I am truly shocked by this. How sad that the chapter did not feel that they were supported by their nationals.
While I cannot comment AT ALL on this particular situation or Phi Sigma Sigma, I would like to tell all of you who are new to the greek system or potential members that I think this is the exception rather than the rule...I know our chapter has felt incredibly supported by our national officers when times got tough. During one of my first years as an advisor we had a situation with our campus administrators and our national officers REPEATEDLY went to bat for us, and our grand pres called the campus greek advisor on almost a daily basis in support of us. I have also had AMAZING experiences with the Kappa Kappa Gamma national officers, who were on our campus with their chapter during rush 2 years ago and were amazingly classy ladies who clearly would do ANYTHING for their chapter.
As an alum, I really hope all of our collegians know/feel that we support them completely and that our national organization knows that they are the "lifeblood" and essential to our sisterhood continuing to grow and thrive.

Re: let me get this straight.
 

Section 1(a)(3) of the NIC's By-Laws requires that member fraternities be "mutually exclusive of and in competition with other general fraternities, meaning that no member fraternity shall initiate a member of another fraternity until such time as the second fraternity shall have been formally notified in writing by the national office of the first fraternity that a candidate for membership in the second fraternity is no longer regarded as a member of the fraternity." (My $0.02 -- this seems like a much more reasonable policy than NPC's strict ban under all circumstances.)

As for aephi's example, it doesn't sound like they de-activitated with the intention of joining a different national. She said that the deaffiliations happened 12 years ago, that the de-affiliated brothers formed a local fraternity, and that the local fraternity is now (12 years later) a chapter of a different NIC fraternity. Unless the local joined NIC Fraternity 2 more than seven or eight years ago, then all of the brothers who had originally pledged NIC Fraternity 1 would have graduated by the time NIC Fraternity 2 came into the picture.

Re: let me get this straight.
 

Actually, all the brothers who'd been initiated into the first NIC fraternity had graduated by the time the local became a chapter of the second NIC fraternity. The reorganization was in 1990; the local was a colony of the second fraternity by the time I got there (1993); and the chapter was installed in 1995.

If there's something in the way of truly enjoying the Greek experience, the chapter shouldn't hesistate to consider relinquishing their charter. My own chapter decided to do that and become alumnae in the 70's. Greek life just wasn't fun (it was looked upon very negatively on our campus), so Florida Delta wanted to go out with a bang. Then we came back in the 80's and it's all good now. Whatever works.

Oh, that makes more sense!
 

Thats cool that the guys give each other another chance. I agree it is more reasonable than the NPC's rule. I love this website. I am just fascinated by everyone on here.

I'm not all that surprised
 

The superficial side of the Greek system at Penn (and there is one) really slapped this chapter. Other sororities' NMs were taught rude songs about them and referred to them by an insulting nickname. Greeks should be embarrassed by the way this chapter was treated; they were at the bottom of the totem pole and everybody higher up acted like it was OK to step on them. Not surprisingly, the women who chose to join the chapter were unusually likely to be searching for real sisterhood (as opposed to social status and free beer from guys in the right fraternities). Also not surprisingly, they tended to have trouble attracting lots of freshmen. Losing them really does change the face of Greek life at Penn.

We don't know what the issue with nationals was, but I'd bet numbers had a lot to do with it. 60 members is shockingly tiny for a sorority at Penn (pledge classes at the big chapters are often around 50).

Unfortunately, the vultures may start circling a new chapter now that they don't have this one to kick around any more. The whole business is just so sad.

Ivy

Re: let me get this straight.
 

no no no - you missed the boat.

The local they founded went on to become a chapter of another national - that doesn't mean the founding fathers did though, it was most likely years later.

The NIC has the same rule as NPC.

In defense of Phi Sigma Sigma Central Office they have been helpful and supportive of whatever the Iota Gamma Chapter has needed.
We are the only NPC on a commuter campus of 13,000 students and we are also considered an "urban" campus - meaning we serve some lower to middle income areas. Including Phi Sig there are 7 sororities at CSUDH but the number of participants in the Greek System is small because we are a commuter campus where the average age is 29. Yet Phi Sig CO has been supportive as we try to recruit on a campus where very few people go greek.

