Moving a charter.

naraht · #1 06-15-2011, 09:54 PM

While I know it is somewhat common in other Fraternities/Sororities. It appears that Alpha Phi Omega will be moving a charter for the first time in more than 85 years. This move would be of Beta Gamma chapter at Central YMCA College in Chicago to Roosevelt University, also in Chicago. Roosevelt University was formed when after the board of trustees attempted to re-institute racial and religious quotas after WWII. The President of Central YMCA, almost all of the faculty and almost all of the students at Central YMCA College walked away and formed a new college which came to be known as Roosevelt University. Central YMCA more or less died at that point, though the YMCA did attempt to bring it back later as a community college.

While I don't deny that an Alpha Phi Omega chapter would be welcome at Roosevelt University, I'm sort of torn over the move of the charter.

Alpha Phi Omega has had an apparent charter move in the past, but in that case, the school with the charter was bought by the state and used as a campus of the new school. (Shurtleff College -> Southern Illinois University Edwardsville).

I *think* that theoretically, I could object based on the National bylaws, but I'd be going up against the board member for that area of the country...

Ideas?

DeltaBetaBaby · #2 06-15-2011, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naraht

While I know it is somewhat common in other Fraternities/Sororities. It appears that Alpha Phi Omega will be moving a charter for the first time in more than 85 years. This move would be of Beta Gamma chapter at Central YMCA College in Chicago to Roosevelt University, also in Chicago. Roosevelt University was formed when after the board of trustees attempted to re-institute racial and religious quotas after WWII. The President of Central YMCA, almost all of the faculty and almost all of the students at Central YMCA College walked away and formed a new college which came to be known as Roosevelt University. Central YMCA more or less died at that point, though the YMCA did attempt to bring it back later as a community college.

While I don't deny that an Alpha Phi Omega chapter would be welcome at Roosevelt University, I'm sort of torn over the move of the charter.

Alpha Phi Omega has had an apparent charter move in the past, but in that case, the school with the charter was bought by the state and used as a campus of the new school. (Shurtleff College -> Southern Illinois University Edwardsville).

I *think* that theoretically, I could object based on the National bylaws, but I'd be going up against the board member for that area of the country...

Ideas?

Why are you torn? And what happened to the chapter at YMCA U? Did it close with the school, or prior?

ElieM · #3 06-15-2011, 10:08 PM

is it easier to recharter than to colonise?

naraht · #4 06-16-2011, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Why are you torn? And what happened to the chapter at YMCA U? Did it close with the school, or prior?

Because the Beta Gamma Charter is for Central YMCA College.

From what I've been able to tell, the chapter closed with the school. (Chartered in 1937, went inactive in 1945, the same year the school did)

naraht · #5 06-16-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElieM

is it easier to recharter than to colonise?

Not significantly for Alpha Phi Omega. The only differences between a new charter and a recharter is that for a recharter
1) you get the old letters back as a chapter (note, the colony is referred to by the school name, not the letters it will get back)
2)the rechartering brothers get a smaller rechartering certificate with their names in addition to the original charter (or a recreated copy)
3) a rechartering group is expected to research/study the history of the chapter when it was previously active
4) Try to invite brothers from the chapter from times when it was previously active to the ceremonies.

Senusret I · #6 06-16-2011, 06:18 AM

I vehemently oppose this.

Roosevelt University is not in any way legally connected to Central YMCA College.

This is a NEW chapter which should get NEW letters.

Any other opinion on this matter is based in emotion and should be ignored.

DeltaBetaBaby · #7 06-16-2011, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by naraht

3) a rechartering group is expected to research/study the history of the chapter when it was previously active

Totally out of my lane here, but I think you could look at this one as a mitigating factor. The history of why YMCA closed and Roosevelt opened is really an important story, and maybe moving the charter helps to underscore that.

Senusret I · #8 06-17-2011, 06:53 AM

It's not the responsibility of the fraternity to underscore that story over six decades later.

I am telling you this is a slippery slope. APO should NOT want to go down this road.

Smile_Awhile · #9 06-17-2011, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I am telling you this is a slippery slope. APO should NOT want to go down this road.

Out of curiosity, what do you think this could lead to? I understand if you don't feel comfortable answering, but (as a non-member) I see very few opportunities to take something like this as precedent for the future.

But, as I said, I'm not a member of APO, so I'm not privy to its inner workings.

Senusret I · #10 06-17-2011, 08:58 AM

It's not even exactly where it could lead (which I will not mention on the board but wouldn't mind speaking about with brothers off line), but the fact that there is no good reason to do it in the first place, given that:

1) It's over 60 years after the fact.

2) Roosevelt is not a legacy institution of Central YMCA College.

Charters are given to schools. This school closed.

MysticCat · #11 06-17-2011, 09:47 AM

Do APO's governing documents address this in any way? (And if not, might you want to consider that?) I know we have a provision in our constitution to the effect that a charter cannot be transferred unless the new school is the "legitimate successor" of the old school.

Senusret I · #12 06-17-2011, 09:56 AM

^^^ I'm looking but haven't found anything yet.

naraht · #13 06-17-2011, 09:59 PM

I found the Torch and Trefoil (Fraternity magazine) with the story of the chartering of the chapter. December 1937 issue about the June 6, 1937 chartering...

OPhiAGinger · #14 06-17-2011, 10:08 PM

I'm a little unclear. Is the Roosevelt chapter a brand new chapter, and the plan is to illustrate its historical tie to the inactive YMCA College by transferring the charter? Or is the Roosevelt chapter an existing chapter that would be getting a new APO identity as a result of this proposed charter transfer? I would be more comfortable with the first, but definitely freaked out about the second possibility.

Senusret I · #15 06-18-2011, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OPhiAGinger

I'm a little unclear. Is the Roosevelt chapter a brand new chapter, and the plan is to illustrate its historical tie to the inactive YMCA College by transferring the charter?

Essentially this.

And my argument is that:

1) There is nothing to illustrate.

2) If there was, this is not the appropriate way to do so.

These students are not the legal or direct successors to the chapter.