Columbia University - Alpha Chapter
 

It looks like Columbia University (Barnard College) is now allowing sororities on campus. They have 4 NPC groups already since the 80s: Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Gamma, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Sigma Delta Tau. Is AOII trying to restore the Alpha chapter? Is it AOII's choice not to be there or the University's or panhellenic's or what? Not to offend any New Yorkers, but it seems like NY is a pretty tough state for greeks, so maybe we just don't have the alumnae support or campus interest or something. Does anyone know?

Alpha Chapter at Barnard will not reopen to my knowledge ever again. If I remember correctly, all of those members were put into Alumnae back in the early 1900s. They do have NPC groups at Columbia now but there is a reason why AOII won't have re-charter that chapter, probably because we have so many other opportunities for expansion at new universities & colleges. I don't think the Alpha Charter was held in trust, like the LSU one is held in trust for the future and other charters have been held in trust.

As Glitter alluded, AOII will not recharter at Barnard. Sororities were abolished there on May 18, 1916. The four other sororities to which you were refer are actually chartered through Columbia not Barnard. This was from 1986-1992. Barnard still operates independently from Columbia although they are a part of the Columbia system.

Should Columbia’s Panhellenic Council once again open for expansion, AOII will certainly give it all due consideration. It would be nice to establish a chapter with historical ties to Barnard but I doubt that it would be given permission to be Alpha Chapter. Even when Theta established at Columbia in 1986, the chapter was not granted the former Barnard designation of AZ.

BTW - I didn't get your PM irishpipes. Please send it again. Thanks.

Re: Columbia University - Alpha Chapter
 

Hi. Sorry to hijack your thread, I have lived in NYS my entire life though, and NYC since '99. I went to a SUNY school and it has been my experience that many NY schools have problems in general because of hazing that has gone back since the beginning of time. I think NYC schools face different issues in trying to attract new members, primarily because many students don't have the benefit of living on campus, or in a "college town" where Greek life is more prevalent, and there are so many other things to do in NYC other than get involved in Greek life. Sisters I have met who went to NYC schools had a dramatically different Greek life experience than I did mostly based on the fact that they didn't live in a house or dorms, but lived spread out throughout the 5 boros. Many of them lived with their parents during college so because of that, it was difficult on the organization in general to coordinate a new member program. For example, in planning get-togethers in the evenings, it is kind of difficult to be calling everyone at home when their parents may be in bed at 9PM because of their work schedule. Sisters may only get together once or twice a week too vs. spending time together constantly when you are at school in Upstate NY where there is nothing else going on but the sorority. Our AA also has had difficulty attracting new members here in NYC. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that people in NYC in general have so much more going on then in more rural areas of the country.

Thanks for the input on NY. That is interesting that the urban life makes a big difference to campus culture. Makes sense.

Fun facts (to the best of my knowledge, someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong...)
.....Neither NPC (AEPhi or AOII) that called Barnard home for their Alpha chapter is represented at Columbia. Of the NPCs (pretty sure that there were only 4 at that time) at Barnard at the time of "no more recruiting" (which, in effect, killed the chapters even before the official end), only one is represented at Columbia, Kappa Alpha Theta. Kappa Alpha Theta was colonized at Barnard around the time that our AOII Founder's were graduating. The KAT members and some KAT symbols were added in an addendum to the 1898 yearbook.
:)
Silver

AOPiRose - I sent you another pm. Let me know if you gt this one. - irishpipes

You are pretty much on target. The AZ chapter of Theta was installed in 1898. Their official closing date is listed as 1915. This does correspond with the 1913 adminstration edict that banned fraternities recruiting new members for 3 years. It was on May 18, 1916 that the students formally voted to abolish fraternities. The only other NPC to establish at Columbia that I can think of was Alpha Phi (1984-1996).

But, to the best of my knowledge, Alpha Phi was never at Barnard...

It is really interesting to read about how the edict to abolish fraternities at Barnard came about. I wonder who really was the driving force and what the mysterious drama to which Stella eludes (as in a disasterous rush). I have my thoughts (Beryana and I have discussed this at length...), but such thoughts are not appropriate for a public message board.

Thanks for confirming all of my facts as correct, aopirose. Without my research documents in front of me, I forget dates! Good grief! This time, it seems that I nailed them on the head! :)

Woo hoo for vitamins and memories, even if they are as old-as-dirt!

(Note: This is a BLATANT attempt to get AOIIAlum to say, "You are NOT old, Silver!" Did I mention that a young man working at the local McDonald's asked me if I would like to order from the Senior Menu?):rolleyes:

Roses,
Silver

It worked!

You are NOT old, Silver. You are a gorgeous and glorious youthful AOII!

So, there :D

You are correct. I was talking about the sororities establishing at Columbia. The other sorority at Barnard was Kappa Kappa Gamma. I am not sure if they established a chapter Columbia.

BTW Silver, if you are OLD, I am darn near dust!

Hey there Silver--
You are NOT old...the Silver I met at LI and gave my beads to was the most youthful and most fun in the bunch--

Besides age is an attitude... my 92-year old grandmother said she was 39 until the day she died. Sometimes we'd remind her that she had a grandson who was 50 and Grams said, "that's his problem!"

The truth of the matter is that her mind was like a 39 year old and she always was a hoot and a barrel of laughs.

She never backed down on the age thing, and as I approach the 10th anniversary of my 29th birthday, I think I'll follow in her footsteps.

So here's to eternal youth!

Ladies, excuse the crash. I've done extensive research on Columbia's greek system, as I'm trying to restart Phi Psi's chapter there.

When AOPi was founded, Barnard was not as tightly integrated with Columbia as it is today. Barnard does not grant degrees anymore. When a woman graduates from Barnard, she receives a Columbia degree. More importantly, with regard to the operation of NPC chapters at Columbia, there is no distinction between Barnard and Columbia students. Rechartering at Barnard or chartering at Columbia is, in effect, just a difference of semantics.

As far as the difficulties that Greeks face in New York, there is an enormous difference between upstate and New York City. Risk management issues are almost non-existent in the City. Also, Columbia is surprisingly pro-Greek. If a sorority were to be granted permission to enter the campus, and if that sorority were to be successful, it would be several years until a brownstone would become available through the school. Basically, Columbia would hand a $3 million+ house over to the GLO to rent at dorm rates.

There are currently four active NPC chapters at Columbis, all of which are doing well. Alpha Chi Omega (unhoused,) Delta Gamma (housed,) Kappa Alpha Theta (housed,) and Sigma Delta Tau (housed.)

Thank you for your input, Russ. It's good to know that Columbia continues its pro-Greek stance. I also know that you do great work for Phi Psi. Keep it up!

We are aware of the more entwined relationship that Barnard now shares with Columbia. However, an AOII chapter established at Columbia more likely than not would receive a new chapter name. Barnard may allow her students to join sororities chartered at Columbia but the 1916 vote still stands. This information was in the Bulletin the last time Columbia opened for expansion and also shared with a former member of our International Executive Board by a Columbia administrator. We will just have to wait and see what transpires should Columbia open for expansion again.

I didn't think that Barnard EVER granted degrees. . . .Did our founders not all receive degrees from Columbia University (Barnard College of Columbia University)?

Sarah