Iowa suspends PiKA 'til '09
 

Monday, November 29, 2004


UI suspends fraternity until 2009



By the Press-Citizen


The University of Iowa has suspended recognition of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity until fall 2009 based on information that members provided alcohol to pledges at the chapter house, UI announced Monday.
An investigation also revealed some of the pledges had performed calisthenics as part of or following an Oct. 20 pledge test.
UI’s decision to suspend the Gamma Nu chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha was made concurrently with the Supreme Council and staff of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity. The International Fraternity’s decision was in response to the chapter’s violation of the Fraternity’s Standards of Retention of Membership, school officials said.
Suspension of university recognition means that the fraternity is not eligible to participate in university programs or the Interfraternity Council activities and meetings.

Hazing
 

Things have changed , when will chapters learn, lineups hazing and boozing up pledges will not met with probation, reorganizations or anything short of closing of chapters. Society has tightened up , we must get on board or we will decline .

2009, wow, that is the kiss of death for the Pike Chapter there!:(

It is saddening and maddening as we see more and more of this when there is so much notoriety in the media.

If they think this building Chapter relations, they are seriously mistaken.

bye bye chapter...sad, and i knew some real nice pikes along the way.
where to...what next?

hmm this poses an odd question, if this happened to your chapter while you were in school, say your sophmore or freshman year, what would you do?

I'd prolly transfer to a school with a chapter of the same national and tell whatever school i was at previously to screw themselves, but that's just me.

Then there is always underground...

Okaaaay.

It wasn't just the school's decision, it was also made "concurrently with the Supreme Council and staff of the Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity" so obviously the chapter was doing things of which their own headquarters disproved.

The U of Iowa is really cracking down on their Greek chapters, a trend I think we will start to see elsewhere, especially with some of the things that have happened this fall.\

I don't know if it's necessarily a "death sentence" for Pi Kappa Alpha there, there are a few fraternities that have left campus for that many years or more and have reestablished themselves with success. The Greek Community is strong, but it's been hit hard the last few years.

There is always life without a fraternity. Many many college students survive it. Isn't the point of college to go to school...not JUST be in a fraternity? Why be so angry at the school? The chapter messed up.

I would say "are seeing" elsewhere.

Is it that, like young people, chapters feel bullet proof -- the "it won't happen to us" syndrome?

Guess what. It's happening a lot.

Just look at the threads here in Risk Management.

When will chapters realize that times have changed? Now they have to change, too.

Iowa's lost 2 fraternities in the last year (Beta in the Spring and then Pike this semester)....it's sad to see the greek system slowly losing chapters. the sororites on a whole here are quite large in numbers (14 chapters, with probably 10 at capacity or very close, around 120), but the fraternities are much smaller, the largest being around 70 and the smallest with under 10.

Though, on a lighter note Phi Delta Theta is again recognized by the university.

Lil E, yea many people do go through college without being in a fraternity, they are called the ones who didnt pledge. I pledged, I love my brothers and I love how and what I've chosen my college life to be, and if it got taken away I'd go somewhere that i could have it.

I earned it, i enjoy it, i'll keep it.

oh it is for learning, but all work and no play makes J a dull boy, also remember, there's a time and place for everything and it's called college, i probably am one of the biggest drunks on my campus but i got a 3.5 this semester, while being VP of my frat, and working 20 hours workstudy and 20 hours a week at a real job.

If all things are equal
 

This isn't really such an 'out there' option or suggestion. Well, perhaps the 'screw you' part to the previous school. But as the cliché goes: "Not all education happens in the class room."

Academics should come first. Yet some (many, few, what have you) degree programs do not really 'get going' until the junior or sophomore year. (A reason many transfers happen by the start of the junior year.) So if you are a freshman or sophomore and all things are equal - i.e. it would be considered a 'lateral move' academic wise and the college has a chapter of your GLO - then why not consider transferring?

Frankly, I think it might behoove some students to maximize their education by continuing to be active as an undergraduate in Greek life. As compared to remaining and having to go alum or perhaps underground.

Again, to be clear. Academics do come first. However, this scenario is if all things are equal between the two schools regarding the individual's academic pursuit.

FWIW, Iowa has allowed chapters to return. Lambda Chi Alpha was gone from 1996-2001, but they're back and doing well.

The Northwestern LCA's were suspended by their alumni board (lack of recruiting was a major reason) back in the late 1990's, but they've made a triumphant return to campus. They've won "Chapter of the Year" three out of the last four years.

Sadly, these are exceptions to the rule. It seems most chapters don't make a comeback. This is due to a number of reasons, but a biggie is lack of alumni support.

I know of one Lambda Chi chapter that fell because they didn't have any alums step up to take responsibility for working w/the UG's. The alumni that had been helping the chapter were burnt out and had no one to replace them.

It's up to us, as alums, to keep in touch with our chapters and lend a hand.

-BF

even if i had to loose a few units that wouldnt transfer, i'd still do it, and make them up during the summer and what not. Greek life has made my life what it is today, and has taught me as much as i've learned in the classroom. I don't think i'd give it up, and Underground, while a viable option for many, probably wouldnt work for me.