LOL--here comes another NPC sister adding her $0.02!
The two eldest local GLOs on my campus were founded at the turn of the century, which was around the time many NPC womens fraternities were founded. The remaining locals were established soon after World War II ended as cultural interest societies. They've been approached by many nationals before, but each time they've turned them down because they're not willing to give up their rich traditions.
One thing that makes me feel uneasy is the fact that the locals welcome anyone to join them. By anyone I mean some of them DON'T EVEN ATTEND A COLLEGE and they still are allowed to join!
Unfortunately, these "rich traditions" have included incidents of hazing during the pledge periods, and because of this they've been having tough times with retaining new members. They have no problems with recruitment, but once the pledging started the members dropped like flies.
We don't have Panhellenic on campus because we're the only NPC sorority here, but they do have an Inter-Fraternity/Sorority council that's pretty weak. In recent reports, campus administration has had many problems with the locals because, to be honest, these locals have no guidelines regarding alcohol and other things that affect Greek and campus relations.
My campus administration is trying to urge these locals to go national primarily because they feel that a national GLO can provide these locals with more organization.
I'm not implying that all locals are bad. I know that there are a lot of succesful and noteworthy local GLOs out there!!! My opinions are based on what I see on my campus. After DP-ing from a local sorority, I had lost all respect for them.
The NIC fraternities, past and present, and us AGDs found their way to campus through the hard work and determination of wonderful alumni who took it upon themselves to get a bunch of college students together and colonize. Our chapters started from scratch because none of the locals on my campus wanted to go national.
Prdlocal, I commend you for having pride in your GLO. I have the utmost respect for orgs like yours, but I wish that I could feel the same about the ones on my campus.
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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*