Underground Sororities
 

I am currently attending a largescale university, where the Greek Life is present, however dwindling. We were going strong with many different chapters on campus, and although there was competition amongst us- we were actually a well working, very connected greek system. However, from the time second semester started until now, 4 or 5 houses have been shutdown for what come of as legitimate reasons, but don't really add up- my chapter included. In my particular case, we had just been signed off for our sanctions (as we were on probation), and a new exec board was coming into office- we were all set and ready to make sure we were in good standing for the remainder of our time before we graduated, and then pass on the duty. We even had our CCD and regional coordinators blessings and signatures. Come 2nd semester, we were kept in the dark as our headquarters attempted to evict us in 48 hours, strip us of our letters, and shutdown our chapter permanently- as well as make up very false and hurtful rumors- and yes, it was from our NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS. Still to this day we are unsure of what happened, however- we are no longer recognized by our school. What I don't understand most is, if we had done something so wrong and could not operate on campus... why were all of us granted Alumni status?

We as a sisterhood, along with many other members of the greek system feel very cheated and I am afraid that many want to take the matter into their own hands by running underground. As a member of what would have been our exec board, a lot of girls ask me the dangers of running underground. Can anyone please shed some light on underground greek systems, and what legal action, if any, the university can take against us?

Do you still have your national charter from DZ or was that taken away? If you still have your charter, then you can operate as a sorority, the school can just "encourage" freshman girls not to rush/pledge DZ. They may also not let you use campus facilities to hold events and meetings.

If DZ dechartered your chapter, then going underground would essentially be illegally since you would be using DZ letters and ritual without nationals' permission. Also any girls that you attempted to initiate, would not be recognized as initiated members by your nationals.

You should first find out as to why the school pulled your recognition before you decide to underground. Talk to your advisor and see if she can offer you any more advice.

If your charter was pulled, it's common for all of the women to be granted automatic alumnae status (at least for us).

Let me see if I have this straight:

1. School revokes your recognition, but DZ national says they will stand behind you and let you keep operating as a chapter

2. DZ national yanks your charter.

Unless the members have committed truly heinous behavior, most GLOs will make members alums when they yank a charter. It's their belief that as the years go by they will (hopefully) be productive alums.

If you are at a public university and running underground, there's very little they can do to you that they didn't already do when they revoked your recognition. Continued use of name, insignia etc would be a matter for DZ national to handle, not the university.

I would be aware that if you are operating undergroud that you are covered by NO insurance policies. If something unfortunate were to happen you as individuals would be personally responsible. I personally wouldn't do it, but that is up to you. If you have hesitations, maintain the friendships, but let the active chapter portion go. Become involved as an alumna and perhaps you may eventually be able to reopen your chapter. I would imagine it would be harder to do down the road if you have been illegally operating.

I second what Little E had to say--you don't want to take on personal liability for anything that might happen at one of your "underground" group's events. I'd also add that acting as a collegiate chapter of DZ w/o a charter may put anyone involved at risk for losing her alumna in good standing status (and I understand there is some bitterness toward the national org., so the people thinking about doing this may not care at all).

Also, based on the details you've shared, it's not going to be too hard for anyone around here to figure out which chapter you are referring to (unless I'm completely mistaken, there is a thread about it here ), so if anyone w/in the national organization wanted to be on the lookout for this underground chapter, it wouldn't be too difficult.

I can't begin to know what you & your chapter have been through in the last year, and I'm truly saddened to see any chapter close, no matter the reason....but if you value your good standing in DZ, I would give it some time, and then become active as an alum.

I think I explained wrong. The nationals shut us down and wants nothing to do with us, and the school CLAIMED that they had nothing to do with it. However, that could be disputed in many many ways. Whatever people assume about our chapter and us knowing better, we've heard it all- and for the record, this was an individuals property, and the person who sent in the "evidence" on us was hired by nationals and is a registered sex offender.

I loved DZ and I loved being a sister, however I can't say I am proud to be an alum of it anymore for I feel wronged by them.

Underground I know is a very dangerous and touchy subject- but would becoming a different organization with different letters, different rituals, different everything, and yet still not affiliated with the school or a national headquarters be considered going underground? If we were to become our own "organization" without any part of DZ, is it illegal? If not, would we have to deaffiliate from DZ in order to become something new?

