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Fraternity defies Zingg's regulations
Mando Navarro
Assistant News Editor
September 14, 2005
After a four-week discussion, Tau Gamma Theta president Nicholas Angel-Gilliard, along with the rest of its members, made a decision that could cost the fraternity university recognition.
They decided to ignore President Paul Zingg's list of 59 recommendations for Greeks to follow this semester, and they will go ahead with recruitment this fall, Angel-Gilliard said.
"We liked Zingg's rules, they just went against our core values," he said. "We want new members."
The Alpha Chi sorority has already been suspended this semester for attempting to recruit new members.
Tau Gamma Theta ran an advertisement in The Orion today on A7 telling Zingg the members are aware they will likely lose university recognition, like Alpha Chi, but recruitment is just too important.
New members bring in more money and also help create a more established fraternity, said Roger Godfrey, vice president of Tau Gamma Theta. But that wasn't why they released the advertisement.
"It's not a money issue," he said. "It was us standing up for our belief."
Zingg issued the recommendations this summer after a semester full of ordeals, such as the death of a Chi Tau pledge who died in the basement of the fraternity's house after what police call a hazing ritual.
Tau Gamma Theta was not involved in any of the negative incidents, so fraternity members feel they are taking a hit for the actions of others, Angel-Gilliard said.
"It wasn't fair to punish the whole Greek system," he said.
While Zingg declined to comment specifically about Tau Gamma Theta, the recommendations are a way to help all Greeks, he said in an e-mail.
"The new guidelines challenge the Greeks to live up to their own stated ideals and values, in alignment with those of the university," he said. "If they characterize this challenge as 'punishment,' then that is an unfortunate and shortsighted characterization on their part."
But Godfrey doesn't agree with Zingg.
"Just punish those that broke the rules, broke the law," he said. "We didn't do anything wrong. Not all Greek organizations are that irresponsible."
Another problem members have is Zingg's authority outside the university.
"Allow us to dictate our own future," Godfrey said. "What authority does he have?"
Charlie Preusser, alumni adviser of Tau Gamma Theta, owns the fraternity house on Chestnut Street, and he doesn't understand why Zingg can control what goes on in his house.
"I can't have a beer in my own house?" he asked. "What gives the university the right to mandate rules for how a student lives in a house off campus?"
On Aug. 15, Preusser sent Zingg an 18-page response regarding his list, questioning his authority. He never received feedback from Zingg, Preusser said.
"This is a program planned for failure or the result of a lack of understanding of students," he said. "The university for years has only attempted to control Greeks not foster them."
And Preusser said the rules aren't technically legal.
The Constitution gives Tau Gamma Theta members the right to form an association and to choose members, he said.
"The mandate that fraternities must exclude certain classes of students is clearly a violation of the right of association," he said.
Preusser envisions that in years to come many potential fraternity members will not want to join a fraternity with such harsh rules, he said.
"I cannot believe that many Chico State young men would choose to live in a house where they couldn't have a beer with their roommates while watching Monday Night Football," he said. "Why join an organization that tells you how to live your life?"
Already planning for life after suspension, Tau Gamma Theta members will still consider themselves a fraternity, hold events and volunteer in the community, Godfrey said.
"We don't want to change our ways," he said. "We're fine as it is."
Tau Gamma Theta's faculty adviser, Homer Metcalf, respects the fraternity's actions and supports all of its decisions, he said.
He feels, like Preusser does, that Zingg had other options than punishing all Greek chapters.
"Don't put all the Greeks together," he said. "Advising has turned into policemen."
Although two Greek organizations could lose university recognition, the Greek system as a whole could actually strengthen, said Rick Rees, associate director of student activities.
"It's like any organization that has individuals that weren't pulling in the right direction," he said. "Get rid of the bad ones."
Rees plans to send a letter to Angel-Gilliard after he sees the advertisement in today's paper, he said. The letter will say the fraternity is suspended from the university because it broke Zingg's rules.
"If you continue to speed, you get a ticket."
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