UC-Davis: Co-ed Group Request to Associate with Panhellenic

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

An interesting situation has arisen at the University of California-Davis.

A group, Lambda Delta Lambda, has requested to become an associate chapter with Panhellenic. This has posed issues:

So, does this mean LDL wants to be part of the NPC recruitment week?

-Lambda Delta Lambda, while identifying itself as a sorority, allows males to join. This would be a conflict with Panhellenic and its protection under Title IX rules that allow for it to remain single-sex (as IFC is protected to remain single-sex).

-From what I understand, one of the advisors is pressuring the current members of Panhellenic to vote to allow LDL, suggesting that this is a gender identity issue (LDL was originally formed as a lesbian-friendly sorority), equality, and fairness. It's been stated that NPC is "old fashioned".

Is it a gender identity issue because the males of the group identify with being female?

-It has been "suggested" to Panhellenic that if they do not admit LDL, they will lose university recognition.

Would this be so bad? At TAMU the NPC sororities were not recognized by the university until ~1990/1991. Before that they did fine in terms of recruitment and membership.

I know that IFC has at least one member that has co-ed chapters (Psi Upsilon); but in my opinion, NPC organizations, with their UAs, are a whole different situation and I don't believe that a co-ed group could truly fit in.

It also bothers me that the administration and their representatives are pushing the ladies of UCDavis's Panhellenic into a "vote the way we want or lose campus recognition".

Did the university offer any rationale as to why they want LDL to join the CPC? Or, is it "do what we say, or else".

[FSUZeta]

I don't envy your position right now, dukedg!

[dukedg]

We just got word that this vote will be delayed until after formal recruitment this fall (which is late Sep/early Oct).

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by TSteven

I don’t know if this is the case at UC-Davis, but at Kentucky, all "social" GLOs must be affiliated with a campus counsel. I don’t recall the exact reasoning behind it, but it had something to do with administrative oversight and funding etc.

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

So, does this mean LDL wants to be part of the NPC recruitment week?

For what it is worth, the three affiliate members of the Kentucky CPC are not required to participate during/in the NPC Chapters formal recruitment week. All three (Ceres, Delta Phi Mu, and Phi Sigma Rho) hold their recruitment after NPC formal recruitment. To be clear, they may hold their recruitment during formal if they want, but all three have elected to hold their recruitment after NPC formal recruitment is completed.

As I understand it, none of the three affiliate members may hold executive office within the UK CPC – only the NPC chapters. Nor do they vote on issues regarding extension or NPC recruitment.

I believe the set up at UK regarding affiliate members of the CPC (NPC council), is similar to that of other campuses that also have affiliate members in their CPC.

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by TSteven

For what it is worth, the three affiliate members of the Kentucky CPC are not required to participate during/in the NPC Chapters formal recruitment week. All three (Ceres, Delta Phi Mu, and Phi Sigma Rho) hold their recruitment after NPC formal recruitment. To be clear, they may hold their recruitment during formal if they want, but all three have elected to hold their recruitment after NPC formal recruitment is completed.

As I understand it, none of the three affiliate members may hold executive office within the UK CPC – only the NPC chapters. Nor do they vote on issues regarding extension or NPC recruitment.

I believe the set up at UK regarding affiliate members of the CPC (NPC counsel), is similar to that of other campuses that also have affiliate members in their CPC.

Since Clemson has multiple groups that could be Panhellenic affiliates but are not, I'm curious: what benefit do these groups get out of Panhellenic affiliation versus not being Panhellenic associates?

[thetalady]

Please.... council, not counsel :-)

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by DubaiSis

What are they trying to achieve from affiliation? They can't rush with the Panhellenic chapters so what other benefits are they after?

Originally Posted by Titchou

To what purpose would be the associate membership?... Do they just want some sort of recognition?

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

...I'm curious: what benefit do these groups get out of Panhellenic affiliation versus not being Panhellenic associates?

OPA has a few chapters who are associate members of their campus Panhellenic group. They don't participate in recruitment, but they do participate in the other traditional Greek events on their campus -- which they wouldn't be able to do if they weren't associated with Panhellenic on the local level. Those vary from campus to campus but include Greek Week, philanthropy competitions, Homecoming competitions, etc. The chapters who have chosen to do this are happier with their relationships within the Greek community. They have a lot of fun with those activities and feel like it increases their campus visibility.

Our other chapters have no interest whatsoever in joining their campus Panhellenic council. Recognizing that each campus environment is different, we leave the decision up to the chapters.

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

...I'm curious: what benefit do these groups get out of Panhellenic affiliation versus not being Panhellenic associates?

