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Helping the chapters
Since I've never been to Muncie, I can only go by what I've read in the newspaper accounts on the incident. However, as an LCA alum serving on the board of two alumni assns. (my alma mater, Illinois State, & Northwestern), I can honestly say that local governments have had a lot of reasons to "go overboard".
Many towns/cities/villages/burgs/etc. have enacted strict "historic district" rules that are ostensibly designed to prevent teardowns, remodeling that wouldn't conform to the way the rest of the area looks, etc.
Since some campuses have their fraternity/sorority rows in these areas, they're already being looked at w/a lot more scrutiny because they reside near these homes. When we screw up next door to a city council member, it gets noticed.
Perhaps that's why some schools are looking into the "Greek Village" concept to move everybody off campus/away from the townies...they would probably like to get rid of us, but the development office knows how much of their support comes from people that wear those funny-looking letters, so they back off.
Whether it's an LCA chapter, or TKE, SigEp, DZ, Tri-Delt or ANY GLO, we all took a vow when we joined that said we would do our best to behave in an honorable manner and hold ourselves to a higher standard. Many chapters and their members do just that, and they s/b commended.
However, at some point there's a disconnect between good intentions (such as raising funds @ LCA/BSU) and the way it's being done. Since most of us weren't in attendance, it's hard to say what level of involvement the chapter has w/their alumni.
Do they have mentors to help the officers make decisions (an alumni advisory board)? Do the alums just show up at Homecoming and expect to get blasted like they used to "back in the day"? If that's the case, it's no wonder these damned stereotypes persist.
The sad thing is that many chapters don't have enough alumni/ae support to act as the role models for the actives. From speaking w/people in the AFA & NIC I know that this is something that affects many chapters of each GLO.
Granted, we're not the ones who put the drinks in their hands and tell the actives to do something really stupid...they made those decisions on their own, and will probably have consequences to face as a result of their actions.
Bottom line: call a friend from your days in school and make a road trip to campus. Check out the house...meet the officers...ask questions (hey, it's YOUR house, too)...join the alumni/ae association, or start one if none exists...become involved. It may not help, but it definitely can't hurt.
Fraternally,
Bill Foltz
Illinois State '77
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Hybrid Mode
