Help Finding a non-NPC Sorority to Affiliate With!

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by LPIDelta

Normally I am all for new locals and people starting new groups if warranted, but it seems odd to me that they won't allow another NPC because of numbers but they will go ahead and ok another sorority. That really won't improve the situation for the NPC groups, or the other sororities on campus, and given all that the current orgs have invested to be on campus I would hope they would honor that first.

Why not approach one of the existing orgs as a group and offer a "merger" of sorts? Sometimes recruitment just isn't run correctly and it causes all kinds of issues with women going unmatched. If the groups are as hard off as you seem to indicate, I would think they might jump at the chance to add a whole group of friends to the mix who are interested in making a difference for Greek life.

Otherwise, you have have your work cut out for you. GOOD LUCK!

The rules for allowing another NPC on campus are specific and laid down by the NPC. A non-NPC sorority wouldn't have to jump through the same hoops.

[Ch2tf]

Originally Posted by rcnjinterest

We're not looking to steal/imitate someone else's hard work and progress with an organization that has already been founded. We're trying to figure out if there is a local group interested in expansion, or a national glo which represents the values we stand for that we could create a colony and become a part of. If not, we're going to go the route of creating our own, original organization. A majority of the girls, myself included, think that having other chapters at different institutions is something that we would like to be a part of.

I think it might help to be a bit more specific if you want help seeking additional resources. You mentioned you would like to affiliate with a group that shares the same values the women of the interest group have. So what are those values. You've seemed to already rule out the other four organizations on your campus, so I'm assuming your looking for a NPC like recruitment process?? I would think you should be looking at at small national or a regional sorority as locals don't tend to do much expansion.

Because of the proliferation of sooo many organizations I would suggest doing tons of research because I can almost guarantee there is an organization out there that share the same ideals that you women have.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by rcnjinterest

Both myself and the other original founder of our group of girls have gone through formal recruitment. I recieved a bid to one of the npc groups on campus, but it was not one that I was interested in being a part of for various reasons. After attending what we were told was the "largest recuitment process ever" at our school, many sororities took very small pledge classes and many girls were "unchosen".

Do you know for a FACT that these other girls were not given bids by ANY sorority, or did they turn down bids or drop out before the end of rush?

"I didn't like the options I had so I quit before pref" or "I turned down the bid because I didn't like the sorority" does not equal "unchosen."

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

The rules for allowing another NPC on campus are specific and laid down by the NPC. A non-NPC sorority wouldn't have to jump through the same hoops.

Yes, I am well aware of why she is looking for a non-NPC national. Her school does not allow locals and the NPCs have essentially voted "no" to expansion. I don't think jumping through another hoop to get around the NPC vote is really fair or a good idea. The Greek Life person needs to support the existing sororities first.

Originally Posted by LPIDelta

Her school does not allow locals [...]

Where'd you get this bit of information? The OP said in her first post that they were looking at locals.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by LPIDelta

Yes, I am well aware of why she is looking for a non-NPC national. Her school does not allow locals and the NPCs have essentially voted "no" to expansion. I don't think jumping through another hoop to get around the NPC vote is really fair or a good idea. The Greek Life person needs to support the existing sororities first.

Sorry but NPC isn't the end all be all of sorority life. Perhaps on this campus multicultural sororities fare better than NPC chapters. There's nothing "fair" or "unfair" about it. These girls are, apparently, not interested in joining an existing chapter, and would like to affiliate, if possible, with an existing organization.

Outside of the NPC world "fair" is not necessarily an issue. It's freedom of association. They're following the campus rules and shouldn't be prohibited from starting a new organization simply because the NPCs on campus (50% of the sororities) aren't ready to expand.

[rcnjinterest]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Do you know for a FACT that these other girls were not given bids by ANY sorority, or did they turn down bids or drop out before the end of rush?

"I didn't like the options I had so I quit before pref" or "I turned down the bid because I didn't like the sorority" does not equal "unchosen."

I can't say that I do, because I don't know them all personally.

[rcnjinterest]

Originally Posted by OTW

Where'd you get this bit of information? The OP said in her first post that they were looking at locals.

There is some sort of confusion on our campus regarding the allowance of Locals which is currently being investigated. A multicultural sorority originated here only six years ago, so locals were at least recently allowed. One of our girls is speaking to our school's Greek adviser about this, hopefully tomorrow, in order to get a clear answer on this.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Sorry but NPC isn't the end all be all of sorority life. Perhaps on this campus multicultural sororities fare better than NPC chapters. There's nothing "fair" or "unfair" about it. These girls are, apparently, not interested in joining an existing chapter, and would like to affiliate, if possible, with an existing organization.

Outside of the NPC world "fair" is not necessarily an issue. It's freedom of association. They're following the campus rules and shouldn't be prohibited from starting a new organization simply because the NPCs on campus (50% of the sororities) aren't ready to expand.

My opposition has nothing to do with NPC or non-NPC---I was part of a local that colonized with an NPC during my undergraduate years, so I have no bias and I believe there is a place for local organizations on some campuses. If this was a campus of all local organizations that voted not to allow expansion because several were not at total or otherwise struggling, I would say the same thing. Campuses need to invest in those who have invested in them--in this case, the groups that already exist. And while sometimes a new group can infuse the system with energy, it is my understanding that the "system" has essentially voted 'no' and there shouldn't be a loop hole around it.

