Anyone know of any other current Kappa Sigma expansionary activity?

[Ithakappasig]

Was trying to lighten things with "'article' 4" (tongue in cheek) since I knew I was going to disagree but yes, the 4th (numbered) point. It turns out that we do not disagree to the extent that I assumed but this 4th point is important- I'll revisit it in a moment because I think it deals with most of the problems that you present.

I also want to set aside Boston College because I think making an issue of one of twenty listed colleges doesn't serve the point but I have a grad school friend who was in Alpha Phi Alpha and I understand that their metro chapter (and other black and Hispanic fraternities) draw well from their, considering there is such a limited number of minority students there. If a dozen African Americans for all BGLO's were drawn from 5% of the student total at university that doesn't even support greek life I think that's astounding.

The few Catholic colleges mentioned that do not have a Greek scene or a nascent one should not be discounted however. At the Catholic schools with fraternity scenes it took one fraternity (not students usually but an organization) to opened the door at most of these type of schools. In many cases Catholic schools with a dozen fraternities today had none 25 years ago. Right now the fraternity opening the door to these schools isn't Kappa Sigma but aggressively growth minded fraternities that are not as tradition bound such as SPE, PKA, LXA. And Sigma Chi, Beta, SAE and Phi Delt are on their heels. And that is largely because they are flexible and responsive to their environment.

I think it is safe to say that fraternities by far and large grow out of the following: initiative of organizations, absorption of existing organizations, students that observe and take part in fraternities (visitors, discontinued pledges, etc.) but want something they own, transfers and graduate students and other alumni.

No fraternity should expect that a group of students where there is no fraternity life are going to organize themselves and present themselves and let's face it, their money, for a few letters since that is all they could expect from a fraternity that hasn't invested the time to organize and present the possible benefits they could bring.

Fraternities, especially Kappa Sig or Phi Delt (NIC issue) cannot expect that the IFC's to be able to really stand up for students' rights to freely assemble; nor can they expect all colleges to be supportive. There would be no fraternities at many northern colleges in that case.

I mentioned Harvard, Yale, Princeton to typify elite schools in the northeast (where we are incidentally absent while our rivals are present) but one could give a large list of northern schools where fraternity life is not recognized or only some frat-s are recognized or new fraternities are not welcomed by administrators but fraternity life flourishes anyway. I am not sure of the policy but it would be a shame if Kappa Sigma took the position that handicaps itself in ways that others do not by insisting upon university support to start or continue chapters. So the 4th of those ten recommendations seems to be appropriate to the main challenge that you experienced and see as a hurdle at many schools in the northeast.

Incidentally, I read a recent NIC report that said the biggest percentage growth is at (drum roll) Catholic colleges and the Northeast from the past two years. That doesn't mean its easy however.

I know about the challenges of Greek life in the Northeast. That's why I put up what I believe are the methods that successful Greek organizations use. I focused on other extra-regional fraternities instead of just those that have deep roots at top northern schools like ADPhi, etc. or those national competitors who are just very different from Kappa Sig.

The heart of it is though that our rivals- SAE, Sigma Chi, Beta, Phi Delt and even others are having tremendous success in the Northeast being flexible in approach while maintaining the character of their organization- so it is doable. Kappa Sigma just hasn't held the region as a priority, with NYU seemingly an aberration rather than part of a plan if Stufield is right. Not going into Conclave discussions but I think the talk didn't meet the planning.

Perhaps we are going to have to relax 50 guys to charter rule (the national will still bring in lots of money with a third that number if they maintain it) or be flexible in other ways- I listed 10 and would like to hear others. I really believe that despite opposition from some quarters that this is another golden era and that fraternities that fail to take advantage will see themselves in lean times while those that sow now will reap for years to come.

[KSigkid]

On the 4th "article," point taken - people on here tend to be over-the-top on these things, and I didn't recognize the humor. That's my fault.

I understand what you're saying, and I appreciate your point of view on the subject. I agree that the Northeast hasn't been a priority within the fraternity, as you noted. I think it's been more of a part of the general expansion plan, without any special emphasis towards expanding in the region. At least, that's been my impression...

