Miami University Pi Beta Phi Suspended

[exlurker]

Alpha Xi Delta has dropped its appeal of its two-year suspension, according to an Associated Press report:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...lsZMwD9FPCKL80

Excerpt:
(AP) – 3 hours ago

OXFORD, Ohio — Miami University says a sorority chapter has dropped its appeal of a two-year suspension for bad behavior at a formal held at the Underground Railroad museum in Cincinnati.

The school said Tuesday that Alpha Xi (zy) Delta is suspended until Aug. 20, 2012. Membership will be subject to review before it can be recognized again as a student organization. . . .

[AZ-AlphaXi]

Statement from Zeta Nu Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta at Miami University of Ohio

After careful thought and in consultation with our Fraternity
Headquarters, the Zeta Nu Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta has decided to
withdraw its appeal of Miami University’s decision to suspend the
chapter for two years. As proud Miami University students and Alpha Xi
Deltas, we do not want to prolong the negative attention surrounding
our event, which has tarnished the good reputation of our campus and
sorority.

The Zeta Nu Chapter acknowledges and regrets the bad behavior and poor
judgment displayed by some individuals at our formal event at the
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in March. As our National
Fraternity has noted, the shameful conduct of some attendees displayed
a lack of respect for the significance of the facility and for
themselves.

During Zeta Nu’s 30 years on the Miami campus, we have never been the
subject of University discipline or sanctions due to behavior. We
deeply regret the damage and disrespect that took place and
immediately apologized to the Freedom Center. The chapter made
compensation for the extra clean up required and volunteered our
membership for community service. The center graciously invited the
chapter for a guided tour of the facility, a tour our members look
forward to taking.

Our chapter will work with Alpha Xi Delta National Fraternity to
ensure that the suspension is a learning opportunity for all our
Sisters. Our hope and plan is that when the Zeta Nu Chapter returns in
2012, it will be with a Sisterhood dedicated to the principles held
by Alpha Xi Delta and Miami University, once again making it the
positive force Alpha Xi Delta has been for 30 years at Miami
University.

[sceniczip]

What happens when a chapter comes back after something like that? Does everyone in the Greek community accept them back with open arms or is there more tension?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by sceniczip

What happens when a chapter comes back after something like that? Does everyone in the Greek community accept them back with open arms or is there more tension?

I think it depends on how they were thought of before, and whether the Greek community in general thinks that the suspension was warranted.

[HDL66]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

What does suspension mean anyway?

Originally Posted by DrPhil

I can't speak on what it means for Miami and Pi Beta Phi, but it tends to mean that all activities on behalf of the chapter must cease and desist for a period of time unless waived by the national headquarters and/or university. This is a step beyond chapter probation/restriction.

Originally Posted by ForeverRoses

I know Miami doesn't have sorority chapter houses, but suites instead. Does this mean the Pi Beta Phi suite closes/ gets locked up, or does it revert to a "regular" dorm wing for a year? I would assume that housing assignments have already been done for next year, so I am curious the women that were going to live there next year...

Originally Posted by MysticCat

According to The Cincinnati Enquirer, "The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can't recruit new members and can't participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said."

Originally Posted by sceniczip

What happens when a chapter comes back after something like that? Does everyone in the Greek community accept them back with open arms or is there more tension?

I am trying to figure out how this logistically works. Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer link above:

The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can’t recruit new members and can’t participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said.

If the actives don't have a suite, do they still even have chapter meetings? Do they still have to pay dues? And in two years, all you have left is a bunch of (now) freshmen and sophomores who would have a hard time doing recruitment when they are total novices at it. Besides, if yhou can't do campus activities together, sisterhood would be really hard to maintain. (If they'd had a chapter house and lived together instead of just having suites it would have mitigated that somewhat.) Also, when the restrictions are lifted, can you take pledge classes that are 3x the normal size to get up to campus total? And what happens when three houses (TriDelta, AXiD and PiPhi) are trying to do that at the same time?

Wow. What a mess.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by HDL66

I am trying to figure out how this logistically works. Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer link above:

The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can’t recruit new members and can’t participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said.

If the actives don't have a suite, do they still even have chapter meetings? Do they still have to pay dues? And in two years, all you have left is a bunch of (now) freshmen and sophomores who would have a hard time doing recruitment when they are total novices at it. Besides, if yhou can't do campus activities together, sisterhood would be really hard to maintain. (If they'd had a chapter house and lived together instead of just having suites it would have mitigated that somewhat.) Also, when the restrictions are lifted, can you take pledge classes that are 3x the normal size to get up to campus total? And what happens when three houses (TriDelta, AXiD and PiPhi) are trying to do that at the same time?

Wow. What a mess.

The campus can't keep the girls from meeting, that would be violating their rights. I don't know whether Inter/national HQ is also suspending the chapter, although I would suspect they are, and they could prevent them from holding true chapter meetings anywhere. (Or eject them if they tried.) If they had a house, and it were owned by the school, they would probably be ejected from there as well, even if only temporarily.I don't know what a privately owned house would have done since bills have to get paid.

I've not seen how it works for a 2 year suspension, but when they're suspended for 4-5 it's essentially folding the chapter and reopening with an entirely new group. That's enough time to wipe out a lot of the bad rep too, though not all of it. It'll depend on how well the current members keep together, and who don't graduate over the next two years (because that will basically wipe out everyone but freshmen and some sophomores) but it will be almost an entirely new chapter as well.

No idea how recruitment/new member numbers will work especially if multiple groups are coming off of suspension in the same year.

/Mostly conjecture.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HDL66

I am trying to figure out how this logistically works. Quoting The Cincinnati Enquirer link above:

The suspension means the sorority loses its campus dorm suite, can’t recruit new members and can’t participate as a group in campus activities, Miami spokeswoman Claire Wagner said.

If the actives don't have a suite, do they still even have chapter meetings? Do they still have to pay dues? And in two years, all you have left is a bunch of (now) freshmen and sophomores who would have a hard time doing recruitment when they are total novices at it. Besides, if yhou can't do campus activities together, sisterhood would be really hard to maintain. (If they'd had a chapter house and lived together instead of just having suites it would have mitigated that somewhat.) Also, when the restrictions are lifted, can you take pledge classes that are 3x the normal size to get up to campus total? And what happens when three houses (TriDelta, AXiD and PiPhi) are trying to do that at the same time?

Wow. What a mess.

What on earth would having a suite or not having a suite have to do with having meetings? You can have a meeting in the middle of a park if you really want to. If the national doesn't close the chapter, then yes, they will have to have chapter meetings.

They can live together if they want - by all taking apartments in the same on- or off-campus complex, or signing up for the same dorm, or by a small group of sisters getting a house together off campus and not putting any letters on it. You can't prevent people from doing that.

I guess I don't understand why you're focusing on things like the physical plant, when there are chapters out there who go about their entire life without ever having the things that are being taken away from the Miami chapters.

If they CHOOSE to work at and maintain their sisterhood, they'll be able to. If all their sisterhood consisted of was being seen on campus, having mixers and having a special suite to live in, they'll fold. Simple as that.

Once they come off the suspension, they HAVE to be allowed to bid up to total, whether it is through formal rush or other means. To not allow them to do so would be messing with their freedom of association rights. They can't do their time and then have the school or Panhel say "all NPC sororities are allowed to have 120 members, except you."

[Katmandu]

I thought being suspended means that they do not have official chapter meetings or participate in any way in Greek life during that time.

I thought their letter was classy. They accepted responsibility, and sounded as if they understood what they lost by immature decisions, and truly sorry for the damage to the museum and to their sorority. I hope they rebuild successfullly in two years when their suspension is completed.