Why not do both?

Frankly, many IFCs don't allow an interest group to participate until their is recognition. As noted, that may take three semesters. So while working on your fraternity's colonization, you would have an official link to Greek life.

An additional benefit to being a member of a "Stray Greek" club would be the quick and easy access to contacts within the Greek community. Who may then assist you with colonization of a chapter of your fraternity.

Kind of a win-win situation to me.

33girl is right. You're assuming that it's all up to the organization in question, but if the university won't support it, it's not going to happen.

Case in point: Indiana University. Large school, very strong Greek system (19 of the 26 NPC sororities have chapters there) and many, many more women interested in joining sororities than spots available. (usually less than half the PNMs who start recruitment end up with bids) Now, doesn't that sound like a campus ripe for new chapters? Why aren't the other 7 NPC groups all there right now, chartering new chapters? It's a no-brainer, right?

Except it isn't. I don't know everything that has to happen, but I do know that the existing NPC groups have to approve expansion. And even if they do...I believe IU has a rule that any chapter wishing to colonize needs to be able to build a house within a certain amount of time...they need to be able to get land. And land just isn't available on campus.

If we use The University of Kentucky as an example; off the top of my head, the following GLOs are not currently represented at UK. However, they do have a chapter on at least one other state college campus.

Fraternities

Alpha Delta Gamma
Alpha Sigma Phi
Beta Theta Pi
Delta Upsilon
Sigma Alpha Mu
Tau Kappa Epsilon
Theta Chi

Sororities

Alpha Sigma Alpha
Gamma Phi Beta
Phi Mu
Phi Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Theta Phi Alpha

Even if it's just one from each of these groups, you have seven men and six women who are Greek yet not affliated with any chapter at UK. If you were to factor in neighboring states etc., there would be more groups. And most likely, more unaffliated Greeks.

Now with respect to the "numbers", I believe this may be one of the reasons why it was considered a "club" and not a Greek organization per say.

Again, the idea was to allow these Greeks who transfered, and didn't have a chapter of their GLO to affiliate with, the ability to participate somewhat in Greek Life.

And in a way, it really is similar to what some GLOs do now in that they allow non affiliated Greeks to be social members yet not be able to participate in ritual, voting and what not.

FYI: I noticed they do not use Greek letters. Perhaps out of respect to their particular GLOs I would guess.

Edited to correctly alphabetize the GLOs

I find it interesting that more of the men would immediately consider starting a new colony, while more of the women would be more amenable to the idea of a "Greek Club".

IMHO, I think a Greek Club is a Great Idea! I have friends who transferred, and ended up "hanging around" one chapter or another (if they could), but having a group of people in the same boat would be SOOO much easier!

Basically the entire NPC.

Here's how it might go: you establish a local, which may exist for several years while you build numbers, build an alumna base, steady your sights on what you want as a sisterhood. Then you petition your university to expand. Maybe that takes a semester to talk them into it....... maybe a year. After the university agrees, you invite several sororities to "present" on campus. So that's maybe another semester, you inviting, them preparing, making time to come visit. Then you choose one. Then you are installed as a colony. Then you pledge as a colony. Then you are initiated.

The whole thing takes forever. It's a nice system because it means fewer chapters fail, since it's kind of a mutual selection between the university, the girls, and the sorority -- but it does take forever.

This may be a reason why the group I heard about was made up primarily of sorority women.


Now with respect to fraternities, there are at least four ways that I can think of, that a fraternity (ABC) may colonize. I'm sure there are more.

1. ABC fraternity could petition the university IFC to come on campus. The IFC would agree and then allow ABC to begin colonization following the university's guidelines.

2. A local interest group may petition ABC, then the university IFC. Usually, the IFC waits for ABC to approve, then it gives approval. Colonization begins etc.

3. The IFC may decide that it wants an additional chapter and will ask ABC to colonize on campus. ABC accepts and then begins colonization.

4. Similar to number 3, the IFC may decide that it wants an additional chapter and send out feelers to all or various fraternities. ABC is selected and colonization begins.

Thus if there is interest, it is "easier" for a fraternity to colonize. And why fraternity men would look to doing so first.


Personally, I too would consider starting a new colony. However, I would also take advantage of, and participate in, a "Stray Greek" club. Frankly, all things being equal, I can not see a down side to doing both.

Well, I'm a gander in that position. There is nothing more I would I love than to bring my sorority to this campus, but it's not going to happen in the next nine months.

I totally understand. I was really directing my comment more toward those who felt that colonization was similar for fraternities and sororities. Guess I could have been a tad more clear.

I thought that IFC expansion did not require a unamious (sp?) vote to expand. Thus it would also make it easier to expand. If I'm wrong I totally apologize, I'm tired. :)

I think it'd be great if those 'stray greeks' were allowed to participate in recruitment. They'd be the best candidates for Recruitment Counselors! There's always a lot of stuff going on, they'd always be useful!

aj

This might be a bit off topic, but I think it's slightly relavent. My brother's in a national at his college, and there are (i believe?) 6 fraternities. Aside from his chapter, the rest have had EXTREMELY poor rush results and other happenings, such as charters being revoked or their chapters being disbanded. HOWEVER, there are only 3 sororities on campus, and they all reached quota and had tons of girls disappointed. It seems to me that there should be one or two new GLO's (of course existing ones...just a new colony or a new chapter) added.

As far as the sororities, if there are a group of girls who want to form an interest group, they can do that. They can't just up and charter a new national.

maybe not start a new national, but how do national Alpha chapters know that there might be a founding oportunity there? Does that ever happen? I mean...how would that work? Would the headquarters contact the school, or would students interested have to contact headquarters? I'm just wondering as to the process. I'm in a local at a different school, so I have no idea how this works!

PhoenixAzul, I'm pming you. :)