My issue, so to speak, is that I think we tend to overlook some parts of the expansion process. I think it's great that the fraternity is expanding into new areas, and I agree that growth is necessary to keep the Order going. At the same time, there should be a recognition of what happens when things go wrong. If a colony fails at a school, it's not just a cost of doing business: it may be a better environment in a year or two, but we'll have lost our opportunity by having a failed colony. Plus, you have a group of guys who worked really hard to start a chapter, and they're left without a fraternity. Now, that doesn't necessarily account for risk management issues, but it's something to think about.

I also get the argument that a lack of university support, or university non-recognition, isn't in and of itself a complete barrier towards establishing a chapter. At the same time, it's a HUGE hurdle. It's not just a matter of saying to guys "Hey, it will be tough, but it's worth it! Work hard and recruit, and the rest will take care of itself!" There are some serious challenges that come with starting a chapter at a school where there is no university recognition. You can't use school funds, you don't have IFC/Greek Life office resources to supplement your efforts, etc. I won't say that it's an impossible enterprise, but I think there has to be a LOT of support in place (alumni and otherwise) for it to work.

Like you said, I don't think we're far apart in how we feel about all of this. It will be interesting to see how the new SEC (and other leadership) addresses this over the next 2 years, and beyond.

[Ithakappasig]

Totally agree about failures our failure of colonies having a significant impact-- that's why I really think the previously listed ten items and any other useful approaches we can borrow should be employed.

As some previous posters pointed out, the perceived approach has been "start a lot of colonies each year and you will overcome the failure rates." It is part of the quantity over quality which is part of the tension between business/money and higher ups vs meaningful brotherhood (a national organization offering services and seeking quality).

Kappa Sigma shouldn't be singled out though- most of the larger fraternities are doing this as a regular practice whether they admit it or not but it has to be balanced with services and quality. I would say these are the conditions where, if you have a smaller group or some financial constraints with chartering costs, you work with them and go for recognition- set the bar high but have flexibility. Kappa Sigma didn't have 50 men in Charlottesville in 1869. They were selective and it paid off with the organization we have today.

I hear what you're saying about the support from universities (and if you are at a school with all that support you are talking about then I would say great- go for it!) The IFC and the university when actively opposed are by definition a hindrance. But if they are supporting you there really isn't an issue, yes?

Why do you think that at all the schools I mentioned all of our competitors are flourishing and we are not? It just seems like excuses. I don't see the problems you imagine that come from not having university support. Obviously there are examples which I cited and many more.

I'll say this from experience. If other fraternities like yours are flourishing, you have a good recruitment team and plan, you should be able to fulfill basic requirements for most fraternities unless the fraternity has a problem. In some cases the fraternity is just not competitive or compatible in what it is offering or not marketing itself well (or you may have unrealistic goals like 50 members to charter). Just as likely, the team or the plan are not really that great. But it isn't because the college or IFC isn't giving enough money.

In fact I've seen where it is more often a point of contention where IFC orgs are angry that a non-IFC org was operating without the limits that they have. Again I speak from personal experience here. If the IFC and the school welcomes the fraternity however it is a moot point.

In the cases where there are not IFC's and university recognition or it is very limited it has not been a problem. And while I am speaking about personal experiences you need only check with how successful new fraternities have been at Princeton, Yale, G'town, etc. They're there and I know that at these schools that it was just student and organizational efforts since most weren't re-colonizations.

Don't think I'm "downing" Kappa Sig here- I think that if we aren't having honest, constructive conversations about what we need, that is downing Kappa Sig in another way. I know that the archives hold a whole bunch of dirty laundry of the fraternity for better or worse.

The exchange in this thread however is the sort of constructive discussion that should bother no one, on a topic as harmless as recruiting goals (as opposed to money management, politics and other squabbles at the top and the lack of communication with the broader organization.) Anyone reading this from the outside should appreciate the ethic of honesty, constructive self criticism in the pursuit of preeminence. Sure there can be better communication and more responsiveness (something that I see a lot of people talking about around here) but I think that with the amount of people that care and voice their thoughts the message will get across. With all the email groups, social networking sites, etc. just saying someone didn't answer any of your email sounds like some people are giving up too easily in making their legitimate concerns heard-- start a blog or something, they'll hear you and also, contact a chapter and volunteer. My point here however is about expansion in the Northeast.

