starting a sorority
 

A friend and I have been interested in starting a sorority at my school but the school has no recognized greek life. There is one underground fraternity, Psi Upsilon, that has to hold all of its events off-campus and receive absolutely no recognition from my school. My school is a state school but the administration won't support starting any greek organizations. Are we stuck or is there some way for us to get around/force our school to let us start a sorority chapter?

i say get your group of interests and start an interests group... something in the like of a sorority... and base it on the reasons why you want to start a sorority in the first place...and see how far your group goes.. with working together.. doing community service together.. things like that for starters.. see how well that works for one sememster... if your school notices how well you guys work together they might extend an exception to you... other schools allow organizations to exist as a just a school organization and not as a sorority or fraternity... but thats a start in most cases in which most members in an organization just want the opportunity to perform things as an unified group... Plus there's nothing wrong with being underground

Well, I disagree. There are numerous reasons why I wouldn't rush an underground chapter, but that's just me.

What exactly is the difference? I've never understood it. At my university we have an underground chapter of TKE and as far as i know they're a very well recognized national Fraternity.... so tell me exactly what makes being underground so different??

Most National organizations that are part of NIC, IFC, NPC, NPHC and multicultural organizations generally have to have legal MOU's with the college/university.

A young lady want to join my Sorority through undergraduate chapter who attend Phoenix University, the on-line University and pay as you go school. But the University refused to recognize our expansion stating a liability issues and against the mission of the university...

"Underground" refers to groups that are not recognized by the school OR by the national fraternity. Men who join these chapters are not brothers on a national level - they've never sent in national fees and are not protected by national insurance.

Being unrecognized by the school, but recognized by the national, is NOT the same as being underground AND THE TWO SHOULD NEVER BE CONFUSED. The school doesn't let them use campus facilities or post things, like they would a recognized fraternity, but there is NOTHING "illegal" about it.

I'm not sure which of these situations the TKEs at your school and the Psi Us at the OP's school fall under - but it is very important in this instance to use the correct terminology.

Lemons, PM if you'd like! I am the founder and president of a local sorority on a campus that had VERY limited Greek life!

The key here is there are NO GLOs on campus except for one undergraound Fraternity!

So, most of the posts have nothing to do with this posters situation do they?

She would be starting something intirely new. I say then to her, go for it, start a group and call it what you wish. If you want to use Greek Letters, just make sure they are not being used.

You may want to try to emulate what National Organizations do and how they run their operations as far as community efforts and conducting yourselves as such. No hazing as that is a killer.:)

Just to clarify - that does NOT mean calling yourselves Chi Omega Epsilon Pi, and having your colors be cardinal and straw, your mascot be an owl, your philanthropy be Make-A-Wish, etc... (just as an example)

It means to find out how National GLOs do business, and model yourselves after that.

sigh...If only someone else had followed this advice. *smh*

Since its a state school, you might be able to make a case for freedom of association and find out why the school is not supportive. I mean, they cannot stop you from organizing--they can choose not to recognize you but that is not usually in anyone's best interest.

I would look to see if you state system has any rules re: this as well.

Hm, I think that is what I said.

Also a good point if it is a State supported school.

I think you can start a group with out any problem. But depending on the feelings of the school, that is what the question is. I know that for example Alfred of teh NY State school system booted all GLOs off of campus because of a death due to hazing at a local fraternity.

Also, I had never heard of any money from the college to groups even GLOs until I came on G C!

Actually, only a few programs at Alfred are state supported--not the entire institution, so that is not a good example. That, of course, makes for some interest legal cases....

Heather that may be true for support with funds, but I have seen where even GLos get some financing and never understodd why even though We desearve it many times for what we do for the school and community!

I also never understood how Alfred could just shut down ALL GLOs either?

I know with LXA that if the school is anti, we will not try to expand there.

I am sure most of us feel the same way at a National level.

And an EXCELLENT example it was! :D