Joining Another Fraternity
 

Hey guys,

I'm in a bit of a dilemna.
My fall semester of my freshman year in college I joined Theta-Chi, nationally recognized fraternity, part of IFC. Unknowingly I transferred to a different school for my sophomore year. The school I'm at now didn't have a chapter, so I tried starting one myself. It wasn't even my idea at first, but my friends initiated the idea in the fall of 2011 and were down to start a chapter along-side myself. I sought it to be a great opportunity, but this past year it's been a one man team. I've recruited a few members, but the numbers are barely ample to become an interest group, and many potential members aren't as committed into paying dues and putting in the time and effort into the fraternity as I am. The looks of it seems hopeless.

It's almost been a full school year and I've become nostalgic of being a part of the Greek Life on campus. I've been given the opportunity to help start a completely new fraternity, specifically part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, with its first ever chapter. Would I be able to be part of this newly created fraternity?

Thanks for your guys' help.

Hi
i dont if this will help you!
But my brother got into a Fraternity and he realized that the guys were not committed however he got offered to start a other fraternity on campus therefore he gave up the letters and started working on the new one. So yeah you should be able to. Its frown upon by a lot of greeks but i understand completely ..

My NPHC fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, specifically does not allow this.

You unknowingly transferred to another school?

And he has the opportunity to help start the "first ever chapter" of a "completely new" NPHC fraternity.

Theta Chi is a member of the NIC (North-American Interfraternity Conference). IFC is a campus organization. Fraternities that are members of the NIC agree not to permit dual membership -- if you're a member of one NIC fraternity, you cannot join another.

Other impediments aside, be aware that four of the five NPHC fraternities -- Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma and Iota Phi Theta -- are also members of the NIC.

Have the rules changed in the last 10 years, MC? Just wondering, I'm not very familiar with NIC rules. Just asking because back in 2001, there was a Delta Sigma Phi initiated brother disaffiliate and then pledge and was initiated into Theta Chi a year later (at my school, obv).

Emphasis on the bold.

If the OP wants to be eligible to join another NIC fraternity, he would need to drop his current letters. But, as Sen pointed out earlier, there is no guarantee that he'll be given the opportunity to actually join the new fraternity (particularly since it's a non-IFC-type fraternity).

Are you posting from the future?

2010. Pulled an all-nighter last night, otherwise I wouldn't be up at 8am posting on forums.

My bad on context. I joined in Fall 2009 not knowing that I would want to transfer schools when Spring 2010 came around. Hope that clears things up.

Right. The NIC rule is that the national office of the first fraternity (Theta Chi in this case) must state in writing that the guy is no longer a member before a second NIC fraternity can initiate him. But as many have said when this has come up before, that's no guarantee that another chapter will take him. Some on GC have said their fraternities will not ever consider pledging someone who was a member of another fraternity, even with the letter from the first fraternity.