I want to join a fraternity!

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by dnall

Regarding non-members being involved... while many things are similar about the way an undergraduate chapter operates from one org to another, the advisory/governance side is often very different.

My fraternity is an old major national and we operate with an a board system. It is primarily advisory in practice, but has significant governance powers over the overall local org (chapter, alumni assoc, & liaison function with housing corp). Within that corporate board structure, the majority of are obviously alumni. However, there is no restriction that trustees be initiates. When establishing a new chapter, we routinely pull in parents, faculty, and possibly even someone from the community. With established chapters, the faculty advisor (mostly for signing stuff) sometimes sits on that board, and about half the time they'll have a parent's club rep as a trustee. Male non-initiates who make a solid contribution after serving on such boards for a while are often honorary initiated. Obviously that is not the greek experience that everyone else had though.

That's interesting.

To the OP, you really should have considered that before you picked your school. At this point, if you're serious about this, you should transfer. I don't get the grad student user name and what you're asking. If you're in grad school you may have missed your chance, but should still inquire with some chapters at schools you'd be willing to transfer to.

I disagree. There are ways of getting involved in your community and being social without being in a fraternity. I wouldn't transfer unless it was for academic reasons.

[elicampbell]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

Swerving, but you allow non-members to get involved with chapter business? I can see an alum coming back in an advisory role, but not a random person coming around.

Interesting.

SigEp has Alumni Volunteer Corp. Some volunteers are not members. We do not let them participate in ritual, membership selection or anything that is related ritualistic. It is not as if we throw open the doors and let everyone in see our ritual. There are some volunteer positions that are only open to members of the fraternity.

I hope that this answers your question.

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

That's interesting.



I disagree. There are ways of getting involved in your community and being social without being in a fraternity. I wouldn't transfer unless it was for academic reasons.

There are lots of great schools out there with great programs, some of which have everything one wants including a greek system and one that has the organization that one's mom/dad was/is part of. Why not choose one of them and get the entire college experience that one seeks? There is nothing wrong with this. To some people, this is important. To others, not so much and that's okay too.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

There are lots of great schools out there with great programs, some of which have everything one wants including a greek system and one that has the organization that one's mom/dad was/is part of. Why not choose one of them and get the entire college experience that one seeks? There is nothing wrong with this. To some people, this is important. To others, not so much and that's okay too.

I don't see transferring exclusively because of Greek Life. Just as I wouldn't get transferring for any student organization. Particularly for more life-long oriented organziations, there are ways to join later, or for others fill the desire for a social or service life in other ways. Sure, include Greek Life in your considerations when choosing a school, but transferring in/for graduate school purely for Greek Life? Nuh uh.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by elicampbell

SigEp has Alumni Volunteer Corp. Some volunteers are not members. We do not let them participate in ritual, membership selection or anything that is related ritualistic. It is not as if we throw open the doors and let everyone in see our ritual. There are some volunteer positions that are only open to members of the fraternity.

I hope that this answers your question.

It does. Thanks.

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

There are lots of great schools out there with great programs, some of which have everything one wants including a greek system and one that has the organization that one's mom/dad was/is part of. Why not choose one of them and get the entire college experience that one seeks? There is nothing wrong with this. To some people, this is important. To others, not so much and that's okay too.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I don't see transferring exclusively because of Greek Life. Just as I wouldn't get transferring for any student organization. Particularly for more life-long oriented organziations, there are ways to join later, or for others fill the desire for a social or service life in other ways. Sure, include Greek Life in your considerations when choosing a school, but transferring in/for graduate school purely for Greek Life? Nuh uh.

Exactly. I'm all for getting the total college experience, but you can get it without being Greek. If you want to transfer because the new school is better for your degree, fine -- I'd encourage it. Transferring because you want to be an XYZ doesn't make sense, though.

[Cesky]

My dad is alive and well. It never occurred to me to say "is," but it makes sense in retrospect.

Guys, thanks for your help! I think the best course of action here would be to give a call to the chapter I'm thinking about joining, and see if they accept grads.

It's a very tough situation. The university here is really very ideal for me. Academically and cost-wise, it's a dream, so unfortunately it doesn't make much sense to transfer because there are no Greek houses.

Thanks again!

[Titchou]

To clarify my assumption for all of you, it beat the alternative of assuming he meant his father resigned his membership - which is the other "was." However, since he didn't know he was already a legacy (that happened when he was born), I should have known he was not conversant with the proper language. I tend to take things literally when people make statements.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Cesky

It's a very tough situation. The university here is really very ideal for me. Academically and cost-wise, it's a dream, so unfortunately it doesn't make much sense to transfer because there are no Greek houses.

And I think this is your answer, especially given that even if the chapter in which you're interested is able and willing to offer a bid to grad students generally, there's no guarantee they'd offer a bid to you.

Originally Posted by Titchou

To clarify my assumption for all of you, it beat the alternative of assuming he meant his father resigned his membership - which is the other "was." However, since he didn't know he was already a legacy (that happened when he was born), I should have known he was not conversant with the proper language. I tend to take things literally when people make statements.

Huh? Assuming his father is dead "beats" assuming his father resigned membership? (Which, as long as you're assuming, would mean he's not a legacy because his father isn't a member.)

Sometimes it's just better to keep your assumptions to yourself.

[BluPhire]

Originally Posted by Titchou

To clarify my assumption for all of you, it beat the alternative of assuming he meant his father resigned his membership - which is the other "was." However, since he didn't know he was already a legacy (that happened when he was born), I should have known he was not conversant with the proper language. I tend to take things literally when people make statements.

Some clarifications should not be clarified.

Just take the charge and keep it moving.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by BluPhire

Some clarifications should not be clarified.

Just take the charge and keep it moving.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Huh? Assuming his father is dead "beats" assuming his father resigned membership? (Which, as long as you're assuming, would mean he's not a legacy because his father isn't a member.)

Sometimes it's just better to keep your assumptions to yourself.

Yeah...that's a combo of and LOL

[rhoyaltempest]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

I don't see transferring exclusively because of Greek Life. Just as I wouldn't get transferring for any student organization. Particularly for more life-long oriented organziations, there are ways to join later, or for others fill the desire for a social or service life in other ways. Sure, include Greek Life in your considerations when choosing a school, but transferring in/for graduate school purely for Greek Life? Nuh uh.

Where did you get purely for greek life? Where? I said there are schools that have ALL that one wants including greek life.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Where did you get purely for greek life? Where? I said there are schools that have ALL that one wants including greek life.

It's the context of the thread. The post that they responded to stated that he should transfer if he's really serious about this (Greek Life). Therefore, if the OP were to transfer it would primarily be for Greek Life.

[agzg]

Especially because he (albeit) later clarified that the college he's at currently is ideal in every other way.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by rhoyaltempest

Where did you get purely for greek life? Where? I said there are schools that have ALL that one wants including greek life.

What Dr. Phil said. Dnall brought up the idea that if this was sooooo important the OP should have transferred purely for the purpose of joining an org.

I agreed with you about the rest of it.


---
And seriously, one assumes that someone's father is dead because they say what about 75% of non-NPHC greeks say "My parent WAS XYZ?" It's about 50/50 dumbass/asshole.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

And seriously, one assumes that someone's father is dead because they say what about 75% of non-NPHC greeks say "My parent WAS XYZ?" It's about 50/50 dumbass/asshole.

Have I been out of the loop or has Drolefille been really really really cut throat this week? LOL.