We can learn from the mistakes and successes of Sigma Chi, SAE, Beta and Phi Delt in the region when we put forth better efforts in the region. We can also come behind other fraternities and give a better option, and frankly get better people and start building some better metro and chapter alumni groups than our competitors. I would hate to come into Brown or Georgetown or Yale 15 years ago but today they are great opportunities. The only thing is that the campus clubs, sports teams, informal groups, etc. begin to dwindle as they are approached by other fraternities.

The SEC has been heavily weighted to the Southwest. P.W.G.M. K aplan is close to Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico University (where he is an alumni and alum adviser) and his people are such big political players since the foundation /HQ funding squabble and litigation; since then the leaders sort of come from the guys who participated in one side of that. I really like what WGM Betz has to say. While he was a chief litigant in that whole foundation thing (which seems to be requisite for SEC office since that time) he may bring some refocusing being from a small school in Tennessee and based in Florida I believe. Hopefully we will see not a shuffling but fresh faces that are more familiar with the South, Mid-Atlantic, West, the Midwest and New England. We seriously need newer, broader, more representative voices to be heard- for all the obvious reasons but not the least of which is that we are seeing uneven regional growth and a lack of metro or regional alumni associations.

I heard Bro Chris Nascimento (sp?) talk about some issues that related to the Northeast that sounded good at least but I also heard a lot of ear hustling and back patting as is typical of any conclave. Just hope that #10 works out- that the SEC hears that we would really benefit by some quality growth in the Northeast. I'm really confident that some good things will happen if we all let the SEC know what we want and offer our support.

[stufield]

I was pleased to see some spirited discussion about the Fraternity's presence (or relative lack thereof) in the Northeast, and sorry to see it end so abruptly. Hopefully my busy law practice will allow me some time later this month to add to the discussion, as I thought all posters made some valid points, but were also mistaken with regard to some of their purported facts.

Ithakappasig [and any others who also use the word alumni incorrectly]: Please note that one person is not "an alumni". "Alumni" is plural, the plural of the masculine singular "alumnus". Brother Betz is an "alumnus", not "an alumni". He, KSigkid, and I, collectively, are "alumni". The feminine equivalents are "alumna" [singular] and "alumnae" [plural]. I can't believe that anyone went through a pledge training or pledge education period without being taught that. But I see the word "alumni" misused so often that I guess the "alumnus" - "alumni", "alumna" - "alumnae" thing is no longer part of pledge education. Too bad. It should be.

Also Ithakappasig: In your August 23rd post you listed a number of Northeast schools that you think are good expansionary objectives. I agree for the most part with your list, and could even add several other schools as well. But please note that, happily, Kappa Sigma already does have a chapter (Beta-Pi) at one school (Dickinson College) on you list. The chapter had been dormant for about five years, but was recolonized a couple of years ago, and rechartered last year. We also have dormant chapters at two other schools in your list: Syracuse and Villanova, two prominent schools at which we are conspicuous by our present absence and to which we should return as soon as possible. We had a short-lived colony at Villanova last year, but its members decided that they did not want to have to cope with all of the Fraternity's requirements for colonies, and they disassociated. We also had a large and strong interest group at Syracuse at the beginning of the last (2008-09) school year, but because Syracuse has a moratorium on fraternity expansion, the school threatened to sue the Fraternity if it recognized that group as a colony. Although the Fraternity has established colonies at several schools without formal recognition from those schools, and sometimes in open defiance of the schools' administrations, and has even chartered three such groups as chapters (Pi-Zeta at the Charlotte campus of Johnson and Wales University, Pi-Theta at Coastal Carolina University, and Pi-Kappa at Bentley College) it backed down from Syracuse and did not recognize the interest group there. Hopefully, Kappa Sigma will return to Syracuse and Villanova in the near future ... or at least before I die!

[stufield]

Good news.

The Fraternity has FINALLY posted a list of chapters and colonies to go along with the map of chapters and colonies on the Fraternity website. There is a link to the list below the map. Actually there are two complementary lists, as the chapters can be sorted by either school name or chapter/colony name.

