Question about local sororities.

Coramoor · #1 03-08-2004, 09:51 AM

WVU has a local sorority that started about 2 and a half years ago. All the sororities on my campus absolutly dispise this sorority...and I have no idea why. Even mention their name around a girl in one of the national sororities they get this nasty look on their face, like they ate something really sour.

As I understand it, Panhellinic has to vote whether they can participate in Homecoming and Greek week (which I'm not sure if that's true or not) but they have also voted that if the local sorority participates in any of the fratnerity philantropy none of the other sororities will participate. I have also been told that the local sorority cannot be recognized or let on to Pan. b/c Pan. is only for national sororities. I don't know if that is true or not either.

Now I really don't have any special reason to like the local girls, nor to dislike them, but I think what is being done to them is totally wrong. My chapter is split almost down the middle on whether we should do something to try and help their situtation or not. Some guys think that by helping them we will harm our relations with all the other sororities. While others say that doing the right thing is never wrong, and if it does harm our relations then hell with the other sororities.

I would just like some info if any other local sorority was in this place, or if anyone has dealt with something like this before.

PhiPsiRuss · #2 03-08-2004, 09:55 AM

If one fraternity does something with this local, then they can get burned. If all of the fraternities, through the IFC, decide to support the local, then PanHel is left powerless over fraternity involvement with the local.

AlethiaSi · #3 03-08-2004, 10:19 AM

i'm surprised to see such animosity toward the local... however this is probably due to an altercation that is unknown to you and your brothers- something like allegations being brought up... or the local simply getting more pledges... it varies and as i'm sure you know- girls can get all riled up over little and big things....

so... panhellenic is not just for national sororities but they do have to get voted on i believe- i'm not sure what the rules are here... but i know that we are a member of panhell with sisters on the exec board and we are also members of IGC (inter-greek council) with the fraternities and sororities with members on the exec board. (i'm a local lol) in any case... i think i would see how the other fraternities felt about what is going on- like what russellwarshay said.... also- try talking more with the girls to find out what happened- try befriending one of the local sisters and see how they are.... there might be something going on here that you don't know about... just a thought from a girl's perspective....

33girl · #4 03-08-2004, 10:56 AM

Coramoor, don't take this wrong but I keep forgetting you are a guy LOL.

Anyway, a local sorority can be in a school's chapter of Panhel if the other sororities vote them in so that part is BS. They can be a full member or an associate member depending on how they do rushing/pledging.

As far as the philanthropy - that is so petty I can't even start. Because of this sorority they don't like they are going to not participate in something that HELPS OTHERS??! What's next, I'm not going to participate in philanthropy because one of the guys in the fraternity never called me back.

As far as why the sororities don't like the local, well some people are just stuck up snobs where locals are concerned, or there might be a numbers problem and they feel this group is adding to it. Or it might be jealousy that the local doesn't have to follow all the restrictive rules that they have. Do you know if the local has any plans to seek national affiliation?

I agree with Russell though, all the fraternities should band together and support the local because if only one or two groups do they will get the cold shoulder.

Coramoor · #5 03-08-2004, 01:52 PM

As far as I know they are not seeking a national affiliation. I don't think it is a matter of numbers either. All the sororities on campus are at or very near cap which is 90 girls.

We decided to try and get other fraternities and IFC to help us out. It's possible, but as far as I know there have been no altercations between this sorority and the national ones. The only real reason I could get from Panhellinic is that they will not grant a membership to local sororities b/c they are not as stable as national ones. I could believe that...except it has been close to three years now and they have a membership of 50 girls.

I just wonder how this would look to the men and women that founded sororities a hundred years ago. This is almost like what was done to them by universities...only now it's other greeks doing it.

DGqueen17 · #6 03-08-2004, 02:00 PM

As member of a national sorority on campus at WVU, I can vouch for Coramoors statement. I presonally have nothing against the local girls. However I can think of a certain GLO that has almost completely separated itself from the Greek scene because of them. I think it is completely ridiculous.

I think at the next meeting I shall bring this issue up, maybe I have been to blind to notice if DG has been guilt of giving them a hard time. I certainly hope that is not the case.

On a happier note, Congrats to BEta for coming in first @ Anchor Bowl!

DGqueen17 · #7 03-08-2004, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl

I agree with Russell though, all the fraternities should band together and support the local because if only one or two groups do they will get the cold shoulder.

That would be wonderful but I don't see that happening. Most of our fraternities are very close with NPC groups. I don't think would give up close ties to support a new local group.