Difficult question

Buttonz · #1 08-20-2007, 01:18 PM

*hugs* My chapter was closed 6 months after I tranfered schools and I was still helping them out as much as I was able to from 4 hour away so I understand how hard it is. If you need to talk feel free to PM me

SydneyK · #2 08-20-2007, 02:31 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about this, SP3.

To those of you who have dealt with chapter closings before...
SP3 first posted about a year and a half ago. It seems that, even though recruitment didn't go too well when she was a PNM, the idea of closing was relatively recent. Wouldn't the chapter have known back before they bid SP3 that they were in danger?
I'm having a hard time finding the right words here, but shouldn't she have been informed about this possibility before she initiated? I can see the reasons behind both answers, I just don't have any experience with chapter closings to know what the practice is. Perhaps it just depends on the sorority?

AlphaFrog · #3 08-20-2007, 02:40 PM

We were pretty well kept in the dark until after initiation.

Although, in all fairness, I think my chapter had sort of a "that could never happen, they'd never do it" attitude, and I really believe that most of them would have never dreamed that the chapter actually would get closed...so they didn't bother telling the new members.

SydneyK · #4 08-21-2007, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

We were pretty well kept in the dark until after initiation.

What a shame. I really do understand why nothing is said to PNMs - there's no way a sorority would be able to recruit competitively if the PNMs know the chapter is in danger. But, it seems very unsisterly to keep that from NMs.

Sorry for the hijack, SP3. I can totally understand your bitterness here. I think Fleur de Lis has a great suggestion of starting a young alumnae group. Then again, I would understand why you wouldn't want to. I feel for you - none of the options available to you seem like they would provide you with what you're looking for.

AlphaFrog · #5 08-21-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I think Fleur de Lis has a great suggestion of starting a young alumnae group.

We talked about that, and we were told that we would not be allowed to have a young alum group. In fact, they told us that no more than a certain number of our girls could be together wearing letters at the same time, because if it LOOKS like a sorority function, than it IS a sorority function. Obvious exceptions were made for those of us who lived in the house.

SydneyK · #6 08-21-2007, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

In fact, they told us that no more than a certain number of our girls could be together wearing letters at the same time, because if it LOOKS like a sorority function, than it IS a sorority function.

Are you serious?!? It sounds like "they" (I'm assuming that's HQ) want it both ways. They want you to follow their rules, but if they drop your chapter, why should you be expected to have to listen?

I'm not trying to dis your sorority, AF. I just really don't understand why they think it's ok to tell people who are no longer collegiates what they can and can't do.

Regardless, I've never heard of HQ not allowing an alum group. Of course, I don't have much experience, so just because I've not heard of it doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I guess SP3 should look into what her options really are, as it sounds like even though she's not an active, she's still expected to follow HQ rules.

AlphaFrog · #7 08-21-2007, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

I'm not trying to dis your sorority, AF. I just really don't understand why they think it's ok to tell people who are no longer collegiates what they can and can't do.

Yes, it sucked. I understand their concern, though. Say 5 underage "alums" go out drinking together, get into a car accident, and are killed. Legally, even thought the chapter is disbanded, a good lawyer could still argue that it was a sorority function and go after their liabilty insurance.

33girl · #8 08-21-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

We talked about that, and we were told that we would not be allowed to have a young alum group.

As I said before - you were definitely given incorrect info on this and on the letter thing, because Elon was allowed to start an alum chapter after they were closed. I think they got around it because there were some actual graduated alumnae there who joined. As for the letters thing, if they don't want you in letters, they need to terminate your membership. Wearing letters is a privilege of being an alumna and alumnae don't "check up" on what they're all wearing every day.

The "looks like a function" (which I think is bullshit) gets tossed around even if you're NOT wearing letters, so to use this as a reason for you not to wear them is kind of silly.

Xylochick216 · #9 08-21-2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

As I said before - you were definitely given incorrect info on this and on the letter thing, because Elon was allowed to start an alum chapter after they were closed. I think they got around it because there were some actual graduated alumnae there who joined.

They definitely wore letters around and still had functions. Not date parties and such, but they had a formal and were very visible on campus.

MaggieXi · #10 08-21-2007, 10:19 AM

I was there when Elon started their Alum chapter. However, the specific GLO in question knew that they were closing prior to our Recruitment in January and that the chapter would be closing at the end of the school year. The chapter did not participate in formal recruitment that year and while I believe it did COB some juniors and seniors, it was with the knowledge that they would be going alum and joining the alum chapter.

Also, the Elon Alum Chapter had a huge presence on the higher up staff level of the university, which may have played a role in getting the alum chapter together so quickly. I also believe that this was the first GLO to ever close at Elon.

AlphaFrog · #11 08-21-2007, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 33girl

As I said before - you were definitely given incorrect info on this and on the letter thing, because Elon was allowed to start an alum chapter after they were closed. I think they got around it because there were some actual graduated alumnae there who joined. As for the letters thing, if they don't want you in letters, they need to terminate your membership. Wearing letters is a privilege of being an alumna and alumnae don't "check up" on what they're all wearing every day.

The "looks like a function" (which I think is bullshit) gets tossed around even if you're NOT wearing letters, so to use this as a reason for you not to wear them is kind of silly.

Well... You KNOW where this info came from...