Wacky Article about Underground LCA chapter

[lenoxxx]

Alot of it is the poorly run greek systems at alot of colleges in Pennsylvania and alot with the state laws and enforcement on drinking and the lot. Chapters that probably are award winners in the South or mid west would be shut down in Pennsylvania.

Anyhow Honky to make a long story short, Pa has had several long running illegal chapters

IUP( now a chapter of Pi Lambda Phi, with our ould chapter designation Beta gamma zeta, now Beta Gamma Chapter of Pi Lam, after being local as BGA for years)

Villanova- Beta Iota

Bloomsburg Beta Xi, affiliated with another fraternity after being underground for a while

Slippery Rock- Lambda Xi- still going

Susquehanna- Still going- Iota Eta

James Madison in Va had a long running illegal chapter not sure if they are still around.

Basically alot of these chapters have houses or housing, and have parties, and they can recruit (helps to not have much in the way of dues) At shippensburg we have underground chapters of at least 5 national fraternities, so it isnt just LCA, it is the whole state and all the greek systems.

Lenox

[jugdish88]

Actually the Beta Gamma Zeta chapter never ran as an underground Lambda Chi Alpha Chapter. After pressure from both the IHQ and the School (IUP), the Beta Gamma Chapter withdrew their charter and decided to go Local as Beta Gamma Alpha. This new fraternity went threw a number of accusations of theft because of the Beta Gamma being used in the name. "Beta Gamma Alpha, how original!". It was completely new. I know because I was in the eight class to pledge BGA after LCA.

During the first few years, due to a prime location, the fraternity actually grew to the largest on campus. During the 1996-1997 academic year, the school helped the sale of the house to a faculty member who wanted to tear down the house and build an apartment complex. After the loss of the house, the local Fraternity, BGA, tried desperatly to regain its footing. However, as has been noted here, due to strict (actually near-prohibition) style laws within the township and the school, they were targeted.

The numbers dwindled until a very fateful and angry meeting on which the remaining brothers decided to find a new National. Thats how they became the PA Beta Gamma chapter of Pi Lambda Phi. The Beta Gamma goes to the first letters of the local and not the LXA designation. I know it looks strange but trust me, the BG in BGA meant something different then the BG in Beta Gamma Zeta.

There were completely different rituals and oaths written for the new fraternity. Just as there were rituals and oaths for the local that existed before LXA founded the chapter. Everything was changed and to this day, not ONE of the members of the Beta Gamma Zeta will divuldge the secrets of LXA to anyone within BGA or PLF.

I hope this explains some questions.