YESSS! I think we're getting nationals!!!

[carnation]

Yesss! For those who have followed the 2-year thread about those awful, hazing locals at the college where I teach--the president just stopped a professor who's NPHC and told her he wants to bring in nationals! We are so stoked!:)

The kids in the groups are great, they just think they have to act like high school sororities might and they don't know any better. I don't know whether nationals will be brought in to colonize independently of the locals or they'll absorb the locals.

There's work to be done!:D

[FuzzieAlum]

Congrats, good luck, and yayyyyy!

[MoxieGrrl]

Congratulations! Has there been any talk about what groups are going to come to campus? Or has it not gotten that far yet? Keep us updated!!

[carnation]

No idea yet--I just contacted NPC and the other lady contacted NPHC and her group.:)

I do think that if nationals are brought in independently of the locals, the locals will die soon. Women just aren't going to put up with those groups' crap if they can be treated with respect. The locals were given several chances to reform but they kept hazing openly and maybe the president has just had it.:( I sure have. Several of the professors just knew we'd end up on the Atlanta news being blasted by one of the investigative reporters if the hazing continued.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that the traditional Southern sororities would have the best shot due to area alum support.

[KappaKittyCat]

YAY! If I had energy I'd be doing the Happy Dance. Oh well, I'm Happy Dancing in spirit, anyway.

It's about freaking time.

You go NPC. Get their butts onto campus ASAP.

Any idea for which sororities there is lots of alumnae support in the area?

These kids need all the TLC they can get.

Is this just NPC or NIC too?

I'm almost starting to sound like Earp here.

Oooh, shiny.

[violets]

carnation,
Congratulations, I love to hear about national GLOs expanding! I really do believe they add so much to campus life.
I was advising for my chapter on a small campus a few years ago and I witnessed 60 year old locals die because they refused to stop hazing. They had all sorts of reasons other than their own actions that they blamed for their dwindling numbers. One popular theory of theirs was that women were joining NPC orgs due to the "money" that NPC orgs were pouring into our chapters! This, of course, was far from the truth. (It'd be nice, but NPC orgs do not usually hand out diamond rings and cars on Bid Day). They absolutely refused to be honest about their own actions and how absolutely crazy and cruel they were. Thank goodness women just refused to put up with it and left.
It's really not very panhellenic of me, but it used to make me crazy that we had formal rush with them. It would make my skin crawl as the Rho Chis would explain to the pnms how sororities do not support hazing, that it is, in fact, illegal. I knew this was true for our NPC orgs but not for the locals. Our only recourse was to develop a "what is hazing?" program for the pnms which gave them examples of hazing and numbers to call if any such situation arose.

At any rate, I relate somewhat to your experience, but I cannot imagine having to witness it every day at my place of work, that would seriously make me batty!
Good luck with your quest for Nationals!
Oh, and if you don't mind, may I ask a question? I'm from the Northeast, went to school here, live here, advised here. What sororities do you consider "traditional Southern sororities?" I've seen you use that phrase before, and it led me to wonder which organizations you are talking about. I just wondered because many of my close sisters are actually Southern women and I am famous for making them regale me with stories of their hometowns and their southern culture. I would drive them crazy but I couldn't get enough of it! Some people dream of spending a year in Provence, I dream of spending a year in the American South. (Maybe I've seen "Steel Magnolias" and "Shag, The Movie" a few too many times?)
violets

[carnation]

Traditional Southern would be like Phi Mu (there was briefly a chapter here about 90 years ago),Chi O, ADPi, KD, Zeta...the sororities that started and maintain several chapters in the South .

One GCer told me that she has a friend in the medium-sized group and they'd like to aim at Phi Mu. There are many local alums to that and Zeta. But who knows which national would actually want to colonize?

Some groups are just not getting the message about how unacceptable hazing is. OohTeenyWahine and I have both witnessed the awful hazing at the U of Hawaii and believe me, there are far fewer groups there now than when I was there. It's a shame because they had some incredible, longtime ethnic traditions.

[Tom Earp]

YES<> YES! This will help the Locals so much!

If this is what I think it is, I sent e-m to LXA and suggest this school for a look in to as some one that fianally wants to go National!

Keep me updated PLEASE!!!!!!!! PM Me and send more INFO so I a can pass it along to HDQ!

luv Ya!

your KS Bud!:)

[orchid2]

Oh Carnation, what a relief! I'm glad the president finally stepped in and demanded action. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds!

