project proposal #2

Leeann Barrett
Proposal
For my research project, what I intend on studying are the Greek community at Queens College. When I say Greek one my think that I am talking about people who are born or live in Rome but what I am referring to is the Sorority and the Fraternity community; more specifically Queens College Sororities. This society is most viewed as the ‘jocks and cheerleaders’ of college. Just like in High School, where it seemed as though they were in control of everything and no matter what they did they still managed to succeed and do well in school, it is the same with the Greek community; the good version of the ‘untouchable’. The only difference is that this power that they have superiority that they have in college does not end when graduation comes around. Members of these societies are often part of other organizations other than the sisterhood they are a part of. Many of them hold administrative offices in school, and in most cases hold the office of president.They also participate in outside organizations like the Big Brothers of America program for children that need a mentor in their lives because of the lack of a parental figure and the Breast Cancer Association. They are the future leaders of America.
The reason I choose this topic is mainly because I was interested in joining a sorority. I found that not only can this be an interesting group to observe but also that this will be a valuable learning experience for me. Through doing this research I will be able to better educate myself as well as serve as a vessel to maybe impact another individual in their decision of whether they would like to join a sister hood. Their personality and the wonder of their secret society is what caught my interest. They are the over achieves of society. They may be in the background but if one looks at many firms and within congress as well as look at many of our former presidents, a majority of them are part of a brotherhood/ sisterhood or have pledges.
Some questions I would like to answer are:
• How did you first hear about sororities?
• What was your initial view of what a sorority is and what they stand for as a whole?
• What aspects attracted you?
• What are some positive things that you have heard about sororities?
• What are some of the negative aspects you have heard> Did you believe the rumors?
• Why did you chose to be part if this sorority?
• Did you conduct and research before joining? (through conversing, internet, etc)
• What is the general relationship between the different sororities and fraternities? Is there any animosity or rivalry between them?
• Is there a ranking system like in the military?
• How are the rankings determined within and amongst sororities?
• Do you think that sororities are based on popularity now that you are a part? Did you believe this before hand?
• Why do sororities throw parties? what do you believe the reason behind it is?
• How they decide which philanthropy is chosen for them to participate in
• How does one become an honorable member? The head of the fraternity/ sorority?
I have done research by visiting and researching these:
• DeSantis, Alan D. Inside Greek U. fraternities, sororities, and the pursuit of pleasure, power, and prestige. Lexington, Ky: University P of Kentucky, 2007.
• Gordon, Michael, and Stephen Wilson. "Status Inconsistency and Satisfaction with Sorority Membership." University on North Carolina Press 48 (1969).
• Heaton, Margaret M. "Sororities and the School Culture." Journal of Educational Sociology 21. JSTOR. 04 Apr. 2009 .
• In the Fraternal Sisterhood: Sororities as Gender Stratergy 2nd ser. 9 (1995). JSTOR. 5 Apr. 2009 .
• Perkins, Glen. "The Elimination of Fraternities and Sororities in the Tucson High School." Chicago Journals 31 (1923). JSTOR. 5 Apr. 2009 .
• Robbins, Alexandra. Pledged The Secret Life of Sororities. New York: Hyperion, 2005.
• Willerman, Ben, and Leonard Swanson. "An Ecological Determinant of Differential Amounts of Sociometric Choice Within College." American Sociometry Association 15 (1952). JSTOR. 5 Apr. 2009 .
I have also visited blog sites and forums to see the feed back that pledges have towards events like rush, why they wanted to join as well as what fist attracted them to rush to join this sorority.
How I intend on doing this research is though the interviewing of different members of Sororities at QC. My first plan in doing this is by getting in touch with some members of Queens Colleges three sororities: Phi Sigma Sigma, Sigma Delta Phi and Delta Phi Epsilon. I will mainly focus on the reactions of newly entering members but I will also look to some f the older more invovled members. My research will be conducted through research, interview as well as through observation.
Some obstacles I am going to face is the idea of confidentiality. Some aspects of the brotherhood/ sisterhood members cannot express to outsiders. Some things I have to consider is that I am trying to rush also so I have to be careful what I ask and how I present the sorority. Another obstacle I might face is the events that I am planning to attend. If they are scheduled during Sabbath then I will not be able to attend and some of the events may include travel to another campus outside.

