Underground Chapters

[TSteven]

Just what is an underground chapter and how does it operate? Especially with respect to recruitment.

To be clear, I understand *unrecognized* or *unregistered* chapters - where the inter/national HQ recognizes the chapter as a member chapter yet the campus does not recognize or support GLOs per say. (i.e. Santa Clara University, perhaps some Ivy League campuses) Also those groups that *use to be* a chapter of an inter/national GLO but now operate as a local. (i.e. Chi Tau at Chico State)

My confusion is with the group that is not recognized by the inter/national HQ (i.e. suspended, charter pulled, etc.) yet claims or presents itself as a NALFO, NIC, NMGC, NPC, NPHC, or any other inter/national GLO chapter.

[33girl]

There are probably as many answers as there are underground chapters. Some probably still use the ritual and maybe even national pledge program the same as they did, they just are no longer an official chapter in the eyes of their national. Some are using nothing from the national except the name.

[TSteven]

Yeah, I understand that initiated members of the GLO would like to continue their brotherhood and even participate in the ritual.

But do the men or women who join after the chapter "goes underground" understand that they are not part of the inter/national organization? That their GLO experience may be limited to just this group? That their membership is not recognized by HQ and "real" (for lack of a better word) members of the GLO.

My guess is that those who do, just don't care about the alumni aspect (after college) of Greek life on the larger level (inter/national) and join for the specific brotherhood of the particular group.

[Little E]

Originally posted by TSteven
Yeah, I understand that initiated members of the GLO would like to continue their brotherhood and even participate in the ritual.

But do the men or women who join after the chapter "goes underground" understand that they are not part of the inter/national organization? That their GLO experience may be limited to just this group? That their membership is not recognized by HQ and "real" (for lack of a better word) members of the GLO.

My guess is that those who do, just don't care about the alumni aspect (after college) of Greek life on the larger level (inter/national) and join for the specific brotherhood of the particular group.

It probably depends on the group and how they present their relationship to that parent organization. I thought there was a storyn on here a while ago where some group was telling pnms that they were xyz, when they actually had their charter revoked and were operating illegally. But that could have just been a scary dream...?

[TSteven]

Originally posted by Little E
It probably depends on the group and how they present their relationship to that parent organization.

I am aware of the following scenario.

AB Chapter of XYZ fraternity was suspended due to the indiscretions of one or a few members. Those "bad" members were booted out and the remaining members remained in good standing. However, they had to move out of their house and could not participate or act as an official chapter of XYZ for a year. (Might have been two.)

The members still hung out, some rented a house together that served as a gathering place, and perhaps they even had meetings/ritual. (Don't know for sure.) They more or less functioned as a chapter for the suspended year yet just nothing official.

They continued to meet other men on campus and may have even recruited some of them with the understanding that they might become members the next year. When the next school year began, and the chapter was reinstated (recognized) by both the campus and XYZ HQ, those "pledges" (for lack of a better word) who were illegible, were now officially able to pledge XYZ.

I am not aware if their HQ knew about any of this. But frankly, I would venture to guess that some HQs might condone - via turning a blind eye - this kind of scenario. It would not only keep the brotherhood together (if appropriate) but also might help with recruiting new members for the following year.

But this scenario works because everything is on the up and up. The potential new members *understand* that they are not members yet, and that they still have to officially pledge the following year.

Originally posted by Little E
I thought there was a storyn on here a while ago where some group was telling pnms that they were xyz, when they actually had their charter revoked and were operating illegally. But that could have just been a scary dream...?

I can see how in some cases, "new members" might be duped into thinking they are joining the inter/national GLO. Especially since they wouldn't know anything about ritual, costs, structure etc. of the group/fraternity until after the fact.

But what about the stuff the members *should* get from HQ? Pledge pins, badges, manuals etc. I guess an outlaw group might retain some of these things, or flat out lie, but I just don't see how they could get away with it. And does the campus and or IFC/NPC Greek Life crack down? Report this rogue group to the parent organization?

