Greek Life is Dead...

excuse_3 · #1 11-01-2002, 10:25 PM

This is going to be kind of long. Alright I have to explain. I already go a private university that is very small and the greek life is quite miniscular in size. We have 2 Sororities and 3 Fraternities. Last semester (spring 2002) the school's administration came down so hard on all of us because it deemed that all GLOs have evil origins and all the good stuff we do is a cover up for corruption and illegal activity. This came from a situation that happened on the campus years ago with a GLO that is not even present anymore on the campus. They started trying to tap into our meetings and follow us around. They had phones in the dorms tapped and also put taps in a someones apartment. Isn't that illegal?!?! They banded us from wearing any greek praphinalia(hope I spelled that right) , or have it on our cars or hold meetings of any sort and if we did we would get expelled. At the beginnng of this semester every Fraternity and Sorority member had holds on their accounts so they could not register till they went and formally denounce their affiliation in the organization they where a part of to the adminstration.

Our national board wrote a letter to the school to inform them that we will honor their views and will not pledge anyone else from the school publicly or in secret but existing brothers already inducted will remain members. And that we will refrain from promoting our fraternity and will not hold any such activities on campus.

This has bummed out a lot of brothers and scared them. Although we all know that the school will not expell anybody for being in the orginization because they would have already if that was the case, nobody has the greek spirit anymore. This has distorted their views of greek life, and a couple of brothers are contemplating denouncing from the organization as a whole. No one comes to meetings anymore etc. I on the other hand remain with the greek flame I first had. What can I do to bring it back to the brothers and what can we do to still remain unofficially active. I am very stressed. Okay Im done I hope someone reads this and replies.

Kevin · #2 11-01-2002, 10:35 PM

It seems like your school has forgotten about a few of your civil rights. Give a call to some ACLU lawyers.. They'd love to help you I'm sure

It doesn't matter if you're the Hitler youth, the school simply CAN NOT do that stuff. Wearing your letters is freedom of speach. Joining a fraternity is freedom of association and having your meetings is peaceful assembly. They should remember that whole bill of rights thing..

As for the wire tapping bit.. contact your local attorney general. I'm sure that a few school officials could end up in jail over this. You might even be able to sue for damages. Best of luck!

excuse_3 · #3 11-01-2002, 10:45 PM

Thanks ktsnake those are a couple things that I did not think of. See the only thing is that it is a private school so does that mean they reserve the right to tell us that we cant where our gear on on campus etc.? Damn and I thought Notre Dame was bad. My school has them beat by far.

showstopper_1908 · #4 11-01-2002, 11:13 PM

A private University does not have this right. My University tried to pull a similar stunt by not allowing certain people to wear letters (to Greeks not represented in our Greek Council, not all of us). They could not get away with it because it is freedom of speech. However, if someone is in an organization that is not a part of the Greek Council, they cannot publicize the organization in any other way (pamphlets, etc.) We have a few people here who have pledged a certain organization at another school or transferred from another school. Most don't wear letters because they are intimidated but a few do. They have that right.

Tom Earp · #5 11-01-2002, 11:48 PM

I have reports of people like this!

I think they were called Nazis, Facists, KKK, ETC!

They feel they hold a velvet glove over you such as Stalin or Hitler, for the betterment of the many!

If the Greek Orgs were doing things that deserved it, then so be it!

As far as NHPC Orgs, I feel that they are Memebers of the Greek Coummity period!

IFC and PAN HELL do not direct the movies and what role the actors play!

I know many members of NPHC and find them as much of a Greek Org as anyother.

On our Campus, PSU, Kansas, they are members of the Greek Council as it should be!

AlphaSigLana · #6 11-02-2002, 02:53 AM

this crap angers me. Schools don't want Greek life, but they support anti-christian groups etc(this offends me since I am Christian). Talk to a lawyer.
I have heard of teachers asking students not to wear letters, not sure why, but I think that is more reasonable than what you mentioned.

Kevin · #7 11-02-2002, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by excuse_3
Thanks ktsnake those are a couple things that I did not think of. See the only thing is that it is a private school so does that mean they reserve the right to tell us that we cant where our gear on on campus etc.? Damn and I thought Notre Dame was bad. My school has them beat by far.

Private schools are NOT their own private little dictatorships. Unless the student body has to wear a uniform or something of that nature then no they can't tell you to do crap as far as what to wear -- unless they have a valid reasoning that deals with safety of the student population. I'd love to see them try and explain that to a judge or jury.

Get an attorney and have them write the administration a letter informing them that if they try ANYTHING you'll have a lawsuit. Call the DA about the wire tapping (which I'll bet is a crime, it is in most states unless you are law enforcement and have a search warrant). And after that just continue... business as normal until they try something and just ignore what they tell you because they have no way to back it up.