~Iris~

In a land far away where everyone but know but no one knows. There lived a man and a woman the woman was of Royal blood however, her husband was not. He was a mere pauper. The woman’s family did not approve and felt disgraced but the woman was as happy as ever. Her family disowned her as she married the pauper and destroy all knowledge and family painting which had her in it so that no one would know that she is a princess or that she existed. This upset the woman but she was happy. The young couple lived in where we now call Egypt. They mixed and blended in with the people very well and no one knew that the woman was a princess. The woman did still keep in touch with one of the members of her family which was her cousin Xenicia whom she would send letters to of her new life and for updates in the kingdom. The woman then had a baby whom she named Iris because her eyes were as ice and her skin was a cool as tar. However a great plague flew over Egypt and both Iris mother and father died when she was 10. Iris stayed in the home by herself for she had learned many of life lesson when her parents where alive. She knew how to cook, clean and take care of herself however there was a strange woman that would visit her from time to time giving her money and groceries.
Iris did have friend however. From time to time she would talk to her horse and play with the Conures that had a nest nearby her home. Iris made the most of her days. She went o market and bought clothing and supplies when she needed them. But when she went home is when her imagination went wild. Iris would dream of the stories her mother used to tell her about a girl was a princess and the adventures that she would have in the castle.
As if nothing Iris grew into beautiful young lady who had long flowing black hair and the elegance of a swan. The woman that would visit her from time to time leaving her food and money left her saying that she will be back when she most needs her. Iris had no clue what the woman was referring to but she allowed her pardon and wished her good bye. The woman never mentioned where she was going.
One day when coming how from the market Iris rode her horse home but stopped so that her and the horse could get a drink of water. You see Iris’ horse was rare and Iris tamed him very well so he was very loyal to her. But there was a man in town that would employ young men to buy and capture horses for him. And he had his heart set on Iris’ horse. That day he sent a boy named Kitwane to go and steal the horse from Iris. So he followed her in to the forest in hope to capture the beautiful horse. When he came upon the he began to sneak up on the horse in hopes not to scare the horse. But Kitwane looked up and saw this majestic woman gathering herbs and berries for her dinner. He was mesmerized by her and could not stop watching her as she went from branch to branch. Suddenly he lost balance and the horse sensed him. The horse was startled and made noise pouncing up and down so that Kitwane would not catch him. But he held him by his reins and before Iris could react fast enough; her was gone with her dear friend.
Kitwane looked for to see the woman in town every day from then on and soon grew worried that something happened to her so he went to go and find her. So he went into the forest in search for her. You see the mysterious woman (xenicia) was in town and she knew the boy and also knew he had a good heart. She knew that he would be the one if he came to find Iris. So she laid out a clearing of the way do that he would not lost in trying to find her. So he followed the trail thinking that is must have been the way that Iris followed all those years of going to the market. At the end of the path he found a small house and inside he found the woman he could not take his eyes off at the lake. As he came closer he stumbled on chest with letters inside. He tries to pick it up and fix it before the beautiful woman saw but she rushed and caught him.
“Who are you and what are u doing here? How did you find me”
“I followed the path that you take to the market every afternoon”
“So you’re stalking me how long have you been watching me “
“I haven’t I just..”
“Wait you are the man who took my horse”
Iris then braces him up against a walk in her home completely taking him by surprise. When Kitwane opened his eyes he found a dagger to his neck. Iris knew a day would come when some one would find her in the forest so she would practice and prepare for the day by fighting with trees and long stems.
What have you done to my horse”
“ Nothing”
“Where is she?”
“I’ll tell you if let me down I can’t breathe”
She lets him drop to the floor and he tells her how the horse is still in the village in a shed however, the horse will be shipped to Cairo to a breeder. It also turns out that they horse will be taken there in 2 days time. Iris picks him up and offers him some food. As they sit down and talk the two begin to bond and Iris grows a liking for him. Later that day they plan a way for Iris to get back her friend.
So the next night around ten the two sneak into town. Everyone is sleeping including the guard at the front of the shelter. The two creep into the stable and the horse immediately sees Iris and gets excited but Iris calms her down telling her not to wake the guard and how they will get her out. When the horse hears the word we she looks up and sees Kitwane. She glares at him and is resistant at first. Iris reassures her and comforts her as she allows Kitwane to unleash her from her holding.
They make a great escape into the forest that’s awakens Kitwane’s master. He wakes out of his bed and see the two venturing off into the forest. Enraged he sends out a search party to find them. Three men on horses go out to find them they get lost in the smog. This makes him furious and he sends more people to go and find them. They too fail. So the master thinks what can he do to get the horse as well as Iris and Kitwane to him because now he wants all of them to suffer. So he sends his mistress Aida to go and find them. She was always favored amongst his workers do her told her to go into the forest and seduce Kitwane into coming back to town with the promise that she will be free to go where she pleases and have a riches in a foreign land. She agrees.
