Allow Expansion/ Risk Reputation?

[Little E]

I don't know what to do...
I go to an anti-greek school. We currently have TKE, SigChi and Phi Psi, a local called Theta (Theta Pi Gamma) and then us (AST). We do not have a local pan hell or ifc. Rather we've combined them into the Interfaternal Panhellenic Council (IFPC). Five houses, one vote each. We each have a house that is owned by the college. Currenlty I chair the committee that reviews special interest/greek houses and grants new facilities.
We have a local sorority coming onto campus Kappa. (Eventually plan to go npc.) They have been semi active. But are supposed to wait until then end of this semester to gain full IFPC membership. They currently are not recognized as a greek organization. They have been on probation since the beginning of the semester. They want a house. However, you can't have a house, unless you are fully recognized by IFPC or the student congress.
they have the support of the three fraternities. theta...is shaky and AST was orignially told by national that this won't be good for our chapter; however this may have changed, it is still unclear.

IFPC has decided that they want to change the constitution to allow Kappa onto campus imeadiatly. They want to retro activley have the 'new' consititution apply the them. This would allow them to apply for a house this semester. The vote on the constitution will happen next wednesday. (they are ramrodding this through).

I have no problem with them coming to campus, originally i did but i've changed my mind. I do not think it will hurt our numbers. women who go AST will always, we really draw from different crowds.

So here is my question. What should I do? My job as chair of the housing committee requires me to help them, and my personal beliefs do too. If we vote to not allow them onto campus we will suffer in reputation. is it worth it? I'm very confused and on a campus this small, everything is intertwined...
We have an emergency meeting this weekend to discuss it. Should I as the chair, try to find a way they can apply but condition it that it is contingent on them being accepted into IFPC at the end of the semester. and if not they can have the space as a friendship group? I really just don't know, i'm being pulled so many different ways....

Thanks to anyone who can help, sorry this is sooo darn long!
Tau Love
Lil E

ps- yea i posted a question related to this earlier.

[MSSTCY1]

Honestly, coming from a campus where greek life is not great either, I think that you should help them and vote yes to let them into IFPC. Since, you don't have many organizations, another one could really help out with promoting greek life.

I don't really understand why you would want to vote no to this group, other than the fact that there is a possibility they could take girls from you ( I know you say they won't, but it's not impossible).

Is there something about this group that you don't like.

[33girl]

Like you said, on a campus that small everything is intertwined and eventually, there will be a friend of a sister of a boyfriend of a Kappa who won't pledge you because they thought you were being bitchy when you said no. So say yes. Do they have a national group in mind or do they just want to go national in general?

I can understand your national's POV as up till now you have been the only national, but on the other hand we are supposed to be Panhellenic about these things. You might suffer a little initial drop-off, but on the other hand it will be nice to have another national group there with you.

[paulaKKG]

I can understand your concern for bringing in a new group, especially one that has had issues in the past. I think you could make this work though, but it make take some comprimise on the part of this "Kappa" group.

One option is to bring them in to the IFC/NPC/PanHel organization with strict rules - rules regarding risk management, alcohol, recruitment, etc.

For example, one of the risks of locals are their lack of insurance - and their lack of accountability to older alums/national organizations. If you bring this group into your IFC/NPC, you bear their liability. While I have heard local groups exclaim "We can have keggers 'cause we don't have to worry about Nationals", I also know that if anything happened to anyone at that party, the members of the chapter could all be personally sued, bankrupted, and blamed. (Larger GLOs have insurance policies and lawyers that protect them from these circumstances) Because of this it is (IMNSHO) imperative that locals have even stricter rules for risk management. Your groups can provide a mentorship role to this group by bringing them into IFC/NPC and sharing the policies you have, and the reasons behind them.

Ditto for recruitment, and other things. If there is a concern they would bend the rules to get more members, than all the better that they are formally a part of your greek community, where they can be held to the same policies as the rest.

There is a possibility though, that this local group will not be willing to accept these terms. I will also mention that you should hold yourselves to the same standard you hold the new group too, but that goes without saying. If Kappa does accept these terms, you are far better off including them (and thus controlling their wild side) than excluding them.

A larger greek community is a positive thing for all involved. But leadership is also important. Not every group of random college students are leaders.

[Little E]

the big concern in our national org right now and their stance.

We have no rules of rush, minus we can pledge first semester freshman. which gets ignored byt theta and TKE.

should the constitution really be changed so they can get a house for next year? isn't that a bad precedent?

Like i said, i'm fine with them coming, when this all first started i was annoyed, this girl has been nothing but rude to us. however, since then, she has gotten some great women to become a part of her org.

insurance? never thought about that... if i suggest they look into it, where would they do that? and how?

it is gonna be a long week...

[hoosier]

Do you have a letter from your natl. office/natl. pres. saying "keep 'em out?" or do you have some lesser midget brain saying this?

I can't believe any national opposing Greek expansion is taken seriously.

If they have enough members to operate a house financially, give 'em a house.

If you let them on campus, and give them a chance, let them succeed or fail based on their own actions (or inactions).

It's a semi-free country - don't make so many rules.