[TSteven]

Originally posted by ariesrising
What do you think your internationals would do if someone who had joined an underground chapter in college and didn't really realize what that meant, came to them and said "I was "initiated" with this underground chapter, and now I want to be a real member?"

Do you think they would be given the opportunity to join as an AI for instance and start from scratch, or would they get the "thanks but no thanks" treatment and be seen as a liability in some way?

Excellent questions.

My guess is that if AI is not an option (many organizations do not have AI) then it would be "thanks but no thanks".

[STL Kappa]

I also think some nationals may see it as you were not initiated as a member of XYZ. Period. As far as they are concerned, you have no ties to their fraternity/sorority because your "chapter" has no ties (anymore) to XYZ.

Operating an underground chapter is undoubtedly looked down upon. And whether or not you knew that the chapter has lost it's charter I'm sure can be overlooked. If the chapter has no ties to a national organization... why would that organization be any more inclined to offer that person AI than some random person on the street?

Where a person participating in an underground chapter (notice that I do not use the word member) sees themself as an XYZ because they think that they already are, I have a feeling nationals would not be so understanding...

[33girl]

Originally posted by ariesrising
What do you think your internationals would do if someone who had joined an underground chapter in college and didn't really realize what that meant, came to them and said "I was "initiated" with this underground chapter, and now I want to be a real member?"

Do you think they would be given the opportunity to join as an AI for instance and start from scratch, or would they get the "thanks but no thanks" treatment and be seen as a liability in some way?

I believe that they would tell you to go sh!t in your hat.

Their opinion would be along the lines that if you wanted to serve the sorority/fraternity so much that you want to be AIed, your first matter of business would be to alert them that there were people using their name and insignia illegally.

[emb021]

Originally posted by TSteven
Just what is an underground chapter and how does it operate? Especially with respect to recruitment.

To be clear, I understand *unrecognized* or *unregistered* chapters - where the inter/national HQ recognizes the chapter as a member chapter yet the campus does not recognize or support GLOs per say. (i.e. Santa Clara University, perhaps some Ivy League campuses) Also those groups that *use to be* a chapter of an inter/national GLO but now operate as a local. (i.e. Chi Tau at Chico State)

My confusion is with the group that is not recognized by the inter/national HQ (i.e. suspended, charter pulled, etc.) yet claims or presents itself as a NALFO, NIC, NMGC, NPC, NPHC, or any other inter/national GLO chapter.

As far as my organization is concerned, if the college does not recognize the chapter or approve of its existance on campus, then it cesses to exist as far as we are concerned. Campus approval is one of the criteria for having a recognized chapters.

Some 'underground' chapters apparently operate on campuses, using our name. They have inducted members who now think they are members of our organization. Some of them have contacted our National Office to try to become Life Members &/or join Alumni Associations, but since they are not on record as a member, they are barred this. Yes, this means that that 'underground chapter' has deceived these people, took their money, ran them try a ritual (may have been ours, or atleast the one that was approved at the time they were shut down), and gave these people the idea they were joining our organization, but not so.

Some 'underground' chapters apparently operate on campuses with other names.

[Tom Earp]

LXA will not recognize underground Chapters. We normaly will not keep a Chapter on a Campi if there is a problem with the school.

Granted, there are Schools who do not recognize Greeks, but with an understanding, that they will be tolerated.

Alfred in NY is one of the Prime Examples. They did not recognize any Greeks after a Local had a death. They were told to get off of campus. LXA Chapter while did nothing wrong, IHQ DeChartered them.

I am still upset about that one.

We have several Chapters under the pretense of Saying they are LXA, but they are not. I then wonder what the young men who join think they are joining?

They lose in the long run.

[emb021]

Originally posted by Tom Earp


We have several Chapters under the pretense of Saying they are LXA, but they are not. I then wonder what the young men who join think they are joining?

They lose in the long run.

They think they are joining LXA.

And as I've seen with my org, later on when they try to get involved as an alum, they will learn the true...

