Want to re-activate a dormant chapter

[KSUViolet06]

Also, just because you really want it and you have other alumnae who really want it doesn't mean that this is the right time for the school to add a new sorority. Expansion depends on what the Greek Life Office and school feels is right for the Panhellenic community at this time.

If they don't think expansion is right for them at this point, then you really have no choice but to let it go. No amount of calls, emails, etc. is going to change their feelings. Their feelings COULD change in a few years if the sororities are consistently at total, but this isn't what they want to do now.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by OTW

Obviously you can't re-open a chapter whose campus has closed or gotten rid of Greek Life. But what about chapters that only lasted a few years? Chapters that got the sorority in heaps of trouble? I can't help but wonder if I/HQs intentionally stay away from certain campuses (either "ok, that might have not been the best idea then...maybe now's not a good time to try again" OR "yeah, we're never going back") where they had former chapters, even if that campus has opened up for expansion.

Originally Posted by Just interested

Also, sororities could have a "bad taste in their mouth" about how they were treated by the Panhellenic community and do not wish to return to a campus because of that reputation. I personally always love to see former chapters re-established if at all possible but sometimes it's not possible.

Yes and yes.

And in both cases, sometimes a change of leadership either at the GLO's national level or at the college can turn the situation completely around.

[freeverse]

The coordinator for Greek Life got back to me and said they are looking to open for expansion within the year. She didn't say they are open for expansion at the present moment but they are hoping to open by Spring semester! She also told me that there is no guarentee that they will open so I know it may not happen.

As far as whether or not it would be a good idea for my sorority to re-open, personally I think there would be a lot of people with mixed feelings because there was a lot that went down when they closed. But that was so long ago and people have grown up, moved on and changed. This all happened in the early 90's which as much as some of us hate to admit, was a long time ago.

I think a new sorority is what the campus needs. I am not sure Greek life has a positive image on campus, and I think a lot has to do with the fact that unfortunately, the stereotypes have stayed the same throughout the years. There are so many girls who would have made great sorority women who were too intimidated or just misinformed. I personally think a new sorority would make the school a bit more competitive and entice girls to go through recruitment.

So, if someone could clarify but I wasn't quite clear with an earlier response- since my sorority is the only one with a closed chapter, would we have first priority over other NPC's that have never had a chapter there? Or is it fair game for everyone?

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by freeverse

So, if someone could clarify but I wasn't quite clear with an earlier response- since my sorority is the only one with a closed chapter, would we have first priority over other NPC's that have never had a chapter there? Or is it fair game for everyone?

It is suggested that dormant chapters have priority but that is not always the case.

Originally Posted by freeverse

So, if someone could clarify but I wasn't quite clear with an earlier response- since my sorority is the only one with a closed chapter, would we have first priority over other NPC's that have never had a chapter there? Or is it fair game for everyone?

Some campuses give them first consideration. Some campuses consider everyone.

While it's quite wonderful that you have these ideas and opinions on what the campus needs, it really doesn't mean anything if your HQ isn't interested in going back to that campus.

[freeverse]

Thanks so much for the clarification!

I do know that back in the early 80's when the school was open for expansion (the last time it was!) a sorority which closed in the early 70's was re-chartered. They gave that group first priority. I know they have done this with the fraternities as well.

Hopefully this will be the case for us!

[Denise_DPhiE]

Originally Posted by freeverse

So, if someone could clarify but I wasn't quite clear with an earlier response- since my sorority is the only one with a closed chapter, would we have first priority over other NPC's that have never had a chapter there? Or is it fair game for everyone?

I was on an NPC extension call recently and this came up - the campus is to give "consideration" to dormant groups but that is it. This means when they open, they invite 3 groups to campus to present and often, the dormant may get an invite (in the case of Bucknell, there were at least 3 dormants and I'm not sure any of them got invited).

I have seen a couple of cases where, once presentations happened, the dormant group(s) did not get the campus and the group who had no history there did. Previous campus history does not give a group a definite "in".

Extension in the 80s was different than today. Today, larger NPC groups are vying for the same campuses as smaller NPC groups. Larger groups have more resourves and often, it comes down to a financial commitment from a group such as a dedicated chapter consultant to live on/near campus for 1-2 years. Some groups just can't afford to do that.

[AimHigh]

Hi all.

I havent posted very much on the boards but I feel the need to chime in here. This past fall, Adelphi University added Phi Sigma Sigma to it's list of NPC Organizations on campus. The school was against adding another sorority, and myself, along with other deadicated women fought hard to reopen the Epsilon Chapter of Phi Sigma Sigma December 6th, 2008. We werent "open" for expansion either, and remained an interest group for a little over two years, and now our dream became a reality.

I share my story with you to let you know that there is hope. Perhaps there are low numbers in the other organizations because the women are looking for something new or a different perspective on Greek Life. If you can become involved or if you know a woman who is interested at your Alma Mata do not give up hope.

