transfer student: new school doesn't have my frat, can I still join one?
 

I am transferring next year and the school I'm going to has plenty of fraternities - but not the one I'm currently a member of. Can I still join any of their other frats?

If You are a member of an NIC Fraternity, no, You are not allowed to join an other Fraternity of the same conference=NIC/IFC.

Even though there have been some, it is very few and far between.

Have You given thoughts of trying to start a Chapter there of Your GLO?

Little information gives Us little.

PM if You would like!:)

Are you serious?

why the hell would you want to be a pledge again. terrible idea and I have never heard of anyone doing that, period.

Where's the fraternal loyalty here? Why would you want to change?

Here's an idea --- how about chartering a new chapter of your org and becoming a part of history?

Resigning
 

If you really care that much, you need to resign or ask your local chapter to expel you from membership. This can then be forwarded onto your grand chapter, administrative office etc. for entry on the membership lists. Then you might be able to affiliate with a new chapter.
It is not as uncommen as you think.
At my chapter we had a member transfer to SMU where he joined PKA another member joined Sig Ep at North Texas we expelled the guy who joined Sig Ep we took no action against the guy who joined Pike. We also took in a one guy who had been in another GLO.

While I can understand where people would be upset, I know off the top of my head two instances where friends transferred to schools without their GLO. In both cases, they spoke with their brothers, explained the situation and in both cases, resigned... with no ill feelings.

To the OP, if your current fraternity is only a local, I do not see that there would be much of an issue with joining a National GLO. However, I would advise you to consider what type of school you are transferring to. Is it a large school? Is the Greek scene very important there? Would that school's IFC be receptive to the establishment of another GLO with you at the helm? It's probably worth checking with IFC to see what kind of hoops you have to jump through to establish another fraternity on campus.

This has been discussed on numerous other threads, but in the end it is one of those questions for which there is no correct answer.

It depends on BOTH fraternities.

While I personally would not have considered it, I can understand why someone might -- sort of.

Well said, for the first two comments. I agree with the third one, too. I think maybe, he just wants brothers to hang around with.

Good luck with whatever you decide works for you.

Thanks, that's why they paid me the BIG BUCKS when I used to be a moderator.

^^^How is this being overlooked by EVERYBODY?

Because maybe his new school isn't open for expansion or there aren't enough people interested in starting a new fraternity there.

But that's the nice thing about IFC....it doesn't HAVE to be open for expansion like NPC. You just go start your group.

Not necessarily. My school's bylaws for greek life say that there's a maximum for the number of fraternities or sororities that can be on campus at any given moment. Unless someone dies out, we can't get a new organization.

Is that a normal thing at most campuses?? It seems like we had Fraternities coming and going faster then you could keep up with.

It's more common than you think.

Not to mention you have to get a group of guys together, and even if you do and the school OKs it, the fraternity might not want to come there.

"They might not" this and "they might not" that. Maybe expansions is an idea that he "might" want to try rather than "quiting" one fraternity that he pledged to for LIFE to join another one just because the one he's currently in isn't at his school. Again I ask, "Are you serious?" Playing a part in the expansion to another campus is one of the greatest services one can do for his or her organization. But, then again, if you just pledged for LETTERS,...by all means, quit.

Thanks for all the responses. Just to give a little more info:

I'm currently a member of Phi Kappa Psi.

I'll be transferring (most likely) to Cal. State-LA, which offers the following fraternities:

Alpha Epsilon Omega
Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Beta Gamma Nu
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
Phi Sigma Kappa
Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Sigma Lambda Beta
Sigma Nu

And while I'd love to get a group of guys together for a Phi Kappa Psi, realistically, I'm not sure if it's a possibility.

I don't like to speak for others, but I think you can rule out #2 and #4.

what she said, and also #7

Brother, I would hope that you would simply try and start a new colony at your new school. As we are always looking to fly the flag of "The Noble Fraternity" at new institutions, I would suggest that you call HQ and speak to Ron Ransom, director of expansion.

I further hope that you are planning on attending the Grand Arch Council in August - if you are, come by the extenstion committee - i'll be there and we can figure out ways you can get your colony up and running and keepthe principles of Phi Psi in your heart.

You can also check with the fraternities on campus to see if they have "social members". Several fraternities at my campus had these members. Basically, if you joined Phi Psi at one college and then transfered to our college (which didn't have Phi Psi), you would contact a couple of the fraternities, get to know the members, and then become a "social member" (after being invited). You would be able to go to their parties, play intermurals on their teams, hang out at their houses, etc. But, you would not be allowed to go to meetings or have a vote on chapter policies. Also, you would pay dues (not a much as chapter members). It's worth checking out.

Side note, I collect old yearbooks. I have some from Southern Methodist University. Back in the 50's, SMU had a group called "Stray Greeks". It was a social organization for men who were members of fraternities that did not have a chapter at SMU. I think it's a pretty cool idea. Too bad it's not something other campuses have.

Also, Sigma Chi does not knowingly allow members who were previously initiated into other fraternities.

Zeecee- call Ron Ransom at headquarters in Indy. he is the expansion director and can help you with establishing an interest group.

smh....pancake!!!

why would you join/pledge an org, then join another one just cuz they dont have it at your new school? PANCAKE!!!

LMAO!!!! thank you, i was definitely gonna point out #4...definitely X those 2 off ya list...RIGHT NOW!!!

well actually expansion can be rough....we have 8 chapters and 1 colony on our IFC and it's a BITCH to convince IFC to expand.....especially with only 5 NPCs on campus......

That's weird to me with 13 fraternities to 5 sororities on our campus!

But we had a large variation in sizes from under 12 guys to 80+

Not necessarily, brother. Each campus is unique.

NPC groups have the goal of equality. The seem to have the belief that their success is assured if their competitors are successful as well. Therefore, when you have a situation where all but one chapter (maybe a few more on big campuses) are at quota, there still may be no call for expansion.

Fraternities are a lot different. When there's just the remote possibility that another group might succeed, you'll often find a colony.

Having been a colonist, I can attest to the unique challenges that entails. It's hard work, but well worth it.

I can't recall precisely what Sigma Nu's rule is on this. If it is even remotely possible to join after being initiated in another organization (which I'm not clear on), you certainly would have to gain some sort of official dismissal from your previous organization (which is in many cases anything but automatic).

Best of luck to the OP.

Brother, check into Knighting Ritual on this one. It's pretty clear. Also check The Law of Sigma Nu at www.SigmaNu.com, PM me for the password.....and yes I know you're a brother....I looked up your badge and you're legit :-P

first off, Phi Psi is on a serious expansion kick right now, with 10 colonies and one group about to charter in April, so if this guy is serious all he has to do is pick up the phone and call HQ (if you need the number, PM me) and ask for Ron Ransom, the Expansion Director.

Secondly, like all NIC fraternities, once you join us, you cannot quit and join someone else. That's Crazy - plus why would you want to leave?

:)

OP = 7 months ago from a post-and-run user. I doubt he's still interested.

"Stray Greek" groups were fairly common in the 50s and 60s, at least at large schools with significant transfer populations. Not sure why they died out.

I know Alpha - But I'd rather be the Brother that made sure his Brother got all the info he needed.

That's cool, but I was just throwing that out there before this turns into "OMG why is trying to join another GLO, what's the matter with him" thing. They can get ugly fast, and since the OP probably doesn't read GC anymore, it's not an issue.