Be prepared for the school to retaliate somehow but in the end if you work hard enough you'll come out on top.

pinkyphimu · #8 11-02-2002, 12:50 PM

run quickly to the nearest lawyer!!! i do know that they can not tap phones without a warrent, however, if they told you they were going to be tapping phones, then you might have a different story. they can regulate whether you can meet on campus or post info about your org in common areas, however, they can not tell you what you can/cannot wear or post on your car! they were trying to intimidate you by placing holds on your accounts and that is not ok!!! get your national involved even more. it is fine that your school is no longer willing to support greek life (not that i agree), but they can not punish you because you joined the group! also, the groups on campus should come together and present a united front. in addition, contact your alums!!! i know on my campus, many of the buildings are named after alums who were greek. please keep us posted!

IvySpice · #9 11-02-2002, 01:08 PM

Private schools can wield tremendous power over the students. Attending a private school is a privilege. Religious private schools, in particular, often require students to pledge that they won't have sex, swear, or skip church -- all of which they are constitutionally entitled to do. If you agreed to follow school rules when you enrolled, you're out of luck. They can absolutely expel you for failure to follow the rules. In fact, they have a constitutional right (freedom of association) to do so.

If they take federal money, they can't kick you out because of your race or national origin. But that's just about the only limitation. Schools that don't take federal money (Bob Jones U.)can do virtually whatever they want.

The constitution places limits only on the government. A private citizen or organization which denies you freedom of speech or privacy may (if they aren't careful) be violating state criminal laws, but they are NOT violating your constitutional rights. The GOVERNMENT has to get a warrant before they tap your phone. The GOVERNMENT can't punish you for having a bumper sticker on your car. You school can.

Even the government can do almost whatever it wants if it has your permission. Think of West Point! The cadets sign away their lives when they enter, and the school can control every detail of their behavior.

I don't have enough information here to gauge whether this school is violating any state laws, but "rights" just aren't relevant to the analysis.

Ivy, J.D.

33girl · #10 11-02-2002, 01:28 PM

Ivy is right...if your school does not take federal money, basically they own your butt if you choose to go there. Grove City here in PA is another example. But schools who take NO federal monies are very few and far between.

Here is the bill that protects students' rights to associate. http://dke.org/conf.html

Oh, and as far as the phone tapping, etc, whether it's legal or not, that is disgusting, and I would have no respect for a school that did that, nor would I give them any more of my money.

Betarulz! · #11 11-02-2002, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by excuse_3
At the beginnng of this semester every Fraternity and Sorority member had holds on their accounts so they could not register till they went and formally denounce their affiliation in the organization they where a part of to the adminstration.

Wow! This sounds like stories I hear about the early members of Beta Theta Pi in the 1840's and 50's...Whole chapters were expelled rather than denounce their membership.

I'd never would have thought that would be possible in this day and age.

madmax · #12 11-02-2002, 01:46 PM

What school do you attend?

Have you tried to contact a laywer, ACLU or your national?
What did they say?

SnowLady · #13 11-02-2002, 03:37 PM

Take Pinky's advice contact your alums. (Oh, I think contacting your HQs for more info is extremely important as well as getting an atty to help out - perhaps an alum?!)

Private schools LIVE off of Alum Donations. The pretty flyers and brochures the University produces to send to alums for money is outrageous.

Get together with the other chapters - GREEK UNITY - and work on a mailing campaign to your alums explaining what's happening. Ask them to discontiue their donations until the administration sees the value of Greek Life. Look at the University's Board of Trustees - are there any Greeks on there? CONTACT THEM! Are there faculty and staff that are alums - find out what's REALLY behind this.

Then I have another idea. When you have your meeting with the other organizations - plan a HUGE philanthropy. Show the University the good that Greeks can do. Pick a charity near and dear to the University President's heart. (How do you do that? FInd someone that can chat with his/her secretary and and ask her what charity the President supports most.)

Feel free to ask anyone here at GC about popular Phils. I'm sure someone has a great one that will net that charity some bucks.

GOOD LUCK

SnowLady · #14 11-02-2002, 03:42 PM

My husband just suggested to attend the next Board of Trustees meeting and ask what their official opinion is on this subject. It might help to research and find out who on the Board is Greek prior to this. But all administration INCLUDING the President reports to the Board.

excuse_3 · #15 11-02-2002, 08:37 PM

Thanks this is what greek life is all about helping each other out. Someone asked me where I went to school, Andrews University, and we already contacted nationals. Our national board is flying in to have a meeting over this over the November 22-24 weekend hope a lot of things are solved thanks again for all the replys I appreciate it.