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Copied this FB post from Sigma Alpha Mu. It was in their Spring magazine.
A very good argument from their leaders on why they had to close the chapter and how a few chapter members' actions hurt everyone.
Sigma Alpha Mu
May 5 at 3:41pm · .
Reprinted from the Spring 2015 Issue of the Octagonian
Shame, Guilt and Irresponsibility
Any time you have to close a 140-man chapter, there’s an element of shame and guilt involved… not necessarily just on the part of those few, irresponsible “men” who caused the chapter’s closure, but certainly on the rest of Sigma Alpha Mu.
The impact of closing our Sigma Iota chapter at Michigan is profound. It is so sad, disappointing and regrettable that the destructive actions of a few members in vandalizing a ski resort hotel brought so much negative media attention upon all of us – not only to our fraternity, but to all fraternities. Aside from potential, criminal prosecution that may still come, the university rightfully expected that the guilty culprits would come forward and accept responsibility for their actions. Because, you see, the damage was caused by only about 20 of the older members of the chapter. Unfortunately, those individuals refused to do so. Their lack of accountability and the lack of cooperation by chapter officers in identifying them (yes, they know who did it), caused the university and the Octagon to take this most drastic, disciplinary action.
Our Creed speaks of “mutual moral aid and support.” That most certainly does not mean hiding, playing legal games, or “circling the wagons” when a few members screw up and commit such a costly crime. That is the exact opposite of responsible, moral behavior on the part of a true fraternity man.
The mission of SAM, in essence, is to develop our undergraduate members to be productive and responsible members of our society. We know (or would like to believe) that the members of our Sigma Iota chapter know right from wrong. Every year, SAM literally spends hundreds of thousands of dollars on Risk Management programming and liability insurance coverage. We spend hours upon hours teaching our undergraduate members about the consequences of risky, harmful and irresponsible behavior. Most perplexing, perhaps, is that this shameful event emanated from an otherwise stellar chapter. Sigma Iota was 140 members strong with an award-winning GPA of 3.5. They had earned four Founders Cups since 2010. That’s all now tarnished. Alumni are in disbelief that such a thing could happen. But, it did… unnecessarily.
If a young man who calls himself a member of our fraternity (and considers himself to be a “brother” to others) acts in such a way that demonstrates a clear and undeniable lack of integrity and/or character, it is up to his fellow chapter members to hold him accountable for his actions… to hold him to a higher standard. That clearly did not happen at Michigan. Many people knew what was happening, had an opportunity to do something about it… and chose not to.
Some people expect the national fraternity to supervise our chapters on a daily basis. That's not practical or possible. We can't possibly control the actions of 2600 undergrads on 53 campuses. We expect our chapter leaders and members to behave responsibly. Yes, but for our educational programming, that is a reactive approach. We really don't have a choice in the matter.
And now, the chapter is closed. And now, both the housing corporation and the national fraternity will spend tens of thousands of dollars cleaning up the literal and figurative mess, finding a tenant for the chapter house, and planning for the recolonization of Sigma Iota at least four years from now.
Understandably, we are deeply embarrassed by what has happened. Since January, our Sigma Alpha Mu name and our reputation have been stained. Our office has received nasty emails and phone calls (sometimes anti-Semitic). Perhaps the perpetrators in Michigan should field those abusive, hate-filled messages.
Bottom line: We, in Sigma Alpha Mu, have an obligation to hold each other accountable for our actions. Surely, our Founders (and all those who came after) deserve better.
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Sigma Chi. Friendship, Justice, and Learning since 1855.
I'll support the RedWolves, but in my heart I'll always be an ASU Indian. Go Tribe! (1931-2008)
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