SPE Utah State leaves IFC / Response to Sig Eps

[hoosier]

Sig Eps leave the Greek Council

By: Elizabeth Lawyer
Issue date: 11/7/05 Section: Campus News

The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity (UT State) has left the Greek Council, citing differences in values as the main cause of the split.
Shane Russell, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon, said, "We decided to disassociate ourselves from the council so we could disassociate from other frats."
Russell said according to a survey given on campus, 37 percent of Greeks - fraternity and sorority members - have provided alcohol to a minor and 82.9 percent of students who belong to a fraternity say drinking is a main part of frat life. In addition, 17 percent of Greeks admit they have been taken advantage of sexually while under the influence of alcohol.
Russell said things like this are why Sigma Phi Epsilon wants to cultivate an image different than other fraternities. He said participating in the council simply wasn't beneficial to the fraternity.
"When you're governed by the same body, you're given the bad reputation along with other fraternities," he said.
Cameron Gordon, president of the Greek Council, said Sigma Phi Epsilon's withdrawal from the council was not voluntary, contrary to Russell's statement. He said they had violated rules laid out in the council's constitution, so the council voted to give them a chance to reconcile before voting them off. He said Sigma Phi Epsilon had been on probationary status as part of a routine process before a fraternity or sorority is accepted fully on to the council.
Two of the rules broken involved communication. Sigma Phi Epsilon had not been in communication with the university or the Greek adviser and Russell missed one of the council's mandatory meetings, Gordon said.
"If the chapter president misses a council meeting, he or she will be notified that the fraternity or sorority is in danger of losing its good standing with the council," Gordon said.
Adrian Sample, co-president of Greek Council, said the fraternity received a written warning from the council.
"We sent them a letter two weeks ago that outlined the by-laws broken. It came down to 'we kick you off or you resign,'" she said. The letter gave the fraternity two weeks to reconcile. Russell said he sent the council a formal resignation letter a week and a half ago.
One of the biggest problems the council had with Sigma Phi Epsilon was a section of their recruitment fliers, which Gordon said was slanderous to other fraternities.
"They basically painted the picture that if you're going to join a frat, join theirs, because if you join another frat you will be promoting drugs and alcohol," he said.
Russell said the fliers were not intended to damage other fraternities' image.
"We made no direct reference to any other frat," Russell said. "We were not in any way trying to slander another frat. We simply stated our beliefs."
Gordon said he was the one who asked Sigma Phi Epsilon to remove the offensive section from their fliers.
"I did them a favor. I didn't go to the school, didn't call a school judiciary meeting on them - which we definitely had the right to do," he said.
None of USU's Greek houses permit drugs, although some are "wet," meaning they permit the use of alcohol. Sigma Phi Epsilon wanted to be distinguished as one that does not permit any alcohol consumption.
Russell said Sigma Phi Epsilon encourages its members to become sound in mind and body. He said it goes back to an ancient Greek philosophy that those who are balanced in those two areas have more harmonious lives. They call it the "Balanced Man" program. Part of becoming sound in body in the Balanced Man program is not using drugs or alcohol. Because of this philosophy, Sigma Phi Epsilon is completely dry.
Gordon said he was mostly concerned about the success of the fraternity without the support of the rest of the Greek community. Sigma Phi Epsilon is not yet a fully chartered fraternity. With 50 active members, Russell said they are still a colony and don't have a high enough membership to support a frat house yet.
"I would hope they would [come back] for the frat's sake," Gordon said. "They're in a shaky position not being chartered. They're basically a club."
Gordon said in order to get chartered, Sigma Phi Epsilon would have to be recognized by USU and by the Greek Council. However, Russell said he has found a way around the red tape.
"We would never leave [the Greek Council] if we couldn't charter," he said.
Instead of being governed by the council, Sigma Phi Epsilon decided to work with the Council of Student Clubs and Organizations. Russell said he turned the fraternity's constitution in to the CSCO president and it was approved.
"So, we are still recognized by the university," he said.
Gordon said the fraternity is always welcome back on the council.
"I think a lot of this would be solved with communication from their side," he said. "We wish them the best of luck."

