Underground Fraternities - The Risk

[PKT4LIFE]

Our chapter at San Jose State is not recognized by the university and is referred to as "Underground". This chapter is doing well with membership (has won a few national awards). I served on their alumni board during colonization and for few years after chartering. BTW, the hazing allegation is BS, never happened.

The chapter is referred to as "San Jose", not San Jose State University due to possible legal problems.

[Kevin]

Unrecognized fraternities operate as a warning as to what will happen to schools who ban Greek Life. Their bans will be largely ignored at public universities and administrators will lack any power whatsoever to police things.

[Rod D]

U of Colorado, u of Michigan, West Virginia and I think Nevada Reno all have "unrecognized" fraternities. The have set up there own IFCs. Seems like they are doing pretty well.

[LaneSig]

IMO

"Unrecognized" - an inter/national organization recognizes the undergraduates as full members of their organization with all the rights and privileges of membership. Members of the chapter have to abide by the rules and regulations of the organization. The local university does not recognize the group as a campus organization.

"Underground" - usually founded by members of a chapter that has been closed due to risk management. They are not recognized by the inter/national organization or the university they attend. The members will often use their ritual and tell new members that they are being initiated into the national organization. The "fraternity" does not honor or abide by the rules and regulations of the inter/national organization; why would they? They didn't follow the rules before their charter was pulled. They are the bane of our organizations and campus administration.