Lambda Chi Alpha chapter Suspended for 2 Years (Wisconsin-Whitewater)

[sugar and spice]

FYI, I am not judging simply on the fraternity men on my own campus -- obviously, I know many fraternity members at UW-Madison, but I also know or have met those from Lawrence, Marquette, UW-Milwaukee, UW-Whitewater, and a number of the other system schools.

For the record, GeekyPenguin is currently dating a Wisconsin fraternity man, and she has yet to tell me I'm wrong.

I freely admit that I am stereotyping, and I won't rule out the possibility that someday I may meet a Wisconsin fraternity man who conducts himself with class. However, based on the aforementioned things (their unfortunate track record so far, Wisconsin culture as a whole, the role that alcohol and hazing usually play), it seems unlikely.

chopper -- GP and I have not been entirely fair to you in this thread, and for that I apologize. However, if you want LXA to survive after its return in a couple years, you HAVE to start taking responsibility for your actions and the actions of your chapter. I've heard "The admin wants to shut us down/end Greek life!" at various Wisconsin campuses over the years. Well, of course they do if it's proven again and again that fraternity and sorority members can't follow the rules that have been set up by the university and their HQ! That's not the school or the city being unfair -- it's you guys f-ing up!

Back in 2000, before I was a member of my chapter, we got in trouble with our HQ for "hazing" (a scavenger hunt). Five members were kicked out and we were put on probation by HQ. My chapter could have kept doing the scavenger hunt without HQ's knowledge, they could have complained about how it's not really hazing and nobody was upset by it, they could have complained about how HQ is just full of people who don't understand fun and wanted to shut our chapter down. What did my chapter do? THEY STOPPED DOING IT. Strangely enough, we haven't gotten in trouble for hazing since . . .

You can't get in trouble for doing something you're not doing.

[GeekyPenguin]

Wisconsin chapters tend to be more lackadaisical about rules. I think part of it is that the majority of us are very far removed from our headquarters, and because on many of the satellite (ie, non-Madison) campuses, the local groups are very prevalent and the national groups may feel they have to break rules in order to remain competitive.

Wisconsin's drinking culture really is unlike that of a lot other places - people feel it really is their God-given right to consume a beer whenever they desire one, regardless of the law.

I have attended two UW system schools (one for summer school) and graduated from MU. I saw every single fraternity at Platteville engage in poor risk management, ranging from a keg on the front lawn to attempting to steal ritual equipment from another chapter. I saw chapters at Whitewater drinking on their front lawn in the middle of the day and rolling kegs down the street. I saw a chapter at Marquette lose their house, and I've witnessed chapters at Marquette and Platteville haze.

My boyfriend's chapter was founded with the intention of being different, and 90% of the time, they are, but this also hurts them to some extent - they had very negative interGreek relations for a long time, and my freshman year, I heard all about how they weren't a "real" fraternity because they didn't beat the snot out of their new members.

I understand why chapters have these attitudes - at some point, some members decided it was a good idea and then there was alumni pressure. My chapter was engaging in some activities similar to that of sugar and spice's, and we got in a LOT of trouble for it. Meanwhile, one fraternity is making their pledges run around naked and another one is engaging in activities that would work hoosier into a frenzy.

I think thee are definite exceptions to this on every campus - but how much have they been stigmatized??? In Wisconsin, following risk management guidelines, especially within fraternities, is not "cool." I would love to see this change because so much of the behavior that occurs is absolutely ridiculous.

From what lifesaver says, it sounds like the chapter in discussion in this thread could have handled it internally and did not. They should have, and it would have saved us this discussion. If nothing else, maybe it will be a wakeup call for a lot of other Wisconsin GLOs to think about whether this behavior is worth losing their charter.

[Tom Earp]

Maybe it will help a lot of other GLOs even out side of Wis.

But, unfortunately, probably not!

All one has to do is look at R M Thread and see what I am talking about.

Can anyone name a State that has not had a Chapter in trouble?

How far removed is far from HQs? Not really sure what that has to do with it. If every GLO was HDQ in KC, it would still be far but not forgotten.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Maybe it will help a lot of other GLOs even out side of Wis.

But, unfortunately, probably not!

All one has to do is look at R M Thread and see what I am talking about.

Can anyone name a State that has not had a Chapter in trouble?

How far removed is far from HQs? Not really sure what that has to do with it. If every GLO was HDQ in KC, it would still be far but not forgotten.

