[AlphaSigOU]

Allow me to be the lone voice in the wilderness...

With very rare exceptions, it's very difficult to become an alumni initiate of Alpha Sigma Phi. Most alumni initiates are initiated by their chapter with approval from the Grand Council; in the case that the candidate was once a member of a colony or interest group that never chartered, or someone who is related to a notable Alpha Sig who did not attend a college where there is an Alpha Sig chapter become Members-at-Large, unaffiliated with any chapter. (Our current Grand Secretary, Jonathan Burns, is the son of the late Ralph Burns, longtime Grand Secretary - he's a graduate of West Point, which obviously does not have fraternities and sororities.)

We did have the case a couple of years ago when a former pledge at Radford University came back to finish his degree in his late forties and pledged Alpha Sigma Phi again, and he was initiated with a group of pledge brothers half his age.

As mentioned in other posts in this thread, AI is not a catch-all for those who missed out on the undergrad experience. It sure as hell ain't easy, as evidenced by many here who have gone through the process; some have experienced heartbreak at one attempt, but tried again and were finally successful.

It's no secret that established alumnae board members may view prospective alumnae initiates with suspicion - I betcha more than once they've been burned by more than a few members who really joined for mercenary motives, who disappeared not long after getting initiated. And I don't blame them for 'scrutineering' applicants to be sure they will contribute to the organization.