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[thetalady]

Originally Posted by PhiSigmaSig

Hello! I'm a sophomore, and I want to take a little this semester!

Sign-ups to be a big were during the first week in February, where it was explained over text that we need: "a 2.5 gpa, be here for at least 1 more semester, & [you can't] exceed $130 on gifts". I can do all of that.

In the contract I signed last month to qualify it says:
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5
• Current on all financial obligations (dues paid up-to-date of matching)
• Maintaining active status for at least 1 semester before graduation and have no plans of taking a status with Phi Sigma Sigma

My responsibilities would also be to not haze, go to events, act as a mentor and big sister during her new member process, and share my knowledge with her throughout my lifetime.

Here's the issue... I want to go abroad next semester and I took the contract as how it directly says, being here for "at least 1 semester before graduation", and I'll be here for three after I come back. About 2 days ago, I was notified saying I wasn't eligible because the rule is that I have to be here during the next semester following this semester, and I'm heartbroken because it doesn't seem fair.

This isn't a chapter issues because I contacted a high school friend also in my sorority but at a different school, and she said they can take a little if they study abroad the next semester. It isn't a university issue either because other sorority girls I've talked to have people who are abroad right now who took a little this past fall. Apparently my founding SCD (which was last year since we're new) denied the ability to be a big during the fall to a lot of girls who wanted to go abroad in the spring, yet one of the bigs last semester is in Australia this semester so that doesn't make sense.

This rule wasn't made clear when I was applying, and I didn't hear about the debate last semester because I was a new member. The technicality is on my side, and I technically can because of the wording in the contract, yet the rule is interpreted as a no by the SCD. I don't understand why my chapter allows this at other schools, and my school allows this at other chapters, and this was in a way allowed last semester, but now it's a no.

I've also been transparent during my coffee dates so that if me not being here next semester turns new members off, they can decide to leave me off their preference list without being blindsided. There's one new member who's also a sophomore, who I really want as my little and she is also studying abroad in the fall. Since we're both going away, I thought it would be a good match and I was really excited before this news.

My president and SCD are really stuck in their decision about this and I want to petition my intelligibility but there is no judicial system set up to my knowledge where I can go to share my findings and concerns.

I asked to meet with my president and SCD on Monday about my ineligibility, and I was wondering how I could explain with the highest respect why I should be allowed to be a big, without saying that they're wrong.

Thank you for any advice <3

Think about the little sister that you might have, if the exception was made. She will have you to learn from and lean on for a couple of months, then you will be gone. In a new chapter, without a lot of members or alums to lean on, the chapter sees the need to build relationships and bonds. You will be leaving soon, so you won't be there to do that.

Be selfless.... bow out this time and do your semester away. Then come back and apply to be a big sister, when you will be there for 3 continuous semesters.