Of course, in classic HQ tradition, the list is not free of glaring errors. The St. John's University Colony (which incidentally, I understand is the largest fraternity on the SJU campus and could well receive its charter this Fall, i.e. before the Holiday Season) is simply referred to as "St. John" ... ???. Worse yet, the Texas Woman's University Colony is referred to as "Texas Woman"!!! How anyone who was preparing such a list could dare to post it with such a ridiculous mistake is beyond me, but that is, unfortunately, typical of our HQ staff and our Website. Scholarship may well be one of the four pillars of Kappa Sigma, but one seldom sees evidence of it out of IMH or on the Website.

The list is also out of date in one happy respect. The Lake Erie College Colony, though still shown as a colony on the list, has been chartered as Pi-Chi Chapter. But again, it is just like HQ to post a list that is already out of date when it is posted. HOPEFULLY, the list will be updated frequently.

Meanwhile, the map itself STILL has not been updated since it was put online over half a year ago, and it was seriously out of date at that time. It is absolutely unbelievable that the fraternity could allow the map to go that long without being updated/corrected.

Now that the new academic year has begun, if anyone knows of any new interest groups or colonies, or of any chapter of colony closures, or of any other related news, please post same.

[Ithakappasig]

Brother, I'm going to say this and I am confident that you will take it in the spirit intended. There was a single misuse of alumni though I am sure if you take the time you find other grammar errors (and just errors in style such as contractions, etc.) When the time is taken to write something of this length by busy people there will be some quick additions, rewrites and simple carelessness that causes these errors. I think you can be confident that we all know the difference btw alumni, alumnus, alumna and alumnae. Instead of being helpful, as I am sure you intend it to be, it comes across as snide, condescending and detracts from your contribution.

Remembering that I was told as a child that it was not polite to correct someone else's grammar in informal, non-educational settings and that it may be poor manners to comment upon someone else's manners, I want to get back to the important points you make. I think you add some of the most interesting and informative posts regarding Kappa Sig on this site.

Dickinson is welcome news! I know that they were actively recruiting for the colony in spring of 2008 so that's relatively recent. Kappa Sigma losing a colony at Villanova, and an interest group at Syracuse- hmmm, that's unfortunate. Without knowing the details with Villanova I only hope that it was not because we were not flexible with the 50 men, the $25/25 hrs of service, or something else of that kind that can be worked towards in the long run. I would argue that large numbers are not really an accurate indicator of chapter vitality anyway. I think we are all aware of the outcomes for several large fraternities that chased numbers instead of quality. I am most concerned about the situation at Syracuse because there was no legal grounds there and I think that has been well established.

Putting aside the circumstances with the online presence (frustrating though it is), I think that our growth, support, alumni chapters, and benefits have to keep apace. I was made aware of other fraternity alumni groups being in residence at university or city clubs. I also understand that some fraternities have a program to bring in service academy graduates. These are steps that we might consider as we attempt to constantly better the fraternity. I would rather us try to be "the best fraternity" than "the most preferred", whatever that means. I believe that before that great marketing slogan that was Kappa Sigma's stated mission. We can't put the shortcomings I hear of on the SEC or the internecine struggles or even seeming non-responsiveness among leadership; the fraternity's leaders will respond to the membership if the membership makes its voice heard. If there is complacency then we deserve a complacent organization.

[stufield]

"Dickinson is welcome news! I know that they were actively recruiting for the colony in spring of 2008 so that's relatively recent."

The chapter was restored almost a year ago.


"Kappa Sigma losing a colony at Villanova, and an interest group at Syracuse- hmmm, that's unfortunate. Without knowing the details with Villanova I only hope that it was not because we were not flexible with the 50 men, the $25/25 hrs of service, or something else of that kind that can be worked towards in the long run. I would argue that large numbers are not really an accurate indicator of chapter vitality anyway. I think we are all aware of the outcomes for several large fraternities that chased numbers instead of quality."

