Definitions Required

a.e.B.O.T. · #1 06-12-2007, 04:33 PM

Ok, well I am a fan for drinking and smoking if one wants to, and if its responsible.

HOWEVER, Your chapter house is not the place for it. The chapter house is where you meet in brotherhood, do rituals, and live under the letters we value. I think it makes perfect sense for this to be in our code. Our chapter houses represent who we are. They are an image of who we are to the outside world. They see our letters above our door, I don't want them to see those letters and then see a bunch of people drinking. Why? Well, not because there is anything wrong with drinking. If responsible, drinking is totally ok in my book. I don't want them to see it under those letters, because I don't want them to think thats who we are. There is this 'frat' stereotype that goes back to 70's and 80's and with movies like Animal House where fraternity members are drunken bums who eventually get kicked out of college. That isn't who we are, and quite frankly, I don't think everyone will connect this, but really, I don't want anyone to.

When they look at the chapter house with the letters above our door they should see a place of brotherhood, FUN, and integrity. I don't think they should have any room to think that there is a bunch of drunken fools, cause then only drunken fools would want to join. I dont think we should act like we dont drink, hell, we should totally be straight forward when they ask, and I dont mind them seeing us drink outside the chapter house. The chapter house is not the place for it, thats like drinking in church (besides the little cup of wine for communion).

ECUJacob · #2 06-12-2007, 07:58 PM

^ well said.

Coramoor · #3 06-14-2007, 08:25 AM

How does drinking or smoking take away from brotherhood or rituals? How does it take away from the value of our letters?

Beta is a fraternity...it's not a religion.

Drinking is FUN and does nothing to take away from brotherhood nor does it mean you have no integrity. Hell, how does smoking and drinking even have an impact on one's integrity? That makes no sense.

a.e.B.O.T. · #4 06-14-2007, 02:25 PM

Dude, it makes perfect sense, its just not what you want to hear...

Ok, first off, drinking CAN take away from the brotherhood and the integrity of our fraternity if mishandled.

Secondly, I was talking about perception. When people see a bunch of guys drinking in their chapter house, then its going to be categorized as a stupid frat. People are going to join, cause they think they are joining the stupid party frat, etc. Well, we are not the stupid party frat, well I hope we are not, and we def. do not want the guys attracted to the stupid party frat image.

The image they should see around our house is a bunch of well respected men with principles but also have a strong sense of friendship and fun. That is the image we want to show forth, so that those are the guys we get in the future.

rastaone · #5 06-14-2007, 08:22 PM

you can be principled, have fun, and maintain great relations even if you drink and smoke. i would say some of the best times ive ever had were while drinking, and if id want to share those times with anyone, id want it to be with my brothers. and living by principles means not getting shitfaced 7 nights a week and making a fool out of yourself in front of a sorority and have the cops arrest you. if we are principled, dont you think we can manage to keep ourselves under control and not exceed our limits? thats what i dont understand, we are principled men, but half the reason is because we are forced to follow these rules. i think it would make a greater statement to everyone else if we had the capability of drinking, but just didnt take it overboard like some of the other frats.

a.e.B.O.T. · #6 06-14-2007, 11:25 PM

I agree with you TOTALLY... unfortunately, we are trying to kill an age old reputation that fraternity men are stupid hazing drunks, and therefor, we need to take it upon ourselves to ruin that reputation by going above and beyond that reputation. Drinking under the house letters just does not help that reputation... its not about what we are, but how the outside perceives us. We are an organization that relies on recruiting quality future members like every fraternity, and we need to go above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that happens. If that means making a few sacrifices like not drinking in our chapter house, well, damn it, I think its worth it.

ZZ-kai- · #7 06-15-2007, 10:45 AM

"Where applicable" is key to this discussion. If you joined a chapter that is substance free (either by choice or by re-org rules), then you should not blame anyone other than yourself.

It's kinda like buying an SUV. You love it, it looks great, rides great, has a sweet stereo system and rims, and then that person complains about bad gas mileage. Well, that just comes with the territory.

These are things you guys can change. Go to convention, lobby the other Chapter presidents - start this venture 6 months before Convention so you can make some headway. Make change. That's what's great about Beta, we govern ourselves (as much as you guys think we don't). Rules in place today are there for a reason, not for fun.

I'll never forget when I was chapter counselor and I was woke up at 2:00 AM by my chapters Risk Manager during their Beta Week, he stated that a pledge got 'cleaner in his eyes' and needed to seek help. I immediately went over to the house and found a big Gatorade cooler filled with Captain and Coke and a bunch of drunk idiot 19 year old kids.

Don't tell me alcohol in chapter houses 'is a good thing'.

If you guys hate Beta so much, why continue with it?

ZZ-kai- · #8 06-15-2007, 10:51 AM

Oh yeah, I want to add this as well. Drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, that is US law, not Beta's law. We must follow US laws before Beta's rules. I personally have ZERO issue with alcohol being consumed in a responsible manner (LEGALLY) within a chapter house. HOWEVER, if a chapter is dry (either by choice or re-org/sanctions), then it shouldn't and CAN'T be in the house. A rule is a rule, is a rule, is a rule. If you can't follow it, then move on....if you chose to join even with these stipulations, then that's your own fault and you shouldn't be bitching about it.

And Oldest_Pledge, why so bitter towards Beta as of late?