Chapter was just closed - now what?

[navane]

Originally Posted by TheresaM

Also, our First Amendment protection is the first thing that came to my mind when I decided I would just still wear my letters anyway lol. Don't I have the right to wear what I want? It's Freedom of Expression, as long as what I'm wearing isn't threatening to others... That's why I was wondering what real legal action could be taken if they wanted to prosecute me for something like that.

Here's the thing - if you are appealing the decision (to get your membership, or at least alumna status), then wearing your letters around when you were clearly asked not to, isn't going to help your case. If I were you, I would be on my very best behavior. (Edited to add: BossLadyAKA and I were replying at the same time. Great minds think alike.)

Also, part of the issue may stem from the idea that, even though you personally weren't participating in the negative behaviors, all members had a responsibility to report and/or put a stop to it.

[KDCat]

Originally Posted by TheresaM

Definitely, some bad apples have drawn attention to our chapter by nationals. I've never acted disrespectfully or in any way that would reflect poorly upon my sorority while wearing my letters. Other girls... Not so much.

Also, our First Amendment protection is the first thing that came to my mind when I decided I would just still wear my letters anyway lol. Don't I have the right to wear what I want? It's Freedom of Expression, as long as what I'm wearing isn't threatening to others... That's why I was wondering what real legal action could be taken if they wanted to prosecute me for something like that.

You don't have first amendment rights in this case. The first amendment protects you from the government, not from a private group. Arguably, you were granted a license to wear theater copyrighted letters and now your license has been revoked. I doubt you will.get sued, but still...

[Titchou]

This is the issue: If you signed something when you were initiated saying that you would return certain items and not wear the letters if your membership was ever terminated for any reason, that is the legal leg they have to stand on. Many NPC groups have such a statement that the newly initiated members sign or sign right before initiation. If you signed such then that's a promise you made.

Originally Posted by Titchou

This is the issue: If you signed something when you were initiated saying that you would return certain items and not wear the letters if your membership was ever terminated for any reason, that is the legal leg they have to stand on. Many NPC groups have such a statement that the newly initiated members sign or sign right before initiation. If you signed such then that's a promise you made.

Oh. =| I don't remember signing anything about that... I'm going to look into it.

[Kevin]

Realistically, no one is going to do anything to you for wearing a shirt whether you have the right to do it or not.

I'll put a little disclaimer on that and state that I don't know what the full arrangement is with your group and whether perhaps good standing alumnae status is predicated on you not wearing merchandise in public, etc. or (insert whatever hypothetical you left out here)

[naraht]

Just curious, is this possible in other GLOs? In Alpha Phi Omega, the Board of Directors may suspend a brother, however that suspension only lasts until the close of the next convention. Expelling a Brother takes 2/3 vote of the convention.

[BossLadyAKA]

Not my council, but it seems to me that if something so extreme/egregious/offensive has taken place that the entire chapter was not only suspended, but expelled, then there's much more to the story than what is being told. If the OP is truly interested in the appeal which she filed, it would make sense to follow ALL of the rules set forth by her national board until a final decision is made.

All of that comes as an aside to the way that I feel to see a non-member wearing my letters. If you're not an official member of the organization, you do not have the right to wear the letters which represent it. End of story.

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by BossLadyAKA

Not my council, but it seems to me that if something so extreme/egregious/offensive has taken place that the entire chapter was not only suspended, but expelled, then there's much more to the story than what is being told. If the OP is truly interested in the appeal which she filed, it would make sense to follow ALL of the rules set forth by her national board until a final decision is made.

All of that comes as an aside to the way that I feel to see a non-member wearing my letters. If you're not an official member of the organization, you do not have the right to wear the letters which represent it. End of story.

Agree on both counts. As saddened as we all are to hear that members in what could be our org lost their membership and now don't know what to do with themselves, that sort of thing doesn't happen over low numbers or because a chapter wasn't financially solvent, at least not without it blowing up in local news media. There is blame here, and without knowing the story I'm reserving my sympathy.

[MaggieXi]

I'd shy away from going much farther with your story, while your appeal is pending, OP. I would also refrain from wearing anything with letters on it out of respect for the organization that you wish to still be a member of. I'd go to Target, Walmart or Old Navy and buy some cheap shirts and focus on graduating and keep your nose clean until your appeal is decided.

[33girl]

Did you all receive individual, official letters addressed to each of you by name, informing you of your termination?

If not...you're not terminated. Wear whatever you want.

If you did, then Old Navy etc.

Yeah...I really only wanted to know about wearing letters, lol. Thanks everyone

[Just interested]

I can think of one school where 3 NPC chapters have closed in the last 2 or 3 years but I believe one recently reopened.

[Alumna2]

Originally Posted by Just interested

I can think of one school where 3 NPC chapters have closed in the last 2 or 3 years but I believe one recently reopened.

From the GC Recruitment thread, this university appears to be Connecticut and DG is back in the Connecticut Panhellenic FB page. The suspensions were all the same year, were they all the same otherwise? Were the groups or nationals given improvement plans? 2014 to 2016 is not enough time to graduate all former chapter members.

[clemsongirl]

Originally Posted by Alumna2

From the GC Recruitment thread, this university appears to be Connecticut and DG is back in the Connecticut Panhellenic FB page. The suspensions were all the same year, were they all the same otherwise? Were the groups or nationals given improvement plans? 2014 to 2016 is not enough time to graduate all former chapter members.

I'm not saying this is the school because I have a different guess but here is UConn's statement on unrecognized groups. Delta Gamma was suspended for less time than the other two groups, which are still suspended.

http://greeklife.uconn.edu/unrecognized-groups/

[Sciencewoman]

There are many things that I'd find upsetting about this situation, but the shirt wearing restriction would be pretty far down the list.