Forced dormancy
 

Hello SK's-
I am writing from the host chapter of Convention- Theta Omicron at Arizona State University. In the Past 2 years, Theta Omicron has been proud to hold the titles of having the 2nd highest GPA, Chapter-of-the-year, Excellence in University and Greek Relations, Excellence in Philanthropy, and Best Homecoming decorating. In short, we were a strong- but smaller chapter on ASU's campus. National's referred to us as 'outstanding', yet on April 9, 2002, we were forced to vote to go dormant, due to a housing glitch (we don't have a corp. board). It was a vote that none of us wanted to take (certainly our 6 new Spring Class initiates), but it was forced upon us anyway.
This last week, Some Nationals admitted that it was their problem- for miscommunication, and that they should have looked into it more. But it was too late- our chapter was closed due to miscommunication. What we realized is that we were only just a number, which really hurt for all of us who lived and breathed Sigma Kappa. They have promised apology letters to us and our parents, and possibly at Convention. But I wanted to let you all know of this- if they woulc close an 'outstanding' chapter, then it can happen to anyone. I no longer have faith in our National leadership to trust them on what they are really saying.
As of April 28, 2002, 35 women of Theta Omicron will be going through Order of Triangle.
---------One Heart One Way---------

Please pardon me got butting in on your board, but I just wanted to tell you how truly sorry I am to hear this news. The entire Greek system is diminished when we lose a chapter.

Please don't let this unfortunate event affect your obvious love for your sorority. Life as an alumna can be very fulfilling.

well since glg came in I will too..

You got your charter yanked for not having housing or a housing corp board? I'm sorry, but that is just the most whack thing I have ever heard of!! It is definitely not too late - and the action that should be taken at convention is the charter being returned to your sisters. This stuff isn't written in blood - if the council wants to reverse it, they can.

I'll echo 33girl. There is no reason why Nationals cannot give you back your charter at convention, especially if it was their mistake to begin with. Do you have a corp board now? If so, then no prob, if not, what can nationals do to make sure you have one and keep your charter? Your chapter has excellence behind it, and in that, you are a wonderful representation for all of Sigma Kappa. Don't let them close you on a "glitch".

SLAM
Melissa

ok i might be stupid for saying this, but i still dont understand why nationals decided to shut you down? what does dorment mean any way? i am so sorry that you guys cant be an active chapter. it would have been great going to convention and stopping by your house to say hi

Our charter isn't gone. By being dormant, it allows the chapter to come back in about 2 years down the line, considering that ASU's panhellenic isn't open to expansion. If our charter was gone, Sigma Kappa would never come back here.
It was a mistake made by mis-communication. If we wanted to come back now, it would be way to late- the damage is done, everyone at ASU knows we are gone.

SigKapAZ...

I am so sorry to hear of this, not only as a member of Sigma Kappa, but as an alumna of Zeta Omicron-UofAz. I am truly saddened that your chapter has been yanked. Since I too do not understand why this happened, I am at a loss for words.

I'm sure Nationals will get you back up and running in no time, and perhaps we'll come back better than ever!!!;)

Keep your head up and wear your letters proud! You are forever a Sigma Kappa...ONE HEART ONE WAY!!!

LIS,
Shopgirl

That really stinks! Nationals needs to learn to play nice! Grrrrrrr... ::growls at Nationals for being so naughty:: I too know the 'we're just a number' feeling they give you, and my heart goes out to your chapter.

PROTEST!
 

Ok I go to school all the way in Tennessee, and YOUR chapter's good reputation has made it all the way here as an outstanding excellent chapter! So why nationals is being so anal retentive is beyond me. What I think you should do is write our national president and voice your complaints. Tell them it's not fair to make such an incredible chapter go dormant because they over looked something. And if I were ya'all I would bring it up at convention since you're hosting it. Tell EVERYONE, if enough of us complain about this injustice then they will have to fix it. And if all else fails, look on the bright side of things, come back in 2 yrs just were you left off. Kicking Butt! All the Alpha Deltas have faith in you guys and stand by you. Good luck!