A lot of people from my school are from Carnation's general area, so when the greeks graduate and return home there is bound to be no shortage of alumni to support.

This is good to hear. Keep us updated, Carnation!

[aephi alum]

That's awesome news! :) Hope the whole colonization process goes smoothly.

[AGDLynn]

I am going to try to post this again. For some reason the other one didn't take.

Congratulations and good luck to the school. It will be very beneficial that the groups will be starting at the same time or thereabouts. It's usually very difficult for a newbie chapter to compete with the oldies for the first few years. But sometimes, the newbies grow larger than the oldies, lol.

I wish they would colonize an AGD chapter! I'd love to help in whatever way I could.

What about Pi Phi?

[AOIIalum]

Congrats Carnation, what wonderful news for your campus. Hopefully both NPC and NHPC are willing and eager to expand there. From what you've shared with us it sounds like the students would benefit as would the school.

Please keep us posted!
Fraternally,
Christin

[theta sig agd]

Congrats to your school Carnation! What school is it again?

I too hope AGD is in the running, we seem to be very strong here in Georgia!!

What ever the groups I am glad to hear of somemore expansion!!!

[AGDAlum]

Hey, Carnation -- is this not the same college where you've been trying to get NPC for 20 years? I recall a couple of phone calls back then and an Alpha Gam consultant visiting you.... <g> Persistence pays off?!

AG love and mine!

N:)

[carnation]

Not 20 years, 2 years!

I am hoping for a real mean national group who will whop 'em upside of the head if they dare pour syrup and flour and OJ on their pledges' heads again--or if they make them march through stores, singing and wearing weird green outfits--or if they force them to drill in the cold at 6 AM or any of that crap they've been pulling!

All comers are welcome!

[AOIIBrandi]

Carnation,

I hope everything works out. I have no experience with blatant hazing so I cannot even imagine what watching that has to be like :(

I hope AOII looks into colonizing there. As you know we have many chapters in GA, and a very strong Atlanta alumnae chapter :)

[MoxieGrrl]

Have you spoke to anyone at NPC yet? What were their suggestions/responses etc.... How do the locals seem to be taking the news? Would they rather disband that have to go "cold turkey" on the hazing?

[ROWDYsister]

How exciting! I hope Pi Phi gets in on this! :)

[carnation]

I've contacted NPC, no response yet. Since we have no nationals, I don't know whether they're required to come in and put on a presentation or the existing groups can just go after whomever they want.

There are varying responses from girls and guys in the locals, from "It's about time" to "They can't stop us from hazing" (but the state can, idiot) to "They'll destroy our tradition" (what tradition--besides hazing?) One girl whom I've known for years has heard what all my oldest does in her sorority and is dying for her group to go national because there's just no comparison between the weak "programs" offered by her group here and the fabulous things that our daughter's AOII chapter does.

[dzrose93]

What wonderful news, carnation! Delta Zeta could use another colony... hmmmm ;)

[Denise_DPhiE]

Carnation:

Not sure who you may have contacted at NPC but the Extension Director is Jean Mrasek and her email is jmrasek@juno.com

I believe it is wise to have NPC send the expansion lead out to all the 26 NPC groups. The obvious ones you might think would come to your campus might not be expanding at this time, might not want to touch a hazing campus with a ten foot pole or may just not be interested in that student population etc. You will have far more to consider if all 26 know about it and you can sift through their information and purge it down to one national per local. You may want to contact John Caroll University in Ohio. They just took something like 5-7 local womens groups and forced them to go national and it seems they are all having a great experience.

Any questions, please IM me.

Denise_DPhiE
Director of Expansion
Delta Phi Epsilon
(and yes, we have plenty of alumnae in Georgia although we are not a "southern" sorority!!)

[violets]

I think Valparaiso University, Indiana is also a success story in regards to changing long-standing locals into NPC orgs.
I also think there are some GC posters who are Valparaiso students, they might be able to provide some interesting insights.
www.valpo.edu

[PenguinTrax]

Originally posted by violets
I think Valparaiso University, Indiana is also a success story in regards to changing long-standing locals into NPC orgs.
I also think there are some GC posters who are Valparaiso students, they might be able to provide some interesting insights.
www.valpo.edu

Actually, the success was so-so, at least one of the national groups folded almost immediately after the change-over and another one shortly after that, if I understand the situation correctly. It could be the same group - they may have tried a recolonization after the initial changeover problems, and then closed for good after that.

