List of chapters in private area of national website only???
 

In the last week, I've run into three fraternities/sororities where the National Official website for the fraternity does *not* include a list of their active chapters *and* that I have reason to believe (or proof) that a list of their active chapters is in the area that is limited to brothers(or sisters).

Does anyone have any idea why something like that would be kept in a private area? My fraternity is very much the other way, even with a page where you can get either the entire list, or specifically by state or other criteria.

I've also seen one where the list of active chapters is public, but the list of inactive chapters is not...

Sigma Chi's active list is public domain. The list of colonies is a little hard to find, but is also public domain. Dormant/closed chapters are not listed anywhere on our website.

Personally, I think they should be listed. A couple of groups list their dormant chapters with a note that encourages men on the campus with the dormant chapter to contact their National if they are interested in forming a colony. Kappa Delta Rho and Sigma Pi are two that I can think of off the top of my head.

Add to list: Alpha Kappa Lambda and Phi Kappa Sigma.

I agree with you, Lane Sig.

There's such a thing as not enough information.

I feel like there is an NPC group or two that does that as well. Not sure why a list of collegiate chapters would be private but I guess they want it to be a secret!

why would you be that worried about that? in most cases more do than not from what i have seen. i can agree with you in that it would be nice if nationals would show chapter listings for pnm. but to make a deal about this?

Tom Earp, the original poster isn't making a big deal of it - they're just asking a question.

Sigma Nu lists the active chapters as well as dormant ones.

My favorite on the interwebz is Sig Ep. They list the chapters, and you can click down into them and it shows a pic of the house, as well as member totals for recent semesters. Very very cool.

As to why an organization would keep this list private...it might have to do with their membership process.

I don't see how :confused:

Given that most membership requests must be submitted THROUGH a chapter, I am not sure why a simple chapter contact (chapter pres or membership chair) or address (PO Box or campus box) would not/should not be provided.

Me neither. Plus, figuring out where a chapter is should be easy, considering school websites list them.

woot.

There's also like a complete chapter analysis and full rosters on our National website. It's really useful for chapters locally b/c it's a way that we can keep track of a lot of things. Also, we have access to make changes to our chapter profiles as well.

And then, of course, there are links to each chapter's personal website.

I know that Delta Chi site also provides pictures of the houses along with the chapter websites. Very convenient :)

One thing to maybe consider is the increase in documented cases and/or awareness of stalkers... especially for the women's groups. I know of female sports teams at colleges/universities where the schedule is not posted on the school website because they have had issues with inappropriate or unwanted people attending games and not leaving the players alone. I would imagine that this is very possible for our sorority members.

I don't see how this relates. You can still find out where a chapter is by visiting a school's website.

I cannot think of a good reason for this, either, unless it was an organization which was nationally not conducting membership intake and generally needed to control the public's access to limit liability.

I didn't mean "the process of applying for membership." I meant the pledging process. There are probably some organizations who do not want aspirants to see a big list with lots of information ahead of time. I've seen LGLO members call each other out for having lists of chapters, founders, etc. on their websites. Evidently, some people think that having such information posted makes things "too easy."

I figured that's what you meant. I still don't see how it's "easy" to have a list of chapters. It's information that's not specific to members -- some non-members may need access.

Leave it to LGLOs to argue over something so stupid lol

^^^ You know what? I can totally see that. Younger orgs tend to do that, usually not with good, logical reason.

lol that is funny. The way I figure it, if the pledges want to go through the extra effort and check out the website, good for them. Most of the info on there we give them anyway in the Pledge Manual.

My guess would be more practical in that maybe they link to chapter websites that aren't public access.

On the other hand, you could cut and paste the list and unlink it pretty easily.

Sometimes I get sad looking at dormant chapters in a list, but there'd be ways around that too.

Understandable for some groups like you've mentioned, but I've seen NPC orgs that do this as well.

One of the NPC groups did give this as an excuse, but I think that's a load of poo. If someone wants to stalk a sorority that bad, they're going to find where the chapters are, national website or no. All you have to do is plug "Mu Mu Mu" into Google. Personally I think they're just trying to make themselves look exclusive, and being snooty.

There is such a thing as putting too much info on your website, but I don't think a list of chapters - just the schools, no contact info - falls into that category.

Isn't this what Wikipedia is for??

Wikipedia is not always accurate, and can be altered by those with nefarious purposes.

Like prunetacos?

Kappa has a ton of rules about this because (according to Nationals) sisters have been stalked and assaulted using info from Kappa websites. Chapter websites can't have any pictures with captions that include names because they could be used to trace and stalk sisters. So, I understand not publishing links to chapter websites (though the truly determined stalker could easily overcome this hurdle) - but I see nothing wrong with chapter lists.

In terms of not publishing closed chapters - maybe it's an issue of not "airing dirty laundry" if the chapter was closed for standards reasons? It probably also doesn't look great to PNMs to see a long list of chapters no longer in existence, no matter what the reason for their closing.

I don't like to call it "stalking". I like to call it always being near just in case she needs me....

Could it be a junk mail thing? I've noticed some organization's sites have a disclaimer that the listing of chapters and their addresses is for member use only....

Example: I run an Oriental Trading-type company and realize that my market segment is rapidly aging. I have a bunch of mini sailboats in a bottle I need to unload. So maybe I get the list of Sigma Sigma Sigma chapters and addresses and send them all Tri-Sigma-specific catalogs and junk mail. Far-fetched, but it could be a similar mailing list thing.

Most of the sites I've seen, they just have something like "Beta Chi Chapter, GreekChat University, Walla Walla, WA." No actual mailing address.

yeah but then you would know which school websites to go on.

Well, if you have nothing better to do with your day than go to every school website to get an address (which may or may not be there depending on the school/site/linkage) just to send some cheesy catalogs, I say, have at it.