I agree with you about the numbers thing. This could be the subject of a larger post. I know why the SEC set the 50-man requirement, and while I understand their thinking, I don't agree with it. There are many long-running, successful Kappa Sig chapters that never would have got off the ground if the 50-man requirement had then been in force.

Actually, the 50-man requirement is not as rigid as it sounds. An alternative requirement is that a colony have the largest membership, or the same membership as the otherwise largest chapter(s), on a campus where no chapters have 50 men. And the Fraternity has relaxed the 50-man requirement in some other occasions. There are several chapters in the Omicron, Xi, and Pi letter series that were chartered with less than 50 founding initiates. Nonetheless, the 50-man requirement has scared off some interest groups that might otherwise have become successful colonies.

As for the short-lived Villanova colony, I cannot recall the specifics of why they decided they did not want to be associated with Kappa Sigma. It may not have been any one thing, or any two or three specific things, but just an overall thing. In an y case, it was unfortunate because Villanova is a school we should be at, and it would be grat to see a return of Kappa-Psi chapter there.

"I am most concerned about the situation at Syracuse because there was no legal grounds there and I think that has been well established."

You are simply wrong about this. Syracuse is a private university, and thus does have the right to control what organizations it chooses to recognize and not recognize, and would have had solid legal grounds for suing the Fraternity if it had established a prohibited organization there. The Fraternity has established/supported unrecognized groups at a number of other private institutions, and still does so. But those other schools have never taken, and perhaps never even threatened to take, legal action against the fraternity. They simply continued, and in some instances still continue, to grant recognition to the Kappa Sigma group, be it colony or chapter. But Syracuse made it very clear in no uncertain terms that it WOULD take legal action. So even though the interest group was large and strong, the Fraternity decided not to test the Syracuse administration. In the long run, such compliance with the administration may help the Fraternity be selected to expand when the school's administration is more favorably inclined to expansion.

[stufield]

"I think you can be confident that we all know the difference btw alumni, alumnus, alumna and alumnae. Instead of being helpful, as I am sure you intend it to be, it comes across as snide, condescending and detracts from your contribution."

No, I am not confident that "we all know the difference between alumni, alumnus". The fact of the matter is that few people who post on here DO know the difference, as the mistake is made repeatedly. So I simply took this most recent instance to point out the difference.

If you feel that the comment was snide, then you have no conception whatsoever of the meaning of that word. There was no snideness in what I said.

If you feel that the comment was condescending, then I suggest that is simply defensiveness on your part. The comment was not intended to be condescending, and I don't think it contains any condescension. The comment simply pointed out an error that is commonly made these days, but was hardly ever made a generation ago when more attention was made to language usage.

And there is a big difference between the improper use of "alumni" and other grammatical (not grammar) errors such as contractions. And that IS a condescending remark!

Whoever told you that it was impolite to correct someone's grammar in informal and informal situations was simply wrong, and besides which I do regard these postings to be educational, albeit informal. I, for one, have learned far more about what is really happening in and with the Fraternity from boards such as these (and others) than from reading the public-relations, contolled spin that IMH publishes on the website and in The Caduceus.

[stufield]

"I would rather us try to be "the best fraternity" than "the most preferred", whatever that means."

I agree wholeheartedly. "The most preferred fraternity" is a shameless marketing ploy by the Fraternity based on the fraternity's assertion that it has pledged more men in each of the last few years than any other fraternity. But even IF Kappa Sigma HAS pledged more mean than any other fraternity, that does not make Kappa Sigma "the most preferred fraternity". The true yardstick, numbers-wise, is which Fraternity INITIATES the most men. Pledge retention is the key. Any fraternity can go out and pledge a large number of men. But if the actives later decide that they don't want some of those pledges and cut them, or if the pledges decide that they made the wrong decision, and drop out, then how many were pledges in the first place means little, if anything. Despite having the largest number of pledges in a year, Kappa Sigma does NOT have the highest retention rate, the highest number of initiates, or the highest average number of men per chapter, all better indicators of preference than the number of pledges. Pledging is based on often first, often superficial impressions in a very short period of time, by rushees who are usually young, inexperienced, and highly impressionable. How many of those pledges stick around and ultimately decide to become initiates of a chapter is a far better of indicator of preference than the number of pledges the chapter takes to begin with. You may or may not have noticed that the Fraternity never publishes / publicizes / brags about its overall pledge retention / initiate numbers. Why do you suppose that is?

