One Person - Two Sororities

[lyrica9]

There's a girl that went to my school and was in a chapter here, and then transferred her sophomore year and joined a different sorority. My impression is that no one told her it was against the rules, because she seems to still be on good terms with her pledge sisters here.

As much as it comes up, I don't think collegiate members are well informed as far as NPC rules and trying to join other groups. I say this because there have been countless times when members of several different sororities have talked about transferring and rushing again, and they argue with me that they can join a different sorority.

I've also heard confusion about the one year rule. Somehow the "you cannot pledge another sorority on your campus for one year after you have received a bid but not been initiatied" gets translated into "if you wait a year you can join a different sorority" in some people's minds.

[DGTess]

Originally Posted by lyrica9

<snip>

As much as it comes up, I don't think collegiate members are well informed as far as NPC rules and trying to join other groups. I say this because there have been countless times when members of several different sororities have talked about transferring and rushing again, and they argue with me that they can join a different sorority.

<snip>

This may be right. Years ago sororities had long enough pledge periods that you could learn your own rules/culture/history/ethics and learn the panhellenic as well. Of course, that was when some schools could still just have panhel as an information resource; they didn't run things.

[BadCat25]

I know this is heresy but I see nothing wrong if someone were to transfer to another college that either did not have a chapter of her GLO or the local chapter at her new school would not accept her as a member if she resigned from her GLO and joined another. There is no harm to anyone. People change schools, jobs, religions, husbands and even countries all the time. Same school I understand but a different one I don't. Its an antiquated rule that should be changed.

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by BadCat25

Its an antiquated rule that should be changed.

No, it shouldn't.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by BadCat25

I know this is heresy but I see nothing wrong if someone were to transfer to another college that either did have a chapter of her GLO or the local chapter at her new school would not accept her as a member if she resigned from her GLO and joined another. There is no harm to anyone. People change schools, jobs, religions, husbands and even countries all the time. Same school I understand but a different one I don't. Its an antiquated rule that should be changed.

Then what is the point of loyalty and vows? If you can just change sororities as is convenient for you, then do your vows really mean anything? Our chapters are not clubs that one can join and leave as one pleases. That's why there is a 6-8 week period where new members are able to decide if they are able to make the lifetime commitment of joining a sorority.

What I CAN understand is missing the sorority experience. I would think that a good alternative would be for transfers (to schools without their sorority) being allowed to be involved with the school's Panhellenic Association.

[BadCat25]

SthrnZeta - You might feel differently if you were to transfer to a college with a Zeta chapter only to be told they wanted nothing to do with you. It does happen, more than any of us would like to admit.
violetpretty - Being involved in the Panhel Association is not much of a subtitute for actually being in a sorority.

[ASUADPi]

Originally Posted by BadCat25

SthrnZeta - You might feel differently if you were to transfer to a college with a Zeta chapter only to be told they wanted nothing to do with you. It does happen, more than any of us would like to admit.

Happened to me. I was unable to affiliate with my chapter. Mainly because 4 girls I went to HS with (but hated in HS) didn't want me there and because I was from a struggling chapter so somehow I was going to "hurt" them. Totally lame reasons then and totally lame reasons now.

If I could have dropped out and rushed again, I probably would have.

I understand why the rules come about, but I also see the other side of the coin.

[SthrnZeta]

Originally Posted by ASUADPi

Happened to me. I was unable to affiliate with my chapter. Mainly because 4 girls I went to HS with (but hated in HS) didn't want me there and because I was from a struggling chapter so somehow I was going to "hurt" them. Totally lame reasons then and totally lame reasons now.

If I could have dropped out and rushed again, I probably would have.

I understand why the rules come about, but I also see the other side of the coin.

That just seems so sad to me. I remember had a transfer that wanted to affiliate with us and we all liked her well enough and invited her out to stuff but in the end I don't think she felt comfortable with us since we weren't her initiating chapter so she just stopped coming to stuff - not sure if she went alum or what... But I could truthfully say that any girl who came to me who was a Zeta anywhere else and wanted to be in my chapter I'd vote in - for the simple fact that she's a sister no matter what and there were some other sisters out there who wanted her in enough to initiate her so I should trust their judgment as sisters. But I'm only speaking for myself here... I'm sorry that happened to you and as sad as it is, I'm sure you're not the only one.

I can certainly see both sides of this argument but I firmly believe in one and one only when it comes to NPC. I can definitely see missing the sorority experience, hence me joining an alum group

[SydneyK]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

Then what is the point of loyalty and vows? If you can just change sororities as is convenient for you, then do your vows really mean anything?

Since BadCat mentioned that society allows women to change husbands, the same question could be asked about divorce and remarriage. What about their vows and loyalty? I'm not trying to say BC is right, and that the NPC rule needs to be changed, but her comparison is valid. It's an unfortunate trend that people all too often enter into something, take the necessary vows, and then change their minds later. Doesn't make it right... but it certainly happens.

That's why there is a 6-8 week period where new members are able to decide if they are able to make the lifetime commitment of joining a sorority.

And here's where I say that 6-8 weeks for an 18 year-old seems like a lifetime. I'm sure there are exceptions to the rule, but I would think that most college freshmen don't fully grasp the gravity of "lifetime commitment". I sincerely doubt that, within 6-8 weeks, they'll be able to discern whether they're prepared to make a lifetime commitment to the organization. Sure, they all think they do... but it's easy to say that when you're dying to be initiated! The "lifetime" part of the commitment can only be made as time passes.

I'm kinda rambling along here without a point... sorry. It's Monday.

[FSUZeta]

you made perfect sense....even if it is monday.

i think that the pledge/new member period is too brief. zeta revealed a new new member program over the summer and whittled it down to about 5-6 weeks. i hope they ask all the collegiate vp-2's(new member coordinator) for input, since they experienced a different program as new members.

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by FSUZeta

you made perfect sense....even if it is monday.

i think that the pledge/new member period is too brief. zeta revealed a new new member program over the summer and whittled it down to about 5-6 weeks. i hope they ask all the collegiate vp-2's(new member coordinator) for input, since they experienced a different program as new members.

Ugh. I know my opinion is completely politically incorrect but I think the new member period should be way longer and that all pledges (yes, I said pledges) should be required to know the sorority history as well as chapter history before initiation. I think they should know the names of all the sisters and pledge sisters as well as where each is from along with their majors. The fraternities do that and I really feel as though the fraternities brothers have a much stronger bond to each other than I ever could have had with my sisters. I don't think hazing is ok but I don't see anything wrong with initiating the girls at the start of the next semester after they learn more about their sorority and sisters.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by lyrica9

There's a girl that went to my school and was in a chapter here, and then transferred her sophomore year and joined a different sorority. My impression is that no one told her it was against the rules, because she seems to still be on good terms with her pledge sisters here.

As much as it comes up, I don't think collegiate members are well informed as far as NPC rules and trying to join other groups. I say this because there have been countless times when members of several different sororities have talked about transferring and rushing again, and they argue with me that they can join a different sorority.

I've also heard confusion about the one year rule. Somehow the "you cannot pledge another sorority on your campus for one year after you have received a bid but not been initiatied" gets translated into "if you wait a year you can join a different sorority" in some people's minds.

We're very clear with our girls. We are careful to word it so that they understand pledgeship is flexible, but once you are go through that initiation ceremony, you're done.