Tau Epsilon Phi Members Sue Nationals/Possible Dissolution of Fraternity

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Does anyone have any idea how many actives they have? The complaint says there are 24 chapters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_Phi_chapters

Here's the Wikipedia link to their chapters. I know Wikipedia isn't always the best source of info, but... The chapter at University of Florida had been pretty big 100+, and recently returned with a large amount of members.

The following is my opinion only: What would be better? Dissolution, absorbed by another organization, or each chapter choosing to go local or being separately absorbed by other organizations?

[33girl]

I think if the chapters are strong enough on their campus and with a good alum base, and the school permits it, they'll probably stay local.

Because heck, it sounds like they've basically been functioning without national support for a while now. I'd guess they wouldn't be all "OMG, if we have no national we will die in 3 seconds."

[LaneSig]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think if the chapters are strong enough on their campus and with a good alum base, and the school permits it, they'll probably stay local.

Because heck, it sounds like they've basically been functioning without national support for a while now. I'd guess they wouldn't be all "OMG, if we have no national we will die in 3 seconds."

I totally understand the 2nd paragraph. These guys have been getting the royal screw by their national officers IMO. However, due to RMF, we now have campuses that say no local groups period.

I've tried to wonder which group would be a good fit, if they are absorbed by another organization. Most of the "originally Jewish, but sectarian" groups also have chapters where TEP has chapters. Would they want to absorb chapters in that case?

The last big merger was Phi Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Epsilon in the early '80s. I'm not sure if there were any chapters of both on campuses where the brothers had to come together. Of course, this is all academic and probably of no interest to anyone else, but I think its going to get interesting in the next month.

[DEVODUDE]

LaneSig:The last big merger was Phi Sigma Kappa and Phi Sigma Epsilon in the early '80s. I'm not sure if there were any chapters of both on campuses where the brothers had to come together. Of course, this is all academic and probably of no interest to anyone else, but I think its going to get interesting in the next month

I remember reading somewhere that some of the former Phi Sigma Epsilon chapters that refused to merge with Phi Sigma Kappa, formed a new National Fraternity called Phi Sigma Phi in 1988. Can anyone verify if this is true?

ZBT:"Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Impacting the Future."

[ms_gwyn]

Wow, I know 2 TEPs very well...one happens to be my boss and is a UF TEP....I will ask his opinion on this....he will not be happy about this...

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...n_Phi_chapters

Here's the Wikipedia link to their chapters. I know Wikipedia isn't always the best source of info, but...

Yeah, I saw that. It lists 25 chapters, while the complaint says 24 chapters.

Meanwhile, The Wiki has this somewhat odd and enigmatic statement:

In the 90's TEP and the Fraternity system in general went into decline. Some chapters were financially unable to survive however they survive online today thanks to the internet. [source needed]

I think it's interesting both because of the suggestion of chapters surviving on the internet and because, while I would have said the 60s and 70s were tough on the Greek system, I wouldn't say that about the 90s.

The chapter at University of Florida had been pretty big 100+, and recently returned with a large amount of members.

The Wiki list says Florida is the largest chapter. Just glancing at a few chapter websites, MIT's chapter claims 22 members, Georgia's 70+, UNC's 39, Maryland's 29, Pitt's 37, Cornell's 76 . . . .

Originally Posted by DEVODUDE

I remember reading somewhere that some of the former Phi Sigma Epsilon chapters that refused to merge with Phi Sigma Kappa, formed a new National Fraternity called Phi Sigma Phi in 1988. Can anyone verify if this is true?

Yes, that's right. Phi Kappa Phi's website.

The seven chapters were those at Eastern Michigan University, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Northland College (Wisconsin), West Virginia Wesleyan College, Concord College, (West Virginia) and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

[DEVODUDE]

MysticCat: Yes, that's right. Phi Kappa Phi's website.
The seven chapters were those at Eastern Michigan University, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Northland College (Wisconsin), West Virginia Wesleyan College, Concord College, (West Virginia) and the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.

MysticCat, THANK YOU for the update!!!!!!

ZBT:"Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Impacting the Future."

[oldu]

I did some research and an absorption into another larger fraternity looks highly unlikely simply because there are so many duplications. If they choose to go with one of the formerly predominately Jewish groups, the only one without several duplications is tiny Tau Delta Phi (which is ironic because when that group nearly became extinct in the 70s, some of them merged with TEP chapters). Some of the smaller nationals have few duplications but it is doubtful they would be interested in some of the TEP locations and likely the TEP chapters at some of the larger schools would not be interested in a small national. The medium sized fraternities with the fewest duplications are Beta, DU, PKSigma, PKTau. PSKappa & Theta Xi. If nothing can be resolved and the organization cannot continue as a national I suspect most of the healthy chapters (and they are at some very sought-after locations) will shop for another strong national connection, and the smaller chapters at lesser known schools will either fold or join up with one of the smaller nationals. This is all very sad to see. They had a longtime executive director who was very popular amongst fraternity leaders, who loved and devoted his life to TEP.

[tallgreekalum]

Are there ant TEPs on this discussion?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by oldu

If nothing can be resolved and the organization cannot continue as a national I suspect most of the healthy chapters (and they are at some very sought-after locations) will shop for another strong national connection, and the smaller chapters at lesser known schools will either fold or join up with one of the smaller nationals.

No.

The chapters at schools like Penn and Cornell undoubtedly have enough $$ and alum support that they'll appeal to the school to let them continue as a local group - and considering this is something beyond their control the school most likely will.

The chapters at "lesser known schools" will probably do the same thing Phi Sigma Phi did - band together. If they merged with any of the groups you mentioned, there would be tons of overlap. Then again, that didn't bother you when you proposed the ASA/AST merger.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

No.

The chapters at schools like Penn and Cornell undoubtedly have enough $$ and alum support that they'll appeal to the school to let them continue as a local group - and considering this is something beyond their control the school most likely will.

Or maybe those chapters will group together as a continuation of TEP? I guess it may depend on how strong a bond those chapters (and their alums) feel to the organization beyond their own chapters.

[33girl]

I'm thinking of Beta Sigma Beta at Penn State.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_Sigma_Beta

Of course, what would be best would be if all the chapters would unite, throw out the guys responsible for the cluster@#$% and take over administration of the fraternity nationally so it could continue as a national. I don't know quite how you would go about that however.

[LaneSig]

A little further information on TEP's Florida chapter. In this article, it mentions that TEP national officers removed Florida's chapter. The Florida chapter is now a local called Tau Alpha. Unfortunately, they are now facing other issues.

http://www.gainesville.com/article/2...9831?p=1&tc=pg

[oldu]

There is a very good article about this in today's (11/22) NT Times. The members suing have won the first round. The judge has ordered a new election. Likely, however, it is too late. It sounds as though TEP is probably insolvent. One revelation is that the exec. director in 2008 earned $175,000, 40% of the fraternity's income. Given this story, and the problems at a couple NPHC sororities, it is very sad how much damage one person can cause an organization. This must make many TEPs very sad.

[Senusret I]

Originally Posted by oldu

There is a very good article about this in today's (11/22) NT Times. The members suing have won the first round. The judge has ordered a new election. Likely. however, it is too late. It sounds as though TEP is probably insolvent. One revelation is that the exec. director in 2008 earned $175,000, 40% of the fraternity's income. Given this story, and the problems at a couple NPHC sororities, it is very sad how much damage one person can cause an organization. This must make mant TEPs very sad.

But it's usually not just one person. Usually there are a table full of enablers who won't stand in the way of a rogue president or even executive director because they don't want to be seen as dissenters, or worse yet, because they are waiting for their piece of the pie.