In Trouble

Azalin · #1 10-02-2006, 01:44 AM

Just earlier today, some friends and I were pre-initiated. Afterwards, we were given some forms to fill out. One of the papers said we were agreeing to allow the school to release our grades to the fraternity. As we were leaving the house, one of my friends said he didn't sign the paper because the academic program we're both in doesn't allow students to join fraternities freshman year. When I told him that I signed it, he said I could get kicked out of college.

If this is true, could I just wait a year to get initiated, or does being an associate member still count as being in a fraternity?

AlphaFrog · #2 10-02-2006, 07:38 AM

When you say "pre-initiated", do you mean bid??

I don't believe the university can kick you out for trying to join a Greek org, but they can tell the Greek org that you aren't allowed to become a member.

I'm assuming your "academic program" is aka "academic probation"...my roommate freshman year was on academic pro, and tried to rush, and they just denied her membership, but she didn't get kicked out for trying or anything.

PS...your friend is a moron, thinking he's going to get away with getting into a Greek org simply by not signing the paper.

IvySpice · #3 10-02-2006, 10:14 AM

Quote:

I don't believe the university can kick you out for trying to join a Greek org

They can kick you out of a special program if you agreed to follow certain rules when you voluntarily signed up. It could happen, for example, that an honors engineering program could limit the number of extracurricular activities freshmen join, or that a co-op learning program could forbid Greek membership because the program is all about building a residential community, etc.

adpiucf · #4 10-02-2006, 11:13 AM

They can't expel you for joining a student organization, but you may have to depledge or risk losing your spot in the academic program you are enrolled in.

School comes first. You can always join another activity this year, maintain your relationships with the fraternity and repledge next year.

Talk to your academic adviser and get the straight scoop if freshman are allowed to pledge. If they are not, you need to drop. Talk to your pledgemaster if this is the case, apologize for not knowing this clause and inform him that you must depledge for this reason.

Azalin · #5 10-02-2006, 07:00 PM

Before members for the fraternity get initiated, they have to take a test and meet the GPA requirements.

But what you guys are saying is that I have to leave the fraternity entirely until next year? I highly doubt they'll want me back after this.

Is there any way I could choose to remain uninitiated, and as an associate member until next year?

UGAalum94 · #6 10-02-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azalin

Before members for the fraternity get initiated, they have to take a test and meet the GPA requirements.

But what you guys are saying is that I have to leave the fraternity entirely until next year? I highly doubt they'll want me back after this.

Is there any way I could choose to remain uninitiated, and as an associate member until next year?

That's probably going to depend on your group. You should probably talk to whoever is in charge of new members.

aopirose · #7 10-02-2006, 07:40 PM

Azalin, you really should talk to your new member educator. Good luck.

Azalin · #8 10-02-2006, 08:00 PM

Dangit, that guy's a real hard ass. Oh well, I'm about to talk to them.

adpiucf · #9 10-03-2006, 10:21 AM

You need to first talk to your academic adviser and determine if there is actually any ban on freshmen or freshmen in your program joining fraternities. If there is, then the fraternity is the group who messed up by giving you a bid b/c they should know of this policy.

It isn't uncommon for a fraternity or sorority new member to depledge because of an academic requirement and they can maintain their contacts to come back later, and most GLO's are conscious of the rules on their campus-- they can't offer you the bid legally if the school forbids freshmen from pledging.

Check with your academic adviser FIRST to determine if this is a rule. If it isn't you have nothing to worry about. If it is, you need to contact your pledge master and explain that you are ineligible for bidding this year. You can tell him how much you regret this error and your interest in his fraternity and that you really want to be a member. Talk to him about next year. If he is that much of a jerk, as you say, I don't know why you would want to be a member, but hey, everyone has their preferences.

Azalin · #10 10-03-2006, 01:32 PM

The pledge master wasn't available yesterday, so I talked to two other officers. They've actually never heard of the program I'm in, but they seemed to want to help, and they're going to call the front office today to see if what my friend told me was valid.

I have a class with my counselor on Thursday, so I'll probably ask him about it afterwards.

jon1856 · #11 10-03-2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azalin

The pledge master wasn't available yesterday, so I talked to two other officers. They've actually never heard of the program I'm in, but they seemed to want to help, and they're going to call the front office today to see if what my friend told me was valid.

I have a class with my counselor on Thursday, so I'll probably ask him about it afterwards.

If I were you, I would be getting in touch right now with either your academic adviser or person in charge of the program.

Do not wait for others to check into your program for you.
After all, it is your program not theirs.

AGDee · #12 10-03-2006, 10:33 PM

Back when I was in school, the program I gained admission to told us that we were not to work, be involved in school organizations, get married.. on and on and on, while we were in the program because the program was too demanding and we couldn't handle any outside commitments. Well, almost all of us ignored that "advice" (it wasn't truly a ban because ..come on, they don't have any right to say what you do in your free time). I worked two jobs, was an officer in Alpha Gam, and was involved in another organization AND graduated Magna Cum Laude from this "demanding" program. I get peeved when I hear things like this because it seems to me that it's up to an individual to know what they can and cannot handle and to manage their time how they want!