CU-Bolder pres: deferred rush, no Chi Psi

[hoosier]

Byyny: Bye bye, Chi Psi
By ERIN WIGGINS Colorado Daily Staff Writer

There may be no such thing as freshman fall rush in the future at CU-Boulder - at least, that's what the CU administration is proposing.
In his annual state of the campus address Tuesday, CU-Boulder Chancellor Richard Byyny announced CU is looking into a series of new initiatives to reform alcohol abuse on campus, specifically deferring freshmen rush until at least spring semester, focusing on alcohol abuse within the Greek system and revoking the charter of CU's Chi Psi fraternity chapter.
"Today I call upon the entire campus and the Boulder community to join me in a concerted attack on the misuse and abuse of alcohol among our young people," Byyny said.
CU freshman pledge Lynn "Gordie" Bailey was found dead in the Chi Psi fraternity house on the Hill on Sept. 17 after a night of initiation that reportedly included the consumption of mass quantities of alcohol. He was the second Colorado college student found dead in a fraternity this month - CSU sophomore Samantha Spady was found dead in an alcohol-related incident in the now-defunct Sigma Pi house in Fort Collins on Labor Day weekend.
While Byyny said the measure to revoke Chi Psi's local chapter is based mostly on Bailey's death, he said the house has a history with alcohol violations and hazing. He emphasized not all houses in the CU Greek system are being viewed as violators and the problem of alcohol is much bigger than just the fraternity and sorority houses on the Hill.

"I think they're part of the solution, but some things need to change," he said following his speech.
CU Interfraternity Council President Alex Garcia said Greeks have been discussing these issues with campus administrators, but he would not comment on the proposed changes.
"We're still in discussion with the university administration and a lot of the chapter houses," he said. "There's no real consensus ... so we can't really comment further."
While fraternities and sororities are governed by their national chapters, institutions can play a deciding role in whether they are affiliated with their campus.
Samuel Bessey, executive director of the national Chi Psi fraternity, said the group is still investigating the chapter and considering its future at CU.

"We want to make an informed decision and not a hasty one. So that's where we are, and I'm hopeful that it will be in the next couple of weeks," Bessey said in a Tuesday Associated Press story.
In addition to discussing Greek reforms and alcohol, Byyny's speech included information on the progress of the Action Plan to reform athletics, the budget dilemmas CU still faces and new sexual assault and harassment protocols on campus. A task force is currently looking at more changes and he said author Jackson Katz's visit to CU last week inspired a "new dialogue on campus" about men being more involved in sexual assault prevention.
"In essence, we are poised at a crossroads," Byyny said. "We have a responsibility to preserve this great institution and its mission to educate, to discover and to serve. Simply put, that means we must do things differently in the future."

[hoosier]

Chi Psi fraternity not first at CU to shut its doors

National chapters make the call; some return, some don't

By Elizabeth Mattern Clark, Camera Staff Writer
October 10, 2004

The mansion's doors were propped wide open. The scent of cleaning products wafted from inside, where a dozen or so clean-cut young men chatted, played pool — and scrubbed floors.

It was Friday afternoon at Sigma Phi Epsilon's Boulder house.

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Like the Chi Psi chapter last week, the Sigma Phi Epsilon house was shut down after an alcohol-related death. That was 10 years ago.

At least six fraternity houses have been shuttered in Boulder in the past 15 years.

Some have never come back, their houses rented or sold to other Greek groups. Other fraternities — including Chi Psi — are waiting until the members who lived in the troubled houses graduate, hoping to start fresh with a new set of men.

Sigma Phi Epsilon has come back and reinvented itself, saying it's determined to fight a "frat boy" stereotype of heavy drinkers, hazing and "Animal House" parties.

The house was shut down in 1994 after 18-year-old Amanda MacDonald was crushed to death in a "car-surfing" crash. Both MacDonald, a University of Colorado freshman, and the driver had been drinking at a Sigma Phi Epsilon party before the crash.

Taylor Wetzbarger, a CU senior who helped re-establish the chapter in 2001, said his goal is to "break away completely" from the MacDonald tragedy and "never have an alcohol-related tragedy again."

Chapter members say they don't drink in the house's common areas. Leaders recruit well-rounded athletes and students based on their high school records, placing less importance on the freshman "rush," a recruitment period that can get out of control.

The house's 57 members have a grade-point average of 3.12, volunteer their labor in the community and organize events such as last month's "Rock Against Rape" concert, said chapter president Lance Powers.

The fraternity arranges tutors for anyone whose GPA falls beneath a 2.5, and the students follow strict workout schedules — even taking pictures at the beginning and end of the year to determine whose body among them is the "most improved."

