New NPC groups

[AGDAlum]

I did a Google search on "sorority" and, aside from a number of porn sites (which I did not open!), there were listings for a lot of national sororities that are not NPC or NPHC. They are "multicultural," Asian, Latina, or special interest.

I'm curious to know:

has any of these groups has considered joining NPC?

does any chapter of any of these groups have a chapter house?

why have these groups chosen "sorority" rather than "fraternity" for their names?

TIA!

I have many friends who belong to Asian-interest sororities in California, and from what I hear it's pretty huge over there. From what she said, many Asian-interest GLOs were founded in the late 80s/early 90s. Though many chapters are still fairly new, many of them do have chapter homes, and I've seen many of them--they are BEAUTIFUL!!!

I know many girls who belong to alpha Kappa Delta Phi, the first, and one of the largest (if not THE largest) Asian-American interest sorority. Along with aKDPhi, there are many regional sororities scattered around the country.

I'm not really too familiar with NPC guidelines, but I think there's a rule about a sorority being in existence a certain number of years before it can be admitted into the NPC???

Many NPC sororities were founded in the mid/late 1800s-early 1900s, when the world was significantly male dominated. I think that's why many of our organizations bear the name "Womens Fraternity". The word sorority has been in existence many years now, so I'm assuming that that's why the newer GLOs have adopted that name instead of "Womens Fraternity".

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*I'm an Alpha Gam...Yes I am, Yes I am!*

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Originally posted by OohTeenyWahine:
.....
I'm not really too familiar with NPC guidelines, but I think there's a rule about a sorority being in existence a certain number of years before it can be admitted into the NPC??? ...

From the NPC "green book" on requirements for membership:
"A women's fraternity must have been established in its national character for a minimum of 13 years; all its collegiate chapters must be established in senior colleges and universities authorized to confer bachelor degrees and recognized by the appropriate regional association of colleges and universities; and it must have at least 14 chapters, of which the latest established is at least two years old"

I've always thought that the biggest problem that a new national group would have with joining NPC would be that they would no longer be able to establish colonies when and as desired. They'd be locked into following the NPC extension policy. Just a thought...

[ZChi4Life]

Originally posted by AGDAlum:
I did a Google search on "sorority" and, aside from a number of porn sites (which I did not open!), there were listings for a lot of national sororities that are not NPC or NPHC. They are "multicultural," Asian, Latina, or special interest.


I'm curious to know:


has any of these groups has considered joining NPC?


does any chapter of any of these groups have a chapter house?


why have these groups chosen "sorority" rather than "fraternity" for their names?


TIA!

AGDAlum,
My sorority is a fairly new multicultural sorority (we were established in 1991). I think for us, the reason we haven't considered joining the NPC is b/c we feel that it wouldn't be in tune with our goals/principles and the whole reason we were started. Meaning--as a multicultural org, we accept any woman no matter her cultural background (as I'm sure all NPC orgs do), we also stand for culture, education, diversity/multiculturalism and sisterhood. Although we are quite certain the NPC orgs stand for things like sisterhood and education, we really don't get the feel that they really stand for and constantly promote culture/diversity/multiculturalism in the manner that we do. While we have nothing against the NPC, we feel that we'd be more comfortable with other organizations that are promoting and stand for the same things we do. This is similar to the reason that we probably wouldn't be a part of the NPHC (if asked to be). Although they also stand for sisterhood/brotherhood, education, etc...we wouldn't feel at home knowing that their main purposes is to help/uplift the African-Am community and to unite African-Ams. And although they also have brothers/sisters of different ethnicities, from my experiences (the college I graduated from), I have not seen them promoting diversity/multiculturalism the way we do.

There is a National Multicultural Greek Council in which we are looking to affiliate w/ b/c all the groups that are under it strongly promote culture/diversity as we do.

I hope I haven't offended anyone, but that's just how we feel. There's nothing wrong w/ the NPC or NPHC...it's just not for us.

As far as why we chose "sorority"..I would have to ask our Founders.

And none of our chapters have houses...although many of us share apts. or live very close to one another. My sister lives in the same complex as me...right down the hall

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A Radiant Lady of
Zeta Sigma Chi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.

"Diversity: Often perpetrated, never initiated"

[PenguinTrax]

I think a multi-cultural organization could thrive in the NPC. After all, there are 2 historically Jewish and 3 historically non-sectarian groups in the NPC. The non-sectarian groups were founded by women of varying backgrounds who felt their cultures were not adequately represented by the other sororities currently in existence.

About 2 years ago I had heard that one of the largest Latina groups had expressed an interest in joining the NPC. I don't know what progressed after that.

My personal opinion is that there could be issues with new groups' intake and new member processes conforming to the NPC unanimous agreements and that many groups would not want to accept these restrictions. For example:

* Although the group wouldn't have to participate in Formal Recruitment, the group would have to abide by the same recruitment rules for both formal and informal membership recruitment.

* Traditions such as pledge classes wearing like dress or uniforms, walking 'in line', speaking only to initiated members, etc. are considered as hazing by the NPC. I have a hard time believing that these 'traditions' would be relinquished - most likely these acts would go underground which would lead to a host of other problems.

I think there would be a place in the NPC for all groups, both large and small, and the NPC would be strengthened by their inclusion, and vice versa. Only time will tell if it will ever happen.

Barbara

[Kymberleigh]

I appreciate Barbara's (PnguinTrax) statement. She is absolutely correct in what she has to say.

Kymberleigh

[DGPhoney]

We also a multi-cultural group looked into finding out information about becoming apart of the NPC, but a lot of their guidlines and rules would almost completely change how our sorority functions, I do believe like someone stated earlier that a multi-cultural org would thrive in the NPC world. But the NPC as a whole makes it hard for newer groups like multi-cultural, latino, and asian based groups to become apart of the NPC world
Diana"AB Citron"M
Delta Gamma Pi MC Sorority