Quote:
Originally posted by kddani
It seems like this is more prevalent among fraternities than sororities. I'm sure it happens with sororities, don't get me wrong, but it seems we here about it more with fraternities. Why does everyone think that is?
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Frankly, I had never heard of an underground inter/national sorority until GC, yet a few scenarios with respect to fraternities.
Fraternities
As I previously noted, my experience with 'underground' fraternity chapters basically meant the men continuing their brotherhood (friendship, wear letters etc.) during the chapter's suspension. They never presented themselves as an active chapter of their organization. And the campus was aware that they were not an official chapter. Now it was speculated that they had "meetings" and frankly, my feeling is they did. (Freedom to associate etc.) And because it was known that they would return the following year, (back in their house etc.) they were able to meet men that they "recruited" (for lack of a better word) by befriending them and who were willing to wait to pledge once the chapter was reinstated.
And in general, a fraternity chapter may have an easier time coming back on campus than a sorority - often due to rumors and perceived reputation etc. As such, if the current members and alumni are intelligent, they will wait and not do anything that would put retuning to campus in jeopardy.
Again, this above scenario is what I always envisioned as an 'underground' chapter. Not some illegitimate group claiming to be an active chapter much less "initiating" "new members".
Now if the scenario is that the chapter may not come back for some time, I can understand why a group might try to take it underground to continue the "brotherhood". What I am dismayed with are those groups (sororities too) that dupe "new members" into thinking they are legit. Along with procedural things that only an active chapter should have the right to do.
Sororities
Now why doesn't this happen with sororities as often? Well as I noted above, I am not familiar with any underground inter/national sorority. And since I am not that familiar with NALFO, NMGC, or NPHC sororities I'll keep my speculation to NPC chapters.
My general speculation is that since NPC chapters have "guidelines" regarding their rush - formal rush at same time, set campus total, set quota, cost of rush etc. - it is a more "open" process. Thus the women going through NPC rush, *know* there are only X number of NPC chapters and their names etc. For example, during formal rush, the PNM visits each NPC house - yada, yada, yada. Thus the PNM may make her choice from that X number of NPC chapters or any other recognized (NALFO, NMGC, NPHC or local) sororities. The point is that if there was an 'underground' sorority (ABC) it would not be part of this process. It should be *known* to any PNMs that if they were to join ABC, it would not be an active chapter of an NPC organization. And as such, I would speculate that the likelihood of being duped - i.e. thinking they are truly joining a recognized NPC inter/national chapter - is low.
Of course that doesn't mean that 'underground' sororities don't exist. I just feel it would be harder to present the group as an active legitimate member of their parent organization. And that the women who join, *know* this and don't care.
And on the flip side regarding returning to campus, when a sorority chapter closes, it seems like it is harder for the chapter to come back anytime soon. Again, often due to true or unfounded rumors and perceived reputation etc. So I could understand *why* a group might want to go 'underground'. Because they most likely won't be back anytime soon etc.