The Hazing Tradition

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I disagree about hazing one day being a memory. It will always exist, at least in the south because alumni actually WILL cut off funding if the fraternity changes rituals or traditions.

The thing is -- most organizations have already started to take that ability away from alumni. For large, established chapters, alumni donations aren't turned around and used immediately. Often, for tax reasons, that money goes into a 501(c)(3) trust which is overseen by either your national, or a board of alumni directors with oversight from national. I'm working on organizing one such fund for my chapter right now. It's good stuff.

Even if your national doesn't control the funds in your foundation, the alumni who run the board still have a fiduciary duty as to the use of those funds. Refusing to disburse funds because the chapter refuses to engage in illegal activities, I'm afraid is not a valid use of that authority. In fact, if what you say came to pass, that sort of behavior on the alums' part could actually be enough for a plaintiff to reach them personally.

Now you can go underground or whatever, but how long would something like that be viable?

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by Kevin

The thing is -- most organizations have already started to take that ability away from alumni. For large, established chapters, alumni donations aren't turned around and used immediately. Often, for tax reasons, that money goes into a 501(c)(3) trust which is overseen by either your national, or a board of alumni directors with oversight from national. I'm working on organizing one such fund for my chapter right now. It's good stuff.

Even if your national doesn't control the funds in your foundation, the alumni who run the board still have a fiduciary duty as to the use of those funds. Refusing to disburse funds because the chapter refuses to engage in illegal activities, I'm afraid is not a valid use of that authority. In fact, if what you say came to pass, that sort of behavior on the alums' part could actually be enough for a plaintiff to reach them personally.

Now you can go underground or whatever, but how long would something like that be viable?

I just don't see southern fraternities giving away that power to nationals, most of us do not care for nationals.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I just don't see southern fraternities giving away that power to nationals, most of us do not care for nationals.

And most of our alumni hate nationals. We have very few that give to the national organization and hundreds that give to the fraternity itself.

[Little32]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

And most of our alumni hate nationals. We have very few that give to the national organization and hundreds that give to the fraternity itself.

Why don't you secede?

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by Little32

Why don't you secede?

I know of at least one fraternity that I named above that is planning on doing this in the not so distant future (5-10 years). Stockpiling money, readying alumni, etc. My fraternity is not in the position to do so, but could if given 15-20 years.

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I know of at least one fraternity that I named above that is planning on doing this in the not so distant future (5-10 years). Stockpiling money, readying alumni, etc. My fraternity is not in the position to do so, but could if given 15-20 years.

I don't think my nationals are bad enough to secede from. It wouldn't be worth losing the name. We have one guy that nobody likes that comes around once a semester, thats it.

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I know of at least one fraternity that I named above that is planning on doing this in the not so distant future (5-10 years). Stockpiling money, readying alumni, etc. My fraternity is not in the position to do so, but could if given 15-20 years.

So one's Chapter would go from being part of a National Group Organization to being a small, local, eating and drinking club with a side order of let us ignore all rules, laws, and codes of conduct?
And if I were thinking of going to your school (which BTB was not and never has been on my radar) just what would make me interested in even talking to you?

And please do not even bring to the table anything about money.
Perhaps that is not fair as most likely that is what is going to be needed to cover
bills for damages and law suits.