saving our sorority
 

Our sorority is a local one in New Jersey. We are in danger of loosing our almost 50yr traditions. Our university is trying to force us to be obsorbed into a national or they will simply raise our dues until we can no longer afford to be on campus. We're hoping that another local sorority has faced a similar situation and would be willing to help us in this time of need. Thank you for any help you are able to provide to us.

Re: saving our sorority
 

Why would you be paying dues to the school?? Or do you mean insurance or Panhellenic dues.

I don't really know what to tell you except to get your alumnae involved. Chances are, if your sorority is 50 years old, you have some alumnae there that make good money and give donations to the school. If the women that wrote checks to the school for it to use for its projects complained, it probaably would have more of a voice than if a group of 18-22 year old girls did.

I agree with the other posters. The university is protecting itself against liability. The national sororities (NPC) on your campus maintain liability insurance which protects them. Your organization as well as the other locals probably do not. The school does not realize that very few nationals would be interested in your campus as these locals do not meet the minimum # of members to maintain active chapters for most NPC groups.

Denise

They wouldn't have to go NPC. There are lots of other national options.

I agree with Daisy, get the alums involved.

I agree with KLPDaisy in terms of getting your alumnae involved. I checked out your campus and its seems that there are at least a half a dozen local sororities and fraternities on campus. Are they attempting to affiliate with nationals? If they don't want to affiliate with nationals either then all the locals on your campus have to work together with all of your alumnae.

Just as an asides...this is the time when you've all got to be literally on your best behavior. If they're trying to force affiliation on you, you've got to prove that you're already fantastic as you are. Also emphasize the financial burden that national membership will place on your chapter (assuming your dues aren't near national dues for any council, as most local dues are). The financial part will influence recruitment numbers. Girls @ Otterbein say, " I was just glad I could afford it, my friend is an XYZ and she said her dues were like eleventy billion dollars and I just can't afford that, I'd never have rushed."

Local greekdom is awesome, unique, quirky. It deals a lot with the history of the school itself. Emphasize your sorority's role with the school as a whole.

good luck, keep us updated!!