Any Umass Gamma Zeta's here?

[lenoxxx]

Mike well said,

I will also concur that the staff at LCAP has been accountable to their promises and has been nothing but a good thing to happen to our chapter at Shippensburg- Pa. I feel that they are good people with a good purpose to work with the larger issues of housing and financing/management which faces many of our chapters.

Hats off to them.

zax
Lenoxxx

[Tom Earp]

GammaZeta,

granted, none of us were there in your position. I ment the two young men who are living in the Building that Housed Gamma Zeta along with other Brothers at General Assembly.


I would feel better along with other Brothers if you identifed yourself through email or greekchat PM.


Some of the Brothers that you have accused of not knowing all of the facts have been through the situation before. Some being Lenoxx docroc, Jono, and myself as We are Alums of our respective Zetas and have all had trials and tribulations.

Granted, when LCAP was started, it was pretty loose. It has now become a strong part of LXA.

They (We ) are a Business, and Zetas should be run as a Business.

Jono, please quote to this thread what you and I talked about on the OLD Magazine of LXA.

None of seem to know when Gamma was officially gone from campus and all of the circumstances.

Please fill us in a little more besides your tireades from your memories.

We have all been there and are still doing it again.

Mike, I can do Earpspeak as I call age on you!


We as Brothers are hear to lend an ear if it is needed.

Lenoxx was instrumental in the New Phi Tau House, and He like many of us are a part of our respective Zetas and work with IHQ.

Some of your thoughts just do not seem to ring true.

The one that struck me was the issue with the Door Lock.

Damn, go buy a friggen door lock and put it on the damn door.

Well, the door lock is moot, isnt it.

Explain in a concise and respectfull term. Many of us have been around for a lot of years and that is why We are here because We care!


In ZAX,

[GammaZeta]

If you would like the real scoop on LCAP, I invite you to ask any other brother of Gamma Zeta. LCAP was sued by several members of Gamma Zeta in housing court because the conditions were so bad and lcap was forced to settle out of court because the violations of Massachusetts General Law were so very clear. I believe each brother received something like $700 or $750 each for the violations against them. Also the house had continuously failed inspection after inspection for many months by the city of Amherst if I recall. The door lock I was talking about was for one of my best's friends room. LCAP never fixed the lock before he moved in, and for 3 months he was forced to use one of those kind where you have to use a hinge that swings open, I don't really know how to describe it. Only problem was, after house inspection the building inspector made him remove it, and he lived without a lock for some time. LCAP also tried to keep everyones security deposit, even though it was a VERY CLEAR violation of Massachusetts General Law. The contract they made the brothers sign was mostly voided because it contradicted M.G.L. It was not properly managed and anyone could have easily picked up a brochure for landlords in Massachusetts and could have know about how they were supposed to conduct themselves as landlords. Funny thing is they HAVE other houses in Massachusetts but the violations by them were so clear, and it bothers me that they either had no respect for the law OR they just chose to ignore it.

This weekend coming up I will try to actually take pictures of the house in question, at least the outside to show you what I am talking about. The roof has almost literally fallen off. That was probably the most major improvement needed right now. Can you post pictures in this forum?

And yes, as a chapter of 30 guys we did raise I think around $6-7,000, it is something we are proud of and we had beautiful hard wood floors in our common rooms to show for it. Only problem is, how do you expect people to continue when they just found out they owed some $50,000 in taxes? That would take the wind out of the sails of ANY chapter. The night we found out we owed that much was pretty much the last night before the end started. The Gamma Zeta house was pretty much run for 80 years by 19 and 20 year olds in college with minimal alumni support. That's a pretty big accomplishment if you ask me. But being that far in debt at a university where fraternity's were closing left and right pretty much means the end.

I'm glad everyone has had a positive experience with LCAP. With that knowledge I really think that they were only after the Gamma Zeta house, wanted to get rid of the chapter there, and simply start new. I know that the 30-45 alumni that I still have contact with feel the same way. I gave LCAP the benefit of the doubt, but they have had the house for I think almost 3 years and there STILL have been no noticeable improvements on the outside! I cannot understand that.

As Tom said, LCAP was very "loose" during it's first years and I hope that is why we were treated so badly. I again will give them the benefit of the doubt and will look forward to working with them in the future. When the new Gamma Zeta begins though, I can assure you that I will stick up for my chapter if things are left unfixed or promises broken. It happend once and I will not let it happen to my chapter again. I really hope LCAP has straightened out.

But I stress I still don't care what LCAP did. I only care that it is a Lambda Chi house with a Gamma Zeta chapter in it. I hope the future Gamma Zeta has a GREAT experience with LCAP, and since I still live somewhat locally nearby, you bet your A$$ I'm going to give as much support as possible to those guys.

