1951 Admission Boom to the NPC

[violetpretty]

Paging all GC NPC history buffs! I had a question about GLOs joining the NPC, and in doing a search, I learned more than 26 groups had been members at some point, but it didn't answer my original question.

The following is a summary from the NPC Trivia thread on page 48 by NutBrnHair:

Basically, there were 7 groups that founded the NPC in 1902. Then, a couple of groups joined each year, with Kappa Delta being last of the first 18 groups to join in 1912. In 1933, three groups joined, Alpha Delta Theta (later absorbed by Phi Mu), Beta Phi Alpha, and Phi Omega Pi (both later absorbed by Delta Zeta ).

Then, there was no action until 1951, when 13 groups joined. They included the 8 current members that joined in 1951, plus Theta Upsilon, Delta Sigma Epsilon, (both later absorbed by Delta Zeta), Theta Sigma Upsilon (later absorbed by Alpha Gamma Delta?), Beta Sigma Omicron (later absorbed by Zeta Tau Alpha), and Pi Kappa Sigma (later absorbed by Sigma Kappa). Iota Alpha Pi was added as an associate member in 1953.

So, my question is, why was there this sudden boom in new NPC groups after many years of stagnancy? Did policies change? If so, what were the policies? I find it interesting, since there are basically two categories that the "1951 members" can be placed into: educational sororities, and sororities founded to cater to religious groups other than Protestants (or non-religious). I read somewhere in another thread in my search that the AES was admitted as a group to the NPC, but that still doesn't explain why all of the "religious" ones were admitted at the same time? Is there a reason or is it pure coincidence?

[AOII Angel]

My guess would be, since you probably won't be able to find an answer written down somewhere, is that NPC status was desired but not everyone could fulfill the requirements of membership, i.e. chapters only at 4 year institutions, no religious requirements or affiliations, etc. I'm sure that a lot of these groups were hesitent to join and give up some of its chapters and traditions until it became necessary for survival.

[33girl]

I would speculate that after WWII, certain attitudes about religious discrimination/segregation changed and some of the existing NPCs got rid of "you must be a Christian to be a member" clauses. Part of the reason the AES joined is because the NPCs were horning in on their territory - it would have been pretty much the same deal for the groups without religious requirements.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

. . .
Basically, there were 7 groups that founded the NPC in 1902. Then, a couple of groups joined each year, with Kappa Delta being last of the first 18 groups to join in 1912. In 1933, three groups joined, Alpha Delta Theta (later absorbed by Phi Mu), Beta Phi Alpha, and Phi Omega Pi (both later absorbed by Delta Zeta ).

Then, there was no action until 1951, when 13 groups joined. They included the 8 current members that joined in 1951, plus Theta Upsilon, Delta Sigma Epsilon, (both later absorbed by Delta Zeta), Theta Sigma Upsilon (later absorbed by Alpha Gamma Delta?), Beta Sigma Omicron (later absorbed by Zeta Tau Alpha), and Pi Kappa Sigma (later absorbed by Sigma Kappa). Iota Alpha Pi was added as an associate member in 1953.

So, my question is, why was there this sudden boom in new NPC groups after many years of stagnancy? Did policies change? If so, what were the policies? I find it interesting, since there are basically two categories that the "1951 members" can be placed into: educational sororities, and sororities founded to cater to religious groups other than Protestants (or non-religious). I read somewhere in another thread in my search that the AES was admitted as a group to the NPC, but that still doesn't explain why all of the "religious" ones were admitted at the same time? Is there a reason or is it pure coincidence?

Just to clarify the background information a little bit (from Baird's manual 1940 edition):

Theta Upsilon became an Associate Member of NPC in 1923, and a full member in 1928.

Beta Sigma Omicron became a full member of NPC long before 1951; it was in fact a full member before World War II. (I'll try to get actual dates for an update.)

[AZ-AlphaXi]

my 1933 Alpha Xi Delta pledge manual lists the following as full members of NPC

Pi Beta Phi, Kappa Alpha Theta, Kappa Kappa Gamma, Alpha Phi, Delta Gamma, Gamma Phi Beta, Alpha Chi Omega, Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Xi Delta, Chi Omega, Sigma Kappa, Alpha Omicon Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha, Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Zeta, Phi Mu, Kappa Delta, Beta Phi Alpha, Alpha Delta Theta, Theta Upsilon

associate members

Sigma Phi Beta, Beta Sigma Omicron, Lambda Omega, Phi Omega Pi

My 1950 pledge manual says

Beta Phi Alpha is inactive and was admitted in 1923
Theta Upsilon admitted in 1928
Beta Sigma Omega admitted in 1933
Phi Omega Pi admitted in 1933

[oldu]

The NPC was originally organized by a group of sororities of similar purpose and size, mainly to establish reasonable rules and regulations governing the method of membership selection. It may surprise many younger members, but for many years the predominately Jewish sororities held a separate rush on most campuses. much as it is with the NPHC sororities today. Following World War II NPC sororities changed their policies and began accepting Jewish (and other minority) members, and the predominately Jewish sororities became less sectarian. Thus, a need arose for the two groups to be included under a common umbrella. The AES sororities were not originally NPC members because they were at a totally different set of institutions. As teacher's colleges became state universities, NPC gorups were suddenly competing with AES groups. As a practical matter they needed to have common rules. I suspect that, as more diversity evolves, within another couple generations we will see the current multi-nation groups and NPHC sororities all under common jurisdiction. It is already happening with the fraternities.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by oldu

