a national sorority of locals
 

hey- i was wondering if anyone has heard anything about an organization that is trying to create a national sorority comprised of all local sororities. i think the one web-site i went to was call united sisterhood of locals or something like that. i'm not sure how i feel about this idea. it would be interesting to have some kind of representation outside of the school but i don't know if an organization like that would take something away from us. let me know what you guys think, i would be really interested what other local orgs have to say about it. thanks!

United Sororities Site

I checked out the site, and it seems like they want to have the locals united under one name in order to get recognition from NPC, but give each chapter its freedom to operate as normal. Pretty good idea, but it seems like the sororities might lose their individuality over time.

That's pretty interesting...so will they have a "nationals office" or executive headquarters? It doesn't really go into detail on how it will provide "national backing".

I think this is more to get around campuses saying locals aren't allowed or making all the locals go national. From what they are saying they don't want to form an NPC-type group where all the chapters would have the same colors, flower, etc.

I don't think NPC would ever accept this.

I don't think it's got anything to do with the NPC -- like 33girl said, it has to do with the schools. For example, currently at UW-Madison there's a rule that says no Greek organization that isn't affiliated with some kind of national umbrella group will be recognized. That pretty much rules out locals at the UW -- but if the local sororities had this group that they were a part of, they could claim that that counts as their national group and thus could be recognized.

that's true.. although I'm still discombobbulated by it! :confused: :)

Sure, it is an umbrella group, but would it really have some kind of weight if there is nothing "behind" the umbrella group?

Like most NPC sororities have some kind of "nationals", and on top of that, they are part of the NPC, which also has it's own constitution, rules, etc.

This "umbrella group" of locals seems just like a name and nothing more (at least that is what I'm getting from their website.)

Their website also says under the "requirements" that in order to be a member, they have to be a "true local, having only one chapter".. so if they decided to expand, wouldn't that disqualify them for the "umbrella group"?

hehehe.. maybe I'm just making this way more confusing than it really is!!!

Well, I don't get it either. At first, I thought it sounded like a good idea, to grant recognition to local sororities on a campus where a national org. is required. BUT... how can they encourage maintaining individuality when they want every chapter to change their letters to Upsilon Sigma Lambda? I just think that defeats the whole purpose.

I think that their "formal" letters would be Upsilon Sigma Lambda, but they would use their old letters day to day. If you look at some of the local and regional groups in NY State they have letters but usually go by their old literary society names like Clio, etc. This sounds similar.

From my understanding, the formal name would be USL and then each chapter's name would be the letters of the local sorority.

I actually think it could be a good idea to give some backing to the locals. We'll just have to see how they do it. There may need to be some more organization by the umbrella other than just a short national constitution.

Sarah

Oh ok - I thought they were doing it so they could petition to NPC. I was obviously confused. ;) I still can't see schools approving this - all of the sudden the local would want to change it's letters just to be recognized by the school, but would still go by it's old name? I think the school would catch on to that? And what would my last school do? There'd be two groups trying to register as USL - would it go to whoever got there first?

hehehe.. I didn't even *think* about that possibility!

hmm.. maybe they would merge? but then i guess that would defeat the purpose of the locals being able to operate how they always have

That's what I'm wondering - because in Wisconsin, there are lots of schools I can think of where there is more than one local - and they aren't always on Greek councils, etc, because there are enough nationals to "keep them out."

Interesting idea... I'm reading this as kind of a confederation of local sororities.

I'm wondering how much autonomy the locals would really have. How much freedom would each member org have in structuring their rush, new member programs, rituals, philanthropy work, academic programs, etc? I imagine USL would put some sort of anti-hazing policy in place on the national level?

If there are two or more locals at a given school, my guess would be that they would be recognized as "Upsilon Sigma Lambda - ABC Chapter" and "Upsilon Sigma Lambda - XYZ Chapter".

But - what if two otherwise-unrelated locals that wanted to be part of USL had the same letters? We know there are locals out there with the same letters. Would one group have to change its letters?

Keep them out, yes.....

I'm so tired of this exercise and this activity and the talk of how locals are so bad. Just because an org isn't recognized as a national doesn't mean that they aren't greek. They should still be allowed to make decisions regarding greek life. I feel like it's such a discriminatory act and I won't even get into how else I feel. Not all locals are bad, and it's sure as hell the truth that not all nationals are good.

Remember, every single glo started as a local at one point in time.....

**edited to add**

I believe this could be a great idea for local soroites around the country adn I think it could work. If they had recognition from an "national office' and maybe setup a risk management program and insurance coverage I think it would work. ANd to be honest, I don't think schools should have anyway to deny a group in this "USL."

I understand it as USL being the letters of the main organization while leaving the locals to operate under their own letters. This still gives them their individuality. Very good idea though if it works correctly.