Sigma Love and Mine,
Melissa

I really hate to see something like this happen. :mad: It burns me up to see that something this big and life-changing can be caused by "miscommunication" on the part of those who are elected to take care of all of the chapters and make sure that we thrive and aren't left in the dust. Yes, there are lots of chapters to take care of, but why let something like this slip through the cracks? Especially with the host chapter for Convention!! Did they not think that their actions might cast a negative light on the whole Convention in Arizona idea if they go shut down the chapter six months before it's scheduled to go on? :confused: I am so sorry that this happened to your chapter and I wish you all the best.

*BTW, Amy Molinari is an alum from my chapter, Beta Xi in Memphis*

Im really sorry you girls had to go through order ... I send my love and the love of beta eta

Hey Sig Kaps. Thank you for all the encouraging words about my chapter (Theta Omicron at ASU). I didn't know we were known across the country. :) Your praise and support has made the dormancy a little easier to swallow. Thanks.

notification
 

Well Ladies, for those of you following our saga, we just got word this past week, that despite Theta Omicron being the hosting chapter for Convention, Nationals WILL NOT Make a formal public apology. Jane Cooper (vice president) said that apology letters have been mailed out to us and our parents, however, no one has received any.
For those of you going to convention, what we do there has nothing to do with our nationwide sisters, only toward the injustices cast upon us by a few heads of the NHQ. For those who want to help rally behind us, feel free to e-mail our CDD Susan Paulizatto, and Jane Cooper (Vice President), their e-mail addy's are found on the national website.
Again, we are all very upset, that we were promised things (such as a public apology) (maybe they should have promised the moon too), that were merely promised to help NHQ get out of a sticky situation. The more sisters nationwide that are aware of what is going on will only be more informed.

As an alum of Theta Omicron I am deeply saddened and angered by the actions of the chapter's advisors and national officers who forced this dormancy upon the women of my chapter. All the time, tears, and hard work that myself as well as current and former members have put into the chapter to make it the outstanding chapter that it is were taken away in a few days of miscommunication.
I am so proud of my Theta Omicron sisters for staying strong during this awful transition. Many of you were my new members when I was VP Pledge Ed and it hurts me to see you wonderful ladies treated this way. The embarrasment you must have felt when the advisors took all of our precious memoirs out of the chapter housing in front of all of the other sororities and the rumors that circulated the entire ASU campus in the days following must have caused many tears. I only wish I could have been there to hug each and every one of you.
I still love Sigma Kappa! I will always be grateful for my days in Theta Omicron and all that my membership in Sigma Kappa has given me. It is unfortunate that because of errors on the part of our national organization and the local advisors, women at ASU will not have the opportunity to be a part of our organization. Hopefully in a couple of years we will be able to renew the chapter and bring it back better than ever, with quality advisors who care.

What nationals is doing to you girls is horrible. :mad: :mad: :mad: I really don't understand several points of why you were forced dormancy, so here are a couple of questions I hope you can answer for me.

1. Was it just because you didn't have a corp board that you were forced to be dormant?

At Northwest Missouri State University sororities don't have houses (just floors on an all sorority dorm), therefore we don't have a corp board. I know that we aren't the only school that doesn't have houses, so why would you be forced dormancy just because you didn't have a house? If the new rule is that you must have a house and corp board to be an active chapter, than I guess Kappa Alpha and several other chapters would be out of luck.

2. If the house corp/board situation was causing such problems, why couldn't they just take away your house but still let you be an active chapter?

Like I said, at Northwest sororites don't have houses, but we still manage to have a very active greek system. I'm sure it is different at a school where everyone else has houses and you don't, but you can still be active without one. You could have meetings in an open classroom and hold your philanthropy, sisterhood, and social events at another place. We have had 3 fraternities rebuild their houses in the past 3 or 4 years, and when they are w/o a house they just rent somewhere to hold all of their events. Sisterhood and being active on campus does not require a house, so I can't understand why they made you all go through order.

3. Why does it have to be two years of dormancy?

Is that a rule on your campus or something? I don't see why you couldn't come back tomorrow as an active chapter since nationals is sort of :rolleyes: taking responsibility?

4. Can they undo order/alumnae status?

If you guys are able to be an active chapter again will nationals allow you to become active collegians, or will you still have to be alumnae?

