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From what I have read, going over the Ball State website, LXA hasn't been in "trouble" with the University other than the underrage drinking issues. However, this is a chapter "in trouble" with itself...mainly declining membership and general interest in the fraternity itself (read any of the Bike-a-thon articles on the Ball State newspaper site - it reads as though things were slowly turning, but, it may be another case of too-little-too-late) and this brought to mind something I thought I'd share - one of George Spasyk Reflections columns....
The Anatomy of Suicide
It has often been said that "fraternity chapters don't die -- they commit suicide." We firmly believe this to be true, and a former chapter at a major University is classic in portraying the symptoms of self-destruction which, over a period of four years, brought an outstanding chapter to its death.
The steady erosion of membership -- 83 in 1967, 64 in 1968, 46 in 1969, 29 in 1970, 18 in 1971 -- identified the fact there was a problem to even the most casual observer, but the manpower situation was the result, rather than the cause, of other, overriding weaknesses.
Here is but a sampling of observations from official visitation reports during this four-year period:
"Weak leadership and an overemphasis on social activity has caused the chapter to deteriorate... a summer rush program was planned but not conducted... another problem is the apathy and poor attitude of the members... there is little respect for the house... rush party entertainment was provided by two strippers.
(Fall, 1969)
The reader will have to agree that "fraternity," as most of us know it, was already dead... it simply took a couple more years to bury the corpse.
"Many of the chapter's problems center around a group of 'cool guys' the chapter pledged two years ago on the basis of social activity only... they have no desire to lead... some of this group wants to do away with the ritual... no respect is shown for the house, the housemother, or to rushees... the University is making some efforts to help the fraternities, particularly with leadership, but the chapter has failed to take any part in the sessions...
(Spring, 1970)
"Operations continue to be weak, due in part to a large, disinterested senior class and a lack of communication between officers... nothing has been done on rush...
(Fall, 1970)
"Loss of pride by the members has made it impossible to recruit new members... of the 18 members left, only 9 will return next fall, and of these, only four or five have any affection for the fraternity... 20% of the membership smokes marijuana in the house.
(Spring, 1971)
At this point, the chapter was declared inactive, and LCA left the campus.
Aside from the student membership, three other factors are always involved in the conduct of chapter operations -- the university climate, the alumni, and the General Fraternity.
As to the university climate, this particular school has not been a healthy field for fraternities in the past several years... a significant number of chapters have "folded." Yet, this is more frequently used as an excuse for failure, rather than a cause. There remain on this campus several good fraternity chapters. And there are a number of strong chapters of LCA on campuses which would have to be considered, by any objective standard, "poor fraternity schools."
Alumni support for the chapter was strong and continued right up to the end, in spite of the frustrations which resulted from the lack of response to sincere and dedicated efforts.
An unusual amount of General Fraternity assistance was provided throughout the period of decline... LCA does not give up easily. During the past year alone, three rush visits by staff personnel were conducted, with little or no follow-up by the members.
What caused the death of this chapter? We can cite weak leadership, apathy and indifference for starters. The inability to "psyche out" the needs of the contemporary student is another way of saying the chapter was offering a 1960 product to a 1970 student. The loss of standards and pride. The loss of senior interest and participation. And finally, a lack of fraternalism -- brotherly love, if you will.
To suggest that the problems of this chapter are typical of fraternities generally is as foolish as to contend that there are no dying chapters. Fortunately, this is an exception. The recognition of any of the above symptoms in their early stages is sufficient to bring about the changes needed to forestall any significant downward trend... in effect, they serve as a built-in "Early Warning System."
If any of the above symptoms are familiar in your chapter -- whether you be alumnus or undergraduate -- the warning should be unmistakable. What happened here could happen to you.
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