[Erik P Conard]

Until which time the GLOs decide to remove booze from the house
and get their act together, we will continue to play musical chairs
on campuses and have a bad rep.
In days of yore we did NOT have booze in the house and NO girls
above the first floor. I can assure you we got drunk and laid but in a different manor, call it hypocritical or discreet or whatever.
The booze MUST go from the house. You are destroying the entire image, idea, ideals and system with ANYTHING less. We were proud of our clean house and we did not have a shitcan of booze containers on the floor. Take heed. Behave or be gone.
I am not a mormon and have not been in a church in 45 years. I
am not preaching. But the booze MUST GO. You guys will lose it
all if you don't, so stop sniveling and grow up. Erik P Conard

[Erik P Conard]

Sigma Phi Epsilon is one the the largest and one of the finest
fraternities in the entire system.
Their "Balanced Man" program seems to work considerably well.
It might behoove the rest of us to consider it.
We need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot.
Sig Ep is trying to get in step with the times; power to 'em,
from an old rival, an old TKE, and here's a salute to Sig Ep!

[NebraskaDelt]

I can understand why the group would not be chartered for several different reasons, but the article states they are still a colony because of low membership. Their membership is at 50 guys and from my experience with SPE colonization, 50 guys is above and beyond what is usually acceptable for them to charter a chapter at a school. I have seen 10 guys have been enough at some schools. Maybe the writer had it wrong, but 50 guys is a whole hell of a lot of guys.

[33girl]

I'm sorry but the Sig Ep president sounds like a total a-hole.

If you want to be "different" you do it by your deeds, not by saying things like "we want to disassociate from other frats" and acting like you're above them because you decide to be alcohol free. It isn't a better choice or worse choice, it's simply a choice. (Plus this is the first I've ever heard that Sig Ep is "completely dry" - they make it sound like they don't just not drink in the house, they don't drink anywhere. Which I HIGHLY doubt.)

You can be alcohol free, fine, whatever, but lording it over everyone and basically calling them drunks and druggies won't win you any popularity contests among the other fraternities OR the rest of the campus.

And Erik, I don't think the problem is that alcohol is in the house, I think the problem is responsibility. I've seen filthy houses that are alcohol free and spotless houses where there were insane parties the night before. That's not just Greeks, that is people, period.

[BSUPhiSig'92]

Several inconsistencies here among the reasoning:

1) Sig Ep is not "dry" nationally. Neither does the Balanced Man program.
2) Judging from the story, this colony does not have a house, so it's easy to be the "dry" option.
3) The chapter hasn't been in contact with the University or the Greek adviser this semester? On most campuses, that alone could lead to loss of recognition from the University.

It sounds to me this colony doesn't want to play by the same rules as are required of everyone else.

[33girl]

Originally posted by NebraskaDelt
I can understand why the group would not be chartered for several different reasons, but the article states they are still a colony because of low membership. Their membership is at 50 guys and from my experience with SPE colonization, 50 guys is above and beyond what is usually acceptable for them to charter a chapter at a school. I have seen 10 guys have been enough at some schools. Maybe the writer had it wrong, but 50 guys is a whole hell of a lot of guys.

It says they don't have a high enough membership to support a house - maybe SPE makes their colonies get to the average size of the other fraternities on campus before they will let them charter? That sounds almost Panhellenic. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Erik P Conard]

Utah Alpha of Sig Ep, chartered 1936, has over a thousand initiates and is hardly a "colony.'
I went to summer school in Logan in '61 and noted how the school marched to a different drummer, quite mormon. Us gentiles perhaps better step aside and let the Sig Eps, the IFC,
and Utah State duke this one out. Not even SAE with the well hung Noble Leslie DeVotie could not survive in Logan.
Did not mean to jump in with both feet, but until the drinking laws
change, the booze needs to take a back seat.
Sig Ep's still a good club and perhaps it will eventually iron out. It
seems like there's a can of worms almost every where. Come out
to Boulder, see us fruitcakes, if you want to beat your head on the side of the wall. Then compare us with the eastern folks and
the isolationist southerners. Then there's Berkeley, Eugene, Ann
Arbor, Amherst...gosh, just think of all the schools who have no
GLOs at all and who pose nekkid in their yearbooks...goll ee ee!
And these are fully accredited institutions. Higher education....
Think I'll go eat worms.

[TSteven]

Sigma Phi Epsilon is not yet a fully chartered fraternity. With 50 active members, Russell [president of Sigma Phi Epsilon] said they are still a colony and don't have a high enough membership to support a frat house yet.

While I'm not familiar with the campus, my take on the above quote is the chapter needs more members before the chapter can rent, purchase or build a *physical* chapter house.

