Brothers,
This is a very interesting and important thread. Believe it or not, college Greek organizations have had similiar problems throughout their history. Almost from the beginning, with the creation of the Flat Hat Society, fraternities have been involved in hazing, binge drinking, sexual escapades, and so forth. The actors change, the drug of choice changes, but high risk behavior is characteristic of many college students. When you couple high risk behavior with "secrecy" and the "bond" of Brotherhood you have a formula for serious trouble. University Presidents and faculties have fought us from the beginning of our organizations because of this dangerous mix of risky behavior and silence.
In the past, "outlaw" organizations like Delta Beta Delta, Kappa Beta Phi, and Theta Nu Epsilon were little more than drinking clubs composed of young men who didn't care for anyone in authority. These renegade societies were part of the reason that the North American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), then known as the National Inerfraternity Council, was founded about 100 years ago. They saw these irresponsible organizations, and the lack of clear chapter standards, as a threat to the existence of college fraternities.
In order to make this reform, they allied together and with University leaders throughout the country to rid their campuses of these groups. Many of the "rogue" groups continued after their national organizations disbanded or were absorbed by other fraternities. They continued operations as "sub rosa" campus groups. In the early years, most of the major fraternities agreed with university officials to withdraw recognition and support of a chapter when they were no longer recognized by the institution. This practice continues today with the NIC. Some groups like DEKE go their own way on this issue, a few groups like Phi Delta Theta have left the NIC, but almost all NIC members subscribe to this practice of not recognizing chapters that are not recognized by the university or college in question.
I think an examinination of the NIC position would be an interesting subject for discussion. If you want more information on the NIC you can find it here:
www.nicindy.org
My position on this subject is pretty direct: if a Zeta is not recognized by IHQ it is not part of our fraternity. I understand the fact that some of these men could be very good Brothers. The same could be said of some of the men in our poorest Zetas. A few good men do not legitmize a group that is violating our Constitution and Code. It may be a "romantic" notion that they are independent, free, self-determing, etc. In my mind, they need to either shut down or petition to be a colony. We took oaths to abide by our Fraternity's laws. I have tried very hard to do this myself for over forty years. I simply don't trust or respect men who violate oaths, don't respect our organization, and pretend to be Lambda Chis. They aren't....
Yours in ZAX,
Mike "I am Drawing a Line on This One," Raymond
Zeta-Upsilon Zeta
1964
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