Going alone she wanders into forest and the path is revealed to her. It is faint but she can still follow. She soon sees the house and hides both Iris and Kitwane sleeping. She wakes Kitwane you whispering sweet things like” my love I was so worried about you. When you where working for him I always wanted to sneak away with you into great abyss and have a life with you but I knew we couldn’t because he would kill us both. And no I have come to save your. He has sent out searches to find you and soon he will come himself and try to kill you and Iris. If you love her you will come with me to save your life.” Kitwane then looks at Iris as she sleeps peacefully and feels pity on her. He agrees to follow Aida. Aida leads leads him straight into the village without him knowing because of the fog. When the fog rises he finally sees that he is right in the master’s lap. The master snags him up saying “You thought you could upstage me right, for some girl. How long did you think you could hide from me.” He smirks. “ I soon will have her too and the precious horse. I shall make her my new slave. She will probably be more good than you.” Kitwane pleads that he will do anything as long as the master leaves him alone but the master refuses sentencing him to live in the dungeon.
Iris wakes up with an erie feeling knowing for sure that something is certainly wrong. Iris gathered up all that she could include in the small chest that was on the floor because she knew that she had kept her dagger in there as well as other weapons. She got on her horse and rode into the village. When she got there she went around ducking seeing would hopefully find Kitwane carrying only her dagger with her. Then she heard a familiar voice in one of the floor windows she went closer and found Kitwane telling another cell mate for his story. She was overjoyed to see him and signaled for him to come over.
He explained everything to her and tried to tell her to run away and that he will be ok because this is all a trap. But when Iris got up to find a way to get him out she found the master hovering over her. She was cornered. Iris was throw in a room and looked up. Until the master came back and threw Iris down on his bed. “Now I will have you and your horse” he ordered maliciously. She frigates and kicked him off her causing him to fall and hurt his lip. “YOU may have got me now but I would not say the same for your friend” and he left. Iris immediately gets up and knows that he is talking about Kitwane. She remembers that there is a carrier that leads to the stable that she saw before and she goes and finds it hidden behind the grandfather clock. She moves it with all her strength then goes down the chute to her friends rescue. When she got to the stable she saw no one but she hear an up roar of people. When she went outside to see she saw that he friend was going up to the billow to be beheaded. This frightened Iris. Thankfully they had not found her horse yet. So she got on her horse and ran up on the platform trying to stop the master from killing KItwane. She took her dagger trying to kill him or stop him but he quickly grabbed her hand and threw her off her horse. The horse kicked him causing him to fall down and she went and untied Kitwane. The two fought the guards, fighting for their freedom until the master recuperated strength and tripped Iris. Then held a knife to her neck threatening to kill her if Kitwane did not give up. All was lost and Kitwane gave until the mysterious woman appeared from within the coward. She unveiled herself as well as her guard and announced that she was the stand in Queen of Egypt born from the blood of Issac and Persia Zpiseho the inlaws of our past king and Queen. She proclaim that she was the stand in Queen for Iris Kennisha Seleane daughter of Princess Selina and John Cahse, until she becomes of age. Her mother’s dying wish was for her to watch and help raise Iris as a normal girl and not tell her that she was a princess. Just them the horse rocked and all the letters that Xenicia and Iris’ mother would send back and forth were in that chest. The master then tried to hurry away but was stopped by one of his guards and given to the Queens guards to imprison.
Iris could not believe it was true and the Xenicia explained the entire story to her of what happened to her mother and how she is now ready to reign as queen. But hearing her mother story and seeing that she too is serving the same path she told Xenicia that she will not go without Kitwane. Iris and Kitwane we then allowed to live in the palace and Iris finally was able to live in the palace and an experience the adventures that her mother used to tell her. Iris reigned as Queen and was well adored by her people and most by her husband Kitwane.

Argument Comparing Zipes article to "Old Woman Magoun" by Mary Freedman

The article “The Changing Function of the Fairy Tale” by Jack Zipes is basic argument is that the role of a fairy tale as changed so significantly over the years. Fairy tales initially where for the older people for a form of education and then through time it became a way to teach children lessons starting from an early age. Throughout his study he walks the reader through the different time period and explains why they viewed fairy tales as they did. Like for example in the Romanic and Victorian times they did not want their children to listen to fairy tales because they thought that they will lead them astray from the bible and God. Though this study Zipes is able to come up with some basic guidelines of what classifies a work as a fairytale. But does this work with all fairytales or does it tends to change based on different variables like time, place and audience. The tale “Old woman Magoun” tests his model almost to the point that it contradicts the guidelines he sets as qualifications.
