Sigma Phi Epsilon Closes U of Virginia Chapter

[exlurker]

See article in campus paper's online issue:

http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/09...rsity-charter/

Excerpts from much longer article:

Monday evening, the national headquarters for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity revoked the University’s Virginia-Eta chapter’s charter. The decision was made in conjunction with Dean of Students Allen Groves and Michael Citro, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life.

“There have been a string of incidents over the past several years,” SPE Director of Operations Brian Warren said, noting that no one issue spurred the shutdown. Instead, Warren cited broad offenses such as “disruptive behavior [and] behavior that doesn’t put the fraternity in a good light,” as the national body’s reason for taking action against the University’s chapter.

“There were significant concerns with the practices of the fraternity, and behaviors that stood in contrast with the University’s mission and values,” Citro said, declining to elaborate.

SPE had been on probation since the spring semester, Warren said, and the fraternity had been under restrictions imposed by the University Judiciary Committee and the Inter-Fraternity Council. . . .

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by exlurker

See article in campus paper's online issue:

http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2009/09...rsity-charter/



“There have been a string of incidents over the past several years,” SPE Director of Operations Brian Warren said, noting that no one issue spurred the shutdown. [/I]

so basically...the HQ just didn't like the chapter???

[Xylochick216]

UVA's SPE chapter, while old and full of tradition, locked horns with their HQ and administration many times in recent years. I wasn't surprised to hear that they closed.

[The Dorg]

A couple of quick comments with the caveat that I have no facts or details on this particular situation. My comments will be nothing new.

I am simply amazed that more individual chapters haven't learned that they need to "tow the line" when it comes to operating in conformance with both their respective national and their host university.

It's a losing proposition for an individual chapter to lock horns with either their national or their university. In the end, the active chapter is going to lose that battle.

I am an alumnus of a fraternity chapter at major university ranked as one of the top 25 national universities by US News and World Report. My chapter has historically been considered as one of the top 3 houses out of about 30.

We told our actives repeatedly for over ten years straight that their actions and behaviors needed to conform with that of national's and the schools standards.

Our sincere attempt to be helpful to the actives repeatedly fell on deaf ears. We were repeatedly given lip service that things had changed. In reality, nothing ever changed. The activities believed that keeping "traditions" alive was paramount.

What were "acceptable" traditions 20 years ago are simply no longer acceptable. We told our kids that they needed to adapt or risk closure.

Sure enough, our alumni were soon given an ultimatum to either cooperate with the university and close the chapter or risk being forced to close and never be allowed to ever return to campus.

The chapter was closed for purely speculative reasons. The truth is that the "speculations" were spot on. However, the chapter never actually got caught do anything wrong. While our alumni felt strongly that what the university was doing was unethical, we had a greater responsibility to ensure the return and long term historical survival of the chapter.

The actives had every chance, and more, to save the chapter. Unfortunately, they never stepped up.

To say our alumni were upset with what we consider a "morally bankrupt" university administration is an understatement. In the end however, closing our chapter and restarting it is the best thing that has happened to our organization in over 60 years.

We have since recolonized, are back up to 100 members and are working our way back up to the top. Our kids are great and they now actually very much appreciate what they have. I must say that is the most refreshing consequence of the whole affair.

Closing the chapter was painful and scary. In the end, it needed to be done to perpetuate the continuation of our existence.

[JohnnyCash]

Speaking of Sigep, I recently stumbled across the New Member Education program of my school's chapter which had been saved on a computer in the Greek Office (pretty stupid). I found some hilarious shit- like what not to wear, how to match your clothes, their anti-jorts policy (which I actually agree with) and other things.

[srmom]

It will be interesting to see how this fraternity's nationals handles another case of a chapter in trouble. It just seems that the penalties doled out are capricious and not at all unfirom across the country.

But, Sig Ep isn't alone in that regard...

[banditone]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCash

Speaking of Sigep, I recently stumbled across the New Member Education program of my school's chapter which had been saved on a computer in the Greek Office (pretty stupid). I found some hilarious shit- like what not to wear, how to match your clothes, their anti-jorts policy (which I actually agree with) and other things.

perhaps you can send a copy

[littleowl33]

I don't know if this is what happened here, but my close friend at Sig Ep here has complained that Nationals has been on, essentially, a witch-hunt to try to close down chapters and bring them back as Balanced Man. The chapter here is not Balanced Man and they hate the program. My friend has said repeatedly how much pressure they're under not to have ANY slip-ups, because Nationals is just looking for an excuse to close them down. What an awful feeling. While it sounds like the UVA chapter had more serious problems, this "mission" by headquarters might have played a part.

[pshsx1]

Every SigEp chapter is always under pressure. Also, I'm tired of pledge model chapters saying they hate the BMP when they know nothing about it. Anyway, Nationals has very rigid Risk Management policies and they stand firmly behind them. Pledge model chapters usually tend to do more stupid shit than BMP chapters do.

[wahoo11]

To say that this was solely because they bumped heads with their national chapter is preposterous. What outsiders don't understand about UVa is that its greek system is essentially a good ol boy network. There are houses here that essentially the same (or in some cases worse) activities than SPE and are not in no threat of having to leave Grounds. It really is all about who your alumni are and what kind of sway your chapter.

For reference:

Zeta Psi had a pledge event were the require their pledges to get drunk and then drive to a given point. They were caught and only put on probation.

Delta Psi (St. Anthony's Hall) had an email leaked where they talked about offering pledges either a "pill or line" during their Hell Week and that house actually received no sanctions.


In case no one figured it out from my username, I go to UVa.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Every SigEp chapter is always under pressure. Also, I'm tired of pledge model chapters saying they hate the BMP when they know nothing about it. Anyway, Nationals has very rigid Risk Management policies and they stand firmly behind them. Pledge model chapters usually tend to do more stupid shit than BMP chapters do.

Seriously, your HQ does not eff around. They realize there are insurance and RM issues and not only will handle stuff quick, but publicly put it in The Journal, and I respect that.

[srmom]

Anyway, Nationals has very rigid Risk Management policies and they stand firmly behind them.

Like I said before, it will be interesting to see how they handle a situation where the city DA is involved, as well as the Dean of Students Office, but as of this point, not one thing has occurred, and I doubt that ultimately there will be much more than a slap of the wrist to the house.

I have seen over time that chapters with pull (or $$$$) tend to have a different standard than others, and I'm not talking about any particular organization - it's across the board.

I will eat my words if Sig Ep nationals comes down hard on the situation I am familiar with.

[oldu]

Why do people continue to call their headquarters organizations "nationals?" Are they implying that there are several Sigma Phi Epsilon national fraternities? Many groups which are international in scope (and Sig Ep may also be) also call them "nationals." I've noticed this with many posts. Where did this ever come from, especially from college folks.

[srmom]

Why do people call regional competitions - Regionals?

Who knows? Who cares?