Reject wants to sue

[jon1856]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Im going to assume that he is threatening to go to the cops about hazing. Have a sit down talk with the kid and basically tell him that going to the cops would be a waste of time because no brother is going to back his story up. Say that you will tell everyone that you kicked him out for trying to sell coke to brothers. I've never been in this situation before but a few of my buddies in other fraternities told me that threatening them is the best route.

I think that there are a few better ideas posted here already.
I do not see any need for Chapter to leave the "high ground" just to get to this persons level.
For if it does get dirty, it is better to have clean hands.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I suggest you talk to your chapter advisor, or a regional/national advisor if necessary, to inform them of the issue and find out once and for all what you have to do in this situation. He's threatening to sue your organization, not just your chapter, and therefore the national fraternity should be informed of the situation. They will probably coach you on what to tell him, and that will likely make him drop the issue.

[SAEalumnus]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I suggest you talk to your chapter advisor, or a regional/national advisor if necessary, to inform them of the issue and find out once and for all what you have to do in this situation. He's threatening to sue your organization, not just your chapter, and therefore the national fraternity should be informed of the situation. They will probably coach you on what to tell him, and that will likely make him drop the issue.

True, but just because someone files a lawsuit doesn't necessarily mean anything. Everyone has a constitutionally protected right to have their day in court, even if they're just issuing a misguided rant from a soapbox. The guy still has to prove that the chapter owes him anything. Although I agree that it would be prudent to keep someone above the chapter informed.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by SAEalumnus

True, but just because someone files a lawsuit doesn't necessarily mean anything. Everyone has a constitutionally protected right to have their day in court, even if they're just issuing a misguided rant from a soapbox. The guy still has to prove that the chapter owes him anything. Although I agree that it would be prudent to keep someone above the chapter informed.

Of course he has a right to his day in court...but I think most people would spare themselves the expense of hiring a lawyer to represent them in court if they knew they'd lose. I just don't think it's a good idea for the chapter to handle this internally; it's best they seek next steps from an authority on the national fraternity and legal issues.

[AGDee]

I would imagine that the amount of dues for one semester is small enough that it would probably only be small claims court, which doesn't require a lawyer generally. The only thing I'd say he'd be entitled to a refund for would be an Initiation Fee, if he paid one and wasn't Initiated, but certainly not dues.

[skylark]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Im going to assume that he is threatening to go to the cops about hazing. Have a sit down talk with the kid and basically tell him that going to the cops would be a waste of time because no brother is going to back his story up. Say that you will tell everyone that you kicked him out for trying to sell coke to brothers. I've never been in this situation before but a few of my buddies in other fraternities told me that threatening them is the best route.

2008 winner for "Worst Advice" IMHO

Nothing like taking a bad situation and making it worse.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Im going to assume that he is threatening to go to the cops about hazing. Have a sit down talk with the kid and basically tell him that going to the cops would be a waste of time because no brother is going to back his story up. Say that you will tell everyone that you kicked him out for trying to sell coke to brothers. I've never been in this situation before but a few of my buddies in other fraternities told me that threatening them is the best route.

What am I missing?

I don't see anything above about going to the cops, but in any event I don't think it would be wise to even threaten to "tell everyone" something that would be damaging to his character. That might be grounds for legal action on his part.

I think SAE and LXA have given some good advice (along with some others).

[bellwisdom]

I agree with SAEalumnus and LXAalum. Also be sure you laugh in his face, show him the contract he signed, remind him that he is a failure, and laugh in his face some more.

[Day13]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

Im going to assume that he is threatening to go to the cops about hazing. Have a sit down talk with the kid and basically tell him that going to the cops would be a waste of time because no brother is going to back his story up. Say that you will tell everyone that you kicked him out for trying to sell coke to brothers. I've never been in this situation before but a few of my buddies in other fraternities told me that threatening them is the best route.

Funny enough, I've heard something similar to this.
We did a road trip to a few chapters a while ago and when talking to one they said, "Oh, no we don't give them or let them wear anything related to us." We were surprised and said, "Really, not even like a rush shirt?" The guys said "No, that way if they are balled or want to go to the University to say we hazed we can say, 'No - We don't even know him. He was selling drugs at our party so we threw him out."

Different strokes for different folks though?

I agree, I wouldn't worry about it though as long as you show the contract he signed it should not be a problem. Good luck.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by Day13

Funny enough, I've heard something similar to this.
We did a road trip to a few chapters a while ago and when talking to one they said, "Oh, no we don't give them or let them wear anything related to us." We were surprised and said, "Really, not even like a rush shirt?" The guys said "No, that way if they are balled or want to go to the University to say we hazed we can say, 'No - We don't even know him. He was selling drugs at our party so we threw him out."

Different strokes for different folks though?

I agree, I wouldn't worry about it though as long as you show the contract he signed it should not be a problem. Good luck.

Problem - They had to turn in their list of pledges to the Greek Life advisor and to IFC. All the GL Advisor has to do is look at the original pledge list.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

Problem - They had to turn in their list of pledges to the Greek Life advisor and to IFC. All the GL Advisor has to do is look at the original pledge list.

At my school, a student must have 12 credits (can be AP) to join a GLO. Sometimes fraternities take "dirty pledges" (first semester freshmen without 12 credits). They tell the University that they are pledging the following semester. I'd imagine that a fraternity concerned about pledges going to the University about hazing might do this.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

At my school, a student must have 12 credits (can be AP) to join a GLO. Sometimes fraternities take "dirty pledges" (first semester freshmen without 12 credits). They tell the University that they are pledging the following semester. I'd imagine that a fraternity concerned about pledges going to the University about hazing might do this.

But, the chapter has acknowledged that there is a relationship with the 'potential' pledge. Therefore, the chapter cannot argue that they don't know the guy and have no relationship with him.

[Zillini]

Something no one has mentioned, it all depends on the Inat'l policies and more importantly the wording of the legal contract/financial obligations form he signed. He may be entitled to a pro-rated refund for the portion of the semester after he was no longer a member or he may be SOL. It should be spelled out in your forms. If not, then your Inat'l needs to address this in their form because this sort of situation happens more times than any of us would like.

[Day13]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

Problem - They had to turn in their list of pledges to the Greek Life advisor and to IFC. All the GL Advisor has to do is look at the original pledge list.

Yeah, thats what I said too. They said that they don't have paperwork to hand in. It was a small southern school, what can I say? Maybe they were blowing smoke up my ass but they showed me some things that led me to believe they were authentic...

At my school we have paperwork for every single thing we do. If 3 people of one organization are together it is considered an official fraternity/sorority event.

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by Day13

Yeah, thats what I said too. They said that they don't have paperwork to hand in. It was a small southern school, what can I say? Maybe they were blowing smoke up my ass but they showed me some things that led me to believe they were authentic...

At my school we have paperwork for every single thing we do. If 3 people of one organization are together it is considered an official fraternity/sorority event.

Yeah, I think they were blowing smoke. Maybe there are campuses where you don't have to turn in your bid list, your pledge list, etc.

I also know, at least with Sigma Chi, we have to turn in a list of our pledges to HQ. If your fraternity has to do that, then his name is on that list also.