[GammaZeta]

Ottor, I'm not saying there was a conspiracy. It actually happened. Not necessarily by LCAP and IHQ, but definately from the administration and the town. Our chapter worked very, very hard to keep it alive. It simply became too much for a group of 18-21 year olds to continuously fight safety inspectors, town groups and the school.

The town of Amherst does not want fraternities anymore. I read the local paper everyday. There has been a major movement to shut down houses for minor safety code violations (whereas no other private student residence is subject to the same standards) as well as the Planning Board taking away and refusing to give the appropriate zoning approval to improve or build any fraternity house.

Umass does not have on campus greek housing. The new $900 million spending plan just approved for the Amherst campus does not mark any of that money for greek housing. So, at the very least, it will be 20-30 years before on campus greek housing is even considered.

I'm not sure if you are aware of what exactly the town of Amherst is. It is the single most liberal town in America. Think I'm kidding? The selectman have just recently BANNED the displaying of the American flag on telephone or light poles. The United Nations flag flies HIGHER than the American flag on the town common. Umass is holding major rallies against Bush's former chief of staff and Mass. native Andrew Card from speaking at graduation. Our library is named after communist W.E.B DuBois.

John Kerry is too conservative for this town. Hillary Clinton is considered a Bush puppet. That is how liberal this town is.

Now, how do you think a town like this will treat an exclusive men's organization, such as LXA?

I guess I should clarify. It really isn't the exclusive fate of just Gamma Zeta, it is the fate of the ENTIRE greek community at Umass. I can't blame HQ or LCAP, because no matter what happened, the greek community is becoming extinct at UMass. We are dinosaurs.

Lambda Chi needs leaders. They need people to put an image on the fraternity. They need me because I show what can be accomplished. I put a positive face on our organization, just like so many of you.

I have done quite a bit of work for the chapter in the last few years. I have been an alumni leader. I don't feel the need to come on this board everyday though and boast about it, but some members know of my work. If you are an alumni of Gamma Zeta, you know what I have been doing.

I don't brag about what I'm doing. I'm not going for an Order of Merit award, or national recognition, or an article in C and C, or a presentation at some conference. I'm not doing it to spread the good word of LXA, or to promote our well-being and welfare.

I'm doing it because we have some damn good men in Gamma Zeta, some great friends and brothers, that deserve to go to an alumni bbq for once in their lives. I'm doing it because I've met some of my best friends through LXA, and I want to keep those connections alive for all 1,500 of us alumni.

Well, I'm gone till Monday. I know everyone will have a great time without me!