Theta Chi at Duke Going Local

exlurker · #1 10-18-2006, 03:33 PM

The Theta Chi chapter at Duke is going local, the campus paper, the Duke Chronicle reports in its October 18 issue:

http://www.dukechronicle.com/media/s...echronicle.com

Brief excerpts from article:

The Duke chapter of Theta Chi fraternity is disaffiliating from its national organization and from the Interfraternity Council, Theta Chi President Collin Jones, a junior, confirmed Tuesday night. . . .

Jones explained that by disaffiliating, Theta Chi is making a move that other fraternities may also be considering. . . .

Theta Chi-which will change its name within the next few days-will retain the same goals, functions and social events, but have more freedom, Jones said.

He added that the University administration will have very little control over the fraternity and members will not have to pay national dues.

. . . Jones said though the fraternity's recruitment has been good in recent years, he expects it will increase significantly after the fraternity has disaffiliated. . . .

. . . Eta Prime fraternity-formerly known as Kappa Sigma-is currently the only other disaffiliated, off-campus fraternity at Duke. It disaffiliated from its national organization in 2002. . . .

Tom Earp · #2 10-18-2006, 03:58 PM

I hope they do not shoot themselves in the foot for future possible members.

They may not realize what they have done until later down the road.

I guess time will tell.

AlexMack · #3 10-18-2006, 04:23 PM

Their fraternity president is hot!

The article says that the locals never have a problem recruiting members and actually do better.

TSteven · #4 10-18-2006, 04:26 PM

Relinquishing IFC recognition has some consequences, however, [IFC President Ivan] Mothershead said. "Besides losing the opportunity for on-campus housing, unrecognized groups cannot register events through [the Office of Student Activities and Facilities] or reserve space on campus," he said.

He added that unrecognized groups also cannot hold official events with recognized greek organizations.

tunatartare · #5 10-18-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centaur532

Their fraternity president is hot!

You're just like me- we both picked out the important things from the article.

TSteven · #6 10-18-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centaur532

The article says that the locals never have a problem recruiting members and actually do better.

The quote is attributed to Theta Chi President Collin Jones and not the author of the article.

Drolefille · #7 10-18-2006, 04:39 PM

Yeah, but it's in the article nonetheless. I doubt the author knows much about recruitment numbers. I thought it was interesting that a Fraternity had disaffiliated and then later reaffiliated with a different national.

g41965 · #8 10-18-2006, 04:46 PM

History repeats itself, in the early 1900's all the fraternities at Harvard went local, Delta Upsilon became the DU club, Zeta Psi became the Spee club etc. Many fraternities at Yale went local as well. In the 1950's and 60's many fraternities throughout the elite Northeastern colleges went local DU at Dartmouth became Foley House, Theta Chi at Dartmouth became Alpha Theta, etc. not every national fraternity chapter in New England went local but many did.
I have often wondered if the movement toward local's would move into the South at Tulane, Emory, Duke, W&L and Vanderbilt. Looks like it's beginning.
The Phi Delta Theta Chapter at the U. of The South went local, and now two at Duke.
What's the connecting thread.... my guess is fraternities at very good liberal arts and Nationally recognized private schools simply don't feel the need for general fraternity as much as the big state chapters do, elitism also plays a role, at Duke I'm sure the guys say "hey why are we in the same fraternity with those goofballs from bad state U". Going local was bad for the Greeks in the northeast, I bet it will be bad at Duke. Lets check back in 10-20 years. The percentages are not what they were in the Northeast anymore. Bet 60% of students are not Greek at Duke in 20 years.

33girl · #9 10-18-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g41965

DU at Dartmouth became Foley House, Theta Chi at Dartmouth became Alpha Theta, etc. not every national fraternity chapter in New England went local but many did.

I think they went local for significantly different reasons than this chapter - if I'm not mistaken Alpha Theta became coed. I don't think that's what is happening here.

g41965 · #10 10-18-2006, 04:53 PM

Alpha Theta broke in 1951 with Theta Chi over racial policies they went coed in 1972 went Dartmouth went coed. My point is that on smaller elite campuses the local chapters simply don't feel as much need to be part of a general fraternity as much as chapters in the SEC, Big 10 or Big 12 do.

Ocalagirl · #11 10-18-2006, 05:22 PM

[QUOTE=centaur532;1341716]Their fraternity president is hot![QUOTE]

Amen!! I wish he lived in Florida

Elephant Walk · #12 10-18-2006, 05:51 PM

Hopefully this will lead to more turning into local.

Tom Earp · #13 10-18-2006, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by g41965

Alpha Theta broke in 1951 with Theta Chi over racial policies they went coed in 1972 went Dartmouth went coed. My point is that on smaller elite campuses the local chapters simply don't feel as much need to be part of a general fraternity as much as chapters in the SEC, Big 10 or Big 12 do.

Sorry but I have to disagree with this.

Yes, small (?) State Universitys or Religious Affiliated schools out side of the ones you mentioned do feel that being a member of a National is important.

All of My GLOs at My Alma Mater have House buildings. William Jewell being/was a religious affiliated are going to build Sorority Houses.

I am not sure where your logic is to this?

Are only the ones you mentioned worthy of GLOs?

Elephant Walk · #14 10-18-2006, 06:44 PM

I agree, but when a national GLO in SEC/Big 12 schools leaves nationals because of their rules, they gain much more respect in the SEC I would think. This has not happen recently to my knowledge but there has been rumors of it at places like Texas' Fiji chapter among others.

Tom Earp · #15 10-18-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I agree, but when a national GLO in SEC/Big 12 schools leaves nationals because of their rules, they gain much more respect in the SEC I would think. This has not happen recently to my knowledge but there has been rumors of it at places like Texas' Fiji chapter among others.

Interesting post? I think?