Creating a Co-Ed Local

[mneiai]

Hi,

I found this place through a google search about the above topic, so I thought I'd ask this here, at least for opinions....

I am currently in a local sorority, there is also a local fraternity on my campus, however, me and a few others are excited at the idea of possibly starting something co-ed. I don't think I could stand being under someone else's rules (that's why most of us joined locals--for the freedom), but will creating a co-ed local fraternity be so hard that I should look into creating a new chapter of a local one?

My school is about 30% Greek, so there's definitely some room to work with, since there's already rules in place to allow Greeks.

If you check out some of the threads on starting a local, you'll see that it's often an uphill battle. I'd imagine starting a co-ed group would be more difficult.

What, besides the obvious, do you think you're lacking in your current sorority? What, besides the obvious, do you think youll gain by starting a co-ed fraternity ?

[Senusret I]

Are you trying to disaffiliate from your local sorority?

I feel that unless you are creating a coed service fraternity, then creating a coed social fraternity will be in competition/conflict with the existing locals.

[preciousjeni]

Any chance your sorority and the fraternity might formally join as affiliated organizations? Having an official and solid connection might increase support for both organizations and provide an alternative to creating an entirely new organzation.

[mneiai]

Originally Posted by OTW

What, besides the obvious, do you think you're lacking in your current sorority? What, besides the obvious, do you think youll gain by starting a co-ed fraternity ?

Well, as we like to say, since we lacked drama, we've started to create tons of it. At the same time, I feel that we're often trying to be a fraternity, and doing a half assed job at it. There are a growing number of conflicting views as to what, exactly, our sorority should be, which have lead to a certain schizophrenic feel to all of our activities.

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Are you trying to disaffiliate from your local sorority?

I feel that unless you are creating a coed service fraternity, then creating a coed social fraternity will be in competition/conflict with the existing locals.

We are trying to create something that is completely new, not connected to any other organization already on campus. Are you mentioning competition in light of getting members? I honestly have a hard time taking any "conflict" seriously that could arise, in that we would be filling a niche that neither of the other locals have bothered to do.

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Any chance your sorority and the fraternity might formally join as affiliated organizations? Having an official and solid connection might increase support for both organizations and provide an alternative to creating an entirely new organzation.

Starting a brand new organization would mean we wouldn't have to keep the "bad" parts of a sorority or fraternity, we'd escape from a lot of the stereotypes that are in place, and be able to not have to work around set ideas that some of the members have about the organization, that sometimes clash with what were the original goals.

There have been occasional mentions of joining together, but it would probably mean a fight as to what was kept and what was abandoned. At the same time, there are a few members of the local fraternity that it would not be a good idea to expose any girls to, let alone new pledges.

[Senusret I]

What niche are you filling?

[Xidelt]

Good lord. When did the Greek experience become disposable?

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Xidelt

Good lord. When did the Greek experience become disposable?

Kinda what I was just thinking. It's a campus club apparently.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by preciousjeni

Kinda what I was just thinking. It's a campus club apparently.

Based on the OP's location, I assume that it's Non Compis Mentis, a local at Rollins College that seems to have been started by members of the former Pi Phi Chapter.

And yes, they spell it compis, not compos.

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Based on the OP's location, I assume that it's Non Compis Mentis, a local at Rollins College that seems to have been started by members of the former Pi Phi Chapter.

And yes, they spell it compis, not compos.

It's all very strange to me.

[33girl]

Pugsley Hall.

[Senusret I]

[DSTCHAOS]

Pi Phis rock.

NCM looks stupid.

[OrigamiTulip]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Pi Phis rock.

NCM looks stupid.

FYI - The split with Pi Phi, and creation of NCM took place back in 1970. Can't be that stupid of an organization to have survived for 37 years.

[Senusret I]

Lots of things last that look stupid.