Miami University Pi Beta Phi Suspended

[HDL66]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

What does suspension mean anyway?

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I can't speak on what it means for Miami and Pi Beta Phi, but it tends to mean that all activities on behalf of the chapter must cease and desist for a period of time unless waived by the national headquarters and/or university. This is a step beyond chapter probation/restriction.

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I know Miami doesn't have sorority chapter houses, but suites instead. Does this mean the Pi Beta Phi suite closes/ gets locked up, or does it revert to a "regular" dorm wing for a year? I would assume that housing assignments have already been done for next year, so I am curious the women that were going to live there next year...

Originally Posted by MysticCat

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, "The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can't recruit new members and can't participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said."

Originally Posted by sceniczip

What happens when a chapter comes back after something like that? Does everyone in the Greek community accept them back with open arms or is there more tension?

I am trying to figure out how this logistically works. Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer link above:

The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can’t recruit new members and can’t participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said.

If the actives don't have a suite, do they still even have chapter meetings? Do they still have to pay dues? And in two years, all you have left is a bunch of (now) freshmen and sophomores who would have a hard time doing recruitment when they are total novices at it. Besides, if yhou can't do campus activities together, sisterhood would be really hard to maintain. (If they'd had a chapter house and lived together instead of just having suites it would have mitigated that somewhat.) Also, when the restrictions are lifted, can you take pledge classes that are 3x the normal size to get up to campus total? And what happens when three houses (TriDelta, AXiD and PiPhi) are trying to do that at the same time?

Wow. What a mess.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by HDL66

I am trying to figure out how this logistically works. Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer link above:

The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can’t recruit new members and can’t participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said.

If the actives don't have a suite, do they still even have chapter meetings? Do they still have to pay dues? And in two years, all you have left is a bunch of (now) freshmen and sophomores who would have a hard time doing recruitment when they are total novices at it. Besides, if yhou can't do campus activities together, sisterhood would be really hard to maintain. (If they'd had a chapter house and lived together instead of just having suites it would have mitigated that somewhat.) Also, when the restrictions are lifted, can you take pledge classes that are 3x the normal size to get up to campus total? And what happens when three houses (TriDelta, AXiD and PiPhi) are trying to do that at the same time?

Wow. What a mess.

The campus can't keep the girls from meeting, that would be violating their rights. I don't know whether Inter/national HQ is also suspending the chapter, although I would suspect they are, and they could prevent them from holding true chapter meetings anywhere. (Or eject them if they tried.) If they had a house, and it were owned by the school, they would probably be ejected from there as well, even if only temporarily.I don't know what a privately owned house would have done since bills have to get paid.

I've not seen how it works for a 2 year suspension, but when they're suspended for 4-5 it's essentially folding the chapter and reopening with an entirely new group. That's enough time to wipe out a lot of the bad rep too, though not all of it. It'll depend on how well the current members keep together, and who don't graduate over the next two years (because that will basically wipe out everyone but freshmen and some sophomores) but it will be almost an entirely new chapter as well.

No idea how recruitment/new member numbers will work especially if multiple groups are coming off of suspension in the same year.

/Mostly conjecture.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HDL66

I am trying to figure out how this logistically works. Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer link above:

The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can’t recruit new members and can’t participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said.

If the actives don't have a suite, do they still even have chapter meetings? Do they still have to pay dues? And in two years, all you have left is a bunch of (now) freshmen and sophomores who would have a hard time doing recruitment when they are total novices at it. Besides, if yhou can't do campus activities together, sisterhood would be really hard to maintain. (If they'd had a chapter house and lived together instead of just having suites it would have mitigated that somewhat.) Also, when the restrictions are lifted, can you take pledge classes that are 3x the normal size to get up to campus total? And what happens when three houses (TriDelta, AXiD and PiPhi) are trying to do that at the same time?

Wow. What a mess.

What on earth would having a suite or not having a suite have to do with having meetings? You can have a meeting in the middle of a park if you really want to. If the national doesn't close the chapter, then yes, they will have to have chapter meetings.

They can live together if they want - by all taking apartments in the same on- or off-campus complex, or signing up for the same dorm, or by a small group of sisters getting a house together off campus and not putting any letters on it. You can't prevent people from doing that.

I guess I don't understand why you're focusing on things like the physical plant, when there are chapters out there who go about their entire life without ever having the things that are being taken away from the Miami chapters.

If they CHOOSE to work at and maintain their sisterhood, they'll be able to. If all their sisterhood consisted of was being seen on campus, having mixers and having a special suite to live in, they'll fold. Simple as that.

Once they come off the suspension, they HAVE to be allowed to bid up to total, whether it is through formal rush or other means. To not allow them to do so would be messing with their freedom of association rights. They can't do their time and then have the school or Panhel say "all NPC sororities are allowed to have 120 members, except you."

[Katmandu]

I thought being suspended means that they do not have official chapter meetings or participate in any way in Greek life during that time.

I thought their letter was classy. They accepted responsibility, and sounded as if they understood what they lost by immature decisions, and truly sorry for the damage to the museum and to their sorority. I hope they rebuild successfullly in two years when their suspension is completed.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by Katmandu

I thought being suspended means that they do not have official chapter meetings or participate in any way in Greek life during that time.

I thought their letter was classy. They accepted responsibility, and sounded as if they understood what they lost by immature decisions, and truly sorry for the damage to the museum and to their sorority. I hope they rebuild successfullly in two years when their suspension is completed.

They wouldn't be able to be active on campus, but whether they have meetings off campus depends on whether their HQ suspended them as well.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by mustang_girl

This is a big school, they don't have houses?
I know 1st and 2nd year students have to live in dorms but what kind of housing do they have for Greeks after that, just dorms?

Probably dorms/apartments on campus passed down if housing lets them (unofficially making them XYZ apartments, this used to work at SLU til they changed housing rules) as well as apartments/houses off campus.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by mustang_girl

This is a big school, they don't have houses?
I know 1st and 2nd year students have to live in dorms but what kind of housing do they have for Greeks after that, just dorms?

Newsflash: many greek systems do not have houses, particularly sorority houses. Penn State is a big school, too, and it doesn't have sorority houses.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Originally Posted by mustang_girl

Thanks for filling me in, you sound kinda bitter. Most schools do have housing that is why I asked.

Actually most schools i have experience with don't.