regulation

matthewg · #1 01-11-2002, 02:32 PM

I have read so many threads and messages now that talk about the regulation of GLO affairs: how the opening of new chapters is regulated, how the University regulates and controls the fraternities/sororities, how rush is regulated.....etc.

Was that always the case?? I mean, the first chapters can't have had these regulations - so who came up with it and when. It always amazes me, esp. in a country like the US, where things luckily usually tend to be under-than over-regulated.

Tom Earp · #2 01-11-2002, 07:02 PM

AHA, yes there were many regulations when many of the Greek Orgs were started and did them unground so to speak! Check the history of many Orgs!

Check to see where were started, one was at VMI, no Orgs there now! An EXample!

At many time secret organizations were not looked upon well! Masons were thought to have relations to the Egyptians as the Builders and were secretive! While they were secretive, many people thought they wanted to rule the underprivliged! Have you ever seen George Washington wearing an apron!? They have not changed since then as it looks the same as mine! But I can Proudly show my cards of Masons, Alpha Phi Omega , and last but far from least, Lambda Chi Alpha!

I am not the only diverse person on this site! There are many!
Not only the afore mentioned but honory and professional Orgs who belong to many other groups!

matthewg · #3 01-11-2002, 07:32 PM

Thanks Tom,
of course I know that orgs have a lot of internal regulations, mine has too, and of course once orgs aggree to form alliances like the IFC or PHC, there are more of them.
But I was actually wondering about the influence of the resp. universities - had they always this much of an impact on the chapters as they have today or did the chapters use to be more separated from campus regulations.

I am asking because the European fraternities I know are totally independent of their resp. university administration. The university has no influence whatsoever on them. The only thing that can happen is that you don't have an info board on campus and no weblink (that depends on the university) - big deal. So even if a fraternity would be banned from campus they could still continue to recruit members. The university could not do anything about it.

33girl · #4 01-12-2002, 12:59 AM

Well, just like everything else, as the system got larger there became more of a need to regulate it. For example, it was determined that holding membership in 2 social fraternities was not conducive to participation or loyalty, so that was outlawed.

There's been an increase in university involvement in just the past 10 years, let alone since the beginning of the whole system. Basically because of the increasingly litigious nature of our society - if something goes wrong, the fraternity, the school, and Joe Smith at the 7-11 get sued. Plus, there are a lot more anti-Greek faculty asking "why is our $$$ going here" - i.e. they want concrete evidence that Greeks are doing positive things. I'm sure if it was up to the university they'd rather just let us be, but they can't, cause they have to keep their butts covered.

Optimist Prime · #5 01-12-2002, 03:39 AM

Ich bin Uli mit dem Kuli und habe ich einen Puli.
i want to be a german raper. Like FETES BROT only bettter. word.

matthewg · #6 01-12-2002, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
Ich bin Uli mit dem Kuli und habe ich einen Puli.
i want to be a german raper. Like FETES BROT only bettter. word.

Billy you are a blast!!!
How do you know all this stuff?? It just kills me. I am sitting here and laughing my butt off.

And back to the University: how come the fraternities and sororities are not financially independent from the school?
Sorry, this might seem like dumb question to you, but I am simply not used to that.

33girl · #7 01-12-2002, 01:46 PM

Matthew: some universities have the Greek houses on campus owned land. Also, most all student organizations that are recognized by the school get some money from the school. In return for that money and using campus facilities, there are certain rules you have to abide by.

matthewg · #8 01-12-2002, 01:50 PM

thanks a lot,
are there chapters that are more independent than others, for example because they have houses of their own off campus?

SilverTurtle · #9 01-12-2002, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by matthewg
So even if a fraternity would be banned from campus they could still continue to recruit members. The university could not do anything about it.

As 33girl mentioned, most organizations get money from the school. Our university had a fund for student activities/development (I don't know the official name for it). But it went to various campus orgs, including fraternities & sororites.

However, there are what people refer to as "underground" or "subrosa" fraternities & sororities. They exist without university support or recognition. While not "permitted" by the school, the school can't really prevent them from forming. I know at my school there was a fraternity that had been kicked off campus about 4-5 years before I got there. There were rumors that they were still around, and every once in awhile I would actually see a student wearing the letters.

Optimist Prime · #10 01-12-2002, 09:06 PM

Matthew,
I know because I studied German for about four years. I still want to go over there one summer.

To answer you're question, at my school we are finaccially independant, but with out the school we would have no place to meet regularly, and it would be almost imposible to recruit new members to join without their support. And they don't really support us here. Its more like they give us "permission." For lack of a better term.

Peaches-n-Cream · #11 01-13-2002, 12:01 AM

While I was in college, the GLO's were financially independent. We didn't have housing like other schools have so that wasn't an issue. Our finances were self-regulated and made up of our dues and fundraising and the occassional alumnae donation.
I never really understood the over regulation of the GLO's. We always had a ton of paperwork. A student could have less than a 2.0 GPA and be an active member of any other group with the exception of the athletic teams. I didn't understand that. Someone told me the reason we were so regulated was because it was a privilege to be in a sorority or fraternity. Although I agree with that, I thought that it was also a privilege to go to college.