Phi Delta Theta Closes Lawrence U. Chapter (Low Numbers, GPA Problems)
 

Low numbers and GPA problems have led to the loss of Larewnce University's Phi Delta Theta chapter. Sad news. See

http://media.www.lawrentian.com/medi...01-page2.shtml

Excerpts from campus paper's site:
“Posted: 2/5/10
The Phi Delta Theta chapter at Lawrence University lost its charter Jan. 22, meaning the fraternity will no longer be recognized as a part of Lawrence's Greek system.

. . . the Phi Delts had their charter taken away due to low member numbers and insufficient grade point averages among those members.

. . . Phi Delta Theta's official charter guidelines require that the "minimum size of each chapter ... as of May 1 of each year must be 35 or greater, or must be of size at least equal to the average fraternity chapter size off all fraternities on the campus at which the charter is located." When its charter was revoked, Phi Delta Theta only had eight members.

. . .Phi Delta Theta members also struggled to maintain the grade point average required by the national chapter. Difficulty with transfer credits and members withdrawing from classes are among the reasons . . . the group was having difficulty maintaining the necessary 2.5 GPA.

. . . In 2009, the fraternity celebrated its 150th anniversary at Lawrence and boasted one of the longest continually open chapters of Phi Delt.
In fall 2012, Phi Delta Theta recruiters plan to return to Lawrence to attempt to reestablish Lawrence's charter. . . . “

This is my husband's chapter, I recently heard they lost their house (common for Lawrence right now) but not about the charter.

The saddest part to me is the history. I didn't realize they just celebrated such a big milestone, or that they were one of Phi Delt's longest continuous chapters.

I wish the administration would pull their head out of the clouds and support the Greek system rather than pretending it doesn't exist. In its prime, there were six fraternities and five sororities. Now it's down to four and three. It's really a shame.

It is sad when schools like Lawrence, where Greeks were once so strong and produced several national Greek leaders, deterioate so badly. The Phi Delta age is a bit of misrepresentation. The chapter was founded in 1859 but closed the following year, later to be revived in 1934.

This is nothing new. Alotta chapters across the country struggle with numbers and GPAs, but I rarely hear that they close a chapter for this stuff. Usually they've closed chapters due to risk mgt problems which are fairly common.