Quote:
Originally posted by Coramoor
The one question that no EC or MoP rep. could ever answer is why should my chapter become MoP and agree to follow the same beliefs/rituals that we already agreed to live by when we became Betas?
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I've been thinking about this a lot since we brought these discussions back up.
Here's what I think the difference is and why MoP is a worthwhile endeavor.
The oath we've taken as part of our initiation is a personal vow. It is saying, "I want to be a part of this, and I agree that these are goals to aim for in my personal actions."
MoP is a chapter level program. I 100% believe that you could have a chapter of 60 guys, all of whom are living by the three and seven and still have a chapter in which nothing remarkable gets done. Sure, you'd probably have decent grades, and there would be no issues with risk management, and the service point would be there, and you'd probably be able to get the sisson every year. But let's be honest there would probably be plenty of apathy, and the only real way things would get done are when you had people really step up and lead, which I'm sure that we can all agree is something that doesn't always happen...or the guys who step and lead jsut don't cut it (it happens all the time in my chapter), and nothing is accomplished. Or the other scenario is that any sort of changes the execs want to implement run into a brotherhood that doesn't care.
MoP is set up to say we want to be better than we are at this point, and here are nine areas in which we can gain some sort of measure in how we are doing. Further, eacy year - AS A CHAPTER TOGETHER - we will set specific goals for us to get better as a chapter. Most importantly, these arent' goals that the GF comes to us and says here's a project go do it, but actually goals that we ourselves identify and we ourselves choose how we will accomplish them. Yes, the GF has identified those 9 areas, but how we actually choose to improve in those areas is very wide open.
For example, during my time as an undergrad, for the goal of "Cultivation of the Intellect" we twice made goals associated with improvement here. One year we revamped our Academic probation program and another we tried to set up a Beta Literary Society. Two very different goals both aimed at the same thing.
Another example is for Lifelong Fraternal Brotherhood. Goals we've had here included the election of Class alumni liasons for each new graduating pledge class (a guy who the Alumni Chair will be able to contact and that guy will be responsible for notifying his pledge brothers of things going on), another was inviting members of the Silver Seal pledge class back to the initiation banquet as well as the Fraternal Fifties, and another goal was aimed at an increase in the number of Kai events and specific brainstorming sessions to come up with new ideas.
Why is MoP successful? A couple of reasons: one, I think that it is rare for many chapters to sit down and have a time in which they really think about their weaknesses. School is busy, there are parties, chapter meetings can only go so long. All are barriers to focusing on those areas in which we can improve. Two, the entire chapter gets involved, and someone can say, "hey I really don't think that this is what we need to be focusing on" or "let's do this and this other thing to really improve." The collective nature helps and gets people involved. Finally, while you may not think so Cooramoor, my experiences have shown that the GF is almost entirely hands off during the process. They don't come in and say, you guys suck here, this is how you fix it.
Is MoP necessary for a good chapter? Absolutely not, and anyone who believes it is, doesn't understand what a good chapter is.
Is MoP sufficient for a good chapter? Probably not, but I bet that a horrible chapter that goes MoP will see considerable improvement over the course of 4-5 years, far more so than a non-MoP chapter. Further, such improvement will not be dependent on the presence of some "golden" pledge class that the chapter got lucky in recruiting one year (b/c I know that sometimes this happens...one or two guys suddenly find their groove in college, and through shear force of their wills get a chapter to improve).
As for a couple of other things that you mentioned in this thread: MoP is not a punishment. Only re-colonization efforts start out MoP. If the chapter doesn't close but is reorganized, than those members still around have to approve the initiative along with the Alumni Advisory team. Just like any other partnering. Now you're probably saying that it is implied that the chapter will be closed unless they agree to partner and that may be true, but in that case those guys have chosen Beta over whatever other qualms they have with MoP or the GF or anything else. I still see that as a choice that is legitmate. They are choosing to make the chapter better than it was when they easily could say to hell with it.
Finally, I understand the frustration with the dry rush policy. That being one of the very few mandates from partnering (others being non-hazing pledge period, and agreeing to the increased number of GF visits). I have said on here several times that dry rush can be a death knell for a chapter if everyone else is rushing wet. That is one rule that I think can and should be broken if necessary.
Sorry for the length, but talking Beta shop is way more fun than studying for my clinical skills exam that is tommorow (yes I have tests on Saturdays).