Down a Chapter?
 

So did we lose one of the Michigan Chapters or are they under heavy restrictions?:(

What makes you ask that?

Why Ask?
 

A segment of information in the Convention thread made me ask.

No, we didn't lose a chapter... they voted their suspension down even though there was alot of evidence otherwise... on the more optomistic side... we are up two chapters!!!

Great!
 

That is good news to hear.

Well, I'm not entirely sure what's being said is true. While we might have gained those chapters, I know that mine (Zeta Lambda) was lost this year.

^ Why was your chapter closed?

I wish the General would announce the closing of a chapter so that the rest of us would know what's going on around us.

My chapter was closed due to a lack of numbers. Historically, we have had a small chapter (usually between 15-25 men) since our inception in 1993. After having passed rules stipulating that chapters must have at least 20 men to be able to operate (I believe this was at the 164th convention), we were under the gun. We didn't do our job in terms of getting guys, and since the GF couldn't or wouldn't send people to help, they just closed us and said we're going to be restarted in the Fall of 2008 after the remainder of our brothers have graduated.

Do you have any documents on that legislation? I know my chapter is well below 20 guys, and they did not get shut down this past Convention. If that rule is documented, I'd love to read it and pass it along to our alumni/chapter.

-kai-

PS, sorry to hear about your chapter.

I think it's one of the standard operating chapter procedures. After having briefly searched the Code today, I didn't see anything on it, but it was definitely something that was hammered at my chapter the entire time I was an undergrad, both by our EC and district chief. It's also one of the tenents of the MOP initiative, not that my chapter was a partner in it.

The SCOE for membership is: Successful chapters maintain a strong and healthy level of membership. As a standard operating expectation, all chapters and colonies of Beta Theta Pi will aggressively recruit and maintain chapter membership at or above 20 members.

Do you have a link for this, or a reference point?

Thanks.

we always focused on being at or above the campus average for membership... considering that our campus is 7% Greek, small chapters are not uncommon. We're below 20 members at the moment, but hopefully Fall Rush will go well. Thankfully our chapter wasn't reviewed this year... despite our chapter being told numerous times that newly-chartered chapters would be under review for three years. With any luck, we'll perform well enough this year that next year's review will be a breeze.

To answer the original question, yes.

Taken from the University of Maryland newspaper.
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Fraternity kicked out for repeated offenses
Univ. refuses to recognize Beta Theta Pi
By Owen Praskievicz

July 27, 2006

University officials ordered fraternity Beta Theta Pi off the campus last week and refused to officially recognize the organization, citing a litany of past rule violations. The action requires at least a two-year absence of the organization from the campus.

The punishment is the most drastic measure the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life could take against a fraternal organization. Despite the seriousness of the decision, OFSL Director Mike Hayes declined to reveal the specifics of why Beta, currently residing in a Fraternity Row house, was kicked out.

“We probably won’t air the dirty laundry of Beta — that’s not in anybody’s interest,” Hayes said, but noted Beta received a string of warnings during the past two years after police and other sources raised concerns about the fraternity’s members.

The fraternity’s dismissal comes at the end of a school year that saw the passage of a formal policy governing fraternity and sorority practices and behaviors, which Hayes said reflects OFSL’s mission to build a “values-based” Greek community.

“Most of our chapters have gotten the message that the fundamental core of what the fraternity is has got to shift,” Hayes said, and denied Beta was being used as an example. “We would not put people through an anguished process just to make a point. It’s too stressful for everyone involved,” he said.

Over the course of two academic years, Beta’s “programming continued to erode that enough people were concerned about the viability of the chapter,” Hayes said.

The fraternity’s national office had also become involved in trying to improve the chapter, but Beta’s National Director for Chapter Services Jud Horras said his office ultimately supported the university’s decision to close the chapter.

Beta President Jonathan Shriner said a “spotless record” during the spring semester and attempts to satisfy OFSL requests were ignored by OFSL Assistant Director Matt Supple, who he said seemed “disinterested” in their efforts. Supple was unavailable for comment.

“The amount of stuff we have done is in no way justifiable for kicking us off,” Shriner said.

The decision to revoke the charter so late in the summer puts Beta’s house residents in a tough situation, Shriner said. All residents must move out by the end of the summer, and the only help offered by OFSL was the off-campus housing website, he said.

Beta will apply for a new charter in two years, Horras and Shriner each said.

The last university chapter to have its charter revoked was Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 2004, but the preceding two years were turbulent for the fraternity. Hayes acknowledged accusations of hazing and rape as well as a student death there contributed to the chapter’s dismissal.

For Beta, though, “there was no smoking gun” Hayes said.

Staff writer Kevin Litten contributed to this report. Contact reporter Owen Praskievicz at praskieviczdbk@gmail.com.