[violets]

Oh, that's a shame. Sorry if I gave incorrect information!
I just met a very happy VU alum recently which made me think of it.
It would, however, be interesting to understand what went wrong so similar problems could be avoided on other campuses.
Thanks for setting me straight PnguinTrax.
violets

[Tom Earp]

Carnation, sent our expansion team leader an e-m so will see what comes from that!

I know I pissed on his wheaties one time before, but I tried being nicey this time!:)

Goodest of luck and thanks for sending PM on this again!

your Luvin KS Gorilla Bud!:cool:

[33girl]

Originally posted by PnguinTrax


Actually, the success was so-so, at least one of the national groups folded almost immediately after the change-over and another one shortly after that, if I understand the situation correctly. It could be the same group - they may have tried a recolonization after the initial changeover problems, and then closed for good after that.

Barbara - I remember us discussing this at the time - didn't you say the one who folded had bad internal problems to begin with? It looks like the other 7 are still there.

[oldhasbeen]

Sorry to use this forum, but I need some help with my login. I had to create another one just to post this. Carnation, would you mind contacting me privately? Aopinthesky@aol.com. Thanks.

[PenguinTrax]

Originally posted by 33girl


Barbara - I remember us discussing this at the time - didn't you say the one who folded had bad internal problems to begin with? It looks like the other 7 are still there.

I really don't recall, I just remember that one of the groups folded almost immediately.

I double-checked and it was AST, their Delta Xi colony, it looks like they were never installed as a full chapter and closed in 2000. I believe that the other chapters on campus began the changeover in 1998 or thereabouts, but not all chapters installed at the same time due to differing requirements amongst the various NPC groups.

From the ADPi (valpo) web site:

During 1997, the sororities at Valparaiso University explored the process of affiliating with national organizations. Throughout 1997 and 1998, the organizations affiliated as follows:

Alpha Xi Epsilon became the Indiana Theta chapter of Pi Beta Phi
Alpha Phi Delta became the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Delta Delta Delta
Gamma Phi became the Zeta Iota chapter of Gamma Phi Beta
Delta Phi Kappa (Kappa Tau Zeta) became the Delta Xi chapter of Alpha Sigma Tau (now closed)
Delta Chi Epsilon (Phi Omega) became the Eta Psi chapter of Alpha Delta Pi
Kappa Psi Omega became the Zeta Psi chapter of Kappa Delta
Phi Beta Chi became the Eta Delta chapter of Kappa Kappa Gamma
Chi Sigma Xi became the Alpha Lambda chapter of Chi Omega

[aopirose]

Yup, it was AST.

[KappaKittyCat]

Yep, the Valpo Kappas are Happy Kappas! So are the John Caroll Kappas. The JCU Kappas got a HUGE, 3 minute ovation when their President came out with their flag at Convention.

As long as there's strong alumnae support, the transition should go smoothly. Contacting Valpo and JCU would be a great idea so y'all can learn from their mistakes.

And of course another Kappa chapter would be awesome... but you can never have too many Kappas!

[MoxieGrrl]

Ditto on the "too many Kappas" quote.....

Kappa Delta was one of the groups that successfully colonized at both Valparaiso University & John Carroll. :) (*hint hint*, carnation :D )

[carnation]

Yayyayyay! It's true! I just spoke with the new Director of Student Life, a Kappa Kappa Gamma, and she said that she told the locals last night at the Greek Council!

She said that most likely, the remaining groups (2 sororities, 1 fraternity) will directly affiliate with national groups and then I suppose more groups can be made up of the remaining interested students. I really think we have room for at least 3 sororities.

She also said that when she told them about how wonderful her pledgeship was and how you can actually build sisterhood bonds without hazing, they were pretty skeptical.:rolleyes: I expect that at least one of the sororities might make a last-ditch attempt to contact alums and get them to scream about it but what the alums should be screaming about is the rep of their sorority around here.:rolleyes:

[violets]

Carnation,
Best wishes on the future of Nationals on your campus!
Can't wait to see how this proceeds!
violets

[phisigduchesscv]

Originally posted by carnation
Yayyayyay! It's true! I just spoke with the new Director of Student Life, a Kappa Kappa Gamma, and she said that she told the locals last night at the Greek Council!