OPA has a few chapters who are associate members of their campus Panhellenic group. They don't participate in recruitment, but they do participate in all of the other traditional Greek events -- which they wouldn't be able to do if they weren't associated with Panhellenic on the local level. Those vary from campus to campus but include Greek Week, philanthropy competitions, Homecoming competitions, etc. The chapters who have chosen to do this are happy with their relationships within the Greek community on their campuses. On the other hand, many of our other chapters would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into an associated Panhellenic membership. It's just not their thing.

[sigmadiva]

Thank you for the explanation OPhiAGinger. It makes sense that other non-NPC sororities may benefit from being part of the CPC.


But the question is why would a co-ed group want to join the CPC?

[naraht]

Alpha Phi Omega discourages chapters from belonging to Social Greek councils (in fact in order to be the *only* non-social greek on the council, then the National Board has to give permission. Doesn't stop some schools from putting us into an *everybody* social greek council (NPC + NIC + NPHC + anyone else who actually has a membership council), but that's still not as bad as being on a school IFC council with only APO & Social Greeks). I've also seen APO at various schools put on service councils (With Circle K, Alternative Spring Break, etc), professional fraternity councils, "Non-NPHC" councils.

I keep expecting a chapter to announce that they've been put on a council with all of the other student groups whose names start with 'A'.

[AOII Angel]

It may be that the administration is trying to nip risky behavior in the bud by having a robust, direct advisory system placed over the group. The CPC adviser may be the best option. If you look at the website for the group, you'll see a recent comment that provides some insite into what might be the administration's motives.

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

Thank you for the explanation OPhiAGinger. It makes sense that other non-NPC sororities may benefit from being part of the CPC.


But the question is why would a co-ed group want to join the CPC?

How many male members do they actually have? They may welcome male members, but still identify with the sorority experience and having a small number of mister sisters doesn't change that. If the university is mandating that they be part of a council for oversight reasons, the local Panhellenic council may be best fit.

This is how they define themselves on the UC Davis website:

Originally Posted by Lambda Delta Lambda"

Lambda Delta Lambda is a local sorority, comprised of a fun-loving, queer friendly, sisterhood with open minds. We regard ourselves as not being the typical sorority and are open to students of all sexualities and gender identities. While we are a Greek organization our message to the campus and community is one of acceptance and hope for equality.

I think it comes down to whether the term "sorority" mandates single sex. I don't think it does. Your mileage may vary.

But I also have to wonder…. If the acceptance of LDL into the local Panhellenic council does not have any implications over how NPC chapters recruit their members or operate their own chapters, why would the existing Panhellenic members oppose it?

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

Thank you for the explanation OPhiAGinger. It makes sense that other non-NPC sororities may benefit from being part of the CPC.


But the question is why would a co-ed group want to join the CPC?

How many male members do they actually have? They may welcome male members, but still identify with the sorority experience and having a small number of mister sisters doesn't change that. I can't find any evidence that they have male members at all, just that they are open to it! If the university is mandating that they be part of a council for oversight reasons, the local Panhellenic council may be best fit.

This is how they define themselves on the UC Davis website:

Originally Posted by Lambda Delta Lambda"

Lambda Delta Lambda is a local sorority, comprised of a fun-loving, queer friendly, sisterhood with open minds. We regard ourselves as not being the typical sorority and are open to students of all sexualities and gender identities. While we are a Greek organization our message to the campus and community is one of acceptance and hope for equality.

I think it comes down to whether the term "sorority" mandates single sex. I don't think it does. Your mileage may vary.

But I also have to wonder…. If the acceptance of LDL into the local Panhellenic council does not have any implications over how NPC sororities recruit or operate their own chapters, why would the existing Panhellenic members oppose it?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

It may be that the administration is trying to nip risky behavior in the bud by having a robust, direct advisory system placed over the group. The CPC adviser may be the best option. If you look at the website for the group, you'll see a recent comment that provides some insite into what might be the administration's motives.

Did you mean their Facebook or their tumbler? I didn't see a regular website.

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

This is how they define themselves on the UC Davis website:

I think it comes down to whether the term "sorority" mandates single sex. I don't think it does. Your mileage may vary.

But I also have to wonder…. If the acceptance of LDL into the local Panhellenic council does not have any implications over how NPC sororities recruit or operate their own chapters, why would the existing Panhellenic members oppose it?

My understanding is that the term sorority was coined to mean a 'fraternity for women', and if so, then by definition the term sorority implies a fraternal group of women. As in people with two (2) X chromosomes.

My only guess as to why the existing Panhelleninc may oppose it would be due to "guilt by association". If the current NPC chapters do not identify themselves as LDL does, then the NPC chapters may not want to have any association whatsoever with LDL.