The NPC was originally organized by a group of sororities of similar purpose and size, mainly to establish reasonable rules and regulations governing the method of membership selection. It may surprise many younger members, but for many years the predominately Jewish sororities held a separate rush on most campuses. much as it is with the NPHC sororities today. Following World War II NPC sororities changed their policies and began accepting Jewish (and other minority) members, and the predominately Jewish sororities became less sectarian. Thus, a need arose for the two groups to be included under a common umbrella. The AES sororities were not originally NPC members because they were at a totally different set of institutions. As teacher's colleges became state universities, NPC gorups were suddenly competing with AES groups. As a practical matter they needed to have common rules. I suspect that, as more diversity evolves, within another couple generations we will see the current multi-nation groups and NPHC sororities all under common jurisdiction. It is already happening with the fraternities.

It is easier for NPHC and Multicultural Greek fraternities to join with the NIC/IFC members because there are little to no NIC Standards that govern membership selection. On the other hand, the NPC has some rather rigid rules and guidelines (Unanimous Agreements) that each member must agree to regarding membership selection. So unless NPHC and Multicultural Greek sororities change, or the NPC changes, or all change, I don't see the sororities coming together.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by TSteven

It is easier for NPHC and Multicultural Greek fraternities to join with the NIC/IFC members because there are little to no NIC Standards that govern membership selection. On the other hand, the NPC has some rather rigid rules and guidelines (Unanimous Agreements) that each member must agree to regarding membership selection. So unless NPHC and Multicultural Greek sororities change, or the NPC changes, or all change, I don't see the sororities coming together.

Not to be splitting hairs, but I think you mean recruitment/intake instead of membership selection.

[cuteASAbug]

Originally Posted by oldu

I suspect that, as more diversity evolves, within another couple generations we will see the current multi-nation groups and NPHC sororities all under common jurisdiction. It is already happening with the fraternities.

It will never happen with sororities.

[SWTXBelle]

I don't think oldu included NPCs for just that reason.

[m65863]

Originally Posted by oldu

The NPC was originally organized by a group of sororities of similar purpose and size, mainly to establish reasonable rules and regulations governing the method of membership selection. It may surprise many younger members, but for many years the predominately Jewish sororities held a separate rush on most campuses. much as it is with the NPHC sororities today. Following World War II NPC sororities changed their policies and began accepting Jewish (and other minority) members, and the predominately Jewish sororities became less sectarian. Thus, a need arose for the two groups to be included under a common umbrella. The AES sororities were not originally NPC members because they were at a totally different set of institutions. As teacher's colleges became state universities, NPC gorups were suddenly competing with AES groups. As a practical matter they needed to have common rules. I suspect that, as more diversity evolves, within another couple generations we will see the current multi-nation groups and NPHC sororities all under common jurisdiction. It is already happening with the fraternities.

In November 1947, NPC and AES were having their national meetings. NPC decided to allow the six AES sororities into membership. The AES was "forced" to dissolve.

The six sororities were ASA, AST, Tri Sigma, Delta Sigma Epsilon, Pi Kappa Sigma, and Theta Sigma Upsilon. (Pi Delta Theta had already merged with Delta Sigma Epsilon in 1941)

[m65863]

Per the history of Pi Kappa Sigma (1948), the AES sororities were on probationary/associate membership in NPC. They knew they would receive full membership by 1951.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by m65863

In November 1947, NPC and AES were having their national meetings. NPC decided to allow the six AES sororities into membership. The AES was "forced" to dissolve.

The six sororities were ASA, AST, Tri Sigma, Delta Sigma Epsilon, Pi Kappa Sigma, and Theta Sigma Upsilon. (Pi Delta Theta had already merged with Delta Sigma Epsilon in 1941)

Just to clarify, the AES made the decision on their own to dissolve and join NPC - I don't think "forced" is an appropriate word here. (They probably felt they needed to join the NPC in order to survive, but that's a different facet of all this.)

[APhiAnna]

I think it is harder for fraternities to understand because their membership selection process, from what I've gathered from guy friends, much simpler and much looser (in terms of the fact that there are few strict guidelines from their nationals...some chapters seem to just make up their own ways of voting).

For sororities it is extremely complicated. I mean, and I hope this doesn't give away anything, if it does let me know and I'll delete this post, I know for a fact our recruitment book outlining our HQ's guidelines is something like 150 pages. Plus one of my acquaintances quit her sorority and committed a huge "no-no" and told me the basic way they select members...it was a complete 180 from anything we do.

So essentially, due to how insanely complicated sorority recruitment can get, NPC may dictate certain rules for recruitment, but individual sororities have developed extremely complex and intricate membership selection processes that seem to differ widely.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by APhiAnna

I think it is harder for fraternities to understand because their membership selection process, from what I've gathered from guy friends, much simpler and much looser (in terms of the fact that there are few strict guidelines from their nationals...some chapters seem to just make up their own ways of voting).

While there is some truth to that, I don't think that's what's going on here. I think that here, TSteven simply used "membership selection" in the broadest possible sense so as to include anything that in any organization and any umbrella groups might be related to the recruitment and selection of new members. Others read "membership selection" in a narrower sense based on the practices of their own organizations and umbrella group. That's all.