Again I don't care about the LCAP stuff. I do care however is that the reputation of me, my brothers and friends is being lied about.

If you want me to gain "respect", how would you like it if people were posting lies about you and your chapter on the internet. I ask you, give me details, give me names, give me some facts and I will personally go to each brother that did that and have a very special conversation with them. What you considered "torment" happens to EVERY fraternity every weekend at Umass. It is nothing new. You jumped to a conclusion with no evidence. The OD's automatically assumed it was Gamma Zeta. None of you have ever even been to Umass before. It is not your typical fraternity university. Greeks at umass make up less than 2%, probably less by now. Because bad stuff happened in the house you automatically accused the GZ. That stuff that happened to them happened to us on a daily basis.

I love lca, and I love my chapter, and Im actually a pretty nice guy believe it or not. And I have some good ideas to share with you guys. When it comes to Gamma Zeta, please don't jump to conclusions. Just ask a question on this board and I'll answer it to the best of my ability.

Gamma Zeta has always been a small chapter. The last years we never really had more than 25-30 guys at a time. The last three years we probably averaged 14-18 guys in the house. It was simply too much for too little people with too much baggage and responsibility to take on. Our president failed out of school because he devoted too much time to the chapter for christ's sake!

We have been around about 85 years with 1500 alumni, that comes to an average of 17.65 brothers a year. It is a very close group, and many times we are lifelong friends. That rate is even smaller than the exclusive "Skull and Bones" that everyone hears about.

Now for a little Gamma Zeta trivia to maybe lighten the mood:

1. Gamma Zeta has been shut down before for 4 years, can anyone name the years that they were not living in the house???

2. What object is considered "cursed" by the fraternity but still resides in the chapter house today?

3. Why is the office of Gamma Zeta have a room number of 1462?

[JonoBN41]

Interesting trivia questions. I don't have a clue.

Tom,

In looking for your reference I ran across something even better. (We all know fraternity has its business side anyway.)

Gamma Zeta ------Massachusetts Agricultural College

For the major part of the year just passed this Zeta has been discussing the house problem. The first part, the topic was, "Do we want to buy, build, or rent?" For several months this point alone was thrashed out with the result that we decided that in the end the purchase of a suitable house would be the best plan. Accordingly negotiations were begun and now the Gamma Zeta of this fraternity possesses a house that is worthy of it. The house is located at 82 Pleaseant Street, corner of Fearing Street, the former being a state road and one of the more important ones in Amherst. Sixteen rooms comprise the total complement of the house, which will be more than sufficient to contain all those who have signified their intentions of going into the fall. We shall take possesion on August 1 and the whole will be ready for occupation by September 1. The main credit for the purchase of the house is due to Brothers Nute, Webster and Goodwin. Several other men contributed their able assistance.
Fraternally,
Charles W. Curtin, Correspondent
Amherst, Massachusetts

--from the Purple, Green and Gold. Vol. 1, No 3 July, 1914
John E. Mason (E), Editor

ZAX,
Jono

[GammaZeta]

Interesting reference there.
You may or may not know that there have been several major renovations to the Gamma Zeta house since 1914. Currently the house is divided into two section, the original house, which closely resembles the 7 other houses located on frat row, and the addition in back, which was put on a couple decades ago.

I lived in the original section for some time. You can still see the outlines of blocked off doorways, walls that have been removed and rebuilt, old staircases, sliding doors that have been removed and boarded up. I know that once there used to be a porch accessable on the second floor where the roof of the first floor porch is now. (I don't know if you understand that or not, it is difficult to describe without pictures). I cannot imagine fitting 16 rooms into the original part of the house. I know that from talking to some alumni, some of which had lived in the house 50 and 60 years ago, that everyone used to sleep in the attic on bunk bed style beds. The rooms downstairs were primarily for studying, relaxing, etc, and they would only sleep in the attic. I really have no clue as to where the original kitchens or bathrooms were since the "kitchen" in there now is under the "new" addition.

I do know that the house is much older than 1914 based on the construction materials of the foundation. The house is located on the corning of fearing st. but it now has a different house number. It is located on "frat row" and the original style of the house matches that of the 6-7 other fraternities on the row. It can be compared to today's modular or factory homes where they all look and are designed the same except for 1 or 2 minor differences and features. I do not know if the houses, including GZ, were built with the purpose of housing fraternities. The house is located very near to campus, but in 1914 before Umass expanded, I would say it would take quite some time to walk the distance to the original part of campus at that time.

Even today that "state road and the corning of Fearing" is still one of the most busy and important roads in Amherst.

