For additional clarity.

1) the candidate was a pledge last spring and is a brother for his first semester this fall.
2) we don't lack other qualified or willing candidates.

Thank you all who've contributed thus far.

I was hoping for perhaps some perspective of somebody who had elected a neophyte president. But I seem to be getting the impression that even those who oppose any restrictions on who can run for president still wouldn't actually vote for a neophyte.

You have one of two situations on your hands:

1) There is a chance this guy could actually get elected. If this is the case, that means that he has broad support, likely from his pledge class, and there are a lot of people in your fraternity who are unhappy with the status quo or the brother seen as the "rightful heir". If this is the case, you should turn your attentions to dealing with that type of chapter conflict. Barring the guy from running will just make his supporters feel disenfranchised, and will not mend the break.

2) There is no chance this guy will get elected. If this is the case, the worst thing that happens in letting him run is that he feels really disappointed and/or angry, but he was out of touch to begin with. In this case, I would suggest that a trusted older member have a chat with him and point out that he could be setting himself up for a fall and perhaps suggest other roles that he might consider instead. Again, I wouldn't bar him from running, I'd just make sure he knows that he is taking a big risk.

I was elected chapter president three months after I was initiated (so in my first semester as an initiated member). Yes, I am that awesome.

In any case, there are so many factors at hand, which is why I am personally opposed to restrictions on who can run. Whether or not I would vote for a "neophyte" depends on those various factors, and is not a general statement I would be willing to make. If he is unqualified, and there are other more qualified candidates, then he will probably lose. Or other members will think he is the most qualified and elect him.

Out of curiosity, how?

I personally would only vote for a neophyte if you are in a small chapter that is growing or in need of serious change. Or the guy is gusteau-level awesome;).

My bigger concern is spreading himself too thin. DBB has some good advice here. I think a good and older friend in the chapter might try to get out of him WHY he wants to be president and an RA at the same time. He may just be an 18 year old know it all who thinks he's knows better than everybody else and can handle responsibilities in a super-human way when others can't. Plus, part of college is learning to make choices, and trying to take on 2 big leadership roles just because you don't want to choose between the two is not the right way to go.

Coming in late on this, but I do have something to add. My chapter did elect a new brother as president, but it was only due to special circumstances. He joined in the spring semester of my senior year where we graduated approximately 60% of the active brothers, and more than 80% of the leadership positions. The elected President left school for personal reasons, and the Vice President decided to hold new elections, as that's what our constitution required. The VP actually lost to a new brother who had the support of his pledge class.

I'd say he did some good work, and some very bad. He successfully lobbied for the chapter to disaffiliate with our national organization and return to local status - which had actually been something that the school had forced on the fraternity, and was positively received by the vast majority of alumni. Additionally, the "new guy" president successfully recruited a pledge class that ended up being the core for a revitalization of the fraternity. However, he also managed to alienate the older brothers (by not tell them where events would be held), alienating alumni (this has since been repaired), and using fraternity money to pay for personal items (this was found out after he had left the position). The president ended up leaving school after his presidential year (grades).

In conclusion - if you did elect him, I hope he has an experienced e-board to help guide him. A president should not be sole decider of all things, but needs to have the support of the brothers, or else he's useless.