[adpiucf]

In my experience, there would be no stigma attached to a man depledging a fraternity that was being suspended. Because fraternities have the power to "blackball" or depledge new members at will through the pledge period, it is not uncommon for men to rush and pledge 2-3 times before finding their fraternity home.

Why should your son initiate at a suspended chapter and miss out on the college Greek experience while he is a student? That isn't fair to him. He can still feel loyalty and allegiance to the pledge brothers he has been with-- as their friend. Why, though, should the pledges cut off their noses to support a chapter that may or may not be allowed back on campus in 5 years? That's a lot to ride on.

This must be your son's decision. You're a good mom to research this and be concerned for him. My gut tells me that while you should work hard, and pray and hope, you also can't put all your eggs in one basket in favor of a potential future payoff. There's no guarantee that the fraternity WILL be allowed to return by his senior year. And he will have just wasted his "golden ticket" by waiting on them.

Your son needs to do what is right for him. If he wants to go Greek to have a positive collegiate Greek experience, he should depledge and re-rush the chapter that his gut originally told him was right for him. College is about learning to trust your instincts.