5. How much damage has been done on campus?

Someone mentioned that the damage has been done on campus and rumors had been flying. :( How bad is it, and what is being said? I personally know how rumors fly like wildfire in the greek community:mad:, but remember pnm for the next couple of years aren't hearing them. Hopefully with the summer it is all blowing over. When you girls come back actively on campus show them all how strong you were by not letting rumors get to you. My personal motto is "If someone tells me I can't do something, then they just garunteed that it will be done!" Trying to prove someone wrong can be such a great motivator!:D Use that way of thinking and come back stronger than you were before this terrible situation! You all will feel great after proving the disbelievers wrong!

6. And since nationals did admit their mistake, why can't you get your house back? And why can't they help you form a corp board?

Isn't one of the responsiblities of nationals to help chapters with things like corp boards, and other things that the average college student has no experinece in dealing with?? If I were nationals than I would be giving you girls your house back and helping you form a corp board instead of trying to sweep a scandal under the rug!!!!!

7. Is nationals that stupid to think you girls wouldn't have found a way to get the word out to Sigma Kappas across the country?

I am so proud for you girls getting the word out. I know if I were in your position I would be doing everything in my power to get the word out to as many people as possible. I wish you all the best of luck and I will do anything I can to help (I've always loved being part of a protest for a good cause!);) Just remember girls, you have tousands and thousands of sisters out there that care for you and are behind you even though we don't know you all because we share such a sacred mystic bond!

SLAM,
Jessica--Kappa Alpha

Re: notification
 

I am so sad to hear that! You girls have really done a Great job with your chapter! I think that it is completely ridiculous that Nationals would do something like that to fellow sisters. If you need me to do anything, send e-mails to my chapter members, write nationals etc. I will. I would really hate to see you girls dormant. Good Luck.
In Sigma Love and Mine,
Kelly - Gamma Beta Western Michigan University

SigKapAZ--
thanks for clearing that up~!

One heart- one way- thank god Convention is coming on our territory!

ok i understand now

Hey ASU sisters...

Did you see my post above? You girls are in a very unique situation, and I just wanted to fully understand all of it.

nwsigkap,
PM SigKapAZ because she knows better than I do!!! She will give you the details you need.

Maybe some good news!
 

I heard that Angela Guillory and the rest of National Council have agreed to meet with the women of Theta Omicron to discuss the dormancy of the chapter and see if they can come to a resolution! Hopefully National Council and the chapter can find out what went wrong and make things right and the chapter members can get a personal apology.
I give major snaps to Angela and the rest of National Council for making time in their busy schedules to meet with the women of theta omicron and work things out :-)
I hope everyone has a great time at convention!

I stumbled here by just random clicking on GC- I really hope that things work out for the sisters of Theta Omicron. I dont know what I would do without my chapter- My prayers go out to all of you.

Lots of Love in Greek Unity
Alison

Did anything happen with this issue at Convention? Any kind of resolution to all of this? Apologies? Reinstatement of charter?

Girls --

So sorry to hear about the chapter going dormant. I know how I'd feel if it was me. My sisters and I sent our greek love.

sorry to bring this thread back to life, but i was reading over it and would love to have an update. i never heard anything more about the theta omicron chapter. updates?

shelley j
sigma k

Theta Omicron,

I am so sorry to hear about all this trouble that your chapter right now is going through. I know that nationals can be a bear to deal with (a few past experiences). Our chapter representatives came back to us saying how awesome you ladies were. If there is anything I can do, please let me know!

love in the dove,
Colby


P.S. For those Sig Kaps I saw posting from UNLV and UT... I am looking at doing my law school at your campuses so you might have this future alumna in the area :D

Ditto that, inquiring minds want to know. :)

Requested Update....
 

The Theta Omicron chapter remains dormant at this time. There was a great deal of miscommunication last spring between chapter members, advisors, national officers, school officials, etc. that led to the dormancy. It really was a freak thing and I doubt it could happen to another chapter.
As for the chapter members who are still collegians many of them have joined the Phoenix Alumna chapter and are adding a youthful spark to the group. The Phoenix Alumna chapter is already setting a plan in motion to return the Theta Omicron chapter to active status in the near future.
It was very hard for the chapter members and alumna (like myself) to see the chapter go dormant and not really understanding why but we have put the events of last year behind us, look towards the future, and enjoy our bond as sisters in Sigma Kappa...something that can never go dormant!