NIC "Open Expansion"

[Firehouse]

Originally Posted by tallgreekalum

NIC members can be sanctioned, including being kicked out of NIC, for the actions of individual chapters on this issue. If fraternity ABC has a chapter at State U that votes against expansion, fraternity ABC could demand (and NIC could enforce) that State U chapter lose their charter. That is extreme of course, but possible. I know it has been discussed before. If a private school has no expansion policy, and IFC prohibits expansion, the same scenario would apply. I know I've been approached, and have approached other fraternities on this subject.

No disrespect intended but this is just wrong. The chances of any good national allowing the NIC to discipline or supend one of its chapters for virtually any reason is less than the chance of me being elected homecoming queen. Nationals DO try to influence their chapters regarding free expansion, and the NIC does play a positive role in this, but the NIC has no enforcement power of any kind. I suppose they could always kic out a national, but there are always Nationals who threaten to drop out - I think Phi Delt, SAE, Pike and maybe others did drop out at various times becasue they were unhappy with the NIC's weak stance on various issues.
That said, I do strongly support the idea of free expansion and I'm glad the various Nationals and the NIC are aggressive in support of that policy. But...I saw recently our own IFC vote down a fraternity that had come off suspension. The small fraternities voted against them becasue they either wanted their land or becasue they didn't wnat increased competition. My chapter and other large fraternities voted to reinstate them but couldn't get enough votes. The applying fraternity appealed to the university and the administrators reinstated them on appeal.

[tallgreekalum]

NIC could sanction the national, not the individual chapter or IFC.
From the NIC Bylaws

Section 3 . Followup of Standards. The Board of Directors, by a two-thirds vote of all its members, may expel, or impose lesser disciplinary action which the Board may determine to be appropriate under the circumstances, against the offender for conduct or activity found by the Board to be in violation of Article X Section 1. Lesser Disciplinary action may include, but is not limited to; fines, public censure, or a period of suspension of voting rights.

Originally Posted by Firehouse

No disrespect intended but this is just wrong. The chances of any good national allowing the NIC to discipline or supend one of its chapters for virtually any reason is less than the chance of me being elected homecoming queen. Nationals DO try to influence their chapters regarding free expansion, and the NIC does play a positive role in this, but the NIC has no enforcement power of any kind. I suppose they could always kic out a national, but there are always Nationals who threaten to drop out - I think Phi Delt, SAE, Pike and maybe others did drop out at various times becasue they were unhappy with the NIC's weak stance on various issues.
That said, I do strongly support the idea of free expansion and I'm glad the various Nationals and the NIC are aggressive in support of that policy. But...I saw recently our own IFC vote down a fraternity that had come off suspension. The small fraternities voted against them becasue they either wanted their land or becasue they didn't wnat increased competition. My chapter and other large fraternities voted to reinstate them but couldn't get enough votes. The applying fraternity appealed to the university and the administrators reinstated them on appeal.