of Maryland Pike chapter on Probation; 60+/- Members Given Alum Status

[Senusret I]

I had a question about this last night that I decided to sleep on. I guess it's important enough where it's still on my mind.

If this was an Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, or perhaps any BGLO, a "membership review" would definitely cause a lot more problems than plain shutting the chapter down.

What is it about Pike at UM, or any other non-BGLO really, where forcing people to go alum while still undergraduates wouldn't be problematic?

I could easily conceive of a chapter where the ones who stayed were seen by the campus as lame and the ones forced out were viewed as the "real" Pikes.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I had a question about this last night that I decided to sleep on. I guess it's important enough where it's still on my mind.

If this was an Alpha Phi Alpha chapter, or perhaps any BGLO, a "membership review" would definitely cause a lot more problems than plain shutting the chapter down.

What is it about Pike at UM, or any other non-BGLO really, where forcing people to go alum while still undergraduates wouldn't be problematic?

I could easily conceive of a chapter where the ones who stayed were seen by the campus as lame and the ones forced out were viewed as the "real" Pikes.

I think that the HQ THINKS (key word) that at a large school like UM they can turn things around quickly...although I've also seen fraternities do it on my campus, and it's like 1/6 of a UM. They don't want to lose the revenue stream, basically, especially if housing is involved. Also if there are alums who graduated long enough ago, they often want their chapter to stay open at all costs...even if it's so different from the group they joined as to be unrecognizable. The HQ wants to keep these alum$ happy.

My honest opinion? More balls than brains. Unless the chapter was to the point where there were 3 members in it and it was reviled by campus, I totally agree with your last paragraph. Especially if the chapter was a popular one.

Then there's also the shell game sort of thing, where the "new" members who supposedly have nothing to do with the bad old dudes are actually their BFFs, unbeknownst to the national recruiters who came to check things out and redo the chapter, and the minute they leave the "alumni" are back partying at the house like nothing ever happened.

[ZetaGirl22]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Especially if the chapter was a popular one.

They were. Pike has been one of the most popular chapters at UMD since MY time there (I graduated in 2002). This has kind of been a long time coming IMO. There has been some questionable RM stuff going on there since they became housed on Fraternity Row, which happened in 2000. I'm glad they are getting a second chance though. There have been SOOO many chapters that were just wholesale shut down within the last 10 years that Maryland has almost become a revolving door as far as fraternities are concerned.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

What is it about Pike at UM, or any other non-BGLO really, where forcing people to go alum while still undergraduates wouldn't be problematic?

I could easily conceive of a chapter where the ones who stayed were seen by the campus as lame and the ones forced out were viewed as the "real" Pikes.

It absolutely could be problematic. That perception of the "real" Pikes is a possibility and 33girl's hypothetical situation could happen. The membership review and rebuild could easily fail. Perhaps there are alums to placate by trying to keep the chapter open, or maybe the situation is such that OFSL/Pike National think a membership review and rebuild could work. If there were fights between brothers, maybe there is a divide that would keep the bad apples away.