The new addition was built a little over 20-25 years I think. All it really is is a big box attached to the original house. It did double the size of the house and added alot of room to the basement where a laundry room, kitchen and dining room were added.

As far as I can tell, all the original electrical was replaced. I am very familiar with turn of the century houses as my family owns and rents several of them in the Western Massachusetts area, some older than GZ. The heating system was added later as you can tell by the countless pipes across the ceiling running all over the place.

As far as I can tell the house probably went through several major renovations. One a couple decades ago, the first probably in the late 30's, early 40's, and another in the late 50's early 60's. I have seen photos of the house in the early 60's and it does not match what the house is described as prior to that decade (ie: window placement, porches, doors, etc.).

I do know that from all the alumni I talked to, the basement was the location of all initiation rituals which was something that continued to the last brother being initiated.

I'm going to try to think of some more things later on that might be of interest to you. I tried to be as accurate as possible in my recollection but I know I probably got one or two things wrong.

[docroc67]

Brothers,

This is good stuff! I really enjoy this type of information about our Fraternity. I am especially interested in the histories of local Zetas. Thank you "Gamma Zeta!"

I think I might have the answer to the first question: World War II, maybe first semester 1942 to first semester 1946. I know many fraternity houses were converted to military housing for students who were in various ROTC units.

As with Jono, I don't have a clue about the other two answers....

Yours in ZAX,

Mike Raymond, ZUZ

[Tom Earp]

I and many of Us Brothers on GC find your last post a little more informative.

I looking at LXA Int. Site, you can go to properties and link to LCAP and then find Mass. It shows some interesting pictures. I cannot say for any surety when they were taken.

Just from the pictures alone, it looks like a huge house. Pics can be deceiving though. It also from the roof line that additions have been added.

According to the latest Peadagogus, U Mass has been dormint since 1980.

Was it revived again since then and then closed again?

I am wondering about the time line that you are giving us.

If in fact Gamma has been dorment since 1980, the LCAP was not even in existence then.

It is great that you ask Historical questions, but I think we all dont want questions, We would like more truer facts and answers.


I think, the important part right know is not bickering and making accusations about something that is said and one, but the reopening of Gamma Zeta.

By the way, if you did not give up the Charter as Via The By-Laws require, where is it?

I am not trying to huff and puff, but to get to the bottom of all of this.

[GammaZeta]

I'm 95% sure that Gamma Zeta was shut down between the years 1976-1979/1980, or at the very least was re-established in 1979/1980 as the alumni tell me. I do know that Pike occupied the house during those four years. Our house history only went as far back as 1980 when I was there, including composites, paddles, bills, rosters, etc. I think a great deal of history was lost during those four years we were shut down.

That leads me to the next question. What was the "cursed" object in the chapter house. Well there was an "incident" which occured on the POOL TABLE that lead to Gamma Zeta being closed down for that time.

The brothers have always said the pool table was cursed and brought bad luck because of what happened on it but no one ever considered throwing it out because, hey, it's a good pool table.

The office in Gamma Zeta has a room number of 1462 in memory of a brother that lost his life while sleeping in his dorm room at Umass. 1462 was his Zeta number and the brothers in turn renamed the office in tribute.

You know, if you guys are really interested in the history of Gamma Zeta, which might in turn relate to the history of LCA, I might have some free time this week to visit the Umass-Amherst archives in the Umass library. It is a massive archive and if you give me something specific to look for I may be able to locate something. Let me know any suggestions.

[Tom Earp]

I and all of us are wondering how if the Gamma Chapter was closed in 1980, how and when was it recharterd or reopened since then?

According to some of the things that you have placed, you were there after that and uptill about 2-3 years ago, Gamma was still a functioning Chapter.

Sounds like a lot "mucking" going on here.

Mike I am sure you and maybe a couple of other Brothers know what I am refering to.

GammaZeta, we all fell that there is a lot more going on here that presents itself and dont know why.

Phi-Tau Zeta had the same problem with thier new house not from LCAP but the previous Organization that lived there and lost it, blaming them for aquiring it and refurbing it with LCAP assistance. Actually, it was they who lost it through Numbers, Money Owed, ETC.

[GammaZeta]

Yeah, I was right, it was 1980 we were re-established. We lived in the house until 2003, and there are still some GZ's at Umass right now. As for the first actual charter of GZ, mostly everything before 1980 is lost, thrown out, scattered or stolen. I remember something being signed by the GZ president of 1998 as an informal charter which I think was our "charter." No one ever really displayed it or anything, it was just lost in a big paper pile. I have never seen any formal charter, ever in my 4 years there. But I can assure you Tom that GZ has not been dormant since 1980!

