New Colony Questions
 

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I think that your religion won't be an issue. I knew plenty of Roman Catholics and Protestants in historically Jewish sororities and fraternities. The only difference was that the historically Jewish orgs tended to avoid planning events on Friday nights in order to respect their members who observed the Sabbath.

I am a member of a historically Jewish sorority, and I was also a founding sister of my chapter. In my chapter, we have lots of Jewish sisters, but also Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopals, Greek Orthodox, Hindus, etc. We didn't consider religion when making decisions as to whom to invite/bid; we considered whether each woman would make a good sister and what she'd bring to the sorority.

My chapter did have a bylaw forbidding the scheduling of mandatory events on the Sabbath and Jewish holidays (so all our formals were on Saturday nights), but that same bylaw also forbade scheduling events on the major holidays of any other religion that a sister practiced.

So, go for it. :) Every new colony needs leaders, and it sounds like you'd be a good one.

Which sorority, and which school?

If you are considering a rush with an NPC sorority, you shouldn't have to worry. I don't think any of them recruit exclusively along the lines of religion any longer--the national organizations themselves. However, some of the chapters of those organizations might still do that. Locals not affiliated with a national sorority could be different.

A lot of the NPC organizations had specific expectations or requirements (spoken or unspoken) back in the day...but that has changed greatly. I would hope that an organization would look at the "whole person" rather than one specific characteristic. You sound like you have a lot to offer!

Religion probably isn't an issue. Check out the national or international websites for their "history", or go to that particular groups chat area within GreekChat and you'll be able to find out more about who they are to make your decision!

Good luck to you!

Iris

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This shouldn't be a huge issue. Especially for a colony. There's so much more to say being a founder of an organization than being just another face on an old composite. You just have different advantages. Most likely if you're successful it won't be long until you get a house.

I am an active member of Alpha Epsilon Phi and I am Catholic as is our current chapter president. And basically I agree that sororities that are historically one religion or another are not about excluding people but rather about creating an environment where people are comfortable being themselves. In my chapter that means we avoid having important events during the sabbath or jewish holy days and trying to have kosher food around because many our members are jewish. But on the same note my chapter would never have an important event on a Christian holiday.
As for rushing as a junior that can be sometimes tricky with established chapters but with a colony it should be a lot easier. You will probably get a chance to hold leadership positions that you may have never gotten a chance to hold in an already established chapter.

My membership in AEPhi has been a amazing experience and I really hope you give it a try.

~Margaret

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WannaBeGreek101,
Congratulations on your efforts to contact AEPhi! On my campus AEPhi was an extremely active and diverse sisterhood with whom my chapter did many events.
Please let us know how it all goes for you!
Good luck!
Go AEPhi!
violets

I'm so glad you're considering becoming a part of the new AEPhi colony. Good luck with it! Perhaps soon I will be calling you "sister" ? :)