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Originally posted by dzandiloo
Have you corresponded at all with any of the GC'ers from Santa Clara? I hear they went underground (or off campus) with their recruitment, and are going stronger than ever. I bet they would be more than willing to give you some ideas & words of encouragement. Their hope is to keep things going strong off campus so that WHEN the school comes back to its senses, they will be ready to come back on like gangbusters.
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I realize this is very late for an update, but here's proof that going underground can lead to success. At Santa Clara, we lost our campus recognition in the Spring of 00. Since then, my chapter has gone from 22 members to a projected 84 members following our formal Winter Rush at the end of January. We were also awarded Sigma Pi International's Grand Sage's trophy, awarded to the #1 Sigma Pi chapter internationally...all this without a formally recognized Greek System.
It dosen't come easy however. We can't advertise on campus, we finance everything ourselves, and we have to fight an administration that tells incoming freshman that we don't exist.
With some hard work and dedication however, you can overcome these difficulties. Since we all have freedom of speech and freedom of association, there is nothing wrong with us wearing t-shirts and letters that advertise or events, or spreading news about the Greek system in the school newspaper or via word-of-mouth. Our parties (many of them draw over 600 people each) still provide the best social options for SCU students, wether the administration chooses to admit it or not. It is also difficult for them to ignore nearly $200,000 that have been raised for charity by only three GLO's (DG, Alpha Phi, and Sig Pi) over the past three off-campus years.
Finally, we are finally beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel. A new sorority is forming an interest group this winter (looks like KKG or Tri-Delt, although DZ, AXO, and ZTA have dormant chapters at SCU), and get this...the university has put it on their '03-'04 agenda to revisit the greek system decision. This is what we have been working for!
Moral of the story: Fight the powers that be! If you are dedicated and hard working, you can succeed on your own with or without the university's blessing.