I guess if we never had a physical charter we can't give it up. The proper procedure of making a chapter dormant wasn't really a top priority for us at that moment. When GZ disbanded in 2003, everyone just pretty much moved out of the house. There wasn't some big vote taken and documents signed or anything. In fact, all the brothers picked other brothers as their roommates in apartments around Amherst. Gamma Zeta stuck together, just not as a fraternity.

We never really went by if we were a "colony" or a "chapter" since historically we only averaged some 17 brothers a year. I think you need 20 members to be a chapter, maybe someone knows. But in the 23 years I know our numbers reached almost 60 and were at the lowest with 11 members.

The house itself really isn't too big. The photos make it look bigger, especially on the outside. It has long narrow hallways and a very damp basement. The photos really don't show much of it. You can see the original house from the expansion though in the photos. The photos were taken I think in 2002. It's too bad it doesn't have the original basement.

If you ever go into the original basement by yourself and close your eyes you can imagine what it must have been like in 1914 performing the first ritual in the house. It's really something every LCA interested in history should do someday if they pass by Amherst.

And you can see the pool table in the bottom photo.

[GammaZeta]

Tom,
I can assure you that Gamma Zeta was a fully functioning chapter/colony between the years 1980 and 2002/3.

Let me see if I can clear this up: I was an associate in fall 1999, moved into the house spring 00. I lived there in fall 00, spring 01, fall 01, didnt live there spring 02, moved back fall 02, then we all moved out that winter of 02. So no GZ has lived there in about 2 years. My last semester there I did not consider myself an active member and also wasn't active when I did not live in the house. Although I wasn't officially active, I was always there for advice, news, etc. and did partake in many house functions Hope that clears things up for ya.

The Gamma Zeta was re-opened in 1980.

[Tom Earp]

Maybe you misunderstood.

What I said, was that in the newest Paedogogus, it showed closed in 1980. Nothing about reopening and then reclosing for the time line that you are refering to.

This Paed. just came out this year.

While your discussion is interesting, there are many of us who have access to documents that are not following this of which you spake?

I know for a fact as many of us oldsters are aware of, that some from IHQ lurk this Site. Can any of you be of help in the timing that GammaZeta is talking about?

If not, I or someone else will be more than happy contact IHQ to get a clarification.

We are all interested in Getting Gamma Chapter back up and running!

[JonoBN41]

Tom,

Both the 2003 Paedagogus (p.107) and the 1991 Baird's Manual indicate Gamma was closed (dormant) 1976-1980.

[GammaZeta]

Thank you! LOL!
I was worried that some of you didn't believe me that Gamma Zeta wasn't open for the last 23 years! LOL!

I also wanted to let some of you know that I will soon begin a new thread tonight and hopefully let this one drift away since there are so many topics being discussed in it.

I would like to start a thread, being added to every couple of days, of the last 6 year history of Gamma Zeta, the troubles of the chapter, the good things the chapter did, what caused it's downfall, how the Umass greek system is/was, relationships within the chapter external/internal, my own personal experiences, etc. I will make it in chronological order by semester.

I think if I relate my experience it can be very helpful to all of you, especially those who may not have been in college for some time, to maybe avoid some of the mistakes and use some of the good things that happened. Of course my experience will be somewhat biased, but I will try to be as open minded and fair as possible (of course I will not try to embarass or hurt anyone or name call). However I will be as truthfull and factual as I can. I ask of you to comment on each thread as I post it, but please do not jump to conclusions until I am finally done with my "diary."

Some of the things I post you may not like. Like all fraternities, Gamma Zeta was no angel. I have visited 6 other Lambda Chi's and I can tell you that some that APPEARED to be by "by the book" and "goody goodies" were actually some of the most wild, crazy, illegal fraternities I have ever visited. And I can also tell you that some of the craziest, bad reputation chapters I visited acted like they were Amish.

So Gamma Zeta wasn't perfect, does that make your chapter better than us? I'm going to tell the truth, and provide as much support as possible so there is no question of the validity of my story. Just remember, "those in glass houses...." you know the rest.

So please, I ask of you to hold comments on this thread and post them on my new thread tonight once I am done with it so that we can start a new, concise, and productive conversation.

[Tom Earp]

Yepper, that is what I was refering to. But, it did not give any reopening and closing.

Basically, according to the newest Paed. it functioned till 1980. Last date shown.

If it was reopened after that and then became dormite, it usaully says that.

That is what I was questioning.

But, maybe the New GammaZeta Thread will help all of us get a time line and grasp of all of the events that happened.

Have read some of it and am looking forward to reading much more!