She said that most likely, the remaining groups (2 sororities, 1 fraternity) will directly affiliate with national groups and then I suppose more groups can be made up of the remaining interested students. I really think we have room for at least 3 sororities.

She also said that when she told them about how wonderful her pledgeship was and how you can actually build sisterhood bonds without hazing, they were pretty skeptical.:rolleyes: I expect that at least one of the sororities might make a last-ditch attempt to contact alums and get them to scream about it but what the alums should be screaming about is the rep of their sorority around here.:rolleyes:

Carnation,
What school is that at again? I think almost everyone on here would like to know so that we can contact our National Extension Teams.
I am a founding member of the Iota Gamma Chapter and I do have to say it was drilled in to us no hazing and I'm sure they would (along with all the other NPC's) will make sure hazing doesn't happen anymore at the schools.
Carolyn

[Tom Earp]

Carnation, Congrates!!! 1 Down a few more to go!

You are an inspiration to all of Greeks in the World!

http://www.plauder-smilies.de/happy/invasion.gif

[carnation]

The locals have continued to recruit while getting their ducks in a row for nationalization. This is Rush Week and a record of 77 girls went to prefs for the 2 sororities! Yeaa! There were various requirements, including a certain GPA, that the PNMs had to have before they could rush.

Now, here's the dorky part: a member told me that the administration (not the student life advisor) is requiring for the last time that all rushees get a bid. She has no clue how this will be done, only that both groups ranked the rushees 1 to 77 and quota is 39. I don't know what they plan to do if there are rushees--and there will be--that neither group wants. I mean, what do you do? "I'll trade you the skank ho and the ditz for the trash talker and the evil b@#ch"?

[UF56]

Originally posted by carnation
. I mean, what do you do? "I'll trade you the skank ho and the ditz for the trash talker and the evil b@#ch"?

oh my!!! LOL:D :D

[FuzzieAlum]

What about girls whose grades are in the toilet? Like even if I have a .5 gpa, would they still have to give me a bid???

[carnation]

There was a minimum GPA to go through recruitment but I don't know what it was.

I hate forced bids!

[violets]

Carnation,
Yes, forced bids are not a good thing, but I guess it's just a "Let Go and Let God" situation. The women who cannot function within a group dynamic usually leave of their own accord pretty soon, (but not before causing some drama, of course).
This is just yet another reason to be excited for Nationals!
I hope the expansion process is a short one for your school, I think you'll be a much happier woman once they arrive!
violets

[sigmagrrl]

OK, maybe this has been posted but I cannot find it....What NPC orgs were chosen to colonize??

[carnation]

Nobody has been chosen yet but some favorites are cropping up when the girls talk.

Yes, I'll be happy when they nationalize! And so will a jillion other professors! Most of the remaining women have no intention of hazing pledges but just in case I had some "rogue elephants" in my class, I did the big announcement today: NO HAZING IN MY CLASS! NO STUPID COSTUMES, ESPECIALLY WITH DEELYBOBBERS!!! NO ROCKS FOR SIGNING!!! AND NO ANNOUNCING THAT YOU AREN'T ALLOWED TO SPEAK TO THE OPPOSITE SEX!!!:rolleyes:

Another Georgia GreekChatter saw them get thrown out of KMart a couple of years ago because they were marching a group of singing pledges through. Siggghhh....

[FuzzieAlum]

Do you know how they are going to do it? Are they going to do something like JCU, or are the individual chapters going to pursue the groups they like individually?

[carnation]

I don't know....this rush should bring them up to over 80 each, plus I truly think we'll have room for a third. Possibly the 2 groups will each go with a national plus there could be a colonizing rush for the third group.

[Tom Earp]

Carnation. Have sent twice to my Hdq! Guessed I pissed on his Wheaties!

Hope You Get What Ya Are llookking for!:)

Keep me informand as to what is going on! Heck PM me top let me know updates!!!!!!!!

LUV YA!

[breathesgelatin]

forced bids ARE no fun... how exciting for you to get nationals, though! my school has only had sororities since 1989, so there was never a problem with women hazing each other. however, our fraternity system is seriously bogus... i dated a fraternity pledge all last year, and the torment he went through was ridiculous.... let us know how it goes!!

