IFC's....

[Erik P Conard]

I recall being in IFC and they would not let another fraternity come on...'til XYZ got stronger...ten years later, XYZ died and the
applicant had lost interest, steam. Some times a collegian would
rather die, would rather be a GDI (with a sweatshirt proudly proclaiming it), than join the XYZs...but on some campuses, the IFC men doffed their badges, helped XYZ get back on their feet.
And then they invited a new one on. Made sense. Win-win.
Another thing, we pooled our $ and bought mattresses at a very
reduced rate...so the Sig Eps, the Sig Taus, the Tekes, etc. got a
good deal...by using the IFC...designed to help...and we all won.
Recently our colony at CU got rules...we cannot approach, talk,
mail, visit ANY potential matriculate to CU during the summer. Now does that make sense? Give 'em a chance to talk to the gay
rights group, to the other clubs...but no, they cannot talk to any
fraternities...does that not sound like shooting oneself in the foot?
I have never been able to understand the IFC and PanHel being
so anti-free enterprise.
Quality...Quality...we must have quality. How many of you really
know that one you are about to initiate? With a thousand men on campus, unaffiliated, surely there are a dozen who'd make good Greeks.
Selfish...how dare you deny a good man / woman a chance to be a Greek?
What is your IFC like? Bet it is a joke....but it doesn't have to be.

[Kevin]

In my experience with the IFC at Central Oklahoma, they are basically a joke. For flagrant violations of rush rules, the worst I've ever seen was a $100 fine levied. Two groups have been sanctioned by their national organizations for hazing while IFC and the University stood by and watched. One group's recognition was even revoked because the director of student life walked into their house while a 14-year old girl was serving beer from a keg (on a dry campus). That group had also managed about a 1.93 collective GPA (they've since gotten their act together and are now recognized again).

We do have rules against rushing people in the Summer (before formal rush). I don't think anyone actually follows those rules. We used to follow them to the letter and had our butts handed to us come Rush time. We've since wised up and are doing much better. The way I see it though, IFC shouldn't keep new groups out if those groups are capable of succeeding. I say allow as many groups onto campus as that campus can sustain. If one chapter has stagnated, maybe it's time for them to regroup/reorganize. Let the strong survive and the weak die off.

[Kevlar281]

Originally posted by ktsnake
One group's recognition was even revoked because the director of student life walked into their house while a 14-year old girl was serving beer from a keg (on a dry campus).

Was she hot?

But seriously, I am actually the President of IFC at my campus. Half the time I want to stab my self in the eye with a pencil. It’s a very stressful job that comes with very little recognition. It’s been my experience that schools with a weak IFC usually have some rule in their bylaws preventing chapter officers from being on IFC. Fraternities seem to flood the system with JI’s who have no clue. In their mind a weak IFC has more benefit then a strong one. Of course it’s a catch twenty-two because people are always eager to complain about recruitment numbers being down but never want to take steps to formalize or up IFC’s involvement.

[CSUSigEp]

For greek week every year we have to submit a roster, and we accidently forgot our best athlete whose last name started with a Z (which may explain why we forgot him). About a week before Greek Week a member of another fraternity in IFC pointed out to us that we had forgot him, and they would not let us put him on the roster with a week left before Greek Week. They didn't have any reason to not let him back on our roster except that they weren't obligated to...

basically showed how lame they are...

[Kevin]

Originally posted by CSUSigEp
For greek week every year we have to submit a roster, and we accidently forgot our best athlete whose last name started with a Z (which may explain why we forgot him). About a week before Greek Week a member of another fraternity in IFC pointed out to us that we had forgot him, and they would not let us put him on the roster with a week left before Greek Week. They didn't have any reason to not let him back on our roster except that they weren't obligated to...

basically showed how lame they are...

That is a great example an IFC doing something that it shouldn't. It should be a place where all chapters can work for the common good, not a place where chapters can one-up eachother through technicalities. Many of our groups value honor as a virtue. That sure as hell wasn't a good example of it.

Hope you proceeded to kick their collective butts at Greek Week

[33girl]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard
IRecently our colony at CU got rules...we cannot approach, talk,
mail, visit ANY potential matriculate to CU during the summer. Now does that make sense? Give 'em a chance to talk to the gay
rights group, to the other clubs...but no, they cannot talk to any
fraternities...does that not sound like shooting oneself in the foot?
I have never been able to understand the IFC and PanHel being
so anti-free enterprise.

