UC-Davis: Co-ed Group Request to Associate with Panhellenic

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by clemsongirl

...I'm curious: what benefit do these groups get out of Panhellenic affiliation versus not being Panhellenic associates?

OPA has a few chapters who are associate members of their campus Panhellenic group. They don't participate in recruitment, but they do participate in all of the other traditional Greek events -- which they wouldn't be able to do if they weren't associated with Panhellenic on the local level. Those vary from campus to campus but include Greek Week, philanthropy competitions, Homecoming competitions, etc. The chapters who have chosen to do this are happy with their relationships within the Greek community on their campuses. On the other hand, many of our other chapters would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into an associated Panhellenic membership. It's just not their thing.

[sigmadiva]

Thank you for the explanation OPhiAGinger. It makes sense that other non-NPC sororities may benefit from being part of the CPC.


But the question is why would a co-ed group want to join the CPC?

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

Thank you for the explanation OPhiAGinger. It makes sense that other non-NPC sororities may benefit from being part of the CPC.


But the question is why would a co-ed group want to join the CPC?

How many male members do they actually have? They may welcome male members, but still identify with the sorority experience and having a small number of mister sisters doesn't change that. If the university is mandating that they be part of a council for oversight reasons, the local Panhellenic council may be best fit.

This is how they define themselves on the UC Davis website:

Originally Posted by Lambda Delta Lambda"

Lambda Delta Lambda is a local sorority, comprised of a fun-loving, queer friendly, sisterhood with open minds. We regard ourselves as not being the typical sorority and are open to students of all sexualities and gender identities. While we are a Greek organization our message to the campus and community is one of acceptance and hope for equality.

I think it comes down to whether the term "sorority" mandates single sex. I don't think it does. Your mileage may vary.

But I also have to wonder…. If the acceptance of LDL into the local Panhellenic council does not have any implications over how NPC chapters recruit their members or operate their own chapters, why would the existing Panhellenic members oppose it?

[OPhiAGinger]

Originally Posted by sigmadiva

Thank you for the explanation OPhiAGinger. It makes sense that other non-NPC sororities may benefit from being part of the CPC.


But the question is why would a co-ed group want to join the CPC?

How many male members do they actually have? They may welcome male members, but still identify with the sorority experience and having a small number of mister sisters doesn't change that. I can't find any evidence that they have male members at all, just that they are open to it! If the university is mandating that they be part of a council for oversight reasons, the local Panhellenic council may be best fit.

This is how they define themselves on the UC Davis website:

Originally Posted by Lambda Delta Lambda"

Lambda Delta Lambda is a local sorority, comprised of a fun-loving, queer friendly, sisterhood with open minds. We regard ourselves as not being the typical sorority and are open to students of all sexualities and gender identities. While we are a Greek organization our message to the campus and community is one of acceptance and hope for equality.

I think it comes down to whether the term "sorority" mandates single sex. I don't think it does. Your mileage may vary.

But I also have to wonder…. If the acceptance of LDL into the local Panhellenic council does not have any implications over how NPC sororities recruit or operate their own chapters, why would the existing Panhellenic members oppose it?

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

This is how they define themselves on the UC Davis website:

I think it comes down to whether the term "sorority" mandates single sex. I don't think it does. Your mileage may vary.

But I also have to wonder…. If the acceptance of LDL into the local Panhellenic council does not have any implications over how NPC sororities recruit or operate their own chapters, why would the existing Panhellenic members oppose it?

My understanding is that the term sorority was coined to mean a 'fraternity for women', and if so, then by definition the term sorority implies a fraternal group of women. As in people with two (2) X chromosomes.

My only guess as to why the existing Panhelleninc may oppose it would be due to "guilt by association". If the current NPC chapters do not identify themselves as LDL does, then the NPC chapters may not want to have any association whatsoever with LDL.