[sigmagrrl]

Carnation,
When do you at least find out what Nationals are coming to present on campus?

[carnation]

I wish I knew! They've contacted NPC and now NPC has to notify all the member groups.

I'm wondering if one reason for not cutting is to have the 2 existing groups at a premium size to look good for NPC groups. (Siggh.) At least we don't have many strange-looking or -acting people to turn off nationals. The huge majority are what you would call very wholesome-looking.

Hey sigmagrrl, a good family friend just pledged Tri-Sig at Winthrop!

[Crescent]

I'm pretty new to GC and don't know the name of the school at which you teach. Maybe our sorority, also at both JCU and VU, would be a good candidate for one of your locals. We do have strong alum chapters in Atlanta, right GPhiBLtColonel?:D

[carnation]

arg. those little suckers are hazing again.:(

A new member in one of my classes said that they have a curfew of 11 PM to be in their rooms and the pledgemaster yelled at her and she cried for an hour. Guess who's about to call the Student Activities director?

The only other things they're forcing them to do --wear hose all week (maybe it's supposed to make them look good?:confused: ) and wear their pledge ribbons. Still, that's hazing too.

The good news is that each group took a class of 34 and the ones I know are wonderful women. I wish Pi Phi would come here but they're occupied with their western colonizations!

[Tom Earp]

Carnation, that is silly to consider that hazing! I know!

Damn, if they wear hose, then they must be wearing skirts!

Why should they not be wearing ribbons?

We have a Hard Time getting New Associate Pins and our Actives and New Associates want to get them so they can wear them!

Are they not Proud of the Group that they joined?

About making a new cry, that is a problem! There is no sense in that! If I was the young Lady, I would have told the asstive to kiss off or on which ever you prefer!:D

[PenguinTrax]

From the school paper (I have removed the school name out of deference to Carnation):

Sororities and fraternities to go national

XXXX sororities and fraternities to go national
By KW, PR Intern

While on-campus sororities and fraternities have been a large part of student life at XXXX for years, the administration recently decided to move toward making them national organizations.

“I am starting the process by inviting other Greek organizations to come and look at us, but am unsure where that will go,” said E.S. , director of student activities. “The administration wants to begin moving toward national fraternities and sororities, but I do not know exactly when we will become national.”

Greek life begins each fall with rush week, an opportunity for pledges to get to know all the organizations and find out where they fit in. If a pledge is not picked by his or her choice organization, he or she can either try again next fall or accept the invitation of another group.

“There is a mutual selection process going on where men and women of each organization will rank order the people going through rush,” S. said. “The administration has a process of dividing them down the middle.”

In the past, rush week has also involved silly antics by pledges. According to S., this will change, due to a stronger enforcement of the hazing policy in order to adhere to the eventual tie with national terms.

“Retreats are good, as well as team-building activities, but wearing silly outfits to calss is against the hazing policy,” she said. “In the past, displaying the new members has been more important than allowing them to get to know members of the organization.”

S. said there are two purposes to pledge – letting the pledges get to know the history of the organizations, such as past members, and allowing them to get to know members joining with them and older members in the fraternity or sorority. “Anything that does not fall under these two rules is not permitted,” she said.

This includes: actions that recklessly or intentionally endanger the physical and mental health or safety of students; encouraging the consumption of any food, drink, drug or any other substance; exposure to weather; sleep deprivation; assignment of activities that would be illegal or unlawful, or might be morally offensive to the individual; physical brutality, including paddling, striking with fists, open hands or objects and branding; kidnapping, transportation or stranding of individuals; verbal abuse, including line-ups and berating of individuals; conduct that could adversely affect the dignity of the individual, including wearing of apparel that is conspicuous or extraordinary, carrying items such as paddles and canes and the performance of public stunts and activities; tasks of servitude, including errands and clean-up activities for active members, alumni or any other XXXX student; the denial of sufficient time to study; nudity or lewd behavior; late or early activities which interfere with academic activities or requirements; or any activity not consistent with the policies and mission of XXXX College.

S. , who is in charge of enforcing the hazing policy, said hazing in general has been a state law for many years, but the policy, which was adopted in 2001, is just now being enforced.

