Most disturbing -- from "Fraternal News."
Alfred University News Release
May 20, 2002
Alfred University trustees vote to eliminate fraternities and sororities
The Alfred University Board of Trustees has voted to eliminate
fraternities and sororities, ending their nearly-100-year presence on
this campus.
The vote came after a special Trustee Task Force on Greek Life
delivered a report sharply critical of the University's Greek system,
and recommended its elimination.
The trustees directed President Charles M. Edmondson and his staff to
draft a plan to implement their decision and authorized the Executive
Committee of the Board to review and approve the administration's
plan on behalf of the full board.
While the board's action was taken at its meeting late on Friday, the
announcement was delayed until today to permit Gerald Brody, vice
president of Student Affairs, to notify presidents of fraternities
and sororities of the board's decision. "We wanted to extend that
courtesy to our students," said President Edmondson.
"The Board of Trustees is convinced that the Greek system is beyond
repair," said Robert McComsey, chairman of the Board. "The vote was
virtually unanimous - 25 trustees voted in favor and one abstained.
We must ensure that Alfred University provides an environment
conducive to learning and one that assures the safety and well-being
of all students. From this report, it became clear to all of us that
our Greek system simply does not contribute to the type of learning
environment we want at Alfred University."
The report was the culmination of more than three months' work by the
Task Force, headed by Board Chairman Emeritus Dr. Gene M. Bernstein.
The 1969 alumnus was president of his fraternity while at AU. The
majority of the eight-member task force were Greek affiliates, as are
82 percent of the Board of Trustees who are AU alumni.
The Board appointed the special task force in February after the
death of Benjamin Klein, 21, a junior business major from Putney, VT.
Klein had allegedly been beaten by two of his fraternity brothers
before his death, although a medical examiner's report said the
injuries Klein sustained did not cause his death.
"The Task Force concluded that while many students who belong to
Greek organizations are outstanding young people, some of these
organizations and the Greek system they comprise have become
dysfunctional," said Bernstein. "I want to emphasize that during the
course of our investigation, the Task Force members met many members
of fraternities and sororities who are ideal students. We also
recognized the tremendous achievements and contributions of our more
than 6,000 Greek alumni."
Bernstein said the Task Force evaluated three different options: 1)
to continue the Greek system as it is; 2) to drastically reform the
system; or 3) to eliminate fraternities and sororities.
"As we began reviewing reports and documents it became abundantly
clear that the first alternative was neither viable nor responsible,"
Bernstein said. "We examined what has happened at 20 other
Northeastern colleges and universities, including some of the most
prestigious institutions in the country, such as Amherst, Williams,
Colby, Middlebury, Dartmouth and Bucknell; all have either undertaken
major reforms of their Greek systems or eliminated them entirely.
Those who did away with fraternities and sororities found it had a
positive impact on academic quality and ability to recruit students
and faculty."
At Alfred University, the Task Force found membership has declined
from 45 percent of the student body 40 years ago to 10 percent today.
Among entering freshmen last year, only 4 percent expressed an
interest in joining a fraternity or sorority, raising questions of
their long-term viability, a concern heightened by the fact that
fewer than half the members currently live in the chapter houses.
Additionally, "Greek membership does not reflect the changing campus
population in terms of women, minorities or international students,
all of which have an important future at Alfred University,"
Bernstein said.
The Task Force also learned that students in Greek houses tend to
drink more and more often than their peers at Alfred University, and
that while there are some excellent students who are members of
fraternities and sororities, the overall grade-point averages of
students with Greek affiliations tend to be lower than the campus
average, and lower than the students' SAT scores and high school
ranking would have predicted. There are also growing numbers of
violations of University policy. This spring, six of the 12 Greek
organizations (eight fraternities and four sororities) were under
sanction for violations.
The Task Force also rejected the second alternative - drastic reform
of the system. "The University tightened its guidelines for
fraternities and sororities, beginning in 1992. It also hired
additional staff to work with the Greek organizations, offering a
number of educational programs from leadership development to how to
host a party responsibly," said Bernstein. "The University has
repeatedly encouraged fraternities and sororities to set higher
academic standards for themselves and to police their own behavior,
but overall, they still do not meet our expectations."
Furthermore, the task force noted, the University has offered
financial assistance to the Greek houses, including establishing a
revolving loan fund to help them with repairs to their houses.
"Ten years of determined efforts to reform the system have failed to
produce satisfactory results, as evidenced by the continued decline
in membership," said Bernstein. "In the end, the Task Force concluded
the most responsible alternative is to eliminate these organizations."
"This action requires us to decide very soon what to do with
approximately 100 students who planned to live in those houses next
fall," said Edmondson. "We must determine whether they may stay there
and, if so, what special conditions should be required. Parents must
also decide, in light of the Task Force's findings, where they want
their children to live."
He expects to resolve this question within a few weeks and to notify
parents and students of their housing options as soon as possible, so
that they can make alternative living arrangements if necessary.
"Whatever the decision we reach in this matter, every student will
have a place to live this fall," he said.
Along with its recommendation that the Greek system be eliminated,
the Trustee Task Force urged that the University act boldly to
enhance the quality of life on campus. Edmondson said that in all
likelihood major changes - and major investments in programs and
facilities for students - lie ahead.
"This decision by the Board of Trustees will allow the University to
reallocate resources now directed at the 10 percent of students who
have Greek affiliations to improving the quality of life for all
students," said Brody, who will be among those drafting the
implementation plan.
"We will be able to explore ways of enhancing residential life
options for all students, perhaps by integrating housing and
academics with more special interest housing units." The University
already has a Language House, an Honors Program House, Hillel House,
and the Environmental Studies House, where students with a common
interest live together in a semi-independent unit.
"As we implement the board's decision, we must remember our ultimate
goal: to improve the living and learning environment for all students
on this campus," said Edmondson.
__________________________________________________ ______________________
__________________________________________________ ______________________
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 20 May 2002 14:55:00 EDT
From:
JSTRINGMAN@aol.com
Subject: Alfred University - Elimination of Fraternities
Fellow Greek Brothers:
I highly advise you to write each of the Board of Trustees of Alfred
University, criticizing their decision to eliminate fraternities from campus.
You have probably seen the article sent out today about their plans to close
all fraternities, a "knee jerk" reaction to the most unfortunate recent death
of a fraternity member on campus.
The Board's members and email addresses can be reached at:
http://www.alfred.edu/faculty/html/b...f_trustees.cfm
Whether you have a fraternity there or not, the principles which the school
is using is both faulty and dangerous. If these concepts spread to other
campuses, the same reaction will affect those schools, like a domino effect.
I don't know of a single college or university where this will not be an
issue.
You should emphaize the positive aspects of fraternity membership, and point
to schools you are aware of that can counter the school's claims! Let me know
what you think.
__________________________________
John Stringfellow
Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity
4929 White Oak Rd
Charlotte, NC 28210-2324
Phone 704-527-7627 or 866-527-7627
Fax Toll Free 866-240-0777
Email
jstringman@aol.com
Web
www.sae.net
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