[martythemoose]

The truth about Maryland's Beta is that it was a very strong chapter, the strongest all-around fraternity at the University of Maryland. Academically, they were only insufficient for one semester and by a very slim margin. Most brothers have completed or are in the process of completing work in one of Maryland's Living-Learning gifted students programs, such as CIVICUS, Scholars, or Honors. A majority of them balance a part-time job along with the rigors of an academic and social life. Athletically, they won the IFC cup for 12 straight years with dominance in every sport (so much so that the Greek board tried to change the overall scoring rules to end their reign as champs, but Beta took the cup anyway). In terms of charity, the Betas organized March of Dimes' Jail and Bail on campus as well as participate in wiffle ball and dodge ball tournaments held by other houses. Socially, Betas were well-known and well-respected. To say the chapter was anything less than above-average is ignorant.

The problem was in fact that the Beta chapter had done so well that every other chapter began to act as tattling and exaggerating children on the Betas. Accusations and gossip without any concrete evidence became the ultimate reason why Matt Supple, coordinator of Greek Life at UM, decided to kick off Beta Theta Pi. The drunk driving incident and hospitalization incident both happened in the Fall semester of 2005. Also, if the hospitalization and fight had been such a big deal, why was no police action taken against the assailant? The university took NO action against the Betas for either "event", rather agreeing with a set of restrictions self-imposed by the Betas themselves after the drunk driving incident. The chapter did not receive a single complaint throughout the Spring semester, but was terminated nonetheless, citing "failure to adhere to the Vision requirements and overall degradation of chapter character". The Vision requirement WAS in fact met, but the paperwork was not submitted by the chapter on time (God forbids it get accepted late). Also, the chapter was not in any way shape or form of lower character than most of the other fraternities, one of which had three members assault a Beta in a bathroom with beer bottles and a glass. This chapter was not disciplined.

While the drunk driving incident was horrible and is definitely a reason for punishment, that one incident in which (thank God) no one was harmed should not be the reason they lose their recognition. A strict punishment and strong restrictions, yes. But an isolated incident in a group of gentlemen who have dominated in athletics, met the academic standards, maintained an amazing pledge process, helped the community, and created a revered persona at the university is no reason for the action taken by the university. Matt Supple is amazingly unreasonable in this case, and to say the advisors are on-board is an overstatement, begrudingly agreeing for fear of ultimate expulsion is more like it. Maryland's Greek Life handed down the decision in mid-July, leaving 33 students (almost all between the ages of 18 and 20) out of housing for the upcoming semester. The university was overbooked in terms of on-campus housing as it was, real estate in that area is a hot market as it is (being right around DC), and most apartment buildings filled up their residencies by mid-May. All Greek Life did for the now homeless members of Beta was give them a useless off-campus housing website (with most postings in the crime-ridden areas of Hyattsville, Greenbelt, and Beltsville) and the cold shoulder.

Matt Supple and his band of (anti-)Greek Life goons were willing to disregard the American ideals of due process and concrete evidence in order to get rid of (in his own words) "the bullies of Beta Theta Pi." The truth about the Delta Omega chapter is that they became too successful, and as everyone knows, once you are at the top, your competitors will try to make sure you go down...hard.