“The reality is – why would you want to be mean or abusive to women or men joining your organization? It can either A. make them not want to join or B. make them turn around and do the same thing to future members,” said S. . “Older members see what happened to them and say, ‘Why can’t it happen to other members?’ which is why it should be stopped now.”

Anyone breaking the hazing policy will be investigated, and consequences can range up to no social events or intramurals for one semester to one year for the entire organization, according to S. .

One gradual change that will come about with the move to national fraternities and sororities involves technology. S. said computers are used by national organizations, and XXXX will eventually use them as well.

“But this year computers will not be used,” she said.

[carnation]

Thanks, Barb!:) I called ole E.S. and told her that they were already hazing--and that it came straight from the horse's mouth (well, my students' mouths). I hope to heaven that she followed up on it.

[texas*princess]

carnation,
i hope they followed up on it too! hazing is just wrong :(

[ValpoKD]

Hello!! I am a KD at Valparaiso University. I am also currently the Panhellenic President and Eastern Area Vice President for the Mid-American Greek Council Association. I decided to join GreekChat specifically for this topic as my Greek community has been discussed as well as John Carroll.

There are currently 7 national sororities on campus at Valpo. One local was lost during the nationalization process. This chapter was the colony of Alpha Sigma Tau. The local had been struggling for quite some time before this happened. The remaining 7 are wonderful organizations. Each has worked very hard to come to this point, and our community is stronger than ever.

Last year, NPC awarded us the Overall Excellence Award for Panhellenics with 6-10 chapters. To be named the best in country for our size remains one of my proudest moments as we changed from a system with hazing and no risk management to a community where hazing is not tolerated and our risk management is among the most progressive. Hazing did occurr in the locals, but now our sororities stand behind our national policies. The change was not overnight and there were difficult moments, but the support from our University, our fabulous Greek Life Advisor, and the national made all the difference. If anyone would like to know more, let me know. I can also get people in contact with our Greek Life Advisor who has been present for the entire process and gave advice to the JCU Greek Advisor. Best of luck!!

ValpoKD

PS- Most of the JCU chapters also are at Valpo. Kappa Delta is also colonizing another local in the South, so don't feel alone. There are others with experience who love to share.

[AGDLynn]

Greeks will move toward using computers? Gee, they have to use pen, pencils, and paper now?? No PDAs?;) :D

Best of luck!

[carnation]

Good news again! The bigger sorority has decided that they do indeed want to nationalize and one girl in particular is making sure that all their ducks are in a row. They are carefully avoiding any hazing.

The smaller sorority, I am told, doesn't much care whether they nationalize or not. Their "spearheader" apparently transferred to West Georgia and went KD.

And...a third sorority is forming! They're working on the paperwork now. Remember I told you that bids from one group or the other were guaranteed? Several of these girls got bids but didn't like the one they got so they're doing their own thing.

[MSKKG]

Congratulations! This is an exciting time for your university. I'm sure the perfect match will be made for each group. Where do you teach?

[GPhiBLtColonel]

Carnation -- any news to report???

[Tom Earp]

ValPo, in reading this post, what is wrong, does it suck or the Orgs that suck?

Do the Orgs Suck? myabe the population does not umderstand?

If The Population does not understand, whose fault is that?

Do what You Do Best Presemt yourself in a light of Good!

[carnation]

There's a very loosely organized group of women now who didn't get their first choice out of the 2. They may be the third group on campus to approach nationals!

[violets]

Carnation:
Wow, wouldn't it be fabulous if you went from 2 hazing orgs to three NPC sisterhoods! I am so rooting for you and your campus. College-age women deserve all the great aspects of ethical, NPC organizations. Please keep us updated on the progess, I think expansion is so exciting!
violets

[Denise_DPhiE]

Carnation & GPhiBLtColonel

Your opportunity has not appeared in the NPC bulletin yet (to my knowledge) so there is probably not much to report. The NPC officers just switched and the new person has not sent out the next bulletin to the 26 groups advising us of opportunities yet. I think my last bulletin was late August. As soon as we all get notified of your campus opportunity, I am sure several groups will be sending lots of information about their groups to you to review. Usually campuses invite a max of 3 groups to present. If there are three distinct groups by then they can, through mutual selection match up with the three groups which present. This is how our colony at Texas A&M Kingsville came to be. Two nationals presented to what we thought would be two locals. By the time we got there (about a month later) there were three groups. We chose one and Theta Phi Alpha chose the other one. We colonized on October 12 with 27 women and total has been set at 35 for now.

