I think a big reason for the "Jewish" roots results from the time of our founding. While we have always been a non-sectarian group many Jewish women couldn't join other organizations, so they came to DPhiE. Also I think someone said once that we were known to keep kosher kitchens for quite some time hence the association.

I agree with you on your theory to some extent. I think it's a very close knit community. A similar thing happens at Pitt with some of our historically Jewish sororities, but I don't think it's necessarily the religion that draws them only, more that they probably already know some of the women if they become actively involved in the Jewish community at the school. So I guess part of it is just more familiarity and desire to belong to a group that's familiar with your history and background just like any other group.

This is what I heard. I think that is why many of the single letter chapters and those chartered before DPhiE joined NPC have a strong Jewish identity. These women didn't have too many options since many sororities either wouldn't accept Jews or couldn't accommodate their dietary needs.

I think that it would be great if DPhiE recolonized at FSU. :D

Am I the only one who thinks a 50 girl interest group is a strong demand for inclusive/historically jewish sorority? I think people were saying total is around 120 at FSU and with such a large greek system with 14 chapters to still get that many girls is quite a statement. Especially since they aren't are part of any the Greek governing councils.

I don't see how their numbers couldn't greatly increase with Panhel membership and the guidance and reputation of a national organization.

I am sure any of the chapters that sent in packets could succeed on the campus but it seems wrong to me to ignore the desires of that many women. Gamma Lambda seems to really want a historically jewish groups and are campaigning very hard for it.

And a final PS - AEPhi and SDT are inclusive organizations: I am the Catholic president of an AEPhi chapter and the president of my campus's SDT chapter is an African-American woman and we both lead very diverse chapters.

I think that it is if, and only if, a national sorority is willing to back them up with the financial resources needed for competitive housing. Barbara stated that this local is 4 years old. That means that in their current state, they might have some more growth potential, but that growth potential will become increasingly dificult to acheive.

AEPhiSierra, you're not the only one.

I understand the NPC's philosophy of protecting existing chapters, trying to keep numbers relatively equal, etc. But it's not at all clear that a group of 50 couldn't become a group of 120, and more importantly, when a sorority is filling a niche interest, the fact that it's smaller than the other groups doesn't hurt either it or them, because it isn't really competing with the other groups, and vice versa. No matter what happens with the ground-up colonization, I just can't imagine any reasonable justification for preventing this local from affiliating with SDT or AEPhi. If somebody could help me see an open-minded reason for the FSU panhellenic to say no, I'd love to hear it.

Just as a point of comparison, since it's been pointed out that my posting seems a little biased. There were very positive comments made about all 8 groups that returned packets to the FSU Extension Committee. There were negative comments as well about all groups. As we all know, each group has it's strengths and weaknesses. It is up to the 14 chapters on the FSU campus to listen to everyone's opinons, study the packets, and come up with the 3 groups they feel would best serve the campus and students.

I am not campaigning on behalf of any one group. Just as I would not tell a PNM that one group is better than another, I wouldn't tell the FSU PHC that one group is better than another.

With luck, whatever group is finally selected to colonize at FSU will take a look at Gamma Lambda and offer them an opportunity. If that is not the case, it is up to Gamma Lambda members to decide whether or not to interview for the colony, stay together as an independed sisterhood or petition for another expansion. None of us can make that decision for them.

xo_kathy,

As fire1977 said, a lot of what happened with our southern chapters is that they began when being Jewish meant you weren't going to be joining most of the sororities. SO, those women came to D Phi E. Once you get a houseful of Jewish women, other Jewish women are drawn to it, and thus the tradition continues. I do think that NY girls know of D Phi E b/c we are large in the NE, and whether they are Jewish or not, not sure. But I think that most girls choose a sorority based on where they feel most comfortable, and if that's in a house with other girls of their religion, so be it.

I think that any group could be successful at FSU, if the proper $$ and support is given, and if that's D Phi E, all the better for us :)

I have a somewhat similar situation to pose to you, since it's somewhat similar to what's happening at FSU.

We have a local on our campus that wants to go national. Since all NPC sororities are at or above total, we felt it was a good time to open up for Panhellenic Extension. We've established that the girls that are part of this local will help start the colony of whatever national group comes on next Fall.

However, there's some disagreement as to how to pick the new sorority. The girls in the local feel that it should be their decision because it will be THEIR sorority, but Panhellenic has been telling them that they have the final say. What's supposed to happen?

In my heart I feel that the girls are right in wanting to pick what sorority is right for them, but I do understand that Panhellenic wants to make sure whatever group is chosen meshes well with the existing sororities (even though I don't see how it would be a problem).

AstroAPhi,

The NPC Green Book has recommendations on how to handle expansion by the petition of a local sorority or interest group. Start there and then your NPC Advisor or Extension Team Advisor can advise you further.

Barbara

Question For Penguintrax
 

(or for any other FSU authority). Obviously I'm a Seminole and I want the best for the system. I would really like to see another general interest sorority come in and be strong. If the local wants to maintain their Jewish emphasis I certainly have no problem with that. I know IFC and Panhel are very different, but let me tell you about a situation that exists now. I think there are 25 or so fraternities at FSU, members of IFC or HBC or the multiculturals. But there is one more, Zeta Beta Tau, that isn't a member of any of those groups. As you know, ZBT is a national fraternitywith Jewish emphasis historically. Their national came to FSU, colonized and chartered them, and they have never applied for membership in any of the umbrella groups, nor did they seek anyone's permission to come on campus. They applied for and received full recognition as a student organization. They have rush, they play intramurals, they have parties with sororities.
Question: if the local sorority can influence the choice of national, then why can't national sororities come in like ZBT and establish their own "local' core with an eye toward applying for full status later? That way, when Sigma Kappa or AOII or Alpha Xi Delta had established their bona fide strength, they could apply for Panhellenic status with 100 women or so, and everyone would be successful.

Re: Question For Penguintrax
 

Is ZBT currently a member of NIC? I know they've been trying to re-establish a chapter at UCSD for years but there has not been enough interest in it. If an NPC sorority tried to do that it would be a blatant disregard to the NPC Resolutions that all 26 chapters have agreed to abide by. It would never happen.

Yes.
http://www.nicindy.org/whoweare.html

Jewish, Smewish, who in the hell cares in this day and age?:confused:

Is AGR still a bunch of Farmers, TriAngle a bunch of Architechs,.

Is there a differernce between NIC, NPC, NHPC, MPHCs, LPHC. Da, Yes, they are governed by different Bodies!

Do they work hand in hand at a National Level, YES!:)

But it is amazing that the twits on the local level feel that there is a struggle between all of us!

Whine me a River, and get over your petty little crapola and look at the bigger picture!:( :confused:

Re: Question For Penguintrax
 

Because the 26 members of the NPC agreed to abide by expansion agreements. There is no such agreement in the NIC.

Barbara

Thanks. Is there a rule that only one sorority can enter at a time, or is that a local decision?