If ALL the fraternities have to follow that rule, I would guess it is the school implementing it, not IFC. But if any other fraternity can call pre-frosh up and the colony cannot...yes, that is bogus.

[Erik P Conard]

where is there an adviser to guide the IFC? And is this adviser
a Greek? I do not think the school can run the IFC, per se.
Why can't these guys sit down and say...what are we doing to
ourselves? Why do we penalize each other, stifling growth?
One of the reasons for the success of TNE (Theta Nu Epsilon) is
that a Teke and a Pike and a Sig Ep could all sit down, have a beer and plan without overt restraints.
Sororities march to their own drummer, set horrendous rules, but
I am not about to jump into that. The women are indeed much
different than the men, no matter how unisex one tries to be.
But back to the men...to the IFC...why in the hell can't we work
together? We'd eat you alive outside...in business...
It still seems, after forty plus years looking at it, that we are letting the school run us...and we reject rules...yes, but we reject
the wrong ones.
We are our own worst enemy and we have bellyached about IFC
for decades...and continue...our percentages are continuing to
slip...and we stand idly by...duh. The fewer the rules, the better,
some say. Why not free enterprise, free rush, open rush?
Why do we have to spend a lot of $ on rush...anyhow? duh

[Kevin]

Originally posted by 33girl
If ALL the fraternities have to follow that rule, I would guess it is the school implementing it, not IFC. But if any other fraternity can call pre-frosh up and the colony cannot...yes, that is bogus.

It's typical that colonies get the shaft.

When I was a colonist, it was frustrating to have to follow the rules to the letter while other groups flagrantly violated them. For us to receive a charter, IFC had to vote to allow us in. What IFC does or does not do has really become moot issue at Central Oklahoma. It seems that everyone pretty much does what they want to. The administration has actually been very supportive of Greek Life lately, so they haven't imposed any strange restrictions like some that y'all have talked about.

They'll even give us address labels for all incoming freshmen men so we can do summer mailings.

[PhiPsiRuss]

If you agree to follow the IFC rules, then you must follow them. Our chapter at Kansas University is able to opt out of formal fraternity rush, and does so. With 98 in house, and another 50 actives out of house, they don't need to be restrained by those rules.

Also, the school, and not the IFC, is who releases student information. Some schools simply won't do this. Some will.

[Kevin]

Originally posted by PhiPsiRuss

Also, the school, and not the IFC, is who releases student information. Some schools simply won't do this. Some will.

I was talking about the school actually

I guess I was a little imprecise on my use of pronouns there.

[Tom Earp]

Russ, glad to hear the Phi Psi is doing well at K U!

It is a stong line Greek School with some very neat Houses. But there are some Great, some good and some not so good!

Basically while Fraternitys have more flexability, the Soroities wont give an inch. This of course depends on the size of the school and the numbers in different Orgaizations.

I agree with Erik, let there be free enteprise. I can speak form some experience agout My Alma Mater, hell 6500 students, 3 Soros. 6 Fraternitys!

But, in the last 38 years, we have lost 3 Soroitys, ADP, DR (Local that had a chance to go with PM) and KD who lasted 2 years! Damn, I wish I had an answer about building The Greek System there!!!!!!!!!!

I look at both sides of the Ks/Mo border and see smaller schools with more Greeks and less student bodies!

I know JohnnyB who is on GC is IFC Pres.at The Pitt. and is trying his best to build Greater Fraternity unity, but with little luck!

Sometimes, as ktsnake said, The IFC is a joke, and are like all Groups looking out for them selves, not for the full betterment

That seems to be the problem at so many schools and is refreshing to see some working together for Total good for all.

[sigtau305]

Originally posted by Erik P Conard

What is your IFC like? Bet it is a joke....but it doesn't have to be.

IFC has not been Active here on Campus since 1997. I was Vice-President for one year and We didn't do a whole lot. Plus, the rules were not really enforced. The only thing that keeps the Greek System going is Greek Council.

[Glitter650]

Sounds kinda like IFC is becoming a bit more NPC at this campus...IFC at my campus is non existent even though there are three orgs. on campus that are a part of it nationally.