Getting Rid of Unrecognized Chapters

[LPIDelta]

Actually, if they changed their letters and were closed by the national, the national organization will probably want nothing to do with them. I have no idea what money would have to do with this.

The school is private--is there something in the student code of conduct that would help you out? Sometimes private schools have policies against joining unrecognized campus organizations?

There are definitely some liability issues for your school if you do not confront this issue because if something happens, even the school no longer recognizes the org, someone's parents will be upset. Consult the school's legal counsel for advice.

Someone suggested making statements re: the two groups' statuses, and I think in your situation that may help. Perhaps something in the school paper.

Also, support the groups that you do recognize. Help them beef up their recruitment efforts and make it apparent that the groups that play nice are going to be rewarded.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Heather17

Actually, if they changed their letters and were closed by the national, the national organization will probably want nothing to do with them. I have no idea what money would have to do with this.

I think (I'm very scared I might understand this) Tom is saying the national group might have the money to either 1) get them operating as a chapter in good standing again or 2) sue to make them cease and desist, but if they've changed letters, then the national really can't do anything about it.

[Judgemitch]

Two schools have recently enacted policies to deal with this situation-one public, one private. State University of NY-Plattsburgh. Greek Advisor is Allison Swick Duttine. The other is American University. Advisor is Danny Kelly.
Federal Courts have recently allowed public institutions to ban membership in chapters that have lost recognition for violations of school policy and/or law. Private institutions need no reason.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Judgemitch

Federal Courts have recently allowed public institutions to ban membership in chapters that have lost recognition for violations of school policy and/or law.

Do you have a link to the ruling or can you cite the case? I'm not questioning this, as much as I would like to know for down the line.

[Kevin]

Judge, I did a cursory search on Westlaw. While I could find a few cases which stated that it was not a violation of the First Amendment for a public school to deny recognition to a chapter, I could find no such case which stated that it was okay for a public school to disallow members from associating with a particular chapter.

Do you have anything which might help me locate one of those cases?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Do the national organizations know that a group is still operating under their letters there? They don't like that.

If there's no way they can be recognized, I'd try to educate the students going through rush about the minuses of joining an unrecognized/unchartered organization.

I think you are much better off educating them on the PLUSES of joining a RECOGNIZED organization. Subtle, yes, but definitely different.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I think you are much better off educating them on the PLUSES of joining a RECOGNIZED organization. Subtle, yes, but definitely different.

Kids that join the unrecognized chapters are generally going to do so because the unrecognized chapter has some sort of advantage over the recognized ones. For example, on a dry campus, an unrecognized "wet" chapter is usually a force to be reckoned with.

Universities who have the remedy available ought to simply dispose of these unrecognized chapters by forbidding membership. It's a bit draconian, but I don't really trust that college freshmen are really equipped to weigh all of the relevant facts and make the right decision. Even if they were, going with an unrecognized chapter might be their "right decision."

I know some organizations (TKE, for example) have a lot of chapters which are not recognized by the national organization. That was the case at my school for a few years. I can only imagine their liability situation. What kind of case for punitive damages is made when an organization refuses to shut down a chapter which the university has withdrawn recognition for due to risk management or conduct issues?

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I think (I'm very scared I might understand this) Tom is saying the national group might have the money to either 1) get them operating as a chapter in good standing again or 2) sue to make them cease and desist, but if they've changed letters, then the national really can't do anything about it.

Sorry, I am not really sure what your post is all about or what meaning it has to do with anything?


Underwhelming.

[33girl]

dah!!

I was interpreting Your Post!

If I am Wrong, please point out where I should have Been right!!

Do you mean the National has the $$$$$$???

[JonInKC]

God-damned unrecognized fraternities and their unsanctioned debauchery. Listening to their rock and roll cassettes and smoking thier marijuana cigarettes ...where's a good Nedermeyer when you need one?

[Phigirl04]

I know at my school at the beginning of every new semester for awhile they sent out a letter to all incoming male students warning them of the unrecognized groups, what possible actions could be taken if they join the group, and a censored version of why the group is not recognized. Also, the letter explained that these groups can't participate in any of the sanctioned activity. It seemed to work as within a few years I haven't heard anything about the groups that had orginally went underground.