<p>Last year I rushed and initiated into a fraternity at the school I attended my freshman year. It wasn't until late spring and summer that I decided to transfer to a better school that had a better program for me. I still wish to be in a fraternity if I find a group people that I fit in well with. My old fraternity does not exist on this new campus.. and I do not feel like I'd have the time to start a whole new chapter up. I understand that a fraternity supposed to be a 'lifetime' commitment, but I still have another three years of college left. I read that certain fraternities may be able to accept me if I nationally resign from my old fraternity and the nationals of the fraternity accept it. I also read that some fraternities may be able to accept me as a 'social member', an individual that may live in the house and take part in house activities but is not entitled to taking part in rituals. In my situation.. what would you do? Should I contact fraternity recruitment officers before rush starts to ask about their laws? Or should I rush and then tell somebody during the rush process? Any advice or stories are appreciated!</p>
<p>If you were initiated into a national fraternity, there’s no chance you can be initiated into another national frat. Same goes for girls with sororities.</p>
<p>I know of 3 people that were initiated at another school, transferred, rushed at a new school (different frat/sorority), were eventually caught and kicked out of the rush process.</p>
<p>Try to make friends with some guys in frats. Explain your situation. They may allow you to “hang out” if they think you fit into their social circles. But don’t expect to become a brother. You are already a brother at another fraternity, have respect for that.</p>
<p>Talk to the IFC at your new school, but I’m pretty sure they won’t let you rush.</p>
<p>Only other option is to find a local only fraternity. They might have relaxed by laws.</p>
<p>Talk to your university’s IFC and see what the options are. If you completely disaffiliate with your old fraternity, you may be able to join one at your new school but every chapter is going to see this differently. </p>
<p>I am in your position as a junior. Transferred to a school that doesn’t have my chapter. I’m just sucking it up. It’d be awesome if my chapter was here because it would give me a headstart on meeting some people, but that’s life. I made a commitment to an organization and I’m going to honor that commitment. I would feel weird learning another ritual and another fraternity’s secrets as well.</p>
<p>Knights, just to clear up your references:</p>
<p>your “chapter” is the college specific based subsection of your national fraternity, i.e. the Alpha Beta chapter of AEPi.</p>
<p>The way to state your situation is something like: “my fraternity does not have a chapter at the school I transferred to”.</p>
<p>Thanks for your replies. I hate the situation I’m in. I respect my brothers in the current fraternity and its beliefs a lot, but at the same time I’ve only known them for a semester. They are all good people and the core is one that suited me a lot. I understand that commitment and being faithful are important to the fraternity’s strength and success… but at the same time it can be a little over the edge with how strict the rules are. I’d rather dedicate longlife brotherhood to a new group of people, if I find the right one, that I’ll have a chance to spend three years with, rather than one I barely spent time with at all so far. You can change religions even after you do rituals, you can change your own beliefs, you can change everything… but you cannot change a fraternity in these type of circumstances? I’m not trying to rant but rather just express my stresses. Tough situation.</p>
<p>Thanks for the clarification, OminousRun… It’s pretty obvious what I meant. ;)</p>
<p>OP, ask your IFC and national org. what the appropriate thing to do would be.</p>