SigEp brothers become ADPhis

[breathesgelatin]

So, they've done it. A couple of you know about this from my first post about it.

I don't think they're going to get recognized. We'll see. I don't think it's good for IFC relations, national or local. Hopefully it all works out for the guys. Although they have sort of subtly threatened to pass out bids in October or November if they don't get recognized (which would be really odd, since we have a winter rush).

Why I don't think they'll get recognized: They can't get their house back. The school owns the house and SigEp holds the lease for the next 3 years, when they plan to recolonize. I don't know where they'll be able to find a house as remotely as nice as the houses we now have on campus. Plus the school requires that all recongized fraternities' houses be owned by the school, and there aren't any unleased ones. Compound that to the fact that we don't have enough guys to support 15 fraternities (much less 16) anymore... and I think the whole situation is awkward. (The school was all guys until 1985 and has only gotten to 50-50 male female in the past 2 years or so... Numbers have been dropping due to this.)

From one of the school papers:

http://www.thetrident.org/news/525730.html

Alpha Delta Phi Brothers Carry on Business as Usual

By Megan Zingarelli
Last Friday, 33 former brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon were initiated into the Alpha Delta Phi International Fraternity. Now an off-campus fraternity officially recognized by the national office of Alpha Delta Phi, they have yet to be recognized by the IFC or the University.

"The fraternity is here," said Eric Ritter, treasurer of both the IFC and Alpha Delt. "Even if we don't get recognized by the school, we're still nationally recognized."

Sig Ep nationals disbanded the W&L chapter in July because of "rumored alcohol abuse", "questionable membership activities," and "regular disdain and combative relations" with headquarters.

With members' initiation into Alpha Delta Phi, fraternity leaders say the chapter is on the road to recovery and business is proceeding as usual: they are carrying on with regular rush, playing intramurals, and holding regular chapter meetings. Also, they are actively searching to buy a new fraternity house with money being raised from Alpha Delt alumni.

Interfraternity Council President Brian Castleberry said he is waiting on official word from the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC) to proceed with the University's recognition process. He said the IFC is following its standard protocol.

After an NIC nod, which will occur if Sig Ep formally releases W&L members, 11 out of the 14 W&L fraternities must vote in favor of Alpha Delt; the Student Affairs Committee must give a 50% plus 1 vote; and a faculty majority vote must be attained.

Alpha Delt has not received recognition because of the NIC's "comity clause," said Castleberry This rule says that one cannot be a member of two fraternities at once.

"It basically says 'you won't steal our guys, we won't steal yours,'" he said.

For now, lack of any word from Sigma Phi Epsilon to the NIC, IFC, or ADP nationals, has left the Alpha Delts in a "limbo state," said Castleberry.

"They are essentially outside the law," he said.

Alpha Delt's National President David Brewster said Sig Ep's word is not needed. A letter of notice sent to members and parents this summer officially expelled them, he said.

"We believe there is no action for them to take," he said. "They have expelled all the individuals from the former Virginia Epsilon Chapter."

Chris Colby, President of the local Alpha Delt affiliate, said Sig Ep officially expelled them in the letter nationals sent to members this summer.

"Sig Ep obviously expelled all of us," said Colby. "The letter is indicative of the fact that we have been expelled from the chapter, so we're not in violation of any NIC rule."

Alpha Delt's national president said he agreed.

"We proceeded because we honestly and wholeheartedly believe that we have done nothing wrong given the situation, and that Sigma Phi Epsilon has already given the formal release by expelling the individuals," said Brewster.

He said the letter constituted "a literal and very direct" release from Sig Ep.

However, now Sig Ep is telling them that they have in fact not been released and are not allowed to join another fraternity. The NIC is waiting on word from Sig Ep that all of the brothers have been officially released from the fraternity.

Castleberry said Sig Ep's word is needed because the letter left a thread of affiliation by allowing them to be eligible to apply for alumni status upon graduation.

Ritter said he believes that last weekend's initiation will compel the NIC to look at the problem.

However, Alpha Delt leaders said that they are doubly out of the fraternity because of Sig Ep's letter and because each brother has resigned from Sig Ep in writing, which the NIC stipulated must be done to completely sever any ties to SPE.

"We know they've gotten the resignation letters but they're dragging their feet," said Ritter.

He said he believes the NIC is informally on their side because of the letter, and added that last weekend's initiation will compel the NIC to look more closely at the problem.

W&L's administration is also tending to the issue. Recently, upon learning that the Alpha Delt leadership had sent out a billing for this term, Dean of Students Dawn Watkins sent a letter to the home of all new Alpha Delts informing parents of the formal recognition process.

Colby and Ritter said the letter had a tone that told parents they should not support their sons in their endeavor to become Alpha Delts. The letter said students are paying for an unrecognized fraternity. Neither the NIC nor the school has recognized them, but the Alpha Delt nationals have.

"It's pretty disheartening that the school would support an organization that's going to be fine above its current students," said Colby. "For some reason, they're siding with Sig Ep."

Watkins said she was "extremely careful" to avoid any kind of tone and was merely describing the recognition steps. She said the letter was to address confusion from parents. The administration's position is to follow the formal recognition process, she said.

Brewster said Alpha Delt supports the administration because it is protecting the interests of W&L students and the Greek System.

"Alpha Delta Phi understands that and wholeheartedly supports them in their endeavors," he said. "We want to have a good working relationship with the school and the students."

If Alpha Delt does not receive permission they will remain an underground fraternity. Ritter said that even though the Alpha Delts are happy just to be here, they want school recognition.

"We want to get recognized," he said. "We are A-okay with following the regulations."

Having an underground fraternity may damage W&L's close-knit Greek System, said Castleberry, adding that some fraternity presidents are concerned that Alpha Delt is currently violating IFC rush rules and not adhering to the standard of the organization they wish to join.

Brewster said these concerns are unfounded.

"And I can understand why other fraternity presidents would be upset," he said. "I don't blame them."

"We fully believe that given this unique set of circumstances we have done nothing wrong or 'illegal' per the NIC rules, and sincerely hope that we will be able to receive full recognition fro the IFC and the school in the near future," he said. "We don't want to be left outside the IFC, but if we are not granted recognition, we will continue on our chose path and the IFC will continue on theirs."

Watkins said if Alpha Delt remains unrecognized, she wants them to have all the information possible to be safe and responsible.

However, Colby, Ritter and the rest of the Alpha Delts might have to wait several more weeks before action is taken.

"It's no longer in our hands," Ritter said.