I just want to add before the shit storm starts that just as I complain about people painting NPHCs with the same brush, there are many people who speak "on behalf" of the entire NPC about the AI process and what it "should" be for when the orgs really and truly speak for themselves. Some of the orgs really do welcome AIs and have no problem with being approached. Why is it that those orgs (still part of the NPC) are never mentioned in these conversations?

I actually really don't care about the answer to that question, lol

For the OP, there are two issues here.... the greekchat "sentiment" and the reality of the individual NPC orgs.

And I will continue to weigh in on this no matter where one thinks my lane is. :)

Cosign with my Triad Sister on this.


If Patty PNAM would truly be a fantastic sister, Abigail Alumna would see it without Patty calling her attention to it and, if Abigail's GLO initiates alumnae, she could bring up the subject. Abigail would know whether or not Patty was sister material for one or more of the following reasons:

A) Patty was already one of Abigail's good friends and demonstrated the traits and values that Abigail's GLO holds dear (and I add that traits and values part because just because someone is a rockin' friend doesn't necessarily mean she'd be a good sister),

B) Patty had been helping Abigail's GLO in some way and had a proven track record, or

C) Patty's daughter/stepdaughter/niece/etc was a sister of Abigail's GLO and had supported the sisterhood for some time.

Let me also add that Abigail Alumna may be best friends with Nancy Non-Greek, and Nancy might be an exceptional woman with multiple Nobel Peace Prizes, a load of Olympic Gold Medals, and a patent on the cure for cancer, but she may not be interested in alumnae initiation, even if Abigail wants to sponsor her and brings up the topic.

Neither of you are members of an NPC sorority (If I am wrong I apologize) so I don't think you completely understand how we do things, and why. You may have been on campus with or rushed NPC groups, but each chapter, of each group, varies and since we only agree to certain unanimous agreements, we decide on membership for collegiate and alumnae members on our own terms. This also varies from chapter to chapter, and year to year. An AI or PNM may not have a snowball's chance in hell when certain people are involved, or depending on the dynamic at that time, but that can change completely for whatever reason. I respect (but not necessarily agree) with the membership choices made with my own chapter and sorority, let alone with all my NPC sisters, but unless there is something that violates our values or is outright wrong, I need to respect those decisions.

Also your generalization about how we pick groups is wrong. I know women in every sorority and wouldn't have joined based on personality of the group. I made a choice that had to do with Alpha Gam, and in fact there are sisters who are my bffs, my two bffs in the world are not Alpha Gams. There are people who have touched my life and other reasons I became an Alpha Gam, and I know other women (not just on GC) chose a group for personal reasons that have nothing to do with the personality of the women at rush. A lot of women see the "big picture" and that's how we operate.

I can see AI happening in an area without those organizations, but with a college, for example where I live there are two land grant universities, and the nearest Junior League and Eastern Star are about 90 miles away. Some places are hard to find advisors and involvement, and I've even advised a group that isn't mine due to there not being a lot of people who have the want or understanding to do it.

I think what you are perceiving as inconsistencies has to do with all 26 groups doing their own thing, but since we're all NPC members who agree to certain standards, we fall into a strange space. I really like that each group can do what they want as long as they follow the unanimous agreements. I know NPHC groups have some similarities in structure, and they are all NPHC members, but I'd never assume they had anything similar in membership intake, standards, or anything else.

Just curious - which are the NPC groups that welcome interest in AI from anyone? I was under the impression that none of the 26 did, but perhaps I am mistaken. I am confident that at least 12 that I know of do NOT.

One of the beauties of the NPC is that while we all are bound by the Unanimous Agreements, individual groups are free to handle everything else as they see fit.

I know that if my bff had the time (and there was a need where she lived) and Alpha Gam needed help, I would send my sisters her information, but I wouldn't say OMG! I know she'd be the best potential Alpha Gam ever initiate her! If they were open to AI they'd probably suggest it on their own, but I know it wouldn't cross her mind to ask for membership. She'd do it because a) she works with students and likes to mentor b) Alpha Gam is important to me and she sees the value in it, even without membership and c) she has Type I diabetes and knows that's our international philanthropy.

I plan to be in higher ed. and I can easily see myself PMing you (KSUViolet) to send my information on to whoever the chapter advisor is in Fairbanks and offering to help them while I work on my PhD and being panhellenic because we don't have a chapter there, yet I value and support other groups. I really see AI being more frequent in rural and isolated areas due to lack of advisors than I see it in urban areas (que mad dash of women who want AI to fulfill their dreams to land grant colleges in the boonies).

To further clarify - are those groups with AI information on their website directing that information to their members (who would then be able to make use of the information) or to random non-members? That would indicate whether or not the group welcomed inquiries from those interested.

I think AI is so special and unique to each group that you can't really make any blanket statements about it. I really see AI approached as a case by case basis, depending on the merit of each case, the needs of the geographic area and the ties the person to has to the organization already. And, I like it that way, personally. Each AI that I know personally ended being an AI in a different way but each was determined appropriate based on the individual situation.

I would love it if my NPC group (since if I attempt to say ALL I'd have my arm bitten off) had something similar to NPHC alumni intake process. I do feel that there are people of value who may find an organization interesting. I don't think it's right to hold it against some people that they did not go through recruitment. To me that is a lame excuse.

Not everyone is cut out for that, no everyone has the opportunity. Some people couldn't afford it, some people didn't make the cut for pathetic reasons based on an 19 year old's opinion, some people had other activities that demanded far too much of their time, some people didn't have the grades, some people didn't see the value in it at the time but have seen the light and regret it, etc. Who am I to hold the past against them (with the exception of those "special" situations [ie. crazy people]).

Also, I think it would encourage alumna associations to play an even more active role in their groups.

NPHC manages to do it and does it very successfully. While I don't think every org. should be required to, I think it has the potential to really change the scope of an organization for the better. There are so many people who aren't Greek - and while they don't all have to be Greek I must admit they would make very good candidates and eventually members.

Why should they be denied simply because in the past it has "been that way"? Things/people/companies/organizations/policies, can and do change all the time. Why should teenagers and young adults be the only ones building membership in our organizations?

And this is the difference. We recruit and have an elaborate mutual selection process for the undergraduate experience because believe in what the all the groups offer undergraduate women.

AI is about serving a particular group and the interest of the group. There's no general experience that we think women should select among.

(I mean any of the NPCs that offer AI, not that I'm speaking for Sigma.)

I wonder if the information is now in the "members only" section.