Best of luck!

[33girl]

Originally Posted by AimHigh

myself, along with other dedicated women !

And there's the rub.

You had an interest group of COLLEGIATE women who stuck together. The OP has a group of ALUMNAE women who apparently believe they know what the campus needs better than the students who are already there.

Sorry for the bitchy tone, but this thread has been bugging the crap out of me. I think every alum of a closed chapter wants it to reopen - but if you don't care what the current students want, you're not going to get too far.

[SWTXBelle]

Speaking as an alumna of a closed chapter, I think the best thing an alumna can do is be an active alumna of her GLO and support her alma mater. Everything else is simply not in her control.

[AlphaXi1997]

My initiating chapter closed after I graduated, so I understand where you're coming from! You will definitely want to check with your inter/national headquarters about this. There is probably a specific staff member or volunteer who is in charge of extension but anyone on staff should be able to direct you to the correct person to talk with.

I know that my organization does not want alumnae to individually contact the college Panhellenic because it could reflect negatively on the inter/national organization. If multiple alumnae are contacting the college Panhellenic to ask when their chapter will be re-established, it could give a bad impression of the organization as a whole or it could lead the college Panhellenic to believe that the organization is interested in returning, when in fact that might not be the case.

Regardless of whether your initiating chapter is re-established, I highly suggest that you look into volunteer opportunities in or near the city that you live in now. I have been volunteering with my sorority for the past five years and have worked with four different chapters in my area. This has definitely helped to fill the void that was created when my initiating chapter closed.

Good luck!!

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by 33girl

And there's the rub.

You had an interest group of COLLEGIATE women who stuck together. The OP has a group of ALUMNAE women who apparently believe they know what the campus needs better than the students who are already there.

Sorry for the bitchy tone, but this thread has been bugging the crap out of me. I think every alum of a closed chapter wants it to reopen - but if you don't care what the current students want, you're not going to get too far.

Unless I'm reading it wrong, what's exceptional in this case is that the alumna, who has worked with her GLO since graduation, here will be a current grad student at that school in a field where working closely with student organizations and campus life would dovetail with her studies.

Sure you all are right that typically one individual doesn't drive the expansion process, but oddly, it does kind of sound like the campus had merely been complacent about their number of groups and Freeverse's interest is at least causing them to examine the status of their system.

And honestly, I'm not sure it is typical for expansion to be initiated by students on campus. I think it's probably equally as likely that it comes about because Greek Life staff are well versed in the desires of NPC groups to expand and they see that the campus numbers could support another chapter. I can't think of an SEC expansion that started with an interest group, for instance. And I'd be somewhat surprised if it was the school undergraduate Panhellenic members that got the ball rolling. I suspect that it depends a lot on the size of the system and if the school even has full time greek life employees.

[aopirose]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

And honestly, I'm not sure it is typical for expansion to be initiated by students on campus. I think it's probably equally as likely that it comes about because Greek Life staff are well versed in the desires of NPC groups to expand and they see that the campus numbers could support another chapter. I can't think of an SEC expansion that started with an interest group, for instance. And I'd be somewhat surprised if it was the school undergraduate Panhellenic members that got the ball rolling. I suspect that it depends a lot on the size of the system and if the school even has full time greek life employees.

It's usually a combination of things but CPHs should be evaluating extension possibilities every few years anyway. If an interest group of 30 women pops up, they are hard to ignore. However, I agree that sometimes a CPH can get complacent with the status quo. Sometimes it is because of comfort with chapter size but also some CPHs know that they cannot physically accomodate (i.e. house) a new chapter.

There have been IG driven expansions at SEC schools but those were more than 8 years ago.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by aopirose

It's usually a combination of things but CPHs should be evaluating extension possibilities every few years anyway. If an interest group of 30 women pops up, they are hard to ignore. However, I agree that sometimes a CPH can get complacent with the status quo. Sometimes it is because of comfort with chapter size but also some CPHs know that they cannot physically accomodate (i.e. house) a new chapter.

There have been IG driven expansions at SEC schools but those were more than 8 years ago.

I know it's a hijack, but where and how did they happen. It blows my mind that it would even be possible. Was it a case in which Panhellenic was open to expansion and sort of went the interest group route?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I can't think of an SEC expansion that started with an interest group, for instance.

That's different than the average school. I think the students there (who don't already know it) are inoculated after a semester or so to know that it's a big big big undertaking.

Just some of the things the OP said threw up red flags for me - like Greek life doesn't have a good image and she thinks having her GLO back on campus would fix it. If she really is going to be in SA, she should realize that fixing what is already there is of more importance than bringing something new in - my favorite "having a baby to save a bad marriage" analogy.

Like AlphaXi1997 mentioned - she's kind of overstepping regardless of what her major is. She needs to worry about getting her degree, not recolonizing her sorority.