"I didn't want to do the stereotypical frat thing," Wetzbarger said. "Sig Ep is trying to destroy that image. ... What we have is a bunch of guys who hold each other accountable."

Chi Psi house

Chi Psi is asking residents of the $1.2 million, 40-bedroom Boulder house — built in 1920 and owned by a local alumni group — to move out by the end of the semester following the alcohol-poisoning death last month of pledge Lynn Gordon "Gordie" Bailey Jr.

The students can no longer hold Chi Psi events and are now considered chapter alumni.

Bailey, a CU freshman, died after he and 26 other pledges were taken to the mountains west of Boulder and given whiskey and wine. Sam Bessey, national Chi Psi executive director, called the incident hazing.

After current members graduate, a new group of students could petition the fraternity to re-establish the chapter, or local alumni could gather students they want to carry on the Chi Psi tradition.

But the fraternity might never come back to University Hill, Bessey said. Chi Psi national leaders say Boulder's Greek system is particularly steeped in alcohol.

"We have no plans to go back at this point," Bessey said. "I think there are changes that have to be made within the entire Greek community there for us to consider coming back. The Chi Psi national fraternity is committed to partnering with CU to address those concerns over time."

Other fraternities

Delta Tau Delta's Boulder house was shut down in 1989 after a pledge drank near-lethal amounts of alcohol during a hazing ritual. CU bought the historic house in 1996, and it now houses the continuing education department.

The fraternity hasn't come back since.

Neither has Sigma Chi, which shut down in 1999 after repeated alcohol violations and failures to pay fees and dues to its headquarters. Its house is now occupied by another fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi.

"We have an expansion team that evaluates campuses continually to see if that campus is going to be a model campus for one of our new chapters," said Jory Taylor, director of chapter development for Sigma Chi's central office. "Part of that is to ensure we're finding the right young men and the right environment so that it's going to be a healthy and successful chapter."

The year 2002 was a particularly rough one for University Hill fraternities. Three houses — Alpha Tau Omega, Kappa Sigma and Phi Delta Theta — had their charters revoked by their national organizations that year. None has yet re-established in Boulder, and all of their houses are now occupied by other Greek groups.

Alpha Tau Omega shut down its house because it was so poorly maintained it was declared uninhabitable, and because members were delinquent in paying dues.

Kappa Sigma folded because of alcohol and hazing violations. And Phi Delta Theta closed because fraternity brothers took a group of inductees into the mountains and left them with a keg of beer; a pledge was injured in a rollover accident on the way back.

Phi Delta Theta might re-establish in Boulder but has no plans to do so anytime soon, said Bob Biggs, the fraternity's executive vice president.

He said he's concerned about the number of liquor establishments near the CU campus and "that environment would be a factor in our decision about reopening."

But, Biggs said, "You have to look at all the factors. It's an old chapter, 100 years old, you've probably got a million-dollar piece of real estate and dedicated alumni who would like for us to return. ... We'd just have to get the right group of students who believe in friendship, academic excellence, community service and not allowing the misuse of alcohol and hazing."

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by hoosier
Delta Tau Delta's Boulder house was shut down in 1989 after a pledge drank near-lethal amounts of alcohol during a hazing ritual. CU bought the historic house in 1996, and it now houses the continuing education department.

The fraternity hasn't come back since.

And it isn't likely we ever will -- or at least as long as the campus culture and the administration attitude toward the Greek System remain the same.

That's not my opinion, but that of many of the Beta Kappa Chapter alums who recolonized the chapter three times. It's also the opinion of a former national president who told me that flat out several years ago.

In many ways the university's hands off attitude is more dangerous than one that is anti-Greek and over controlling.

[Erik P Conard]

A quasi synopsis of Colorado & Greeks. Dead systems at Mesa
and Western; poor one at Northern (Greeley). barely alive at
Southern (Pueblo), rich kids at Colo College, small system. Colo
School of Mines, stable but three long dead, DU a veritable grave
yard of a dozen, CSU and CU musical chairs. CU-Colo Springs has
Pi Phi now, beautiful setting, may become good greek site. Time
will tell. Johnson & Wales cooking school now has Delta Sig colony, little future here, though, simply does not fit...
Until they get active boards, housemothers if in a house, active
adviser and ban booze in the house, they will continue to be the
druggies, the ski bums. That life style has been in vogue over 40
years. We alums sit and wait and hope. The administrators with
their knee-jerk reactions...and the green-teethed reporters, well,
you know...
Deferred rush...bull puckey. It will not work and is likely not to come to pass anyway. New groups have wonderful opportunity
to rise to top if they just get smart. We are watching, hoping

[DeltAlum]

Erik,

Probably agree with all except Northern, which last I heard was growing fairly substantially -- partially because of the former administration of (US Senator) President Hank Brown, a Beta Kappa Delt from Colorado.

