Originally Posted by jennyj87 (Post 1910462)

I believe because Kappa Sigma is still going to let them be a chapter, just without school or IFC recognition.....

I could be wrong.

Originally Posted by jennyj87 (Post 1910462)

From what I've been told, please understand this is hear say or whatever, one of the probelms with Kappa Sigma coming to FGCU was that they are not part of NIC which leads to insurance reasons. Can anyone exlpain this?

Originally Posted by rex in effect (Post 1910619)

Yea. Kappa Sigma has done many non campus recognized colonies and chapters at different colleges across the country. The colonies and chapters have always ended up getting recognized by the schools in which they pursued. I can see everything getting worked out within a matter of time.

Originally Posted by jennyj87 (Post 1910462)

I believe because Kappa Sigma is still going to let them be a chapter, just without school or IFC recognition.....

I could be wrong.

From what I've been told, please understand this is hear say or whatever, one of the problems with Kappa Sigma coming to FGCU was that they are not part of NIC which leads to insurance reasons. Can anyone explain this?

Originally Posted by 33girl (Post 1910536)

I'm sure they still have insurance. It just may not be from the same carrier that the NIC groups use. I just looked at the NIC site and I couldn't find anything about any sort of blanket insurance.

Originally Posted by TSteven (Post 1910670)

I have never heard of any kind of blanket insurance for NIC members. Do any of the other umbrella organizations/councils provide blanket insurance coverage for their members?

Originally Posted by KSigAdvisor (Post 1913055)

Lane Sig-

You are dead wrong. All North American Fraternities have a united interest in equal protection of the laws and in protecting our rights as single gender organizations. Fraternities have been litigating First Amendment issues for the past 50 years, and thanks to Title 9 and United States Supreme Court case law, we are recognized as "expressive associations" entitled to complete First Amendment protection despite our single gender status. For this reason, when it comes to protecting our classification, all fraternities support each other in free expansion issues. Freedom of association issues are intertwined with freedom of expansion issues, and when we blur the lines like the undergrads in IFC have done at FGCU, we weaken our position and open ourselves up for attack from those who would challenge fraternities and sororities as discriminatory organizations. On public universities, we have to stand and fight together to support open expansion. I could give you a lengthier explanation, but hopefully you get it.

As such, in the NIC constitution, each member fraternity swears to uphold and support free expansion. Try to be educated, not just opinionated. Kappa Sigma contacted every single executive office of the fraternities on FGCU's campus, asking for their support. We have letters and emails from every single fraternity supporting our petition to join IFC at FGCU. Sigma Chi is the only fraternity that doesn't require their Chapters to vote in a certain way, but they openly support us and encourage their chapters to vote accordingly. All of the other fraternities have instructed their chapters at FGCU to vote in favor of Kappa Sigma joining IFC. Apparently they didn't get the message.

So, this IS how it works. Should I repeat myself? We are all on the same team here in fighting for Greek organizations rights to equal protection of the laws, pursuant to the 14th Amendment, and for the right to freely associate, pursuant to the First Amendment. Once on campus, we should compete against each other in a fraternal manner. But as far as fighting for our rights at public universities, we are all in this together. Kappa Sigma is the first chapter to always vote in favor of recognizing any fraternity that wants to come onto any campus. We instruct our chapters to vote that way, and we do it for a reason. This support is reciprocal. It does work this way.

Originally Posted by K∑_PZ_AEKΔB (Post 1913078)

Hi,

Also a member of the soon to be Rho-Zeta Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity here at Florida Gulf Coast University.
In addition to what the advisor said above, we are in pursuit of catalyzing the change to the current IFC bylaws at the University to streamline Greek growth & the benefits recieved from this. Our vision is not to "open the flood gates", but to open the gates period, and by doing so - put the ability of recognition in the hands of the prospective group.
Consider if you will for a minute how competition in all aspects of life pushes one to thrive. This same concept certainly applies to the Greek community at FGCU and any campus. Ammending the current policies and procedures to put the capacity of recognition in the hands of the students can be a relatively simple process.

If a nationally recognized interest group/colony/chapter that is unrecognized by the university & the university's IFC:

- Completes the checklist set forth by nationals (membership, GPA, community service hours, fundraising dollars per man, campus involvement, etc...).

- Is, at the least, 1/3 the size of the current largest fraternal chapter on campus.

- & shows, through presentation to the IFC, that they would be a beneficial asset to the community, the university, greek life, and the IFC.

... they should be allowed recognition, following the ideals of open expansion. Of course, the vote would be cast through the IFC delegates - but to accomplish the feats above is no simple task. While it ultimately puts the ability in the hands of those in pursuit, it also defends from "the flood gates opening". The concept, if possible to institute, would surely benefit all and draw harm to none. If possible, this is what I would personally like to see happen at Florida Gulf Coast University - with Kappa Sigma leading the way for that change.