Initiated, Transferring to a School with a Colony

[AZTheta]

And some (IMO progressive) GLOs will let anyone affiliate anywhere at any time (provided that they are members in good standing and meet academic requirements, for example).

After all, if you are an initiated member of your fraternity/sorority, you've already gone through one membership selection process, and you shouldn't ever have to go through another, correct?

*sits back and waits for it...*

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

And some (IMO progressive) GLOs will let anyone affiliate anywhere at any time (provided that they are members in good standing and meet academic requirements, for example).

After all, if you are an initiated member of your fraternity/sorority, you've already gone through one membership selection process, and you shouldn't ever have to go through another, correct?

*sits back and waits for it...*

I like it in theory, but sometimes in practice things can end up messy and tear a chapter apart.

I'm not talking about the superficial situations where "Nancy Nu is way too fat and ugly to be one of us." More of the situations where Sally Sigma had to leave her previous school primarily because of behavioral and reputation issues and continues right down that path at the new school.

Also, there really are chapters in the south where dozens of women would continue to come in through the back door via a "lesser" chapter were there not these rules in place. Those kinds of deliberate transfers can have a horrible effect on the originating chapter, both numbers and morale wise.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

I like it in theory, but sometimes in practice things can end up messy and tear a chapter apart.

I'm not talking about the superficial situations where "Nancy Nu is way too fat and ugly to be one of us." More of the situations where Sally Sigma had to leave her previous school primarily because of behavioral and reputation issues and continues right down that path at the new school.

If this is the case, though, her first chapter should be dealing with her behavior, and if she is suspended (or even expelled) from her chapter, she is not in good standing.

Let's be honest, there is hardly ever a good reason not to let someone affiliate.

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Let's be honest, there is hardly ever a good reason not to let someone affiliate.

I think that's highly subjective depending on whether your experience is with a chapter in its final death throes or one that is extremely competitive and selective.

[Tulip86]

Originally Posted by Old_Row

I think that's highly subjective depending on whether your experience is with a chapter in its final death throes or one that is extremely competitive and selective.

I'm just curious why?
Because an affiliation of a sister in good standing doesn't seem like a problem to me. She's an initiated sister and is there really a difference between initiated sisters from different chapters? Because this makes it sound like sisters from "chapters in its final death throes" are somehow not good enough for the "extremely competitive chapter".

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Tulip86

I'm just curious why?
Because an affiliation of a sister in good standing doesn't seem like a problem to me. She's an initiated sister and is there really a difference between initiated sisters from different chapters? Because this makes it sound like sisters from "chapters in its final death throes" are somehow not good enough for the "extremely competitive chapter".

Yes, there can be a HUGE difference between initiated sisters from different chapters. There are some chapters I would have never had a prayer of getting into, some chapters I would have fit right into, and some chapters I would not have wanted to be part of if I was paid (and yeah, that includes some "extremely competitive" chapters). That doesn't make them evil betrayers of sisterhood. As I touched on, sometimes the Greek system AS A WHOLE is so different from school to school you just wouldn't feel comfortable. I would never want to be in a huge SEC chapter, period, and most of the Greek alums from my school (regardless of chapter) feel the same way.

I mean, we pick women ultimately based on whether they fit into the chapter in some intangible way. Let's not pretend that just because you go through a ritual or two, that all gets swept under a rug and "OMG! You're my sister!! Love!!" Should women be given every chance and a bit of time to meet and try to fit in with the chapter, as AnchorAlumna said? Yes. Should BOTH sides realize that it may not work? Yes.

And that "death throes" comment was a little ridiculous. If anything, those chapters should be just as careful, if not more, about letting anyone affiliate.

[Tulip86]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Yes, there can be a HUGE difference between initiated sisters from different chapters. There are some chapters I would have never had a prayer of getting into, some chapters I would have fit right into, and some chapters I would not have wanted to be part of if I was paid (and yeah, that includes some "extremely competitive" chapters). That doesn't make them evil betrayers of sisterhood. As I touched on, sometimes the Greek system AS A WHOLE is so different from school to school you just wouldn't feel comfortable. I would never want to be in a huge SEC chapter, period, and most of the Greek alums from my school (regardless of chapter) feel the same way.

I mean, we pick women ultimately based on whether they fit into the chapter in some intangible way. Let's not pretend that just because you go through a ritual or two, that all gets swept under a rug and "OMG! You're my sister!! Love!!" Should women be given every chance and a bit of time to meet and try to fit in with the chapter, as AnchorAlumna said? Yes. Should BOTH sides realize that it may not work? Yes.

And that "death throes" comment was a little ridiculous. If anything, those chapters should be just as careful, if not more, about letting anyone affiliate.

Thanks for the explanation, I've only experienced/seen Greek life at a school where it's very laid-back and these SEC/huge Greek system schools remain somewhat of an mystery.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by AzTheta

And some (IMO progressive) GLOs will let anyone affiliate anywhere at any time (provided that they are members in good standing and meet academic requirements, for example).

After all, if you are an initiated member of your fraternity/sorority, you've already gone through one membership selection process, and you shouldn't ever have to go through another, correct?

*sits back and waits for it...*

I agree.

[AnchorAlumna]

There's a theory that you can't affiliate with a chapter that doesn't exist, and a colony is not a chapter.
Unless, of course, you've got language in your regulations and policies that allow affiliation with a colony.