I read this week on our web page that our chapter there had an 18 member pledge class -- which is pretty good for a 35-40 man chapter.

Granted, it's been a couple of years since I was involved up there, but back then at least, there was growth.

Be interested to hear what LXAAlum would say about the situation in Greeley since he's there.

[Erik P Conard]

Wen we yanked the charter at our 100th chapter at Greeley
last spring, we had them debt free, #2 in size of 10, and #3 in
grades. But they still acted like idiots. I have encouraged LXA
to grow, they are the new kids on the block....
TKE had been at UNC 50 years. initiated 999 men and did not
have a pot to piss in. Delt was arguably top house with barely
50 guys in the spring of 2003.
I come of a different generation, housemothers, manners, no booze in the house, no toking, discretion.
TKE had 120 actives in 58 and now-gone Sig Ep over 100. We
gave TKE top awards many years. Administration has no clue as
to what a good greek school is...we will likely return in 4-5 years,
but here's to the rest...may they grow, and may they seriously
take a look at what a real fraternity experience is. I never saw a
house there in four years on the board...who had the slightest
idea and many good nationals were and are there.

[Little E]

I'm sorry, I hate to say it, but these groups deserve to be kicked off campus, with charters revoked. I really don't think in many of these cases the people were totally innocent in the deaths of pledges or guests. More responsibility needs to be taken.

[James]

For some reason every time I see your name I think of you as Eazy E the rapper.

Originally posted by Little E
I'm sorry, I hate to say it, but these groups deserve to be kicked off campus, with charters revoked. I really don't think in many of these cases the people were totally innocent in the deaths of pledges or guests. More responsibility needs to be taken.

[sigtau305]

While it's a shame Chi Psi have to suffer because of this tragedy, I really think having a Deferred Rush won't cure the situation at all.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by sigtau305
While it's a shame Chi Psi have to suffer because of this tragedy, I really think having a Deferred Rush won't cure the situation at all.

Oh come on, if they have deferred rush, no young college kid will EVER drink too much again!!!

Seriously, I agree with you. They're just trying to look like they're doing something.

[Erik P Conard]

I pledged TKE 50 years ago; it has been a joy in my life. Without
a doubt I learned more from the Fraternity experience than I did
from my four earned degrees (and a 3.91 gpa in grad school)
BUT...somehow...we must get the attention of the young folks,
that binge boozing, uncontrolled defiance, is not cool. We are not
prudes...I drank a lot in college, though sometimes poured cheap
booze in expensive bottles to make my date think I was buying a
high-priced brand! We simply did not have the discretionary $$
to spend that today's bunch has...albeit we hear of the dire poverty of today's student.
Just came back from two board meetings, the men seem to grasp
what we are saying. There are over 40 fraternity chapters in CO
which are dormant, some will return, many will not. Once great
Beta, Delt, Phi, Kappa Sig, Sig, gone from CU, and some never to
return. Folks, we all lose when goodies crumble and universities
snap up our houses to increase their power and presence.
Alums, when did you last try to help your chapter? Or do you just
grumble from afar? We need all of you. I love my Fraternity and
I hope you do yours...even after fifty years. Get busy...now

[Rudey]

It is the fraternities and sororities that need to decide to leave this school. It shouldn't be the school telling them to leave.

They should leave and make a huge deal about it. Put it into the media about how awful the student population is and that we are not coming back until the administration attacks this problem.

But that would never happen.

-Rudey

[Tom Earp]

Sorry Rudey, but as many times as I reread it, I still made little sense out of it.

Granted Internationals will not leave as It is a Major State U. and there is where the high profile is and they want to be.

But just because the University gives a free reign on Greeks should not mean that Greeks can do what they please. That is as responseable Greeks should be our problem and take a tight reign on what is happening at Our Chapters.


Uncle E, sorry I could not make our meeting In Topuka, hope you had a good visit with Sis!

Maybe next go around!

[Senusret I]

I am not saying this is a good or bad thing, but I would like to share the differences between how I think Alpha might handle this and how Chi Psi handled it.

I found it really amazing that the individual members were not suspended from the fraternity in addition to the charter being revoked.

In Alpha, I believe that we would have suspended the members of the chapter found to be responsible, pending expulsion at a convention.

Is this not the standard for NIC organizations?

[gogoaphi]

Good question and great comment! I know that for our organization, the individual members would have gone through disciplinary process although the results of it may not have been announced to the general public. I would think that it would certainly be reasonable for people to lose their membership. Having said that, I'm sure those very same people have bigger concerns with the legal authorities and likely aren't talking about it to anyone.