Status of all-male chapters

[lee pi chi]

Originally Posted by naraht

That is the purpose. The Oath is the one that starts "I will do my best to exemplify the principles..." as put on page 5 of the current pledge manual. (whether or not the oath should be in the pledge manual is a different thread)

The purpose has changed from "to assemble college men" to "assemble college students". (and did so many years ago).

Randy

I understand, maybe I should have been more clear. What I meant to say was I think that the all-male chapters in Alpha Delta believed that the Purpose was not only an oath, but the most important oath in our Pledge Books. For obvious reasons we have not made the changes to the Purpose as indicated by nationals. Furthermore, our chapters (obviously) believe that both (p)Purposes were completely incongruent with each other.

[naraht]

Originally Posted by lee pi chi

I understand, maybe I should have been more clear. What I meant to say was I think that the all-male chapters in Alpha Delta believed that the Purpose was not only an oath, but the most important oath in our Pledge Books. For obvious reasons we have not made the changes to the Purpose as indicated by nationals. Furthermore, our chapters (obviously) believe that both (p)Purposes were completely incongruent with each other.

What do you think of the original purpose for Alpha Phi Omega?

As of the 1926 Yearbook at Lafayette College

The purpose of the fraternity shall be to assemble those who have had experience and training under the Scout Oath and Laws, to revive the spirit of that Oath and Law, to develop friendship, to encourage encourage service, and to enable its members to become leaders of America's youth, through character-building, citizenship, college spirit and manly strength.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Alpha Delta recently changed its name from Alpha Phi Omega in January, after the national fraternity began making it more adult-based, allowing female members to join and taking away the student-focus. Martin claimed the name change was due to the "ideological split," and Feldpausch defended the decision because of their desire to remain service oriented and student run.

This paragraph is really stupid. It should have said...

"Alpha Delta was formerly a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. They left the national because they did not agree with the decision to compel all-male chapters to initiate female members."

It's not a "name change" - that makes it sound like they are still part of APO, they just don't want to call themselves that.

It has nothing to do with being "adult-based" or adults running it.

I've seen a lot of dumb explanations of chapter breakaways/closings, but this is in the top 5.

[Senusret I]

Brother, what you have quoted is not an oath.

[AndrewPiChi]

I would like to wish sigma xi the best, they will be missed

[naraht]

Originally Posted by AndrewPiChi

I would like to wish sigma xi the best, they will be missed

Amen

[jeremypichi]

I'm going to break down this pretty much line by line since you obviously don't understand what its like to be in an all-male chapter.

Originally Posted by 33girl

This paragraph is really stupid. It should have said...

"Alpha Delta was formerly a chapter of Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. They left the national because they did not agree with the decision to compel all-male chapters to initiate female members."

"Compel all-male chapters to initiate female members" is nothing more than a nice way of saying "a promise given to all-male chapters 30 years ago was broken and now they have to go co-ed or have their charters revoked."

The paragraph in the article said exactly what it should have, that a chapter left because they didn't agree with the way the Fraternity is heading. If you couldn't tell this goes way past the whole forcing us to go co-ed thing.

It's not a "name change" - that makes it sound like they are still part of APO, they just don't want to call themselves that.

How is this not a name change and how does it make it sound like they're still a part of A Phi O? They are now Alpha Delta, not Sigma Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega which was stated quite clearly in the article. I'm going to assume that they are following a new set of bylaws and rituals.

new bylaws + new rituals + new letters = they are not a part of Alpha Phi Omega

It has nothing to do with being "adult-based" or adults running it.

Are you sure? It seems like those are a couple of the reasons they left. Also, you didn't disagree with their statement that Alpha Phi Omega is becoming adult-based, so maybe there is truth to it.

I've seen a lot of dumb explanations of chapter breakaways/closings, but this is in the top 5.

I still don't understand why you feel these explanations are dumb. Also, what are the other 4 reasons on that top 5 list?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by jeremypichi

I'm going to break down this pretty much line by line since you obviously don't understand what its like to be in an all-male chapter.

"Compel all-male chapters to initiate female members" is nothing more than a nice way of saying "a promise given to all-male chapters 30 years ago was broken and now they have to go co-ed or have their charters revoked."

The paragraph in the article said exactly what it should have, that a chapter left because they didn't agree with the way the Fraternity is heading. If you couldn't tell this goes way past the whole forcing us to go co-ed thing.

How is this not a name change and how does it make it sound like they're still a part of A Phi O? They are now Alpha Delta, not Sigma Xi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega which was stated quite clearly in the article. I'm going to assume that they are following a new set of bylaws and rituals.

new bylaws + new rituals + new letters = they are not a part of Alpha Phi Omega

Are you sure? It seems like those are a couple of the reasons they left. Also, you didn't disagree with their statement that Alpha Phi Omega is becoming adult-based, so maybe there is truth to it.

