Alfred University to Dissolve Greek System

[twitch396]

First off, I'm very happy to see so many people talking about Alfred. I am a brother of Lambda Chi Alpha at Alfred and have been in the fraternity since spring of 1999. I have seen this fraternity go through many struggles to regain our charter and to re-establish our reputation as a strong and positive force in Alfred. Like AKO and DZ (and others), we also have grades well above the all university averages. We are in great standing with both the school and our national. We contribute over $6,000 annually to local businesses. Multiply that by 12 other chapters and see the economic impact on a very small community. We participate in numerous community service organizations and are leaders in many many organizations around campus. Jason Pilarz, the editor in cheif of the newspaper (Fiat Lux) is the president of our chapter. For all we've been through, we find this to be the greatest insult to our organization. It is a gross insult to each and every Greek house on campus. LCA does not currently have a house. However we are a tight-knit, strong group. It's just one challenge that we have worked to our advantage.

In regards to only 4 percent of freshman showing interest....
That was from a survey sent to perspective high school students. How many of you, in your junior and senior years of high school even knew enough about college to really think you wanted to join a greek organization?? Furthermore, in a brotherhood of 20, we have only one man who attests to having any intent to join a fraternity when he first came to alfred. That statistic is meaningless. Brother and sisterhoods are not based on what people think in highschool! That's poppycock! They are based on what you FIND in college. How could those trustees have forgotten so much? Or perhaps the greeks in their day just weren't as strong.

Bob McComsey, the head of the trustees is a Lambda brother. He has shown no regard towards our chapter, even when we invited him personally to a simple barbeque. He brushed us off (I was one of the 3 who invited him) as if he was pushing away people who just wanted his money. We were only looking for brotherhood. He would have nothing to do with us. If he represents the trustees in general, then I fail to see how they came even close to understanding (or wanting to understand) who we are.

I am eagerly awaiting the release of the Greek Task Force's final report. They had little to no contact w/ the greeks during their "study". They offered an email that comments could be sent to with no response other than a form letter, "thank you for your email". They did not interview the chapters, or speak to the national headquarters of our 8 national organizations. They did not dig below the surface to see how greek houses help young people dealing with severe depression. Or how they can be places for fostering acceptance and tolerance of all people.

At risk of bordering on libel (perhaps i already have), it's been a long time rumor that Alfred has been seeking to become an Ivy League school. One requirement is that all greek organizations be on campus. The school does not have the money to buy all greek properties (undoubtedly many would refuse to sell) and so many of the houses are steeped in history that the greeks could not think of leaving their longtime homes for a new house on "greek row"... a street w/ now 2 (of 12) houses on it. Just the other day, the University announced a possible merger w/ Alfred State College. What will happen with their greek system? Is it another step towards Ivy? This is only speculation on my part, but it's too convenient to me to be coincidence. How disgusting if Alfred infact has used a friend of mine's death to further it's own prestige.

The school waited until the Monday after graduation to release it's decision, when they knew the decision the day before graduation. The trustees made their decision, waited til the students and parents were gone, and let the administration make the announcement and bare the brunt of the criticism, while the trustees return to their homes away from Alfred in peace. The administration of Alfred University took great strides to try to keep the greek system afloat. They would not have suspended two houses(Sigma Chi Nu sorority and Klan Alpine [not related to KKK in ANY way folks]), shut down ZBT, ordered house inspections, etc. if they were not interested in keeping the system going. They did those things to show that the university was taking the action it saw fit.

Perhaps the deepest hurt to all of us at Alfred came from the words of our trustees and former president. In new releases they acknowledged that they will likely lose money in donations from most recent alumni and current students (and parents) and that other universities had the same occurance. They went on to say that other universities still faired well, and they [Alfred U] was not concerned about the lost funds.

That speaks volumes as to what Alfred thinks about it's students!!! We're dollars they don't need. That's all we are. They simply don't care that they are cutting ties with people who love and care about Alfred Unversity. They don't care that the place we call home no longer feels welcoming. Several of my brothers have swore that each year during the annual fund we will send a letter to AU telling how much we would have donated, but instead donated to the Education Foundation of LCA instead. If I had more than just one more semester left, I would be transferring by now. Lambda Chi Alpha was my reason for staying in Alfred. They don't see that.

