a campus where greek life is forbidden

[Deke4life]

Expelling us would be like expelling someone for being a Mason.

[MysticCat]

Deke4life, check your user control panel -- I pm'ed you.

[BSUPhiSig'92]

I think it just depends on the type of school and its viewpoint as to whether or not they can expel students from joining a group outside of the campus. I know at some very strict religious schools (Bob Jones University comes to mind) you most certainly could be expelled. At a small, Eastern, liberal arts school, I would find it less likely.

[TechTransfer]

Amherst College threw its fraternities off in the 70's, after the school went co-ed- and repossessed the houses, which are now all dorms. There are still a few chapters operating there (I know of 2, but there may be one more- I think one of them is DKE), but they're strictly under the table- they can't advertise on campus, or use facilities, or wear letters. And they do get a fair number of guys attracted by the secret society aspect of it.

Private schools don't have to recognize Greeks, because they don't have to recognize any group they don't want to- freedom of assembly doesn't apply. When you agree to go there, you agree to follow the school's rules. I suppose from a theoretical legal standpoint, they could expel you for being a Greek, or a Mason, or whatever- the only thing they can't do is discriminate on race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. Fraternal organizations aren't any of those.

(btw- saying Masons or Shriners is a bit redundant, since all Shriners are Masons. :-p)

[Deke4life]

Right now, College rules stipulate that "membership in any any selective membership organization operating inside the college community is grounds for expulsion." The "powers that be" could not convince their lawyer to extend this language beyond the borders of campus, because such a broad assertion would affect many other students, staff, and faculty (Many of whom are members of fraternal organizations chartered elsewhere).
Essentially because of the impact of the civil rights legislation of 64 and 68 the college has to treat everyone the same under their rules. They could make the rules more specific to include just dekes, but so far they have maintained they would not do that in the name of equity. Plus, doing that would merely make them look more like the bad guy.... and campus opinion is clearly behind freedom of association on this issue, even among most faculty and staff.

[Tom Earp]

Interesting, but is the School State or Federally Funded?

There is a difference in Funded or non funded colleges.

I am wondering, if Greeks are told to be off campus, what about some of the other Organizations?

Not being treated equally happens to be agains many rules and regulations.

[AGDee]

If that is the exact wording, I find it very interesting that your college has a Cheerleading squad which has tryouts and only accepts 12 members. This seems to me that it is a selective organization. I think an attorney could have fun with that rule!

[Tom Earp]

Dee, Just Love Your Post!!!!!

Guess that should make some folx wonder! Just what I was thinking, thanks for putting in the proper WORDING!

[Deke4life]

The school has some federal funding, but legally enjoys private status.

Also, organizations like the cheerleaders (as mentioned above) and especially ODK are questionable at best under these rules. Although, the College later defines the banned organizations as being "social fraternities and sororities or other similar selective membership organizations." So while they specifically go after social fraternities and sororities, they leave at least some wiggle room for other selective membership organizations.... Of course... all in the name of equity and inclusion, lol.

[Tom Earp]

Hm, cannot come up with the Specific wording I want to use.

Thinking, Thinking, Ah Is Bias a good word?

Key might be some Federal Funding. $$!

Thought Shalt not make a bias opinion against Race, Creed, or Color. Hm, just pondering the situation!

What does one Institution call it when a Specific Group is not aloud upon a Campus?

[ICPiLamChiLS]

i know exactly where youre coming from. i attend a college that banned social service fraternities in the eaerly 90's due to the death of a student, and hazing was in question. The college does recognize however academic and music fraternities, so it kinda sucks. currently i believe the frats are Phi Kappa Sigma and Pi Lambda Chi (before they were banned the college ruled no nationals, so many became local back in the 70s, somehow PhiKapp was allowed to stay national). the sorors are Gamma Delta Pi and Phi Zeta Kappa. Supposedly, though i have seen no evidence of its existence, Phi Beta Sigma is also on campus. I know that Delta Kappa has died out. There is also the Pi Lambda Chi Little Sisters, of which i'm a sister. In many ways we're more of a sorority than our frat brothers are a fraternity. Anyways thats off topic. Everyone holds meetings, rush, etc. as if we were on campus, but we have to be very careful with flyering because we can be judicially referred for soliciting. idk, its complicated, and it stinks but hey, i'll take it, being the daughter of an AOII and a SigPi i'll take any greek life i can get, since we can't rush at the university on the other hill. but i love it and i love my sisters and brothers.

[emb021]

When I attended Furman University (Greenville, SC), they had a strange not-GLO policy. Furman at the time was associated with the Southern Baptist.

All the Fraternities & Sororities were not allowed to be associated with any National body. They were all locals that took on the names of National groups (and AFAIK, modeled themsevles on that particular body). I had heard that one had, and lost their official status as far as the shool was concerned. All the groups took 'real names' to 'hide' their greek names. So TKE was "The Knights Eternal", and so on. They would wear greek letter shirts, etc.

I understand that since then, its changed, probably due to the school disassociated itself from the Southern Baptists.

[Deke4life]

Originally posted by mcellpe
I seem to recall that Bowdoin College killed its greek system about 20 years or so ago, and banned its students from being members of social fraternities. DKE was one of the organizations that went sub rosa.

Frankly, if an oragnization is not affililated with the school, I don't know how they can prevent someone from joining. I'm not a lawyer, but it sounds unconstitutional to me.

I am glad I went to a college that openly recognizes and supports its fraternities and sororities.

The school's approach was to claim that our DKE chapter was a "defacto official college organization" because criteria for membership would supposedly include enrollment at Maryville College. Thus our status became "prohibited organization" with the threat of expulsion. Of course, if you read other previous posts, you will understand how we are still able to exist (in part by chartering through the city).

[IvySpice]

I'm not a lawyer, but it sounds unconstitutional to me.

We are talking about private schools. Private schools can limit their students' behavior in countless ways that would be unconstitutional in a public school (for example, requiring students to attend Chapel).

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by IvySpice
We are talking about private schools. Private schools can limit their students' behavior in countless ways that would be unconstitutional in a public school (for example, requiring students to attend Chapel).

Private or no, I think they have to use the federal constituion if they get federal money