The first guideline is that the protagonist is censored from doing something and goes against it. The protagonist in this tale is old woman Magoun. Magoun is not faced by a dilemma until the end of the story. The dilemma that she is faced with is that the child she is watch, Lily, who is also her granddaughter is wanted by her father who is a dead beat father and a drunkard. This dilemma is hinted at when the story mentions the tale of what happened to Lily’s mother and then escalated when characters in the story are bothered by the fact that Lily is almost fourteen and still carrying around a doll. Hinting by the title we can see that the protagonist is Magoun, however the story is centered on Lily. Magoun serves as a substitute because she shelters Lily in such a way that Lily has no knowledge or control of what is taking place. So is it the supporting character or the protagonist that is faced with the dilemma even though the protagonist had no clue of what is going on? From being sheltered Lily is paralyzed from making any efforts to solve the problem she is in. And to make it worse she actually helps it along by telling her father and Willis he age and her name. In doing so they knew she was of age to be wed to Willis which is assumed.
The second requirement is that the protagonist is “banished” or is given a “task related to the interdiction or prohibition” and that the protagonist will be marked by this undertaking. If one is to continue this assessment assuming that Magoun is the protagonist then the point of her having to be “banished” is not being portrayed in the story. The story never clues into Magoun having to move anywhere or having to leave any space because she is given the girl to take care of. The tasks that Magoun is given are two. The first is to shelter and care for Lily so that she does not turn like her mother and the second is given by her father when he requests her. The latter part of Zips rule does fit however. In the conclusion of the story Magoun is found carrying around the dolly that Lily would carry and never let go of. This doll signified the innocence of a child and in Magoun’s neglect and allowed poisoning of the child she is now scarred by this act because when she found that lily was sick she did nothing to cure her. All she did was tell her about heaven so that it would take her mind off the pain and that the child will die peacefully.
Zipes then makes a list of things/ characters in the story which have to present in order for it to function properly. The first is a villain. The villain in the story is spoken of three times. Once when speaking of how Lily became, next is when he sees Lily and then goes to get her from her grandmother and last at the end of the story when he finds Lily dead. The second request is of a mysterious person or animal giving her the protagonist gifts. This is where Lily comes in. While Lily is walking she meets a man who she has never met before how walk with her to the market to get salt. He does not give her a gift however. Unless this gift is company walking to the store, the person who gives her a gift is her father. She knows her father (“Now Lily did not shrink from him. Hereditary instincts and nature itself were asserting themselves in the child's innocent, receptive breast” and "My father gave it to me,"). Yes it may have been instinct but for her to out rightly say that her father gave her the candy justifies that the child knows him. This eliminates him as a mysterious character. Just some one she has not seen a long period of time. They clearly share a bond.
Zipes also asks for animals are creatures which are not present in this book other than the men that she refers to as hogs. Also no one offers her a magical gift. The men who Magoun refers to as hogs are building her a bridge which she is paying for with food and drink and other gifts are received by Lily which is an apple given to her by the lawyer’s wife who gives her milk and sour apples that then sickens her and the candy that’s her father gives her.
The next requirement is for the protagonist to fight their prohibition. Magoun attempts to fight society by keeping Lily as a child as long as she can saying that she will be with God. The other thing that she attempts to fight is the father regaining custody of Lily. She does this by going to the lawyer’s house and asking him to adopt Lily. However she fails. When she finds out that Lily was feed the apples however, she leaves her to die and allows her to eat the wild berries which she would otherwise have scolded her not to.
The fall of the protagonist whether it be Magoun or Lily begins when Magoun allows Lily to go to the store for salt to make the pork. The only problem with this “peripety” is that it seems permanent. I say this because Zipes states that this is a temporary setback. Magoun continues with her life as always, however, she’s still trapped because she is left with the memory of Lily. She keeps, on her shoulder, the doll that Lily kept at all times. And Lily dies so there is no coming back from that. One can make the argument that in her death she is freed from what she was bound to experience if she had lived but in the context of the story she does not prevail and no one is happy at the end of the story. Or at least the story doe not hint at Lily going to Heaven or Magoun being satisfied with her deed.
The last three requirements that are set up for fairytales fail because they are not applicable in this tale. Zipes alleges that the protagonist will us the gives obtained to help them. The candy that Lily receives is never used. On top of this there is no spell to be broken other then the fact that now the Barry cannot have his child and that she does not face her father at all.
