Pledgeing While Suspended?

[boz130]

Points to ponder...

Since these articles didn't go into detail about the hazing incidents, it's all supposition on our parts. If it were one of the chapters I'm involved with, I'd investigate and find out what went awry. Supposing that the offense was a major one, I'd back sanctions--after all, our Ritual Oaths have to stand for something.

However, any chapter worth fighting for is going to have alumni support, and "support" comes in a variety of flavors. Some GLO chapters have the luxury of maintaining both a Housing Corp. and Alumni Assn., while most seem to have the two entities combined.

There's also the never popular "Alumni Control Board", which should only exist in instances where the chapter has shown an immense lack of "getting it". This is the last step before changing the locks, pulling the charter, etc.

For the student authors to say, in effect, "Hey, alumni, keep out of this" is wrong. I'm a Lambda Chi, even though I graduated some time ago. I still help out during "Clean-Up Week", donate canned goods to the food drives, support the fraternity's educational foundation, volunteer to be on two alumni boards and act as an alumni advisor, etc. It's the chapters that DON'T have alumni support that are hurting...

On the other hand, at some schools suspended organizations still go about their activities as though nothing has happened. They recruit and may, in some instances, outdo their former IFC brethren because they can provide John Barleycorn & demon rum to their "rushees". In a sad, twisted way, their alums also thumb their noses (or raise 1/2 a peace sign) in the general direction of the administration building. It takes all kinds to make a world, I guess...

Interfraternally,
Bill F.