starting a sorority

[lemons232]

We're thinking of doing the whole local sorority thing. My one friend is adamant about visiting other schools in our area that have sororities which I'm totally behind. But the thing is that she wants to do that before we go ahead and do anything else, even starting a local. That's the one thing I don't agree with. I feel like we should start the foundation for our local and sort of get it running before we leave for summer break. That way we have something to come back to in the fall and work on over the summer.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any opinions about this and if being unaffiliated with the university in the beginning will have a negative impact. Also I'll be a junior next year and I plan on only spending the required four years in school so I figure let's do this ASAP!

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally Posted by lemons232

We're thinking of doing the whole local sorority thing. My one friend is adamant about visiting other schools in our area that have sororities which I'm totally behind. But the thing is that she wants to do that before we go ahead and do anything else, even starting a local. That's the one thing I don't agree with. I feel like we should start the foundation for our local and sort of get it running before we leave for summer break. That way we have something to come back to in the fall and work on over the summer.
I'm just wondering if anyone has any opinions about this and if being unaffiliated with the university in the beginning will have a negative impact. Also I'll be a junior next year and I plan on only spending the required four years in school so I figure let's do this ASAP!

I'm a member of an established local sorority in a local sorority system. The whole reason our system exists is because the faculty said no to greek life, partially to try to get students to join the "morally upright" literary organizations on campus. It took the better part of 40 years before Otterbein finally said yes to social clubs (fraternities/sororities in every way except letters), and then another 10 or so for them to accept us as letter bearing, symbol wearing, loud and proud Greeks.

Now, all that said, it aint easy being local. I don't envy those groups just starting out today. It's hard to be original when there are a MILLION groups out there today for almost every girl. The local route can/is a long and hard route. It's reality that a lot of groups start up and die off within I'd say a 10 year period following their founding. Even in my organization, we've had to be refounded more than once, and only 2 organizations on our campus are "continuous", and even they have been close to closing at more than one point.

BUT! on the other hand, creating a local sorority, even if you eventually merge with a national, can be a very great experience, an opportunity to create something that is "yours", your legacy to the campus.

Good luck.

[lemons232]

Just in case anyone was wondering, I am going through with creating a local sorority since I just don't feel like fighting with the board of visitors and the dean about why they don't like greeks. I also joined up with another girl who is more enthusiastic about starting a sorority. My friend was just too caught up in boy drama. So far we've established almost everything and we're working on the constitution. It's so hard but so exciting. Any advice would be appreciated!

[gphiangel624]

If you choose not to follow the local sorority route (even if you do, maybe), I'd suggest looking for local Alumnae Panhellenic groups, graduate chapters, fraternity/sorority alumni associations, etc. near your campus. There may be some local fraternity/sorority members who support your university and may be willing to put some pressure on the administration (in exchange for financial support).

And to revisit the subject, a public institution cannot restrict the type of organizations that form on its campus. I'll see if I can locate some case law to help you out, but in general, the campus is violating the right to freely associate. So long as your organization has an expressive interest and is not conducting illegal activity, there should be no reason they should forbid you, especially considering you have student interest.