Quote:
Originally posted by ThetaxiUW
The alumni have thus asked us for rights to do surprise room searches and have keys to all devices inside the rooms (safes, lockboxes, etc...).
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Ah no......I don't think so! If I were in your situation, this is about where I would have to try really hard to keep from having an outburst in the middle of a meeting. (I can hardly contain myself in this post). There is NO WAY that I would ever let an alum board have the keys to a personal storage unit such as a safe. I cannot believe that would even be brought up! It's one thing if you're referring to the fraternity's safe, ritual equipment cabinet, etc....but NOT NOT NOT the personal storage unit of a member. That is, if that's indeed what you meant and I didn't misunderstand.
It's one thing to love your brothers/sisters dearly, it's another to leave your sentimental or valuable items lying around in a house occupied by dozens of people, especially if there are big parties. Similarly, this applies to people who do not want to leave their belongings unsecured while the house is unoccupied over a break period. Keeping those two points in mind, I see no problem with members having loackable trunks, dressers, mini safes or jewlery chests.
If the alumni members are all in a twist because they want to be able to check to "be sure" there aren't any illegal drugs or alcohol containers in the house, TOO BAD. That does not give them the right to force members to give them the keys to a personal footlocker or jewlery chest - *especially* if they want to be able to riffle through it when the member is on break and not present.
If the alumni told me that was the rule....I would refuse to live in the house. Maybe it's different because I'm a girl, but sifting through my jewlery chest or lockbox would be a major contention point. I have a lot of objects which are important to me.
At any rate, I would be shocked to find out if your house wasn't under the landlord-tenant act. Granted, I don't know much of anything about fraternity housing corps, but aren't you all effectively renting the house? If so, then you should fall under the landlord-tenant clause. That usually means that have to give something like a 24 hour notice to come inside unless there is a clear and present urgent need to enter without permission such as fire, water pipes bursting, etc. Even then, that does not give them the right to sift through your sock drawer if they felt like it.
If your property is found to fall under that clause, and the alumni guarantor pulls out, well then I guess your out of luck unless one of the other alums wants to sign on. If the guarantor did pull out for this reason, it would just be childish. I can see why he'd want to protect his interests against liability issues, but to pull without first trying to work out a compromise is foolishness.
What is it about needing to "have control"? Is there something you are not telling us? For example, has your chapter had any alcohol or drugs violations or other risk management issues lately (in the past year)?
I can't believe that [alumni] brothers would do something so pushy that could cause the chapter to lose the house and possibly even have to fold the chapter. If the landlord-tenant clause is found to be applicable, then maybe you all should call his bluff and see if the guarantor actually pulls out. Or you can invite the alumni around to have a session to respectfully discuss the issue and to hammer out an agreement or compromise like the men and brothers you all are.
.....Kelly