None of us [greeks] are going out w/out a proper fight. I'm in the process of contacting the ACLU to find out what we can do based upon legal rights of students.

Sorry to go on so long, but I had to say all this.

[madmax]

Originally posted by DeltAlum



In the past two years, more than 60 deaths nationwide have been
linked to fraternity or sorority activity, mainly drinking. As Alfred
University President Charles Edmondson pointed out, if that many
deaths had been associated with varsity athletes, the NCAA would be
conducting an investigation. Edmondson called the numbers an epidemic.

Steinbach, of the American Council on Education, says that while the
deaths are intolerable, they are not out of proportion for what you
would expect from a similar sized population.

I doubt if their would be an investigation for college athletes dying. During last summer's heat wave , U of Florida, FSU and U of Miami had 3 football players die. Most people didnt even hear about it.

The 60 deaths were tragic but they should give us some numbers to make a comparison. How many college athletes actually died during the same time period? How many deaths have there been that were not related to fraternity or sorority activity?

[DeltAlum]

A Northwestern Univesity football player died last year and it was on ESPN, local TV and in the newspapers for at least a week. The same with an NFL player who died in training camp.

If there were sixty reported deaths, there would be an investigation and huge media coverage.

[madmax]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
A Northwestern Univesity football player died last year and it was on ESPN, local TV and in the newspapers for at least a week. The same with an NFL player who died in training camp.

If there were sixty reported deaths, there would be an investigation and huge media coverage.

Delta alum, as usual you are wrong.

Off of the top of my head I can list about 20 college athletes that have died in the last year.
I already mentioned the 3 football players that died in Florida. You added the football player from Northwestern. A pole vaulter from PSU died in the Big 10 Championships. 8 members of the U
of Wyoming X country team died in a van crash and one college lost half a dozen players from their basketball team in a small plane crash this year.

Its probably hard for you to understand but many stories do not make your local paper. There are millions of people that die in this country every year.


Has anyone checked out the Hank Newer website that lists the 60 "fraternity related" deaths? Many of the deaths listed on that site are bullshit and have little to do with fraternities other than the fact that the members might have been in fraternities. That BS site even listed the 2 kids that fell from a dorm room at U of K while wrestling. What did that have to do with a fraternity? They also listed suicides, accidential drownings, and a number of car accidents that were not alcohol related. Ex. Joe from "alpha beta" was hit by a car that ran a red light. How the hell is that a fraternity realted death?


Does anyone know the cause of death for the ZBT brother at Alfred? The last story I read said that the beating had nothing to do with his death.

[Tom Earp]

Mad Max. Dont bad mouth Delta Alum to hard! He is just passing along what he knows!

I talked to one of the LXA Brothers Sun. about what went on and He said it is Bull Shi#! But nothing that they as Chapters can do about it at Alfreds!

I think it would behoove each and every Greek Organization on this site to contact your Organizati0ns and back the Groups against what this crap is!

I for one have written Alfred U voiicing my opinion and many of my LXA Brothers are voicing their opinions to International!

I am going to post a new thread soon on what I just found out about another Weed Covered Eastern School!

DA has some insight on what is going on because of his contacts with the Media!

Yes he post negative things, Da, but that is what sells attention, and money!

[KPU1190]

As of now, the results of the toxicology report and the cause of death have not been released. The only thing that has been released is that the beating he received before his death did not directly cause his death. He was last seen at the convenience store next to his house, buying a 40 oz. of malt liquor.
An interesting side note (I don't know how truthful this is, but I heard it from a truthful person): Two days before his body was found in the bed of the creek, the creek was walked by a respected police officer from the city of Hornell. He did not find anything during his walk, let alone the body. When the body was found 2 days later, it was not difficult to find, as it was not covered with anything.
If you ask me, I think that seems a little fishy.

Joseph A. DeLuca
Kappa Psi Upsilon
'1190'

[akomicron]

Thought you all might like to look at the report from the Task Force...a lot of it (like the press release) is misleading about the University effort to help the Greeks.

http://www.alfred.edu/greektaskforce/

[Xcalibur37]

Greetings,

All I can tell you is that the dissolving of the greek system at AU is actually part of a much grander money-making scheme.