A related problem I've seen in my organization is that some chapters don't involve themselves with the national organization in any way. They ignore contacts from fraternity officers, they don't send people to conferences/conventions, training events, etc. Thus the chapter members have little idea there is an organization beyond their chapter. For many of these people, they only care about their chapter. They ignore any requests to get involved with the larger organization as alumni. Thus the organization loses and these people lose, because these chapters are taking this sort of attitude and not properly educating these members.

[TSteven]

Originally posted by emb021
Campus approval is one of the criteria for having a recognized chapters.

Some 'underground' chapters apparently operate on campuses, using our name.

I would think that it would be to the college administration's benefit to report illegal chapters to HQ. Does this happen? And if so, what action do they - or any other inter/national organizations - take?

While I am not an attorney, this frankly seems like fraud. And the ones presenting the group as part of the national - when they are not - could be held liable for fraud or something along that line.

Originally posted by emb021
A related problem I've seen in my organization is that some chapters don't involve themselves with the national organization in any way. They ignore contacts from fraternity officers, they don't send people to conferences/conventions, training events, etc. Thus the chapter members have little idea there is an organization beyond their chapter. For many of these people, they only care about their chapter. They ignore any requests to get involved with the larger organization as alumni. Thus the organization loses and these people lose, because these chapters are taking this sort of attitude and not properly educating these members.

A similar financial issue is that of ghosting. This is when a chapter removes a brother from its active-member list to save money even though the brother is still active in the chapter.

To combat this, Sigma Chi has proposed a one-time membership fee. My understanding is that each chapter may pick an approved payment plan(s) for collecting fees from members based on what works best for the chapter. The bottom line is that all fees are to be paid by the member to the chapter in/by the semester following the brother’s initiation and then submitted by the chapter to HQ when due. Assessing the collection options.

Note: This proposal will not apply to chapter (local) fees (dues).

[AKA_Monet]

Originally posted by TSteven
Just what is an underground chapter and how does it operate? Especially with respect to recruitment.

My confusion is with the group that is not recognized by the inter/national HQ (i.e. suspended, charter pulled, etc.) yet claims or presents itself as a NALFO, NIC, NMGC, NPC, NPHC, or any other inter/national GLO chapter.

Like others have stated, apparently, there are folks who "think" they are members of an organization because they have gone through some "ritual" that is illegal and unrecognized by the IHQ.

Usually, the IHQ gives their members some "notification" of membership, sometimes an officially recognized membership "pin" with an "embossed plaque" (like a diploma of membership). These "underground folks" NEVER get one and they are deluded to think that they do not need one.

They are guarenteed membership by folks who have undergone a similar "process". So, you have a perpetual cycle of non-members making non-members, so-on and so-forth... It gets so large that it is difficult to distinguish folks who are legit vs. folks who are not, aside from straight out asking where is your pin, your plaque, your financial card and your recognition from IHQ...

In the NPHC we call these folks "ghost members". They are illegitimate members who have not gone through a legal process and are considered as being "hazed" and "hazers". In my Sorority, these persons legally cannot ever become members of my organization if found that they "actively" knew and participated in an illegal activity.

The biggest thing what undergraduates who are interested in NPHC organizations should look out for at events is the level of professional looking alumni that either attended their university or did not attend their university that are are much older--i.e. 35-something... That is just my opinion and I could be wrong...

[Amalia17]

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[roqueemae]

Originally posted by TSteven
I would think that it would be to the college administration's benefit to report illegal chapters to HQ. Does this happen? And if so, what action do they - or any other inter/national organizations - take?

My campus had/has an underground chapter. It started when they "initiated" non-students (which is against campus policy). Their HQ got involoved and suspended them for breaking campus policy. They continued to bring in and initiate "members". Each time we (Greek Affairs) finds out about new "members" the supsension is extended by the national office. It helps that a member from that chapter is a regional officer. He gets angry that people are doing this so he just keeps extending it.