Thank you for the comments.
I was ready to believe that Ohio U. was turning anti-Greek and that the University was "out to get" fraternities after reading the first post here. Then, they turn around and support the Skulls.
Do you suppose the reason is that, in the first case, the rules and the law were clearly broken? And, in the second case, the group was in good standing? I just read that there are 20 fraternities (13% of male undergrads) and 13 sororities (15% of women) on this campus of just under 20,000 students. That doesn't sound terribily anti-Greek to me.
It wasn't the OU Chapter's fault that the National was having problems. It was the actions of the Texas Chapter that almost killed the one in Ohio.
One of the single largest benefactors of this particular university is a now deceased Delt Alum. His family is still a huge contributor. I know other fraternity and sorority alumni are also big supporters.
The University knows that. But outrageous behavior will back anyone into a corner and make them come out fighting.
That's why I get so damned frustrated when I hear all of these "I" and "we" messages talking about hazing and drinking being OK as long as they're confined to the security and secrecy of "our" chapter. That's just not true. When one chapter gets busted, it is a problem for the entire fraternity -- and in the long run, for the entire Greek System.
And it's not that hard to follow the rules.
It's interesting that one of the chapters that I'm Division Vice President for went dry this year -- and had the best Fall rush and then the best Spring rush in the history of the chapter.
As I've said so many times in so many threads, the future of the Greek System hangs in the ballance here.
So many brothers and sisters have said that the Nationals are run by a bunch of old guys who had their fun and now don't want this generation to be able to. My experience certainly doesn't support that. I know personally the men who run our National, and they (we) struggle with these issues.
It's a matter of pure survival.
I don't know about the Skulls, but a number of fraternities can't get insurance anymore and have formed a coalition to self insure themselves. They aren't insurance companies with other types of policies and incomes and will never have anywhere close to as much money. A couple of situations like the one in Texas and that fund and the organizations supporting it will be bankrupt.
And, of course, there's the law. Hazing and underage drinking are illegal. I don't understand why that concept is so tough. Like it or not, fair or not -- the law is the law. Period.
Is anyone listening out there?
|