Have you ever found an underground chapter of your fraternity?

[naraht]

Has anyone out there found (either electronically or in person) an underground chapter of their fraternity/sorority?

This is not the situation where the school doesn't recognize and the GLO does, but rather the situation where the GLO doesn't recognize any activity at the school...

[BluPhire]

Just checking in.

[DUKyleXY]

There was a chapter of DU at Swarthmore College that had unknowingly been operating as an unaffiliated chapter. They have since reestablished good relations with the fraternity.

[lucgreek]

Originally Posted by DUKyleXY

There was a chapter of DU at Swarthmore College that had unknowingly been operating as an unaffiliated chapter. They have since reestablished good relations with the fraternity.

How do you unknowingly operate like that?

[DUKyleXY]

I believe, the chapter members where under the impression that they were paying dues to the Fraternity through their alum corp or something, the campus greek office called to check on something with the IHQ and found out the chapter had lost recognition years earlier.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by lucgreek

How do you unknowingly operate like that?

Speaking generally:

A lot of collegiate members have no concept of their organization (and Greekdom, in general) outside of their chapter and what the Greek Life office tells them. They aren't encouraged to attend regional/district or national meetings and events or even associate with people from other chapters. That is a good way to be in your own little world with no knowledge of what is REALLY going on. That still happens even now that there are websites and members can find out what information the chapter/members should be receiving from regional/district/national entities.

Over 15 years ago there were supposedly collegiate initiates and members of a BGLO chapter with fake membership cards. They had no idea. I think that's ultimately their fault because even aspirants tend to know that part of BGLO culture (in general) is to never be lost in your chapter with no knowledge/consideration/interaction with frat-sorors elsewhere.