Phi Delt withdraws from NIC

[Aphigal]

Phi Delta Theta withdraws from NIC

December 10, 2002

As many of you know, there has been substantial debate over the past six years within the fraternity world, and internally within Phi Delta Theta, about the focus and direction of the North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC). Phi Delta Theta, as a founding member of the NIC, has been passionately involved in that debate. It has been the view of the General Council that the NIC has drifted from its primary mission of serving as an advocate for the American college fraternity movement toward one whose central function is to provide educational programming to our undergraduates. Phi Delta Theta is committed to providing extensive educational and leadership training to our members, and we are proud of the programs that we have developed. We feel strongly that the purpose of a trade association that represents college fraternities must be to provide services to the member organizations, rather than to the members of those organizations!



While the NIC has made admirable strides in its work to promote the movement through legislative advocacy, we feel that those efforts remain but a side note to the NIC's undergraduate leadership training and educational seminars. The NIC has remained on the sidelines while hundreds of public colleges have severely curtailed the right of students to associate freely through "deferred recruitment." The NIC has been silent, as public institutions have "closed" their campuses to fraternity expansion. As fraternity liability insurance costs have skyrocketed, the NIC has left its members to tackle that issue by themselves.



Not withstanding our concerns, we have remained a member of the NIC for a variety of reasons. In the spirit of interfraternalism, we have been committed to working within the NIC to return it to its founding mission by offering legislation and sitting on committees. Phi Delta Theta has felt that, despite our dissatisfaction, NIC membership has at least provided us with a "seat at the table," keeping us engaged in dialogue with our partner fraternities. Finally, as a founding member, we have not wanted to leave an organization that we have contributed to for over 90 years. Unfortunately, especially in light of the legislation passed at the 2001 NIC meeting in Washington , DC which more than tripled our dues, we can no longer use these reasons to justify our membership in an organization with which we have so many concerns. It is with deep regret that Phi Delta Theta has officially resigned its membership in the NIC, effective Monday, December 9, 2002 .



As many of you may have questions and concerns regarding this decision, accompanying this letter are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) that should address most of those issues. However, please feel free to contact one of our General Council members or Executive Vice President Bob Biggs General Headquarters if you would like further clarification.