| ASTalumna06 |
04-21-2010 12:58 AM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by JCunningham
(Post 1918922)
Hello yall, My name is Jeff and I am a student at a major SEC school. I joined a fraternity here during my Freshman year, but it was not what I was lead to believe it would be. Our chapter size is roughly 80 members, and there are about 15-20 of us who are severely unhappy with our situation. Unfortunately we no longer have the members to create change and we are quickly going downhill.
Due to a large graduating class, "our" numbers (and I say that referring to the group of us who are unhappy with the direction we are heading in) have shrunk and after a few very long chapters riddled with excessive parliamentary procedure, we no longer have any say in the direction we need to go. In essence we are two different fraternities who are stuck together in one. These two fraternities are a typical southern fraternity, and a typical northern fraternity. We think, act, and look very differently. The northern fraternity has seized power and as many of you may know, in the south fraternities mostly dominated by northerns do not get very far. Whether it is right or not, it is the way it is.
Many brothers have disassociated, and we have been meeting regularly trying to figure out a solution. So far we have come up with this:
An major international fraternity which was very popular on campus was kicked off about five years ago. This fraternity has a built in following, it was extremely popular, gave back to both the campus and the community, and it was a backed by hundreds of outstanding alumni. It continues to send many legacies back to our school, and if it were to be recolonized it would quickly regain its reputation and legacy of a quality fraternity with quality men on campus. After they left campus they continued to recruit underground for a year or so, but after this year there will not be a initiated brother or an underground member left enrolled at our university.
Our solution is once we are all officially dissociated from our fraternity, to recolonize this fraternity. We would be gone by the time it was chartered and therefore we would not be a witness to any initiation or fraternity secrets. We would simply be the first people to recruit others in an attempt to bring this historic fraternity back to campus, while getting the tradition, community, and most importantly the brotherhood that we all were lead to believe we would get in our fraternity experience.
Lastly, I know this is unethical and may rub many of you the wrong way. I understand that this is not anything close to being an ideal situation, and that it would be great if we could work to improve our fraternity from the inside. While that would be great, please only respond with constructive thoughts, I am fully aware of what I am proposing and what it entails. Any damage that would be done with 20 or so brothers disassociating will be done regardless of whether we attempt to recolonize another fraternity or not. The situation is becoming detrimental to the fraternity, and it would be best if we could part ways and both "start anew" to try to make both of our organizations the best they can be.
Thank You,
Jeff
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCunningham
(Post 1918935)
Regardless of the first question, the next two are legitimate. Neither I or my other disassociated brothers will be the figurehead, other men who are not initiated in any other fraternity will be the leaders in the effort, while the rest of us will be working to help grow the fraternity. Already participating in a fraternity, we can certainly help in the paperwork and positions which will need to be held.
We want to gain helping re-establish a fraternity with a strong tradition which can survive in the intense Greek environment of the South. I don't believe our fraternity will continue to exist on campus past 10 years. Many fraternities were originally formed as either responses to others, or as break away groups. Establishing a fraternity which fosters brotherhood in a way which we believe it to be the best way to do so, and having that tradition continue on for many many years is very satisfying.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCunningham
(Post 1918939)
Helping found an organization which can live on for years to come, which will do both good on and off campus, and improve the men which decide to join is worth it.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JCunningham
(Post 1918942)
It has nothing to do with us, perhaps you can not understand as you have not experienced what we have, but helping a honorable organization reestablish themselves is good enough for me.
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So, you came here to:
...say that 1/4 of your chapter is unhappy.
...separate yourself from the other 3/4 of the chapter by using phrases such as, "Our numbers," and, "There are two different fraternities stuck together in one."
...indicate that the "northerners" know nothing about running a "southern" chapter. But of course, you aren't willing to work with them.
...tell us that the unhappy 1/4 has been meeting secretly to "fix" things.
...imply that a fraternity chapter that was kicked off campus is better than your chapter... which is still on campus.
...reveal your solution: bring another fraternity back to campus, with your FRATERNITY BROTHERS, without becoming a member of this second fraternity.
...reveal your search for brotherhood, which, ya know, you already have with those brothers who are supporting you.
...talk about your wanting to re-establish a fraternity with a strong tradition which can survive in the intense Greek environment of the South (even though it couldn't, because, again, they were kicked off campus).
...state your belief that your fraternity won't survive longer than 10 years. Way to be optimistic!
...overall, make it known that you have no loyalty to your fraternity, to the brothers who have stood beside you, and to all of the brothers who have helped make the chapter what it is.
Yes, please... drop out of your fraternity and attempt to re-establish a chapter of another fraternity without actually joining. And be sure to come back and tell us how that all works out!
:rolleyes: |
