Sisterly advice needed

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Would any NPC sorority allow a member to continue to be temporarily inactive as she matriculates through the same university she was initiated at? Maybe the scope of my experience is limited but it seems to me that at some point a decision would be required.

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by IrishLake

(I love it that AZ knows our bylaws so well, because I sure don't! lol. I'm glad my Advisorship role is Education, much less drama!)

HA HA HA! I need a Scholarship Advisor, how about you fill in long distance, right? Maybe then you'll stop beating me at Zuma Blitz! The only reason I know the answer is because I was asked the question and had to find out myself that we don't have that status (early alum). I believe other NPC sororities may offer it, but we don't! I think it's cool that a member who marries while enrolled in college can remain an active member if she so chooses.

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Would any NPC sorority allow a member to continue to be temporarily inactive as she matriculates through the same university she was initiated at? Maybe the scope of my experience is limited but it seems to me that at some point a decision would be required.

Each sorority has its own rules/bylaws/policies and procedures governing inactivity. For Theta, inactivity may be granted for a specific time period for a variety of reasons, while a member continues to matriculate. I am not aware of any inactivity status lasting longer than a year, but it doesn't mean that hasn't happened.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

HA HA HA! I need a Scholarship Advisor, how about you fill in long distance, right? Maybe then you'll stop beating me at Zuma Blitz! The only reason I know the answer is because I was asked the question and had to find out myself that we don't have that status (early alum). I believe other NPC sororities may offer it, but we don't! I think it's cool that a member who marries while enrolled in college can remain an active member if she so chooses.

So her options are to remain active or resign her membership? Would marriage relieve her of her live-in obligations, for chapters with housing?

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

So her options are to remain active or resign her membership? Would marriage relieve her of her live-in obligations, for chapters with housing?

Are you referring to the OP's situation?

As I said, there are specifics that address situations where members may apply for temporary voluntary inactivity. From what the OP posted (and she hasn't been back, which I find interesting), she left school for a year and is now returning, boyfriend in tow. Unless she applies for temporary voluntary inactivity and meets the criteria that are specified in the Fraternity bylaws (and, like thetalady said, "inactive status is a complicated thing"), then she needs to either be a full-time, dues paying member, or resign.

That is, of course, unless she is a candidate for involuntary inactivity, which is a whole other kettle of fish.

As for live-in obligations and married members, I believe that would be addressed in each individual chapter's bylaws.

What about your sorority, DBB? How's it work for your members?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

Are you referring to the OP's situation?

As I said, there are specifics that address situations where members may apply for temporary voluntary inactivity. From what the OP posted (and she hasn't been back, which I find interesting), she left school for a year and is now returning, boyfriend in tow. Unless she applies for temporary voluntary inactivity and meets the criteria that are specified in the Fraternity bylaws (and, like thetalady said, "inactive status is a complicated thing"), then she needs to either be a full-time, dues paying member, or resign.

That is, of course, unless she is a candidate for involuntary inactivity, which is a whole other kettle of fish.

As for live-in obligations and married members, I believe that would be addressed in each individual chapter's bylaws.

What about your sorority, DBB? How's it work for your members?

Oh, I meant married women, not the OP

I didn't mean to seem like I was pressing you on your bylaws as they applied to the OP. I am just curious because it seems a lot of orgs have special rules for married women that hardly ever apply anymore. Kinda like how we have a candle-lighting ceremony for pregnancy, when this day and age, that would get a big at the vast majority of collegiate chapters.

It's been a while since I've perused bylaws, but Phi Mu has an interim status for women who can't be active in a given semester. It's typically granted for things like study abroad, internship/co-op/student teaching in another city, medical issues, etc. If you have a reason like that, it's pretty much rubber-stamped, in my experience (which makes sense to me...asking a woman to pay dues while she is in France would not be fair).

However, I have also seen women ask for it when they have, let's say, more subjective reasons. This can cause dischord in a hurry, because if you grant it to a woman in a situation like the OP's, then you risk making it easier for women to essentially leave the chapter without having to resign their membership.

Also, I'm *pretty sure* that the first semester that a woman was on interim status, she still counted in our numbers as far as the CPH was concerned. Obviously, this varies by campus, and in fact, it always helped to have the 4.0's from student teaching/internships included in our GPA, but it would certainly hurt to have women not participating in a chapter without being able to replace them.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Would any NPC sorority allow a member to continue to be temporarily inactive as she matriculates through the same university she was initiated at? Maybe the scope of my experience is limited but it seems to me that at some point a decision would be required.

Do you mean, she either has to be active or terminated?

I think it all depends on how much the chapter wants to pursue it, quite frankly. A chapter low on numbers who has no feeling one way or another about the girl is a TOTALLY different kettle of fish than one who has to turn away sisters they want because of an inactive still taking up space on the roll but not participating...or an inactive who plays havoc with the sorority's reputation.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Do you mean, she either has to be active or terminated?

I think it all depends on how much the chapter wants to pursue it, quite frankly. A chapter low on numbers who has no feeling one way or another about the girl is a TOTALLY different kettle of fish than one who has to turn away sisters they want because of an inactive still taking up space on the roll but not participating...or an inactive who plays havoc with the sorority's reputation.

Oh I get that chapters would handle things differently depending on their situation and the sister, but I would think that at the point where the inactive sister is getting ready to graduate, what happens? I mean if someone is initiated their freshman year, leaves for a year sophomore year then comes back to campus but never reactivates, does she get to be an lifetime alumna when she graduates if no one does anything about it? I know, this is more rhetorical but it really got me to thinking since this poster seemed to believe she had many options.

Also (and I am guessing this would vary depending on groups) wouldn't the nationals eventually wonder why the inactive was still taking up a spot in total but not paying any dues?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Also (and I am guessing this would vary depending on groups) wouldn't the nationals eventually wonder why the inactive was still taking up a spot in total but not paying any dues?

DING DING DING!

Yes. It's not just paying dues, though...it's meeting all of your requirements as a sister, only on of which is financial. I would be surprised if any national group would be okay with this.