Now, if this was to found a multicultural where none existed or a service organization where none existed to fill a need, that might be different. But that's not what these women want to do, so I go back to the campus should support the existing groups first.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by LPIDelta

My opposition has nothing to do with NPC or non-NPC---I was part of a local that colonized with an NPC during my undergraduate years, so I have no bias and I believe there is a place for local organizations on some campuses. If this was a campus of all local organizations that voted not to allow expansion because several were not at total or otherwise struggling, I would say the same thing. Campuses need to invest in those who have invested in them--in this case, the groups that already exist. And while sometimes a new group can infuse the system with energy, it is my understanding that the "system" has essentially voted 'no' and there shouldn't be a loop hole around it.

Now, if this was to found a multicultural where none existed or a service organization where none existed to fill a need, that might be different. But that's not what these women want to do, so I go back to the campus should support the existing groups first.

You're ignoring that only half of the "system" has said no. There's no indication that the non-NPCs are opposed to a new chapter, or that the NPCs are opposed to a new non-NPC chapter.

Why should only half the "system" get a voice?

[33girl]

I think what LPIDelta might be talking about (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that if what a group really wants is to be NPC, they might form as a "social/service", "social/professional" or "multicultural" sorority, to get recognized, and then operate as an NPC social group would. There's been several threads on here about GSS chapters doing selective rush, having mixers with fraternities and basically behaving like NPC groups (without the alcohol rules). This is not cool. It's getting what you want by the backdoor and "using" another group for purposes that might not match their national purposes.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think what LPIDelta might be talking about (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that if what a group really wants is to be NPC, they might form as a "social/service", "social/professional" or "multicultural" sorority, to get recognized, and then operate as an NPC social group would. There's been several threads on here about GSS chapters doing selective rush, having mixers with fraternities and basically behaving like NPC groups (without the alcohol rules). This is not cool. It's getting what you want by the backdoor and "using" another group for purposes that might not match their national purposes.

Except I've not gotten the impression that they want to be anything other than a social sorority. What is so odd about affiliating with a regional/local/etc. non-NPC local?

The OP never gave any indication that they were looking at service or professional orgs specifically, and many multicultural orgs are as social as the NPC. Jumping to the conclusion that the OP's group is trying to get their chapter approved as... OPA for example... and then be a quasi-NPC doesn't appear to have any evidence in this thread.

Perhaps I'm just annoyed at the idea that a) what the NPC says goes even for non-NPCs and b) that "clearly" they're not supporting/should go look at the NPCs on campus.

[LPIDelta]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

You're ignoring that only half of the "system" has said no. There's no indication that the non-NPCs are opposed to a new chapter, or that the NPCs are opposed to a new non-NPC chapter.

Why should only half the "system" get a voice?

You're right--I probably am not giving the rest of the system its due. But this group of women wanted to started a national social/service sorority. When the group approached the "system" at their school that is in place for that type of group they essentially were turned down (because if there is a tie, the motion fails). And now they are trying to take advantage of what is essentially a loophole by researching non-NPC options. And the Greek Life person seems to be allowing it. My "beef" as it were is not with the women--they are entitled to investigate their options--its with the campus administration who is not adhering to the wishes of the existing Panhellenic. Since this group will likely have to have a relationship with the existing groups, why not try to build a relationship with them and encourage them to consider what a new group can bring to campus? Maybe one of them would change their vote?

If a new group can come to campus anyway, from a strategic standpoint, the Panhellenic might reconsider its vote to allow an new NPC so that all the groups are playing by the same rules. But essentially, their vote means nothing in this circumstance.

As far as service or honorary groups acting like social/service groups--I don't get that at all, and wouldn't advocate that.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by LPIDelta

You're right--I probably am not giving the rest of the system its due. But this group of women wanted to started a national social/service sorority. When the group approached the "system" at their school that is in place for that type of group they essentially were turned down (because if there is a tie, the motion fails). And now they are trying to take advantage of what is essentially a loophole by researching non-NPC options. And the Greek Life person seems to be allowing it. My "beef" as it were is not with the women--they are entitled to investigate their options--its with the campus administration who is not adhering to the wishes of the existing Panhellenic. Since this group will likely have to have a relationship with the existing groups, why not try to build a relationship with them and encourage them to consider what a new group can bring to campus? Maybe one of them would change their vote?

If a new group can come to campus anyway, from a strategic standpoint, the Panhellenic might reconsider its vote to allow an new NPC so that all the groups are playing by the same rules. But essentially, their vote means nothing in this circumstance.

As far as service or honorary groups acting like social/service groups--I don't get that at all, and wouldn't advocate that.

I doubt the non-NPCs are playing by the same rules as far as recruitment and anything else governed by the NPC itself. Their vote is strictly based on what is best for the NPCs on campus, not Greek women as a whole because that's what it is designed to do. So their vote means exactly what it is designed to mean. If those chapters are not at total then they need to address that, but the school sets the rules for allowing new chapters, not the college panhellenic. I don't see why the Greek Advisor has to support only half of the sororities over the other half.

I also don't see checking into your options as a backdoor or a loophole. That assumes that NPC is the ideal and the other options are also-rans.

I agree that no one should subvert a GLO's goals to run a service as a social for example, but neither should we assume that because they asked about NPC first, they're settling for something else.

[SoCalGirl]

LPIDelta, I think you're getting your threads confused. There was another thread, regarding an undisclosed school, that had two groups trying to go NPC but there was a tie when the CPC voted.