And if Utah Alpha of Sigma Phi Epsilon was chartered in 1936, then perhaps this is a recolonization at Utah State.

[Erik P Conard]

You are likely right, this is probably a recolonization. The Logan
community is heavily LDS and Utah State University, in '61, was
the ONLY state u in America who did not allow smoking in the student union! I lived in Moen Hall that summer and kept beer
hidden in the fridge! No it is no longer a secret.
Most there were angel-garment-wearing returned missionaries
and none were greek.
Hope there can be ameliorization here....

[lifesaver]

I was always the most suspicious of the chapters on campus that had to put other groups down to promote themselves. That was always the most pathertic form of marketing. That was the cardinal sin at my campus. You didnt talk shit about other groups. You got caught, you got in big trouble.

If you are going to spin the story as 'We left because we didnt agree with the other groups" then make damn sure your story is spotless. You look liek fools if it comes out late that you were really asked to leave and its a he saqid/she said issue.

Those kids (in the Sig Ep Chapter at Utah) better hope that the campus doesnt require that they be full members of the IFC to charter.

[Kami1717]

This was just one of the articles written in the same campus newspaper following the Sig Ep article.

‘Sorority girl’ label a keep
Greek fraternities and sororities are more than the stereotype of Greek life. You would think because Sigma Phi Epsilon claims to be a fraternity, they wouldn't encourage the stereotype that movies like "Animal House," "Legally Blonde," and MTV's "Sorority Life" depict. Not everyone drinks and no one is forced to change their ways. We encourage diversity and stand for higher values. All Greeks strive to become better men and women by becoming involved on campus, performing community service, building lifelong friendships and holding leadership positions in addition to our student schedules. Greek life ensures experiencing all aspects of college life by becoming active members in our own chapters, our campus, and our community.

USU's Greek history began in the early 1900's and most have been around since the early 1920's. The ten Greek organizations at USU have all successfully stayed on campus since our beginnings. We are a part of campus life and always have been. We are all branches of our larger national organizations which span over almost every college campus across the nation.

Greek life provides a successful leadership development program for college students. It should be noted that all but eight U.S. Presidents have been Greek since the first Greek organization was established in 1825. In addition, since 1910, 40 of 47 U.S. Supreme Court Justices, 85% of the Fortune 500 executives, and 76% of all Congressmen and Senators have been Greeks.

So far this year our Greek community has contributed in many ways to our campus as well as our community. Sigma Nu held a benefit concert for the Agriculture Technology Family support fund. Chi Omega held a Halloween carnival for the kids in Cache Valley and raised almost 800 lbs of food. Alpha Chi Omega held dollar days on campus and raised money for Victims of Domestic Violence. Kappa Delta has mentored local Girl Scouts and done community service by raking leaves and visiting Sunshine Terrace. Some Sigma Chi members taught in the One in Four Program, which is an all male group whose mission is to end sexual violence against women. Pi Kappa Alpha held bowling night for Habitat for Humanity. Each chapter has their own philanthropy and community service projects and through Greek Council we support each other in our different events.

Sigma Phi Epsilon lost their charter at USU in 1997. Last year they began reestablishing themselves, but in my opinion, slandering other houses isn't the way to do it. But sure, go ahead and call yourself a club. Disassociate yourselves as much as you want, because as crazy as some people may think it is, it is a privilege to be Greek. Having the support, the lifelong friendships, the networking possibilities, the leadership opportunities are just some of the reasons why I don't mind being classified as a "sorority girl."

'Sorority girl' label a keep

[Tippiechick]

Am I missing something? I have no idea what you are referring to.

[Erik P Conard]

I think you oughta check your sources...more than eight presidents were non-Greeks. Ike, Carter, Clinton, Hoover, Lincoln, Grant, Fillmore, Buchanan, Nixon were NOT Greeks and
Harry never even went to college...this is from memory.
Now you can include honoraries and professionals and their like,
but we generally think of Greek as social ones...
The Congressman figures are likely spurious, and frequently we
pound our chests about our clout. But we over exaggerate a lot,
and like we claim so many masons were presidents. Not so.
While we are proud of our fraternal affiliations, let us not overdo
it. Check your sources, do. Fraternally, Erik P Conard

[moe.ron]

The statistic is all good, but how do they pertain to your campus? How many of those congressmen, senators, President came from your campus? Have any of those you cited ever contributed to your local greek life?