Rho Chi Disaffiliation - How does it work?

[TSteven]

According to most (all?) dictionaries, disaffiliation means to terminate an affiliation. As in *quit*. So does the girl who becomes a Rho Chi technically quit (disaffiliate from) her sorority or is it really more along the lines of an honor system?

I do understand the idea behind disaffiliation. That the sorority member disaffiliates herself from her sorority so that she may become a recruitment counselor (Rho Chi or what ever it might be called) so she can be impartial and help the PNMs during their journey etc. And that once recruitment is over, the PX re-affiliates with her chapter. As such, my general understanding is that each PX is required to sign something with their campus panhellenic stating they understand and accept the Rho Chi duties particular to that campus. And most take some sort of oath or pledge saying the same.

That I understand.

What I am interested in are the mechanics of disaffiliation. How does it technically work on the chapter side? And what - if any - *official* assurances does a former member have that she will be allowed to return to her chapter after her Rho Chi duties are complete?

For example, does the sorority chapter and/or national require the member to sign something? Does it get filed with HQ? Something like "At the completion of my Rho Chi duties on Tuesday, August 12th, I will be re-affiliate with the XY chapter of ABC Sorority in good standing." And not to get into sorority business or ritual, but after recruitment is over, does a chapter have to technically vote to the re-affiliate the former member back in since she - by definition - quit her sorority. And finally, do sororities have some sort of formal ceremony for the re-affiliating former member?

Signed: Curious in California

[AZ-AlphaXi]

The definition of "disaffiliation" in the case of recruitment counselors simply means no-contact with her chapter, no promoting her chapter. The disaffilitation is not literal. In no case that I ever heard of was the member required to actually terminate her membership with the national fraternity. If she did, she'd no longer be eligible to be a recruitment counselor, which requires that you be a member in good standing with your chapter and national fraternity.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by AZ-AlphaXi

The definition of "disaffiliation" in the case of recruitment counselors simply means no-contact with her chapter, no promoting her chapter. The disaffilitation is not literal. In no case that I ever heard of was the member required to actually terminate her membership with the national fraternity. If she did, she'd no longer be eligible to be a recruitment counselor, which requires that you be a member in good standing with your chapter and national fraternity.

Thanks. That is exactly what I was wondering about.

[33girl]

This is why many sororities don't use "disaffiliate" as a synonym for "quitting your sorority and never going back." We always used termination or self-termination (depending on circumstance).

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is why many sororities don't use "disaffiliate" as a synonym for "quitting your sorority and never going back." We always used termination or self-termination (depending on circumstance).

Ahh. Makes even more sense. So disaffiliate kind of/sort of means "distance oneself" from their chapter. In that the Rho Chi pledges to not promote any one chapter (including their own) over any other chapter. Which is what I meant by "the honor system".

[red10]

is there a reason some campuses have "rho chis" and others have "gamma chis", etc? is there a reason for the name difference since they seem to do the same thing?

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This is why many sororities don't use "disaffiliate" as a synonym for "quitting your sorority and never going back." We always used termination or self-termination (depending on circumstance).

Ditto, only our preferred term is resignation of membership.

Originally Posted by red10

is there a reason some campuses have "rho chis" and others have "gamma chis", etc? is there a reason for the name difference since they seem to do the same thing?

IIRC, the professional Pharmaceutical fraternity is Rho Chi (RX) and they brought issue with the use of the term Rho Chi for Recruitment Counselor. As a result, many campuses changed the designation of the Recruitment Counselor to something different: Pi Chi, Rho Gamma, Sigma Rho Chi, etc... The different name just depends on the campus.

[ComradesTrue]

How does it work for campuses with Spring Recruitment? Do the Rho Chis have to disaffiliate for the whole fall semester (bummer) or do the PNMs just know which house the Rho Chis are in as recruitment is going on?

Our campus had recruitment before school started in the fall, so we didn't have this issue. The Rho Chis disaffiliated just for the summer, and of course re-joined their houses on bid day.