chi o - what's the deal?

Don't get downvote as this post was honestly put out there. I just double checked the pi phi website and the chapter was in fact just closed (so, the facts check out). I think we need to be honest about what can realistically happen if you join a chapter on probation. I'm not throwing shade as the XO's have fantastic spirit and have been at Cal forever and I would love to see them here forever. But, it costs alot of money to join a house and to lose your house after just one year truly sucks big time. Just trying to keep it real and not ride my unicorn on a rainbow like so many of the comments on this site!

According to the official national Pi Beta Phi website announcement, their Miami (OH) chapter experienced seven long years of ongoing issues before closing.

Sorority chapters close every year for many reasons, and barring egregiously poor behavior by specific chapter members a sorority offers the women involved at closing to remain active as alumnae.

Closed chapters occur within every one of the 26 NPC groups.

One normally chooses sorority membership as a lifetime option, not simply as a collegiate activity/hobby. When sorority groups close a chapter, they offer their women support and encouragement along with a continuing lifetime of fulfilling activity and friendships.

To @think. I hear you on the issue of 'lifetime' membership but the reality is I am going to be a freshman now and want to make sure that I can go to parties this year and hopefully live in house next year. I know there are no guarantees but losing 50% of a house isn't a good sign by any standard. A girl from my high school was Tri Delta at IU and they only told the pledges the day before the charter was pulled. People that live in the house then had two weeks to move out. Can you imagine finding a place to live in Berkeley in two weeks? I'm keeping it real but sorry no XO for me this year. Sad about it as I heard great things about the house but not up for the drama unless they can convince us otherwise but my bet is they won't be able to say much of anything.

It also says something about Chi Omega's high standards of character and conduct. Apparently some women in their home did not live-up to the Chi Omega expectation, which is explained and demonstrated to all XO new members prior to initiation, and were removed. Their choice, not Chi Omega's, to act as they did when members of XO.

It costs alot of money to join a house and is a major investment of time and energy. To then learn that your house lost its charter and you cannot pledge another house is honestly a risk/reward ratio that doesn't personally work for me. Maybe other people are up for this risk but as an incoming I am a bit upset that there seems to be no plan to discuss this with PNMs at orientation. Don't we deserve to know?

If your sorority chapter is closed by your group, you will probably still be attending school and your sorority sisters will still be here on campus with you. The rewards of sorority membership are not always living in a home or having an official chapter on a campus.

There are many factors that go into the probation of, and then possible closing of, a sorority chapter. Let's just be brief and state to pnms that sorority chapter probos and closures can happen ANYTIME, even in a quick weekend instant if something egregious occurs. Life has few guarantees, but when an NPC group closes one sorority chapter there are many other chapters of that same group still open and sisters nationwide awaiting your friendship.

@top. You must be kidding?! Other chapters of my now theoretically closed house are open to me. REALLY. You really think that I would leave a school and friends I love just to find a new house? Life is too short for thinking this way. The answer is to join a house where you believe people will behave in a way where you won't have to worry when you show up to your weekly meeting and a representative from nationals says its curtains for the charter. Get real @top.

This was all so helpful! I know you're supposed to stay away from this site but this genuinely assisted me in the recruitment process. Thank you guys!!!

@PNM. Glad to help. The Cal threads are generally pretty real but there is some self ranking happening. But last years fall recruitment experience brought people out of the woodwork to this site as they felt they had no place else to vent or discuss what was happening. There are alot of well intentioned people on here but like anything else you have to make your own choices based on what you experience at a house. Some houses really spent time reflecting on last years recruitment feedback and others still have their heads in the sand. This years recruitment is critical for our system in that is has to go well and all the houses need to be equally embraced. Last years PNMs weren't prepared with basic nuts and bolts information about the extent of round 1/2 cuts and so while many did stay (banner recruitment year) many bailed early and missed out on a whole year of greek life (sad in my book). Use your head and make your own choices as we have 12 solid houses and there is a home for anyone that wants one.

@Cal and @Bears. I respect your POV on this issue but PLEASE don't suggest to PNMs that XO will be ok as there is absolutely NO WAY in the world you or anyone else can say that any house on our campus will be ok, let alone one that is already under supervision by its national. If you look across the country in any given year there are any number of chapters that have charters pulled. Nationals seem to increasingly be taking a zero tolerance stance on issues of behavior/risk management. Off the top of my head here are just a few where charters have been pulled: KKG/OSU, DDD/IU, Theta/Michigan, PiPhi/Miami and this is just some of the well known or chatted about chapters. I would hate for someone to join the chapter and then be SOL a year later. Chapter longevity has ZERO to do with a chapter being pulled or not. Theta was oldest chapter at Michigan as was KKG at OSU (I think). People have to do their own research on this topic and see if they are up for taking the chance. I am not a XO but I really hope the house gets a chance to talk openly about this issue with PNMS or I fear it will be curtains for the house as who realistically would take this risk? I am saying this from the standpoint of total respect for the house and its great history at our school. But, you got to keep it real.