I still don't understand why you feel these explanations are dumb. Also, what are the other 4 reasons on that top 5 list?

Man, this must be my week for pissing off Duq people.

In answer to your last question, the other 4 didn't necessarily have to do w/ APO, so it's irrelevant to the discussion.

In my opinion, a "name change" sounds like something that is cosmetic only, not actually breaking away from the fraternity. It said not a thing about new rituals or new bylaws. As a matter of fact, it said "Alpha Delta has been part of the Bananas tradition since 1965." That's absolutely false. Alpha Delta as an entity didn't EXIST in 1965, so how could they have been part of the tradition?? That's what I'm talking about.

I'm not railing against all male chapters, I'm railing against a poorly written newspaper article that if a nongreek read it, they would get the wrong impression of what happened. Here's another example.

Oh and I don't agree with the "adult based" statement either, if as others have stated, the choice to make the all male chapters go coed or leave was voted on by the collegiate membership.

[emb021]

Originally Posted by jeremypichi

"Compel all-male chapters to initiate female members" is nothing more than a nice way of saying "a promise given to all-male chapters 30 years ago was broken and now they have to go co-ed or have their charters revoked."

The paragraph in the article said exactly what it should have, that a chapter left because they didn't agree with the way the Fraternity is heading. If you couldn't tell this goes way past the whole forcing us to go co-ed thing.

Oh? And where is the Fraternity heading? We were a co-ed National Service Fraternity with a few all-male chapters (which apparently were caused some problems for us in regards to working with some other national orgs). We are STILL a co-ed National Service Fraternity but with a few all-male chapters moving to being co-ed. We will soon and I hope continue to be a co-ed National Service Fraternity.

I have to agree with the original poster at not liking some of the statements said in this article. Ok, so the chapter didn't like being forced to go co-ed and decided to go local/independent. Sorry that happend. BUT, to claim that somehow APO is being 'adult run' OR that APO has gotten away from service OR they were being threatened by the National President is IMO insulting.

I personally didn't like how the co-ed thing was handled. And I think many felt the same way. I think the way elections turned out in 06 are due in large part to that. HOWEVER, the voting delegates at 06, made up predominately by ACTIVE BROTHERS, not alum, voted to approve the move to go entirely co-ed. So obviously the actives agreed with the goal, even if they didn't like the means. (Keep in mind that if every chapter sends their voting delegates to Nationals, that would give actives 720 or so voting delegates vs about 30-40 or so voting delegates who are alum. Kind of outnumber them, don't you think?)

Furthermore, I happen to know that the alumni volunteers (RD and SC) have been working for some time to HELP those all-male chapters go co-ed, AND I think it safe to say that their fellow co-ed chapters have ALSO stepped forward to help them. They have time to move to going co-ed!

[Senusret I]

Hmmm..... strike two.

[arvid1978]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

Hmmm..... strike two.

Huh?

[Virtuous Woman]

I obviously feel a more intimate connection with our version of the Purpose than the original penned by Horton

How can you feel a closer connection to your chapter's purpose than that which was written by The Lightbearer himself?

They need to have their own organization if this is the mindset that they have.

[AndrewPiChi]

well, the current purpose that the chapter uses is what we pledged

The purpose, is very strongly emphasized by Pi Chi during the pledge period, if you do not know the purpose of the fraternity then why are you here?

[lisarpotter]

I am a member of Omega Phi Alpha, which I assume you all know is based off of A Phi O. I am curious about this situation because I find it strange that nationals would require all chapters to be co-ed. In OPA we are mostly all female chapters, however we do have chapters with male members. We do not discriminate against anyone who wants to join, and yet we are not forced to be co-ed.

Our purpose in OPhiA as far as I know, has always been:

The purpose and goals of this sorority shall be to assemble its members in the fellowship of Omega Phi Alpha, to develop friendship, leadership and cooperation by promoting service to the university-community, to the community-at-large, to the members of the sorority and to the nations of the world.

It does not contain any gender biased language, it simply refers to "members".

It would have been interesting to hear the discussion at convention when this action was voted on. It seems like there could have been a better compromise in the national organization rather than to say make these changes or leave.

By the way... does anyone know if there are any APO chapters still around in Arizona? I went to NAU, and there was a small chapter there when I was still in college, but I don't know if they are still around.

[AndrewPiChi]

Originally Posted by Virtuous Woman

They need to have their own organization if this is the mindset that they have.

this comment was stated in response to the purpose???

How dare you make such an remark

I don't think anyone in Pi Chi, or Sigma Xi to the best on my knowledge, would type such a comment and fail another brother out of respect to fellowship regardless of the fact the chapter be All Male, All Female or Coed. We are all brothers, regardless of the chapters current membership policies, mind you these being in transition.