So much about the Fraternity's affairs these past few years has revolved around numbers: number of pledges, number of new colonies, number of charterings. But as your posting suggests, there is indeed far more to "quality" than "quantity". There are any number of fraternities with far fewer chapters, far fewer total members, and far fewer pledges that are every bit as good as, and are probably better than, Kappa Sigma in every other respect, measurable and intangible: Phi Gamma Delta, Beta Theta Pi, Phi Kappa Psi, Delta Sigma Phi are four such mid-size fraternities, and there are a number of much smaller ones, such as Theta Delta Chi, Chis Psi, Psi Upsilon, and others that are every bit as good as Kappa Sigma, are just as "preferred" or "preferable" in ways other than simply how many chapters they have or how many men they pledged or initiated.

Still, from the time of Stephen Alonzo Jackson, Kappa Sigma has been an expansionary fraternity, and where the Fraternity has most recently expanded to and where it will or might expand to next are interesting topics. In the Northeast, I have heard that we have new interest groups at Rochester Institute of Technology and Hofstra University, two schools at which our chapters (Omicron-Alpha and Nu-Eta, respectively) became inactive three or four years ago. So it would be terrific to return to both those schools.

[Ithakappasig]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grammar (Note "the way in which grammar is used." Like "spelling (n) error", "computer error" it still works out and people get away with it. Horror of horrors! ) It's not of importance to me Stufield, I just thought you would be interested. I considered fraternity forums an informal and youthful exchange. I read Greekchat posts in the manner I believe they are intended-- as informal. Perhaps I am wrong and if so I apologize to readers. (People, you are going to have to forgive me but I'm not going to edit forum postings except to add info nor will I pay much attention to much beyond the substance of what is being said.) I don't believe continuing the rest of that line of conversation is constructive and can be characterized as either a difference of opinion or misunderstanding. Brothers have those.

I strongly agree with most of (Stufield's) latest assertions and positions so I won't comment on them or restate them. Hopefully others others read those posts. I also appreciate the additional information about Hofstra and RIT though I have mixed feelings, to generously put it, about the news.

IMO Kappa Sig is an elite, truly national fraternity (Kappa Sigma has been the quintessential Greek letter fraternity) that is in danger of falling well behind a half dozen peers due to recent internal issues that are easily addressed by capable leadership. Some bad ideas have been circulating about lowering standards, trying to be everything to everyone, and being hip and new. In what has been a decade of change, these changes have not been good. We really need greater selectivity and a stronger identity rooted in the past. The last thing we should be is a fraternity for men that might not otherwise join a fraternity!

Kappa Sigma is obviously still recovering; it is not what it was prior to the split with the foundation and the end of the Charlottesville conclaves. (Why we have a $6 million HQ if we don't use it for conclaves like Kappa Sig did in the old HQ does not make sense to me.) Petty seemingly politics have made for stagnation and misdirected effort. Yet the level of criticism that you (Bro. Stufield) believe is due Kappa Sigma or even the SEC is beyond what I think is due. Regardless of variations in perspectives I hope it encourages brothers to consider what improvements are possible and how we can make them happen.

I do not feel that Kappa Sigma should be in terms of quality lumped in with the group of fraternities that you say "are every bit as good as, and are probably better than, Kappa Sigma in every other respect, measurable and intangible". I say this not just because of fraternity pride but because I am very knowledgeable of a number of those fraternities and have been in a position to judge. I think most impartial observers would only see two or three of those fraternities at Kappa Sigma's level frankly.

We may also have a different read on the the authority of Syracuse or any private university to curtail expansion.

I'm a freshly minted member of the bar and I confess to not being as sharp as I might in some areas of the law but I hope I didn't let any ruling pass me regarding a private organization's ability to limit the Freedom of Association of another private organization. You may be speaking in practical terms. (This may be a topic worth being careful about even on an informal forum.)

