Possible UMASS Expansion

[nittanyalum]

Pardon the crash (I know GZ will be ticked), but you fellas are really airing some laundry out here. Might I suggest a yahoo group or a more selective way to communicate about these sensitive issues?

If I were an undergraduate and read alumni ranting like this about my org in public, I would be PISSED.

[GammaZeta]

Nittany, this ain't nothin'.

I have a very simple ideal when it comes to stuff like this. When I was pledging, my brothers called me in one night and let me know the financial situation that our house was in. We owed quite a bit of taxes, our alumni that were supposed to handle our finances didn't for over 5 years, and it was most likely that the semester I pledged was going to be the last for the house (it wasn't, hung in there and almost came back).

They sat me down, explained everything in detail, and said the would not be offended if I wanted to bail and try pledging another house.

That honesty made me a brother, even with the tough future that was ahead.

I respected the fact that they were honest. They told me everything.

If they DID NOT tell me how bad it was, and I was initiated, I would have immediately resigned upon knowing the truth.

I'm not going to hold something back. If there is a problem, then both alumni and undergraduates need to know about it.

If something is broken, screwed-up or wrong, then I'm going to say something about it.

I would rather say something NOW, than hold it in and let our organization deteriorate from the inside and is exposed 5, 10 years from now.

[LXAAlum]

My (well earned from experience) two cents, GZ...

I see a lot of recurring themes of someong "holding a grudge" in your posts (in the past)...now, it looks like YOUR chapter is recolonizing, and because of what happened in the past, you want nothing to do with it, is that right?

If so, who is really holding the grudge...now? It's one thing to decide to "say" something...quite something else to "do" something about it.

My experience with recolonizing - I felt the same way you did after Sigma Omega was closed in 1989, with the "promise" to return within about 5 years (though the documentation said "when campus conditions permit").

After 5 years...nothing. No interest from LXA. I was seeing two or three new colonies popping up on campus all the time...didn't make much sense to me. But, in hindsight, IHQ knew better...

After 10 years...not much, but the campus was changing...rapidly. Old president (ANTI-greek to the core) gone, new president (pro-greek) in. All those other colonies? All of them, save one....GONE. Only one out of TWELVE...chartered. These groups had all attempted colonization on their own, without the campus's support. 1 out of 12....remember that.

After 12 years...UNC actually issued invitations, and LXA and one other group was selected to colonize (in our case, REcolonize). That was 1999.

Now, that last 1 of the 12....shut down four years ago. The other group that was colonized along with LXA....STILL a colony. LXA made it. Strong - in fact one of the new ELC's is one of our chapter members.

Lesson? Patience....I tried several times organizing the alumni, raising $, etc...everything that you did, but, if the school AND IHQ BOTH aren't interested in pursuing it, you're better off helping another actual chapter in the meantime, which is what I ended up doing.

IHQ had it's faults in the 90's...NO DOUBT. But, they are gone, new procedures and personnel are IN PLACE. Don't dwell - move forward...offer help when help is needed! But it's not just IHQ - the campus also has to have the right conditions.

I didn't like it, but, I can honestly say, YES, it was worth the wait to do it RIGHT.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Pardon the crash (I know GZ will be ticked), but you fellas are really airing some laundry out here. Might I suggest a yahoo group or a more selective way to communicate about these sensitive issues?

If I were an undergraduate and read alumni ranting like this about my org in public, I would be PISSED.

Sorry, but we all feel it is best to try and put things out in the open for anyone who is reading this site and thread.

It shows that we as Brothers of LXA can and will speak our minds no matter what. Unlike some GLOs we do not hide any dirt under the carpet.

Thanks for your post and concern.