I'm truly sad to see what is happening at Penn State but I feel we are not getting the whole story here.

okay, here are my views...

I have been a sister for three years, (I pledged Spring 2000) In this time I have seen many changes happen with Central Office, and our National Org. The major one being the new - new member program. I have many many problems with the new program, but when it was in a draft and I was incoperating it with the old one (when I was MOC) I loved it. The new program does not focus a lot on history which makes many sisters angry. (including me, little miss history book)

Our national org is trying to get better with deadlines and organization and I know that is what many chapters are frustrated with.

I breifly skimmed the article, did the sisters talk to nationals? I remember talking with our Division Collegeate Pres. whos Alum from our chapter, and our old Grand Archon (Josette George, she rocks!) about closing of chapters and chapters with problems. National will not come in and just close a chapter, they will help with the problem - we dont want to lose them. So if the sisters did not contact National with their problem to see if it could be solved ( be it communication between the two, help that they needed etc) then I think they have no right "turining in their letters".

And another thing about our national organization. We have many chapters and many sisters. (not saying were huge, just saying its not like a teacher with a class of 30) you need to be persistant if you want them to get something done,or want them to notice a trend in membership or a problem.

I feel badly for what has happened with the Nu Chapter at Penn, they were one of our oldest and just had their 75th (I think) along with Xi. But I also do not want people not joining or thinking bad things about Phi Sig because of this. Every chapter is different, if this one group of women decided that it was no longer for them, that is their perogitive... (note, Alison cannot spell)

Oh well, thats my .02 for the moment, or else I could write a novel...

Just for clarification, this was at the University of Pennsylvania, not Penn State.

I agree, there has to be more to the story. No headquarters just randomly goes around and closes chapters without giving them a fair shot first. Most will send in consultants and work with the chapter as much as possible to improve their strategies. Sometimes, especially if you're dealing with a campus like the one IvySpice described, it's next to impossible to pull a chapter out of that hole and there is no choice but to close. This is a perfect example of why Greek unity on a campus is so important; large chapters need to stop kicking smaller ones while they're down because everyone suffers when a chapter has to close its doors.

First of all, I just want to say that while some things about Phi Sig national are good, there are so so many things wrong with it. And its totally obvious. You guys defending them might feel the need to because your still true to the sorority but just cuz you love Phi Sig doesn't mean you have to love everyone working down there in Fl at Central Office. Because we SHOULD be a stronger sorority nationwide and guess what? we aren't and thats completely true. Other Phi Sigs have told me about the bad reputations and name calling they have to break through on their own campuses. Because we aren't known as a sorority with a lot of numbers and popularity (at least at RU we weren't, I don't want other Phi Sigs to jump down my throat here but I am speaking from what I have HEARD!). National does NOT help us with recruitment. Other sororities have national come down and totally get them up to total. Our own alumnae Sandy Grossman didn't even help, (in fact, it is my opinion, she is glad we are no longer active and she had a big hand in making sure we wouldn't be, but thats my opinion and btw in case anyone starts, this is a FREE COUNTRY and I HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE AND EXPRESS MY OPINION! :mad: ) I love what Phi Sigma Sigma stands for and I don't regret joining. But I am sad to say that our National cares nothing about us. Too bad because its just their loss anyway.

