My president has gone insane

furmanbeta · #1 09-21-2005, 10:26 AM

So the following is my chapter's situation, any imput on it would be greatly appreciated.

The Furman University chapter has been struggling with number in a very real sense. Presently we have only about 12 members. I have been trying to lead a charge over the past few months to help our chapter become as great at my school as Beta is in so many other locations. This Saturday, we are planning to have a house party. My chapter president (who also lives at the house), has stated that if we go through with the party, and do not follow every Risk Management rule to the T, that he will hand in his resignation. Obviously we don't want this, but I feel the request is unreasonable. We have never had a party which 100% conforms to the rules. For the record, I'm not just talking about underage drinking, but also the maximum ratio of 3 guests per member and never having an open party (those are both in the official policy). My chapter has never had a real risk management issue due to the fact that we do always have sober party monitors, as well as sober drivers available. What should be done? Am I right here, is he right here? Thanks in advance for any help which I recieve.

ZZ-kai- · #2 09-21-2005, 10:37 AM

Brother, welcome to GC. Stick around.

As for your issues, I congratulate you and bid you good luck on your quest to make Furman Beta's top notch - that is great that you're taking the bull by the horns.

BUT (there's always one of those), I don't think a party is what your chapter needs. Just imagine, if someone gets hurt, or underage drink occurs and you get caught, or if tickets are issued, or you charge for booze/admittance/entertainment, you guys are done.

I can't blame your President - it's his ass if this party goes up in flames. You'd be better off renting a 3rd party vendor and partying there....

-kai-

furmanbeta · #3 09-21-2005, 10:44 AM

I completely understand where you're coming from, and fully appreciate your position. I should have mentioned that we have offered to have this taken care of at a third party location. We also have a great working relationship with both the local and university police (our house is off campus). Given the limited size of my chapter, I want a good sized party, and something under 36 people just doesn't cut it for me. I'm not saying to throw an all-campus rocker, but there is an intermediate ground there. The risk management policy is being viewed as an all or nothing sort of thing, and personally I don't subscribe to that notion. Again, I think there are shades of gray. Don't know if this will inspire further discussion, but it's always good to have more information out there.

~kai~

Betarulz! · #4 09-21-2005, 03:48 PM

Youre right that there can be no party that completly complies with the entire risk management policy.

You have to pick and choose what's going to be followed and what won't.

The biggest issue in choosing what you accept and what you don't is what our insurance will cover. From everything I've ever heard, the only real true deal breaker, that will either null the coverage, or at least drastically reduce it is common containers (kegs/party balls/jungle juice). Everything else is pretty much non-threatening to the coverage arranged by the GF. Granted, breaking the other rules will make it more difficult to prove your chapter's innocence, but it won't take away your insurance.

The 3 to 1 ratio is actually not really a concrete rule. From our LC, the most common legal precedent is "from the point of view of a reasonable outsider, would this party look like it's being thrown by the fraternity and not just an individual?" It's murky, and very hard to say, what any reasonable outsider would think. I know I've been to primers for formals, where it's just me and maybe 12-15 of my pledge brothers and our dates, and a reasonable outsider would easily conclude this was a party being thrown under the auspices of the Fraternity.

The only thing I guess I can say is that my chapter at Nebraska holds parties every weekend that are chapter events, could only be designated as such, throw the 3 to one ratio out the window, and we still won the Risk Management award at Convention.

Do what you can, avoid hard liquor and kegs, and try to reason with your president.

Good Luck

Coramoor · #5 09-21-2005, 05:40 PM

When I pledged my chapter we had 17 brothers total. Now we have close to 80. One thing I have noticed is that very rarely do parties get the kind of return that you want.

Large open parties attract a lot of people....but don't generally get people to want to pledge that fraternity. We've had parties at the Beta house here that 2k+ students have attended, but when rush time came around it did not help one bit.

This is my suggestion. You need to get a solid group of guys that are interested in rushing or finding out more about the fraternity and throw a party with a sorority and invite those guys to it. You already have them lined, and showing them that you know how to have a good time and that girls like you will bring them in.

Additionally, the guys that will pledge just b/c of a single large party are generally not the guys you want.

I just got done with rush for my 5th semester in charge, if you need any advice or anything just pm me.

mmccutc · #6 09-21-2005, 07:04 PM

FurmanBeta-
We would be happy to assist at rush if you would like us to. Call or email Brad Stolz, the Delta Nu President.
770-757-9052
BSTOLZ@CLEMSON.EDU

_kai_
Cutch

furmanbeta · #7 09-21-2005, 07:24 PM

Thanks a lot Cutch. Actually, I have already consulted Brad about the current situation our chapter is facing with our president. I would also more than welcome any and all help that Delta Nu would be willing to provide us with rush. We are doing well so far, but obviously our struggle for pledges will have to continue until we can have them pledge in January. By the way, if you end up wanting to co-plan any sort of event, my cell phone number is 864-320-9862.
~kai~

a.e.B.O.T. · #8 09-21-2005, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by furmanbeta
Thanks a lot Cutch. Actually, I have already consulted Brad about the current situation our chapter is facing with our president. I would also more than welcome any and all help that Delta Nu would be willing to provide us with rush. We are doing well so far, but obviously our struggle for pledges will have to continue until we can have them pledge in January. By the way, if you end up wanting to co-plan any sort of event, my cell phone number is 864-320-9862.
~kai~

lmao, theres a good idea, if you get the clemson betas, then your ratio would be alot higher!

ZZ-kai- · #9 09-21-2005, 09:24 PM

Now there is some -kai-....nice job brothers. Assistance is key.

ECUJacob · #10 09-23-2005, 08:29 AM

I find it very ironic that two chapters, both located in Carolina's and both located in cities named Greenville, are struggling with numbers.

Epsilon Alpha is also struggling, as always, with #'s. As in past years, at the beginning of the semester a small handful of guys decided that Beta was no longer the right organization for them. In my opinion, they were right. however, that usually puts a rather bad taste in the mouths of the remaining brothers and their motivation to recruit is drastically reduced. Couple that with the stress of school, work, and home lives, and you get the makings of a soap opera.