Unless this is a campus where no one really gives a crap about Greek Week or that kind of stuff - some don't. If this is part of a campuswide thing and there are many underground groups, and there's a perception that their recognition was revoked unfairly, it can actually make them more popular.

I don't recommend this either, just being honest and pointing out that OMG WE CAN'T HAVE A HOMECOMING FLOAT is not a big deterrent some places.

As long as you aren't using anything that is DZ's I wouldn't consider that being underground. The school could approve you as a local sorority and recognize you, in which case you'd be a local sorority. Or they could refuse to recognize you, in which case you'd just be unrecognized which isn't the same as being underground.

As to whether you have to surrender your DZ membership, it depends whether DZ has a clause that says members cannot belong to a local social sorority.

Just to warn you, if the school refuses to recognize you as a local sorority, then undergrounding would not be a good idea for you. 1. It's never good to tick off the school administration, and 2. a local sorority that's not recognized by the school and can't participate in school events just isn't all that desirable.

I wonder if you are operating on accurate information.

I think most GLOs will go to almost any length to avoid shutting down a chapter, especially if the school doesn't care.

Before I got real mad at DZ and was an unhappy alumna, I'd call or visit the chapter advisor, the reg. governess, or the natl. office.

There may be stuff (finances, loans, old debts, bad operations) which you don't know about.

Make a call - get some answers.

While you may not feel that proud to be an alum right now, that may change. And the same may be said for your chapter sisters.

Remember, being a Delta Zeta is for life. Who knows. You may find yourself living in another part of the county with other wonderful sisters. If you give it all up (resign) for the few years of being a collegian, you may very will miss out of something so much bigger and longer lasting.

So perhaps instead of resigning to form an underground chapter that may or may not last, why not either join an existing alumnae chapter or form your own alumnae group at your campus or in your town. This way, you not only continue your sisterhood, but reap the benefits of being a member of the DZ sisterhood for years to come.

As TSteven said. You are a Delta Zeta for Life. It Is Much Bigger than the local Chapter. I am sure it hurts like Hell!

But, isnt there always a but, I would really want to know "Why" the Chapter was DeChartered.

If as you say, everything was going smoothly and growing and looking up, then the Question would be why?

Have You conversed with Your Alums? Grey Area Sucks, it would be better if it was explained to you and Your Sisters in Black and White.

That would be the question, What did We do wrong?:(

If We had know what the supposed Problem was, Could We have Corrected it?

I hope that you keep us updated and informed on Your Chapter Situation as it could be of Help to all of us.

I too was part of a chapter that has now been closed (after I graduated).. we tried as alums for 6 years with a lot of NHQ supprot to keep the chapter thriving including having graduate consultuants live with the chapter. Its soo hard to lose a group. BUT all the women are alums in good standing since nothing illegal was done to cause the chapter to close.

Once a chapter is closed your charter is revoked by NHQ and you can be a reinstated chapter although it may take years.
Does it hurt.. yes I was angry for a few years but you join alum groups and you find your sisters still and gather (no ritual). there are 2 years of girls left on campus and they still gather to meet and plan social events but now its more like a large group of 20 so friends than a sorority.

as fellow DZ, i know nationals is not quick to shut down a chapter, so I would definately find out why. you said the old eboard is gone and you have all new leaders now. well, maybe they had gotten the warnings from nationals or had other issues that they never brought to the whole chapter. you never know. also, i would urge you to not go underground or go local. since you were granted alumni status, either join your local alumni group or start a "chapter alumni association". either way, you can still do the activities you did as undergrad members, minus being active in campus greek activities like greek week. and if that is your only concern, that kinda sucks. a chapter association is such a good idea if you don't have one yet. it is open to all alumni of your chapter and you can do alot of service and sisterhood events and kinda show nationals how much you have changed. at that point, you could possibly worked to get the chapter reinstated in the next couple of years. also just remember, dz is about the sisterhood, the service and educating ones self, not doing the superficial greek activities like greek week and homecoming. just go out there and be great dzs as im sure you are. if there is a huge problem with individual sisters, work on that too (brownie points with nationals). doing fundraisers as an alumni chapter and donating money to the foundation, gallaudet or another local dz chapter will also improve you rep with nationals.
good luck and send me a message if ya need any help or advice.