Umm wow... Well all I can say is that although I know ou Nationals can take a while sometimes to do paperwork type stuff and all of that... I know before I joined a few years ago our chapter was in TROUBLE and they did send out a chapter consultant who helped us out SOO SOOO much (or so I've heard I wasn't a member yet) and now I KNOW for a fact we have one of the strongest sisterhoods on campus, not the largest, but we have a VERY storong sisterhood which I am proud of. This actually makes me sad to read for so many reasons that I won't get into on this board... and I don't know about the particular situation the chapter at Penn. faced.... all I know is my chapter has been fairly well supported by our national org, and although it's not perfect we've never really had a problem with the people in Florida.

in defense
 

I wanted to say a few things:

first of all, phi sig is a compartively young national sorority. we were founded in 1913 for those of you who dont know - i think only SDT was founded after us, though i could be wrong. but the point is we're still learning - i mean, when was phi mu founded, 1850s? kappa, tri delt, dg etc etc all in the late 1800s... we have a lot of catching up to do.

bearing that in mind, i think nationals is doing its VERY best to get to the levels of the other strong national sororities. and as others have mentioned, we have a LOT of work to do. the administrative aspect is terrible - they're working on it. they just released Vision in 2001, to help with recruitment. and yes, i understand that the national officers are lacking in some areas -- but cut them some slack - they are still young, still learning, and i truly believe they are trying to do whats right for the national organization.

it is not unusual at all for a national organization to shut down a chapter that cannot get the numbers in recruitment. phisigsigchic, i agree that they set goals for the RU chapter that were perhaps unrealistic. but i've read PLENTY of threads from other sororities on here where their nationals come in, close the chapter for a few years and then reopen it again later when it can be a healthy and competetive chapter. i'm sorry it had to happen to you and my heart goes out to you, but please try to understand it from a national perspective.

and ivy, i believe you are correct that it was a numbers issue at penn. i know in my chapter we caught a lot of cr*p for nationals, and we were only TWO below quota - which was 90 some girls! i think nationals is taking a huge initiative to try and improve chapter reputation across the board, by shutting down and reopening chapters that are not able to get the numbers in recruitment. when an organization is lacking in so many areas, it's hard to say which ones to tackle first. i understand that the chapters that closed may have been strong in sisterhood - i'm sure the national officers understand that too. but there are other issues that they have to deal with as well.

i just wanted to write this because i think (as someone said earlier) that phi sig is a fairly progressive organization. they/we are doing their/our best to catch up to the stronger orgs AND stay up to speed on the latest trends (such as Vision type recruitment, for you phi sigs who know what i mean). and i think it WILL be a much better organization in 5-10 years. but we have to weed out the things that are holding us back as a national org and try to improve upon everything else.

so i'm sorry to the girls at penn, and i'm sorry for whatever drove them to disaffiliate. i knew some girls from that chapter, and they were wonderful. but for everyone else, please take the negativity about our national organization with a grain of salt, and keep in mind that our national officers are learning from their mistakes, and that learning is what will make phi sig stronger.

Well all I know is, I am not the only that feels this way. We got about 45 girls here at RU who agree and a bunch every where else in other chapters (not to mention the 60 at Penn). So thats all I am going to say on that. I know some of you will never see our side to it, not like I was trying to convince you of it anyway. Whatever, all I have to say is, and I speak for my whole chapter: WE ARE 100% HAPPY AND STRESS FREE! :D

While I am getting worn out from teh hours that I am working it gets harder to keep up with everything and fully understand all that is being said!

I can totally understand as My Chapter at one time wanted to tell IHQ to kiss off!

One thing to remember people, taht Headquarters just as local chapters are under the gun alos!

Also, remeber, there are few Greek Orgs taht have fully paid staffs.

I think LXA has more than anyone or most at least!

The drain of money is significant in any stetch of the imagination!

Chapters who do not pay dues then it falls back on teh shoulders of all.

Our IHQ had us in debt to the tune of 14,000. Well they were wrong because of book keeping and having us in Penn. instead of Kansas!

Well, we have them paid off and all is straightened out for the time being!

As far as Butts in HDQ. We had one member who wanted all Chapters off of small schools!

Thank god he is gone, but sad to say, he is Director of APO of which I am a member of!

Most staffs are over worked under paid, and Chapters do not send things in on a timely manner.

Are you at fault? Is Hdq. at fault? It is each and everyone who reads this to judge!

Well enuff of my Diatrab!