Greek Life is Dead... - Page 2

XOMichelle · #16 11-02-2002, 09:15 PM

Well, you can at least sue them for harassment!

-M

SnowLady · #17 11-02-2002, 10:53 PM

Ok I just visited your school's website. That is the first school's website that I been to that does NOT list campus activities under the Undergrad or Current Student section. That's a little alarming.

When applying to a school - I want to be a well-rounded student and that means not only thriving as a student, but also the learning experience of being involved in campus activities.

Being that your school is a Theological Seminary may have reasons behind their beliefs of Greek Organizations being the spawn of the devil. I'm neither advocating that religious organizations as a whole are against Greeks, nor am I saying that religious people are against Greeks - for I am an ordained Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Youth Group Adviser, etc. - so I am truly a Christian who is also Greek. What I AM saying is that your original post makes more sense now.

HOWEVER, I still think you've gotten some great ideas in this thread - legal, alumnae and HQ. I think that trio will be the key to your success. Let us know how things go.

Tom Earp · #18 11-03-2002, 12:00 AM

As a new Frosh at a school that not everyone went to from my area, I new nothing about the Greeks and could have cared less!

I met many there but did not pledge.

I pledge an underground Group, who I think became AKL!

Went to another school still not knowing to much about Greeks!

All Wanted to Pledge me. Pledged a local, go figure if you know me!

Got booted and started my own! The rest is History and am still involed with my Chaptrer and International since 1965!

Damn Proud to Say Yes, I am A MEMBER OF A GREEK ORG, Espc. LXA

NO MATTER WHAT, We as Greeks Are The BEST of the BEST!

Optimist Prime · #19 11-03-2002, 12:19 AM

Give me an A give me and R give me a SON

Dionysus · #20 11-03-2002, 12:21 AM

ARSON!

excuse_3 · #21 11-04-2002, 12:45 PM

Snowlady, Andrews is not just a theological seminary school!!! It just happens to have a seminary school as well as architecture, business, pre med, phsycology etc. So it is no way just a theology school.

Optimist Prime · #22 11-04-2002, 01:42 PM

Maybe are evil. Who in their right mind would accept our philanthropy. We are Greeks bearing gifts. People should be aware of this.

DWAlphaGam · #23 11-04-2002, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
Maybe are evil. Who in their right mind would accept our philanthropy. We are Greeks bearing gifts. People should be aware of this.

OMG, Greeks bearing gifts! That is hysterical!!!!

M&M · #24 11-04-2002, 04:27 PM

DO NOT forget about the importance of public relations!!!!! I am not a lawyer, so I cannot speak to the legality of your school's actions, but I do know that most schools will go out of their way to avoid bad publicity. Be sure to speak with the public relations reps from your national office about how to handle the PR strategy. I have found that many people are willing to back down from bad decisions (like your schools!) once they start getting a bit of bad press.

So I would say definitely bond together with the other Greek orgs on campus to present a united front. Compile as complete a list as possible of the things you are not allowed to do and the reasons you were given for the restrictions on your orgs. And when you contact alums, be sure to keep a running list of supportive alums who are in high profile positions -- the press is probably more likely to quote an "important" alum than just another member of the GLO.

I definitely agree with the suggestion to do a large-scale Greek philanthropy event. If your GLO has a PR rep, he or she can craft a press release to get the story out about the good things your organizations are doing. You definitely want to support a good cause, but in your case, you definitely need to get good PR from doing it.

If you can get some good press coverage about what your orgs are doing and what the school is doing to you, plus build a strong coalition of GLOs and alums, particularly those who have long supported the college, the school may be embaressed enough to back down. I hope so anyway!!!!

Keep us posted on your situation!

madmax · #25 11-04-2002, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SnowLady
Take Pinky's advice contact your alums. (Oh, I think contacting your HQs for more info is extremely important as well as getting an atty to help out - perhaps an alum?!)

Private schools LIVE off of Alum Donations. The pretty flyers and brochures the University produces to send to alums for money is outrageous.

Get together with the other chapters - GREEK UNITY - and work on a mailing campaign to your alums explaining what's happening. Ask them to discontiue their donations until the administration sees the value of Greek Life. Look at the University's Board of Trustees - are there any Greeks on there? CONTACT THEM! Are there faculty and staff that are alums - find out what's REALLY behind this.

Then I have another idea. When you have your meeting with the other organizations - plan a HUGE philanthropy. Show the University the good that Greeks can do. Pick a charity near and dear to the University President's heart. (How do you do that? FInd someone that can chat with his/her secretary and and ask her what charity the President supports most.)

Feel free to ask anyone here at GC about popular Phils. I'm sure someone has a great one that will net that charity some bucks.

