Is being in 2 different sororities okay?

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
It seems to be a tradition more so than a longstanding rule for social orgs. Otherwise, it doesn't make any sense.

and

Originally posted by emb021
AFAIK, I believe its a rule amoung the socials. But I'll leave it up to others to confirm/deny.

It's more than tradition. The NIC's By-Laws state:

To be eligible for membership in the Conference, a fraternity must: (3) Be mutually exclusive of and in competition with other general fraternities, meaning that no member fraternity shall initiate a member of another fraternity until such time as the second fraternity shall have been formally notified in writing by the national office of the first fraternity that a candidate for membership in the second fraternity is no longer regarded as a member of the fraternity.

Similarly, an NPC Unanimous Agreement states:

A woman who is or who has ever been an initiated member of an existing NPC fraternity shall not be eligible for membership in another NPC fraternity.

As for social fraternities that are not members of the NIC, the rules may vary but are usually spelled out by governing documents.

It also might be worth noting that the NIC provision refers to "general" fraternities, not "social" fraternities. "General fraternities" is the term traditionally used to describe those fraternities that do not limit their membership to a specific field of study, area of interest, etc.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
and
It's more than tradition. The NIC's By-Laws state:

To be eligible for membership in the Conference, a fraternity must: (3) Be mutually exclusive of and in competition with other general fraternities, meaning that no member fraternity shall initiate a member of another fraternity until such time as the second fraternity shall have been formally notified in writing by the national office of the first fraternity that a candidate for membership in the second fraternity is no longer regarded as a member of the fraternity.

Similarly, an NPC Unanimous Agreement states:

A woman who is or who has ever been an initiated member of an existing NPC fraternity shall not be eligible for membership in another NPC fraternity.

As for social fraternities that are not members of the NIC, the rules may vary but are usually spelled out by governing documents.

It also might be worth noting that the NIC provision refers to "general" fraternities, not "social" fraternities. "General fraternities" is the term traditionally used to describe those fraternities that do not limit their membership to a specific field of study, area of interest, etc.

These rules exist within each council. We're talking about joining across councils.

In this case, NALFO to NPHC...

ETA: Oh wait - I see what you're getting at.

[LatinaAlumna]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
KDChi is a NALFO org. I'm sure the sorority frowns on (if it's not spelled out in a policy) having dual membership in other collegiate sororities. It would be like an NPC woman initiating into an NPHC sorority or vice versa.

If she could even do it, that's certainly frowned on. And, I'm sure she couldn't be in two on one campus. That's crazy!

Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc. is indeed NALFO, but NALFO itself does not govern it's individual member organizations or the totality of the NALFO family. I would hope this woman in question would take a good look at the merits of her sorority (which there are many--go KDCHis!!) and decide to continue being an active member.

Personally, I don't even know HOW a person goes about dissaffiliating herself from a LGLO. I think most people who find themselves unhappy with their choice just kind of "fade away" and keep their discontent to themselves, rather than try to join another organization. In my opinion, that would be the most appropriate thing to do if you don't want to be an active member anymore.

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by preciousjeni
I didn't want to get further into it but there's the whole selective membership thing with social GLOs. I think it's safe to say that organizations which have Title IX exemption are the ones that discourage/forbid cross membership.

Any thoughts on that?

What is Title IX exemption?

[emb021]

Originally posted by ladygreek
What is Title IX exemption?

Title IX, EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 to use its full name, is a federal law dealing with school receiving governement funding that was created to force gender equality at schools.

This affected things like sports teams, school clubs, and the like. general/social fraternities and sororities were exempt (as are a few other groups), but most other groups were not. This affected my fraternity, and was one of the factors that caused us to go co-ed. There were other college groups that also went co-ed for the same reason (ex: Iron Arrow Society at University of Miami).

Since it was the 30th anniversary of it recently, there has been several articles about it. But most of them focused on the affects on college sports.

Hope this helps.

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by emb021
Title IX, EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972 to use its full name, is a federal law dealing with school receiving governement funding that was created to force gender equality at schools.

This affected things like sports teams, school clubs, and the like. general/social fraternities and sororities were exempt (as are a few other groups), but most other groups were not. This affected my fraternity, and was one of the factors that caused us to go co-ed. There were other college groups that also went co-ed for the same reason (ex: Iron Arrow Society at University of Miami).