You see... this is how the ball falls.

1) This year, the EE/ME programs and the CE programs were merged, which is hard enough to do because one is the private sector, the other is public.

2) Suddenly, instead of a reasonable hearing where we could effectively defend ourselves, all greek houses were suddenly wiped out.

3) AU proposes a merger with Alfred State only 3 days after the huge announcement.

Want to know what it all means kids.... AU wants to go Ivy League. It's always been in the cards. They think that by doing this they will get more money and popularity.

Stupid, stupid administration *scold*. You don't become IVY League, you are created within the IVY League. Ask Cornell, AU is toilet paper to them.

It's always going to be about the green.

- - - - -

Now to answer some other earlier questions...

No, Lambda Chi Alpha will be folded if the University goes through with this. That is why we are extra grateful to all the support our other Lambda Chi chapters have been giving us. Special thanks to my buds lenoxx, Tom Earp and lifesaver.
But no, we cannot exist independently.

Remember one thing guys. I know I can speak for my girls at DZ when I say this:

Through all the hardships that we have encountered, and all the damn mountains we had to climb to get where we are today, it was all worth it. The University can take our houses away. They can take our rights away, hell, they can take our lives away if they want. But they still can't destroy the bonds we have, and the legacy that each of us carries within us.

It's all about Faith friends. And as long as you have that... they can't do anything to you at all...

Peace my friends,

Joshua Arzt
President (2000, 2001)
Lambda Chi Alpha
Kappa Sigma Zeta
Alfred University

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Originally posted by Xcalibur37

Want to know what it all means kids.... AU wants to go Ivy League. It's always been in the cards. They think that by doing this they will get more money and popularity.

Stupid, stupid administration *scold*. You don't become IVY League, you are created within the IVY League. Ask Cornell, AU is toilet paper to them.

It's always going to be about the green.


Peace my friends,

Joshua Arzt
President (2000, 2001)
Lambda Chi Alpha
Kappa Sigma Zeta
Alfred University

I don't think that a school can go Ivy League. Maybe they are trying to merge with Cornell. Could that be a possibility?

[33girl]

Originally posted by Cream


I don't think that a school can go Ivy League. Maybe they are trying to merge with Cornell. Could that be a possibility?

Well if I'm not mistaken, Ivy League is at its core a sports conference....the other connotations of "Ivy League" have just developed over the years.

Penn State was independent for many years and then joined the Big 10 conference (making it the Big 11) - this only happened in the last 10 years. So you CAN join a conference. Ivy League, however, has taken on something beyond that and Alfred knows it...and you can bet that if they say "we're Ivy League" they know the first thought in people's minds will be "prestigious school for really smart people" not "sports conference."

[moe.ron]

Ivy League was formed officially in 1945.
Well you can read the history yourself
http://www.ivysport.com/ivyleaghis.html

[Tom Earp]

Dang arya, nice touch on this!!!!!!

It is Great!!!!!!!!

Kuddos to You!

[Peaches-n-Cream]

Thanks for the link and the info.

[Tom Earp]

While things are running pretty strong on teh LXA thread, we as a Brotherhood are going to try and do something to help our fellow Brothers!

I suggest very strongly that members of all Greek Organizations do the same!

Check our thread and see if it gives you any ideas!

Many of the Organizations have been there for years as while ours was jus rechartered in 2000, do the members deserved to be cut off at the knees!

We have many people on this site who are in teh know and do some good in filling us in on what happened and what is going on!

DeltaAlum can you get us more info?

It is a shame that this school did in the middle of the night so to speak did what they did!

To shame on them!!!!!! How many people go to a school just to be a member of that school? Unless it is a specif situation, not many! Why do many go to school, to learn and interact with others!

I would never go to a school who has done something like this dasterdly thing under the cover of night! Does this ring of while you slept, I decided your fate and you lost?

Help your Brothers/Sisters when you can!

Tomarrow, it could beeeee your turn!!!!!

[moe.ron]

It's kind of curious that the decision was made at the end of the school year when a viable opposition can not be formed because most of the students will be out of the university. Just randomn thought by the me.