polo shirts and jauntily throwing a football around in their front yard on Frat Roe comes to mine. In the past, I had only encountered this “Traditional” type of fraternity, and I experienced minor culture shock when I was exposed to the Multicultural Greek community at the Sigma Lambda Beta Coming Out Show. Although Traditional and Multicultural fraternities hold many similarities, such as an emphasis on philanthropy, they differ significantly in their traditions, values, definition of brotherhood and membership expectations. One particular difference between the two types of Greeks is their history. For example, the Divine Nine, the nine original Multicultural fraternities and sororities, were developed from slave groups in the early 1900s (J. Zerka, personal communication, February 22, 2013). As seen in the video below, the line recites is required to diligently know facts and history about the organization; the emphasis on rituals and tradition is a cornerstone in Multicultural fraternities culture. Although the video is not from the coming out show I attended, all Multicultural Greek shows have traditional features that are present in every program.

       Sigma Lambda Beta, the Latino-based fraternity hosting the coming out show, consists of members from a vast variety of national, cultural and ethnic identities; anyone who shares the fraternity’s core values of cultural awareness, brotherhood, scholarship and community service is welcome (J. Zerka, personal communication, February 22, 2013). The fraternity has 118 chapters, and 14 colonies between the United States and Puerto Rico; additionally, the Alpha Beta Chapter at the University of Minnesota holds members from 38 different nationalities and is the most diverse chapter in the organization. Even though each member beings their own personal cultural identity and values, the Multicultural Greek system creates its own unique culture based on deep loyalty, personal discipline, respect, and tradition (J. Zerka, personal communication, February 22, 2013).

       As illustrated in the video, the show consisted of new members presenting the audience with historical facts and information about the fraternity, call-and-return style acknowledging remarks to other Multicultural Greek chapters, personal displays of pride for the fraternity and a concluding step show. New members are also kept hidden behind masks until the very end of the show when they are finally given the honor and privilege of wearing the fraternity’s letters and being formally revealed to the rest of the Multicultural Greek community. One key difference between the video clip and the actual show I attended was the size and energy of the audience. Positive vibes radiated from the crowd; the show was just as meaningful to them as it was for the line.

       While the dynamic cultural makeup of the event made it very intriguing, it was also one of the most challenging aspects of attending the show. Even though I attended the show to show support for a friend on the line, my lack of knowledge about Multicultural Greek events instantly placed me in the outgroup. I did not know what to wear, what to expect, and I knew nothing about the intermediate or deep level of the cultural. Most of the audience was affiliated with a Multicultural fraternity, sorority or a family member of someone on the line. To make their ingroup membership more evident, most members of the audience wore their chapter’s letters and colors in addition to sitting in close groups and using private handshakes and signals as greetings.

New fraternity members posing with ladies from
one of the attending Multicultural sororities

       During the event I was also removed from many unearned white privileges I am commonly surrounded by. Particularly, I was unfamiliar with the unwritten rules of the event and needed to play off the cues of others, I had to consciously search the crowd to see another person of my race, I was one of the only people who seemed to now know the lyrics to the songs playing, and the people in power were of different ethnicity. Being removed from the unearned privileges I am submerged in on a daily basis allowed me to recognize the extent that society truly favors white norms. I felt awkward and consciously incompetent as a member of the outgroup. I also found it very interesting that one of the few white people in attendance sat next to me and made small talk throughout the program. I believe this gesture illustrated how proxemics come into play for outgroup members, and I can imagine why people of color may behave similarly when they are submerged in a society centered around white privilege. 

       Before attending the coming out show, the only exposure I had to Multicultural fraternities occurred through videos and the occasional fraternity member wearing clothing with their letters on campus. In order to fully appreciate the coming out show, I believe it is necessary to know the low-context communication style used in the Multicultural Greek system. For instance, the fraternity uses “calls” to represent their presence at Greek events. Sigma Lambda Beta’s most used call is “LB86,” which stands for “Lambda Beta” being founded in 1986 (J. Zerka, personal communication, February 22, 2013). As an outgroup member, I had absolutely no idea why half the audience was yelling these seemingly random letters and numbers at the event, but they hold rich significance for members of the ingroup. An example of this type of call can be heard in the beginning of the video when the line is marching in being yelled by the Membership Educator, the line’s leader who serves as the primary instructor through the pledging experience.

       When I initially entered the show it quickly became clear to me that I had many ethnocentric views that I needed to suspend. As heard at the end of the video, females attending the event yelled comments such as, “I see you”, countless times. At first, I was slightly annoyed and confused by the vernacular being used; I was hearing the phrase with an ethnocentric lens and was not familiar with its connotative meaning. When I later told my friend that girls were yelling, “I see you”, at him, he was flattered and explained it meant they liked or approved of him. After hearing his explanation, I realized that were quite a few cultural norms that I was simply unfamiliar with and unfairly judged due to my ethnocentric approach. My ethnocentrism during particular parts of the event is a bit disheartening, and I recognize that I am still hovering between the stairs of conscious incompetence and competence.

Current members and alumni of Sigma Lambda Beta

       Observing the program filled me with a sense of pride and excitement for my friend and the other young men on the line. Energy, tension and exhilaration filled the room instantaneously when the line entered and continued throughout the duration of the show. Even as a member of the outgroup, it was obvious how momentous the program was to the new members, current fraternity members, alumni, and other Multicultural Greeks. Joining the Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity moves far beyond the concepts of brotherhood, philanthropy and partying that is commonly associated with fraternities. Seeing men with glistening eyes, shaking chins, perfect posture and clenched knuckles made their solidarity, passion and dedication to the organization transparent.

       The Sigma Lambda Beta Coming Out Show did not elicit the same response or meaning for me as it did for other audience members, but I can appreciate the magnitude of the event. Happiness and joy are universal emotions that everybody can relate to. My experience as a guest at the coming out show not only provided the opportunity to learn about another culture, but I now have the ability to share my experience with others. Especially on a college campus, living in our cozy social bubbles may feel safe, but it is essential to step outside personal comfort zones and truly become acquainted with the cultures that piece together our vibrant community.