Since it was the 30th anniversary of it recently, there has been several articles about it. But most of them focused on the affects on college sports.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. I should have been clearer with my question. I know what Title IX is. I had never heard of it being relevant to GLOs or more specifically NPHC orgs.

[sigmadiva]

AFAIK there is nothing specifically stated that says if a person is a member of a non-NPHC sorority, then she can not be a member of SGR.

But, since we don't have detail information on this situation and the OP posted the same question in the Zeta Phi Beta forum, I am going to let this one go.......

[Debutante]

Originally posted by Drknprty
First of all no, it's not me. SHE doesn't have the internet! And to ask a question to the last note. Did the girl who was in AGD transfer to a different state? Or schools?

she transfered to a different state

[emb021]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Thanks. I should have been clearer with my question. I know what Title IX is. I had never heard of it being relevant to GLOs or more specifically NPHC orgs.

Most people aren't aware of its relevance to GLOs.

As I noted, socials were exempted from it, so those involved in social GLOs are probably unaware of it or its affects on college organizations.

However, non-socials (service, professional, honorary, etc) were definetly affected.

The affects of it was of grave concern to APO. As a service fraternity, we were not exempt from it. We could have lost chapters at schools if their administration decided to push the matter. We worked to both get ourselves exempted from it (didn't work), and to get our actives to approve going co-ed (happened in 1976).

I know that Iron Arrow, an honorary men's leadership organization at Univ of Miami was kicked off campus under Title IX for refusing to go co-ed. When they changed their policy 10-15 years later, they were allowed back on campus.

[PhiRhoSister]

Are the 2 service sororities, Gamma Sigma Sigma and Omega Phi Alpha also co-ed? Just a little confused, and trying to understand.

Originally posted by emb021
However, non-socials (service, professional, honorary, etc) were definetly affected.

The affects of it was of grave concern to APO. As a service fraternity, we were not exempt from it. We could have lost chapters at schools if their administration decided to push the matter. We worked to both get ourselves exempted from it (didn't work), and to get our actives to approve going co-ed (happened in 1976).

Originally posted by emb021
There are only 2 Service Sororities: Gamma Sigma Sigma and Omega Phi Alpha. All the others are either social, honorary, or professional.

[Atlanta_OPhiA]

Are the 2 service sororities, Gamma Sigma Sigma and Omega Phi Alpha also co-ed? Just a little confused, and trying to understand.

Omega Phi Alpha is pretty much the same as Gamma Sigma Sigma. We are open to both males and females, but almost all of our sisters are female. One of our chapters does have a male sister; however, it's very very uncommon.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by ladygreek
Thanks. I should have been clearer with my question. I know what Title IX is. I had never heard of it being relevant to GLOs or more specifically NPHC orgs.

It is relevant to all organizations that are supported by or recognized by an educational institution that receives federal funding.

Simply put, the Department of Education can withhold federal funds (including loans to eligible students and grants) from any educational institution that supports or recognizes any organization that discriminates in membership selection on the basis of sex. Thus, schools have a very real incentive to deny recognition to single-sex organizations.

Among the limited exceptions to this requirement are "social fraternities and sororities." So, a school can recognize "social fraternities and sororities" without endangering the ability to receive federal funds under Title IX. Professional, honorary and service GLOs, on the other hand, were pretty much forced by Title IX to go co-ed.

As far as NPHC orgs go, my understanding is that they traditionally refer to themselves as service organizations. But it appears that they also meet the Department of Education's criteria for "social" fraternities and sororities, even if they would not usually refer to themselves as "social."

[ladygreek]

Originally posted by MysticCat81

As far as NPHC orgs go, my understanding is that they traditionally refer to themselves as service organizations. But it appears that they also meet the Department of Education's criteria for "social" fraternities and sororities, even if they would not usually refer to themselves as "social."

You are correct. We are 501(c)(7) orgs.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by ladygreek
You are correct. We are 501(c)(7) orgs.

That is a tax classification, though. It has little if anything to do with whether the Dept of Education would consider a fraternity or sorority to be "social" within the meaning of Title IX.

[preciousjeni]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
That is a tax classification, though. It has little if anything to do with whether the Dept of Education would consider a fraternity or sorority to be "social" within the meaning of Title IX.

Wellll - actually, social fraternities/sororities are exempt if they are also exempt from taxes under "section 501(a) of title 26" and if the active membership consists of students of a college/university.