In some ways the battles between universities and fraternities in the U.S. have hardly abated from the fever pitch of 90's. Universities have undertaken interesting and innovative ways to stop fraternities from being active. The approaches however, even with the most aggressively anti-fraternity administrators, have been aimed at the student, not the fraternity (insofar as they have not banned national fraternity offices from dealing with students independently.)

The university can (and often will) cut off access to campus facilities and in rare cases get incoming students to sign agreements that they will not participate in fraternities. The last step as a compulsory act hasn't been around since the clause in the 1998 Higher Education Amendments, (part of Public Law 105-244) which protects students right to associate with fraternities without fear of retribution from colleges that receive federal funding. This has yet to be tested in a court of law by either side but since that time colleges have not attempted to kick students out of college who participate in fraternities off campus. (I think Congress owed us something after the debacle that was CRA 64 which impinged on freedom of religion and association as it applied to fraternities.)

Apparently even the most stridently anti-fraternity administrators have considered the can of worms they would open by interfering with off campus student activities. Even Amherst has stopped harassing its students in fraternities. Amherst still asks potential Residence Counselors for a list of organizations they are active in, with the implication that if you are a member and say you are in a fraternity you will not be selected. It was an issue a year ago when underground Chi Psi members were found to be Amherst RC's but the students were not fired or otherwise disciplined.

At schools that have driven GLO's underground have both sides have found a modus vivendi it seems: if students don't flaunt organizational membership on campus the administrators will ignore or unhappily accept the organization's existence.

I contacted people I know that work for Kappa Sig and they have not heard of the situation at Syracuse as described. If Syracuse is taking a new and unlawful approach, directly challenging fraternities' off campus, student to fraternity activities I cannot help but think we would her about it. Perhaps it was a more complicated situation.

Kappa Sigma should shy away from certain expansion and reestablishment projects. Among the expansion we probably shouldn't encourage are new or renewed chapters that act as unofficial ethnic fraternities that take the rejected overflow of the official ethnic ones (a danger in the Northeast especially). Nor should Kappa Sigma look to a return of chapters that had repeated and serious problems with poor behavior towards women or violence. At the same time returning a charter to a committed new group should be encouraged and not be used as an reason to pile on exorbitant fees for "reviews" or penalize unrelated parties for the sins of a few bad apples.

At any rate Kappa Sigma should grow and we shall grow, whether by the methods I discussed or better ideas. That doesn't mean we should avoid the best schools and best students to reach for the lowest hanging fruit. It also doesn't mean that growth should be the only or even the chief priority. And Kappa Sigma must make its communication, student and alumni social and business networking and event opportunities (and other fraternity benefits) the best offered if it is to truly be the "most preferred". That's a message worth getting across to leadership.

[akksigwolf]

hey everybody, here's an update about the anchorage, alaska colony. we were established back in october 2007. right now we are planning installment/initiation for this november a little over two years from the date th colony was set up. we are currently at 30 members, the largest fraternity at the university of alaska anchorage.

[stufield]

Thanks for the report, and terrific news. Be sure to post again once you know your colony's installation date and the Greek letters that have been designated for your chapter. There are only two more chapters to be chartered in the Pi series, and I understand from a post a few days ago by chicostateksig that the University of California at San Diego colony is being chartered this weekend with the second last name in that series, Pi-Psi. So your chapter will either be Pi-Omega or early in the Rho series, if one or more other colonies is or are chartered before yours (not counting, of course, colonies of former chapters, which will be rechartered, not chartered, and retain the chapter's prior Greek letter name).

[stufield]

Recolonization of Gamma-Xi Chapter at Denison University, located in central Ohio.

Possibly also recolonization of Theta-Delta Chapter at Willamette University, located in Salem, Oregon? If no actual recolonization yet, it certainly is in the works.

Those are, or would be, significant recolonizations of once-strong chapters at two quite well-known private universities.

Anybody know of any other new colonizations or interest groups this Fall?

[KSigkid]

I know there's a colony at American International College in Springfield, MA. However I haven't heard any word recently on the colony or its status.

[stufield]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I know there's a colony at American International College in Springfield, MA. However I haven't heard any word recently on the colony or its status.

Yes, that colony was established last Spring. So it is not a new one this year.