The next requirements are that the antagonist is penalized and the end of the story ends in marriage wealth or wisdom. The father is penalized in the sense that he and Willis do not get have Lily in the end. Lily is dead so is this a battle won? And the father does not get what he wants however he does not seem too hurt about it and just gives up. Willis offers to go get a doctor but when Barry tells him that she is almost dead he sees that there is no point in getting one. If the father really wanted her alive, he would have gotten a doctor or sent for one regardless of whether or not she is dead or almost dead. Her dying is not a happy even. Her death prevents her from getting married which Zipes sees as positive. So does her death still qualify? Is dead a sort of emancipation from her father?
I personally enjoyed the story and saw that’s it applied to issues like dead at child birth, the role of a grandmother and the value of family, however it does not fit very well with Zipes’ outline of what a fairytale is. So does this mean that this story is not a fairytale? Also the roles that Lily and Magoun play, as the interchanging protagonist, complicates the list. I still think that this story fits as a fairytale because even though it does not fit the minuscule details of what a fairy tale is, it still teaches children’s the essentials of society and how to coop with events. Some lessons it teaches are do not talk to strangers, obey your guardian and do not accept gifts from strangers. Zipes may disagree with me who ever many other versions of stories that he may think are fairies will contradict all the guidelines he sets down. In saying that I do not believe that Zipes checklist of what is a fairytale is valid because it has the basic guidelines of what is a fairy tale; however his list is not state-of-the-art

summary of "Old Woman Magoun" by Mary Eleanor Wilkins

The tale “Old Woman Magoun” by Mary Eleanor Wilkins Freeman Starts off with woman named Old Woman Magoun wanting to get a bridge made. She bids some men into making it for her in promises of giving them food and liquor to drink after. Magoun is a smaller farmer who is the caretaker for a little girl named lily. Lily is put in the care of Magoun because her mother had died from giving child birth. Magoun would never allow the child to go out of her home or go very far without her knowing. She kept her as a child; know what happened with her mother. Lily’s mother married lily’s father, Nelson Barry, when she was 16. And when they got married and got pregnant, he left her mother. Magoun’s reasoning for this is that it was in his blood. His father was a cheater also. As a signal of her youth the story constantly mentions a doll which Lily cares everywhere with her on her shoulder as if it is her child. This appears more so when her grandmother (Magoun) sends her to the market for salt to put on the pork when Sally Jink (her friend) recommends that she does. Before she goes on her travel her grandmother tells her not to talk to anyone but if someone greets her, she should act appropriately ("and don't stop to talk to anybody, for I am in a hurry for that salt. Of course if anybody speaks to you, answer them polite, and then come right along."). So she goes and she meets a man whose name we do not find out until after Lily come home from her trip to go and get salt. When she is walking with this man he asks her personally questions like her name and her age and who is her father. Obediently she answers all of these questions. When they get to the Village she meets her father as drunken as ever outside of the shop who kisses her and slightly startles her with the liquor on his breathe so she moves away and buys the salt. He too asks her what is her age. The stranger (Jim Willis), her father and Sally are all alarmed at the fact that the child is of age to get married but is still playing with a doll. The father seeing this comes to The grandmother house the next day stating that he wants his daughter back and that he will want her a week from date. He tells her that she will be cared for by his “half- witted sister” Isabel. Magoun did not approve but agreed regardless.
The story says that the next day she awoke Lily saying that she is going to test the new bridge that she had made for her. And she makes Lily put on her new white dress, gloves, shoes and hat while Magoun wore all black. They make their way across the bridge to the home of lawyer Mason who lived n Greenham. While Magoun was inside conversing with the lawyer, his wife came outside to talk to Lily and offered her treats and sour apples and milk. When Magoun come out and found that Lily had eaten them she got upset but left all the same. We find out shortly after that the reason that Magoun went to then was to get Lily adopted but he said no because Lily was the child of Barry and that was bad news. The wife had lost a child before and pleads to adopt Lily but the husband still refused.
The story focuses back unto lily and her grandmother. They are walking towards home and Lily asks if she can sit down and the grandmother says yes. Lily then eats some wild berries. While they are continuing on their journey Lily sees that her grandmother tone and look has changed and she makes many complaints that her shoes are dirty and her stomach hurts and that her throat is dry. Magoun gives her water once but the second time she asks she tells her that she will get it when they reach the next town. When they get home Lily is lying on her bed complaining about the pain she is experiencing. Magoun does nothing about it and starts to tell Lily about the place that she is going to and how beautiful it will be. She is describing heaven.
The last record that we hear of Lily is when the father and Willis come and find Lily cold dead. They find out the cause when Magoun’s friend Sally tells them. We come to find out that Lily’s mother too ate apples and milk and got sick also.
The story ends tell us that Magoun still runs her small farm and sells her produce but she still carries around.