GOOD LUCK

I dont like the idea of doing a huge philanthropy that might benefit someone that is trying to screw you over in the first place. These groups probably have been doing philanthropy all along and in return the school wants to get rid of them. Instead of philanthropy I think all the greeks should have a fundraiser and put the money towards a lawyer.

IvySpice · #26 11-04-2002, 05:03 PM

Andrews is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist church. Like any church, it's their right to believe that Greek membership is incompatible with membership in the school's religious community. Check out the rules in the student handbook:

http://www.andrews.edu/SS/Handbook20...Discipline.htm

Apparently, this school means business when it comes to establishing the boundaries of appropriate student activity as they define it. If these regulations were made known to the students prior to matriculation (since they're on the Web, it'd be hard to argue that they are hidden from students), then a lawyer can't do a thing to help the original poster...I just hope the school administration has some Christian charity toward him and his fellow Greeks.

33girl linked to a bill encouraging schools to respect students' freedom of association. In a head-to-head conflict between a Congressional recommendation and the Constitution, the Constitution wins. The school, which for constitutional purposes is a church, has an iron-clad freedom of religion argument here. That First Amendment argument is going to trump any right to associate. If a church kicks you out, for any reason, that's that. You can't appeal to anybody but God.

This doesn't sound like a school I'd like to attend, but they certainly aren't hiding the rules from prospective students. Excuse_3, was there some kind of silent understanding prior to this year that the no-Greeks rule would not be enforced?

Ivy, J.D.

madmax · #27 11-04-2002, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IvySpice
Andrews is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist church. Like any church, it's their right to believe that Greek membership is incompatible with membership in the school's religious community. Check out the rules in the student handbook:

http://www.andrews.edu/SS/Handbook20...Discipline.htm

Apparently, this school means business when it comes to establishing the boundaries of appropriate student activity as they define it. If these regulations were made known to the students prior to matriculation (since they're on the Web, it'd be hard to argue that they are hidden from students), then a lawyer can't do a thing to help the original poster...I just hope the school administration has some Christian charity toward him and his fellow Greeks.

33girl linked to a bill encouraging schools to respect students' freedom of association. In a head-to-head conflict between a Congressional recommendation and the Constitution, the Constitution wins. The school, which for constitutional purposes is a church, has an iron-clad freedom of religion argument here. That First Amendment argument is going to trump any right to associate. If a church kicks you out, for any reason, that's that. You can't appeal to anybody but God.

This doesn't sound like a school I'd like to attend, but they certainly aren't hiding the rules from prospective students. Excuse_3, was there some kind of silent understanding prior to this year that the no-Greeks rule would not be enforced?

Ivy, J.D.

But what happens when the school decides to change their own rules in midstream? Up until this year students were permitted to pledge and fraternities were permitted by the university. The existing members pledged with the consent of the university and were following the rules that existed at the time.

pinkyphimu · #28 11-04-2002, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by IvySpice

http://www.andrews.edu/SS/Handbook20...Discipline.htm

Apparently, this school means business when it comes to establishing the boundaries of appropriate student activity as they define it. If these regulations were made known to the students prior to matriculation (since they're on the Web, it'd be hard to argue that they are hidden from students), then a lawyer can't do a thing to help the original poster...I just hope the school administration has some Christian charity toward him and his fellow Greeks.

[/B]

thanks for that site ivy! that is crazy, i had no idea that a university could get so involved in your life! madmax- based on the info on this site, it seems that the university could change their mind whenever they want! excuse, i am sorry that you have to deal with this. i have to admit, tho, that this made me glad that i eliminated any school that didn't have co-ed dorms or had rules about what time members of the opposite sex had to be out of your room!

UDZETA · #29 11-04-2002, 07:45 PM

I attend a Catholic University but we have a lot more rights then that! Those rules were the rules I had in grade school. These are adults and it amazes me how much power they want over them. Plus if I would have read those rules I would not have gone to that University. I would not feel like an individual. Plus they cannot change there mind to not have any more greeks on campus in the middle of a semester. If they were going to make that rule they should have made it at the begin of the school year. Reading those rules are you really not allow to wear jewlery? Goodness!!! That school is good for those who are looking for something like being a nun or some other religious figure. I do not see how Greeks are evil most have a Christain like base to them. I know we have prayers and other religious items. It just amazes me. Have you thought about another University??? I wish you the best of luck and what they are doing is not right and un-Christain. Who said they know that God hates greeks? This crap pisses me off.

BSUPhiSig'92 · #30 11-04-2002, 07:55 PM

At a religious affiliated institution, especially one as hard-core conservative as the Seventh Day Adventist's, there is virtually nothing you can do to oppose the administration. The only course of action that might have any impact would be for the Greeks to transfer in mass to other institutions (preferably public ones that cannot violate student's rights).