Open Expansion and Student Government

[CTSigmaChi]

Hey all,

I've got a question involving policies on your campuses for formation of new GLOs. On our campus, we have a Greek Council that oversees all of the GLOs, fraternity/sorority and national/local, and we have a document called the "Statement of Relationship" that outlines the process for expansion, including colonization and recognition. This legal "checklist" of sorts includes a few different stages, none of which include seeking recognition from the student government.

And, thus, where the student government comes into play. There are some in the student government who believe that this new GLO coming on campus would require their approval before becoming a legitimate new GLO on campus. This wouldn't be an issue except for the fact that there are some in the administration that are siding with their interpretation. They are doing this mostly due to precedent, since, apparently, GLOs that have seeked to come on campus in the past have gone through the student government approval process.

Now, I'm not sure how to proceed. On the one hand, I could advise this new GLO coming on campus to go to the student government for approval and recognition and just let this slide, since I know it's unlikely that they would get turned down. But I'm affraid of the precedent that this would continue. Is it common for student governments to have this kind of "veto power" over new GLOs? Is this policy against open expansion policies that host institutions are supposed to abide by? How should I proceed?

[SalukiPhiSig]

I'm currently starting up a chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha (academic honorary for social Greeks) and the process at the university level is similar to the process for a new GLO.

The first step in the process is becoming a Registered Student Organization (RSO), this requires filling out forms, submitting bylaws/constitution, getting an advisors signature, and getting 10 names on a petition of interested students. Once that is completed and turned in to the Student Development office (most campuses call it Student Life) they review it, and if approved by them, they forward it on to the Student Government. A member of the potential organization presents before the Student Government and they then vote on approval.

Once a GLO has achieved RSO status, they can then go before the Inter-Greek Council and their sub-council (IFC, NPC, NPHC) to be voted on, once approval from the Greek Community, they then go through the chartering process with their nationals.

If your school is anything like this, I would imagine that the issue with the Student Government is the part about getting approved as a RSO, which an organization must be in order to get approval from the Greek Community to become a GLO on campus.

[BigRedBeta]

Hmm...that's an interesting question.

I can only speak from my experience...at my alma mater, in order to gain all the benefits that come with being a registered student organization (ie use of campus facilities, equipment rental, getting free pepsi products for meetings/events which was part of the campus agreement with Pepsi, etc), you had to have approval from the student government and be recognized as a registered student org. But they certainly couldn't hold you to any higher standard than what they would have asked for the Anime club, the Future Business Leaders of America, any of the service or honorary fraternities, or any other student organization.

Now as long as there's some benefits (like free meeting space) that comes from Student Gov approval, I think you need to play ball with the Student Senate. But the moment they start asking you for information or data or anything that would go beyond what they would ask of any other new student organization of any other form, then they're overstepping their bounds, and you should make it patently clear what you believe their scope of power allows them to do. So long as they're asking only what would be expected of any other new organization, it's not against the open expansion policies.

[Nanners52674]

Just wondering OP what school in CT do you go to?

[CTSigmaChi]

I'm at Western Connecticut State University. We have a reaaaaaaally small Greek system here that hasn't been all that functional for the past 10 years (at least).

[Nanners52674]

I'm at Central I fully understand really small greek system.

[Thetagirl218]

During college I was involved in both Greek Life and Student Government. The process of becoming a GLO is different on each campus and on each state. Some states, like Florida, are clear on what duties Student Governments shall have. Other states leave up for interpretation.

At my school GLOs and RSOs were two different things. RSOs were governed by a branch of SG, while GLOs dealt with the Greek Life office. My advice would be to talk to the Greek Life office directly and if there is one than talk to Student Affairs or Student Life.

[CTSigmaChi]

Yeah, we don't have a Greek Life Office. We just got a Greek Life Advisor, but he has so many other things to do and was never actually involved in Greek Life, so I think he's still learning a lot about how things are supposed to work. I'm just uncomfortable still with the idea that the Student Government can "veto" a new GLO coming on campus, especially since the President and Vice-President of the Student Government Association on campus are both decidedly anti-Greek and want to get as much control of the system as they can. It's important to me that the Greeks get to manage their own affairs.

[DUKyleXY]

At my school, all of the GLOs require approval from their respective Greek governing council to colonize and then again to charter. Now this is only approval for the school's recognition. GLOs also have to abide and fulfill all of the policies governing student organizations.

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by CTSigmaChi

Yeah, we don't have a Greek Life Office. We just got a Greek Life Advisor, but he has so many other things to do and was never actually involved in Greek Life, so I think he's still learning a lot about how things are supposed to work. I'm just uncomfortable still with the idea that the Student Government can "veto" a new GLO coming on campus, especially since the President and Vice-President of the Student Government Association on campus are both decidedly anti-Greek and want to get as much control of the system as they can. It's important to me that the Greeks get to manage their own affairs.

That's understandable, and I would still advise to speak to someone in Student Affairs/Student Life as Greek Life and SG would be under them. Unfortunately, you can't change your school's bylaws. If they allow the SG to veto new GLOs, than that is a battle you are going to have to face. Again, I would speak with someone in Student Life.