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Originally Posted by greekdee
Ditto for the BYX chapter at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. My family has relatives and friends who are active brothers on that campus. While walking out their faith and keeping a strong faith-supportive environment are primary with BYX (aka Bucks) brothers, they are very much a real and social fraternity. They're actually one of the largest at UTK -- currently have over 100 actives and a huge house in the heart of Fraternity Park. They rush right alongside of IFC, and those who receive and accept bids, have a 10 week pledgeship. They're completely immersed in Greek Life and have done great on that campus. They took first place in Delta Gamma's Anchor Splash a couple of months ago and won several awards with whichever NPC sorority they did Homecoming with. Intramurals, formals, date nights and NPC mixers are all the norm. (I heard from a relative that several NPC sorority presidents have told the BYX social chair that more women sign up for BYX mixers than with any other fraternities -- the main reason cited by all is that the pressure to drink is off.)They have large turn outs to their events, both the social and the faith focused. Their Island Party last spring (a concert preceded by a week of sorority competitions) drew over 600 students. Likewise, their monthly All-Greek Praise and Worship services keep growing, now with over 200 IFC and NPC Greeks attending. The house can't hold them all and they spill out into the courtyard.
At least as far as the UTK chapter goes, brothers can hold NIC fraternity membership, BUT their status has to be inactive if they want to be active with BYX. They can't be active with both. Nationally, BYX is very focused on expansion, but my current understanding is that there are no plans at the moment to join NIC. On another note, and I know it's been discussed at GC, but Kappa Sig, Phi Delt and Phi Sig all left NIC in 2002 (though Phi Sig has since returned.) We have several Sig Ep alums in the family and one of them "heard" Sig Ep was considering breaking away. He hasn't seen anything from nationals to support that, though. I've no idea if it's true, and if it is, what kind of impact it would have. Kappa Sig has been breaking recruitment records ever since they left, so being non-NIC doesn't appear to be hurting them.
Well, back to the thread topic. Since BYX was brought up, I just wanted to throw in my support for them because, from what I've seen, they're a great fit for some men. With BYX nationals calling this year's growth " exponential," record pledge numbers being broken this fall and expansion plans for four new chapters annually, these Bucks boys are moving along and doing something right.
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As long as Beta Upsilon Chi allows duel membership (i.e. in BYX and in a "general" social GLO) they are not be eligible to join the NIC. However, a BYX chapter may join a campus’ IFC if that campus allows it. This seems to be the case at Tennessee.
For what it is worth, there have been “informal” discussions within the NIC regarding the possibility of grand-fathering organizations that allow duel membership. The GLO wanting to join the NIC would have to move to single membership, but the NIC would not require the individuals to renounce one of their memberships. In other words, if you were a member of both BYX and a current NIC organization, the NIC would allow the individual to continue to be a member of both. However, one or both organizations might require a member to “drop” membership in the other to remain a member. That membership issue would be up to the organizations.
There is a historical president for this. For example, Delta Chi initially was a “professional fraternity” for law students and some members also held membership in “general" / "social” fraternities as well. Delta Chi moved to single membership in the early 1900s which allowed them to become a member of the NIC. My understanding (I’m not sure on this, so perhaps a Delta Chi might be able to confirm) is that the members of Delta Chi who held duel membership prior to Delta Chi moving to single membership were allowed to “keep” both memberships.
Now the other side of the current duel membership discussion is that the NIC should require the individual with duel memberships to resign from one of the organizations. I suspect that could be a deal breaker for some GLOs that might consider joining the NIC.
As for Sigma Phi Epsilon leaving the NIC, I haven’t heard any specific talk about them doing so. (Doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.) But what is interesting is that since the NIC’s founding, many members have left and then rejoined later. And it seems like one or more NIC member is considering doing so at any given time.
I have heard that since Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Theta left the NIC, there have been “unofficial” discussions regarding one or both rejoining the NIC. As such, and given the history of GLOs leaving and rejoining, it wouldn’t surprise me if either fraternity returned -- or if one or both elected to continue to remain independent of the NIC (for the time being).
As for Kappa Sigma’s recruitment success, that really is not due to them leaving the NIC as the NIC does not have quotas or chapter totals. Kappa Sigma seems to simply be doing well with their process. And they have been opening more chapters in recent years as well. That has also contributed to an increase in their numbers.