If a GLO is far from their HQ, they are less likely to get visits and the HQ is less likely to "hear through the grapevine" about activities of the chapters.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
If a GLO is far from their HQ, they are less likely to get visits and the HQ is less likely to "hear through the grapevine" about activities of the chapters.

No the problem is that it's too damn cold up there.

If there was snow on the ground for 10 months out of the year here, I'd be a 'holic too.

Thats why the russians are all drunks. Its too cold to do anything else.

lol.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by lifesaver
No the problem is that it's too damn cold up there.

If there was snow on the ground for 10 months out of the year here, I'd be a 'holic too.

Thats why the russians are all drunks. Its too cold to do anything else.

lol.

LOL, I'd say summer is more of the prime drinking season here with all the fests - but you haven't really lived until you've walked a mile to a fraternity party sans coat in -10 degree weather.

[lifesaver]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
but you haven't really lived until you've walked a mile to a fraternity party sans coat in -10 degree weather.

Yeah, were wusses. We wig out if/when the temp briefly dips below 45 degrees.

I couldnt deal with it.

[chopperLI905]

It takes a real trooper to walk two miles in a foot a snow just to drink. There were nights i ask myself why are you drinking on a night like this, and i said to there is nothing else to do then to get drunk.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by chopperLI905
It takes a real trooper to walk two miles in a foot a snow just to drink. There were nights i ask myself why are you drinking on a night like this, and i said to there is nothing else to do then to get drunk.

You forgot "uphill both ways."

[hoosier]

Dean comments about ther chapter:

_ Dean Wormer: Greg, what is the worst fraternity on this campus?
Greg: Well that would be hard to say, sir. They`re each outstanding in their own way.
Dean Wormer: Cut the horseshit, son. I`ve got their disciplinary files right here. Who dropped a whole truckload of fizzies into the swim meet? Who delivered the medical school cadavers to the alumni dinner? Every Halloween, the trees are filled with underwear. Every spring, the toilets explode.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
LOL, I'd say summer is more of the prime drinking season here with all the fests - but you haven't really lived until you've walked a mile to a fraternity party sans coat in -10 degree weather.

There is a UW group on the facebook called "My Winter Coat is a Bottle of Booze."

I can't lie; I've done it.

[Tom Earp]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
If a GLO is far from their HQ, they are less likely to get visits and the HQ is less likely to "hear through the grapevine" about activities of the chapters.

If a GLO is far from their HQ, they dont get visits?

Do You have Paid ELCs as We call them that are paid to do visits or do You have Volunteers?

Many NIC/NPCs some that I know use just volunteers.

If You have a Chapter at Alaska or Hawaii it could be extremly costly but You dont. Do You?

That is never an excuse. Your GLO doesnt have people who live in close proimity to their area of responsiblity?

One of Your Sisters caught hell-o over a post that said Her Chapter was having problems and got little or no advice. I have talked to Her and she is not a wide eyed Alum who was just compaining and sounded like there was a real problem at the chapter.

So, what do You advise? Not to Me, but Her?

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
If a GLO is far from their HQ, they dont get visits?

Do You have Paid ELCs as We call them that are paid to do visits or do You have Volunteers?

Many NIC/NPCs some that I know use just volunteers.

If You have a Chapter at Alaska or Hawaii it could be extremly costly but You dont. Do You?

That is never an excuse. Your GLO doesnt have people who live in close proimity to their area of responsiblity?

One of Your Sisters caught hell-o over a post that said Her Chapter was having problems and got little or no advice. I have talked to Her and she is not a wide eyed Alum who was just compaining and sounded like there was a real problem at the chapter.

So, what do You advise? Not to Me, but Her?

I have no idea what post you are talking out.

Gamma Phi Beta has collegiate leadership consultants. Each chapter receives a visit at least once a year. HOWEVER, when your chapter is located in rural Wisconsin as opposed to Milwaukee or Madison, there is not an alumnae base to keep an eye on you.

[ZZ-kai-]

I beg to differ.

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I have no idea what post you are talking out.

Gamma Phi Beta has collegiate leadership consultants. Each chapter receives a visit at least once a year. HOWEVER, when your chapter is located in rural Wisconsin as opposed to Milwaukee or Madison, there is not an alumnae base to keep an eye on you.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by ZZ-kai-
I beg to differ.

Your chapter has an alumnae base? I think that men are a lot more likely to stick around Podunk, WI or BFE, Minnesota, than women are. Women want to go join civilization again, and shop.