Another system bites the dust

[john1082]

We have to demonstrate our value every day. If administrators see greater valuve in not having a Greek system then that is what will happen.

Value comes in many forms. We must determine what constitutes value for each of our 'customers' and then present that.

Administrators may find value in orderliness and no problems. They may like the idea of having someone else in the disciplinary change. Whatever they find of value is what we have to present.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by john1082

We have to demonstrate our value every day. If administrators see greater valuve in not having a Greek system then that is what will happen.

Value comes in many forms. We must determine what constitutes value for each of our 'customers' and then present that.

Administrators may find value in orderliness and no problems. They may like the idea of having someone else in the disciplinary change. Whatever they find of value is what we have to present.

John, what many do not realize is that IHQ, Our IHQ, are looking at Zetas who do not want to deem it important enough to heed what Our National Fraterity stands for.


We have one of if not the finest Fraternity as many of us have seen that We have been leaders on many areas and in many arenas.

But, if there are a few Zetas who do not heed the warning signs then so be it.

So, whose fault is it?

The ELCs have a different agenda today than they may have before, but, they are doing a heck of a job now under new leadership.

If a Zeta does not want to agree with the Tenets of LXA, then there is no other judgement than to close them.

Beleive Me, We are not the only ones.

That is what is sad.

[GammaZeta]

Tom, are you still talking about Umass or somewhere else?

I do think that we are beginning to see a significant change in the structure and status of Greek Systems everywhere.

We may be seeing a trend in smaller, more exclusive settings, much like fraternities were in the early part of last century before they started to change. In a few decades, I can imagine fraternities being almost exclusively at more well-to-do colleges and universities and viewed more like a social club.

I think it is a cycle. Slowly we are having to go back to the origins of a social club, and then that trend will slowly evovle back into the "Animal House" type that we are more familiar with.

[john1082]

Tom, I have had administrators tell me that fraternities are good because they keep alumni coming back and giving - in other words, we were a potential cash com.

Other administrators see fraternities as something to go after to prove that they (the administrators) are truly focused on academics and not frivolities.

Yet another group sees no need for a social fraternity and would prefer to generate group 'conciousness' through ethnic and lifestyle groups, not traditional fraternities and sororities.

In each of these examples, what we believe takes a back seat, in practical terms, to what the administrations believe.

What we have to do is demonstrate value to the administrations - playing by our rules is of no value to the administration in example #2 above because they see no value in the operation of a greek system and great value in getting rid of it to prove their toughness. In example #3, our values have nothing to do with generating ethic or lifestyle identity.

For all their statements espousing leadership and the like, we must judge administrators by their actions, not their words. The committment of a university is seen through their actions, not their words. If it takes 13 months to replace a greek affairs advisor, what message does that send.

BTW, that 13 month example is from Cal State Fullerton! Universities have to keep up their end of the bargain, too. And they are, oftentimes, trying to whittle away at their side while piling more up on our side. At some point a campus simply becomes unworkable as a greek campus.

[GammaZeta]

Amen John, well said.

Many times these college and university adminstrations play by their own rules.

It is very easy for them to turn and twist an event or a story to suit their own needs, especially in your examples 1 - 3. Unfortunately, the administration will always have more credibility than a fraternity.

John, with you being a lawyer, you know all too well that there is more than one side to a story. However, many people in the general public fail to remember that when dealing with fraternities.

For instance, I do not think that the crime rate at Umass and the closing of frat row is just a coincidence (sp). When fraternities at Umass had parties, and what fraternity in the world doesn't have a party, they were managed well, secured, well run, you had 30 sober brothers making sure everything was ok. The brothers of the fraternities took great pride in providing a safe environment because they knew their reputation, housing, charter, etc., were all on the line.

Now today, you have students throwing house parties all over Amherst. A non-greek house of 4 or 5 people simply cannot provide a safe environment. They throw open their doors, tap a few kegs, and HUNDREDS of people show up!

So yeah, the administration wanted to "crack down on drinking" and "boost public safety" by getting rid of the frats, and you know what happened? We moved up to the #7 party school and crime is at an all time high.

[john1082]

I have always wanted to have an opportunity to tell an administrator "OK, they're YOUR problem now" when a house is closed.

The parties will be unregulated. There will be alcohol related deaths, either of students or of the poor folks on the other end of their automobiles. The activity will take place in far more dispersed areas as well. It will be interesting to come back in ten years and see how the campus has fared.

[GammaZeta]

EXACTLY JOHN!

Fraternities are the perfect place to host social events and have played that role on college campuses for almost 3/4 of a century.

Every fraternity throws parties. Yes, even some of you on this board may not believe that your lil' angel chapters would never, EVER submit to throwing a party or social event. But guess what, THEY DO!

So now, the administration at Umass is stuck with a student population of thousands of kids EVERY weekend, getting into cars, going to parties in neighboring cities and towns, going to unregulated parties with no one accountable, no security, spreading out across one of the wealthiest towns in Massachusetts causing property values to decline.

So with the elimination of most fraternities at Umass, CRIME IS UP, DRINKING IS UP! Go figure. The town, police and administration were so intent on making an example out of someone, ANYONE, just to show they were tough. You know what? They shot themselves in the foot. They went after the very people that were not causing the problems!

Sure frat row at Umass had it's problems, but 99.9% of the crimes occurred outside of the greek system. We had one rape in about 15 years, and that fraternity was promptly shut down and banned forever. However, there are dozens of rapes a semester in just the Southwest area of dorms at Umass!

A greek system is self regulating in most instances. It's when the administration, or police, or town comes in and starts to over regulate, or impose their agenda, that has a negative effect.