Best of luck in seeing this through to a new era of non-hazing sororities!!!

Denise_DPhiE

[newsun]

I have never been involved in the process when an estabished local sorority joins an inter/national sorority, so can anyone explain what happens to the local sorority's members.

For example, what happens to the local sorority's alumnae? Do they automatically become alumnae of the national sorority, or do they have to come back and be initiated at the chapter installation?

Also, what if there are women in the chapter who do not want to go with the national? Do they deactivate before the local sorority begins the new member process with the national?

[33girl]

Originally posted by newsun
I have never been involved in the process when an estabished local sorority joins an inter/national sorority, so can anyone explain what happens to the local sorority's members.

For example, what happens to the local sorority's alumnae? Do they automatically become alumnae of the national sorority, or do they have to come back and be initiated at the chapter installation?

Also, what if there are women in the chapter who do not want to go with the national? Do they deactivate before the local sorority begins the new member process with the national?

The local sorority's alums are not "automatic" national sisters, since they have not gone through ritual. They have to come back and be initiated. Depending on the age of the local and the policies of the national group, sometimes this entails just the girls who were in school when the national colonization started, and sometimes the national invites ALL local alums to become national sisters (I think they have to pass a basic info test).

If there are women who don't want to go national, they don't have to "deactivate" since when the local colonizes with the national, it ceases to exist. they can still wear letters, etc, but it's like if their chapter closed. When they graduate, the local dies out.

[breathesgelatin]

Any updates?

[carnation]

The local NPHC alum group has agreed to sponsor a collegiate chapter! As for NPC, a member of the bigger local sorority has said that a member has been assigned to work with the Student Activities Director on nationalization. They've been independently contacted by nationals, but I only know the names of 2.

[kateshort]

Originally posted by 33girl


The local sorority's alums are not "automatic" national sisters, since they have not gone through ritual. They have to come back and be initiated. Depending on the age of the local and the policies of the national group, sometimes this entails just the girls who were in school when the national colonization started, and sometimes the national invites ALL local alums to become national sisters (I think they have to pass a basic info test).


This depends on the org.

I'm the maintainer of the ADPi Valpo page that ValpoKD mentioned earlier (hiya!), and I graduated in 1995. At that time, the sororities had wanted to go national for years, but it was always "we want to go national, but we don't want others to go national." (Well, duh!) So in 1997-1998, everyone pretty much went national.

I was sent a letter of invitation, as were all of the alumnae of Delta Chi Epsilon and Phi Omega (the previous incarnations). All I needed to do was to pay for my pin and show up. I went though Alpha/pledge initiation, Delta/member initiation, and Pi/alumna initiation all in one fell swoop! (And we were initiated by Mrs. Dickey, woohoo!) But, I didn't have to take a national test. Other GLOs probably have different standards.

I will say, though, that those alumnae who go through and become alumnae initiates *tend* to be more active. That pin ain't cheap! I've felt that it was well worth it to become an alumna member, even though I live 1.5 hours away in Illinois. I serve as webmaster of their site, and try to get out there for Homecoming and Founder's Day. I may try to go out for Bid Day this year, too! I'm having fun watching and helping these girls recruit members by getting their message out to others.

It is a shame that we're only down to 7 sororities from 8; Delta Phi Kappa was small before it went national, and they just weren't able to make the full transition.

We've lost some fraternities over the past decade (1 last year, 3 others in the years between 1992-1998 or so), but I have heard *RUMORS* that another fraternity will be joining the campus, and that it's possibly going to be Lambda Chi Alpha (which is one of the three that closed while I was graduating, the only one of those three that didn't lose its charter, but just got too tiny after the house went substance-free).

So yeah, greek life seems to be very much alive and kicking at Valpo! Makes me proud.

[Aphigal]

It was listed in the latest bulletin so things should be heating up there!!!

[carnation]

Oh boy, you made my day--this is getting official! At least 2 NPC groups are going to get some fabulous sisters!

[breathesgelatin]

Oooh, carnation, so happy to hear the news! I'm sure you will have so much to tell us in the next few months!

Too bad Pi Phi is so busy with the Western colonizations! You have advisor/AAC/CHC written all over you!!!