Problems at University of Tennessee

Ryan400z · #1 06-24-2004, 06:25 PM

We just found out we are in a difficult situation at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. The University wants us to raise $85,000 to renovate and start building a new house. $85,000 will make sure we will be up to code, the university just changed building codes for fall 2006. Overall, the new house will cost close to 2 million dollars.
The problem is we are going to have a hard time finding alumni and if we lose our house/location there is no way we can compete at this school and our chapter will crumble. Nationals is looking at differenent scenarios and trying to find ways to help us but it is very hard when UT owns the land, trying to give us a loan is hard as well as many other financial situations. We are one of three fraternties on the row that does not have this money and they supposedly will have it within the next three months. We have a year to get this money, by June 2005.

This comes as a shock because we believed UT's administration and fraternity affairs advisor would be willing to work with us but this school has become extremely anti greek, something I have noticed since my soph. year and something older alumni's have repeatedly said to me.

I only wanted to post this to get some replies, as to what we can do and who to contact at nationals. This should alarm many brothers because we are a reputable chapter and still have a very strong chapter around 60 brothers going into next fall. Our chapter has initiated over 2100 brothers and has a great history, we are not on any type of probation and have good standing with nationals. To be up front and honest WE ARE ABOUT TO GET SCREWED unless something is done. This is alarming but we are going to try as hard as possible to raise this money but the problem is finding a place to start at.

Please pm me or reply with a post if anyone has any information, I will be around until Monday then going to Texas for a week to look at law schools.

In ZAX,

Ryan Daley
High Beta
Lambda Chi Alpha
Epsilon Omicron Zeta
E.O 2039

JonoBN41 · #2 06-26-2004, 02:40 AM

Well shit Ryan, you're goin' to Texas for a week. Too bad. You missed it. j/k

I find it interesting that you say your chapter has 60 "people" and you have initiated over 2100 "people".

Do you not consider them brothers?

Also there is no such thing as "nationals" unless your into car racing. It has nothing to do with Lambda Chi Alpha.

The General Fraternity is administered from International Headquarters (IHQ) in Indianapolis.

You're not even sending one person to General Assembly? I just checked and unless you just did that, you're lacking.

Listen, bringing a house up to Code is a very important thing and you should have done that a long time ago if that's what's needed.

What I hear from you is whining. I am not alarmed. You should not be alarmed. You should get your "people" together and solve your little problem.

And maybe then you will be brothers. As a chapter, it sounds as if you need to get your shit together. Have your High Alpha write here, and we'll point him in the right direction.

In ZAX,
Jono

Ryan400z · #3 06-26-2004, 04:30 AM

I sent Jono a pm to apologize about some of the words I used and some misunderstandings. My emotions got in the way I did not mean to say people, that was ignorant, brothers was obviously the word I should have used. I once again did not creat this post to whine, we are in a dangerous situation becuase UT owns our land and I needed advice which many brothers have been EXTREMELY helpful giving me. Especially advice on how to get in touch with lost alumni and get a website. Thank you brothers for your help.

In ZAX,

Ryan Daley

lenoxxx · #4 06-26-2004, 09:20 AM

Jono,

All I can say is that when I was an undegrad I hated when alumni took that kind of nit-picking self-righteous tone. At least this undergrad asked for help, does it really matter if he put "people" instead of "brother", does it really matter that he said "nationals" instead of "IHQ"?

The answer is that it in fact NO. None of that changed the intent of the message, which as I read it was "we need help". Ease up on the chastisement and offer some constructive advice.

Lenoxxx

JonoBN41 · #5 06-26-2004, 03:13 PM

Ryan,

I apologize for coming across so rude and harsh. I should not have used the term 'whining', and so many brothers say 'nationals' these days it's gotten kind of funny, so I just thought I'd throw that in.

What bothered me were some real or imagined fundamental issues your chapter might be facing. One thing that's pressing right now, since we're close to the deadline, is to send a delegate to General Assembly and avoid the $1,000 fine. The alumni can help with the housing problem but you need a good program, including a database and listserver so they can all be contacted and kept informed. A website is a good idea too.

If your officers are mostly new, they could benefit from your guidance, enthusiasm, and love for the fraternity. An Alumni Advisory Board could help them too, if it's practical to set one up.

You have a House Corporation, do they have a plan to meet this obligation? According to most by-laws I've seen, you would be a member of the HC, though perhaps not on the Board.

Good luck with this and sorry again for my rantings. You have my e-mail address.

In ZAX,
Jono

Tom Earp · #6 06-27-2004, 11:45 AM

Brother Ryan and LXA etal, Jono is a die hard LXA Brother and I am proud to have known him for many years!

We agree and diagree just like not only Brothers of LXA, but real Brothers.

I am sure we all can sympathize with you and your situation.

Ryan, okay, you have that many Alum Brothers, if you do not have a list, contact IHQ and they can give you a CD of Brothers From U T. Then the real work begins. Many times as I found out, it is outdated as Brothers move and do not contact IHQ!

But, it is a starting point to try and get in contact with them.
Once you get a solid base, there will be Brothers who are in contact with other Brothers.

As Brother Jono stated, get a list or set up a list server to contact Alums. Keep them informed of the situation and what the Zeta is doing. This is very important, Keep The Alums Updated and informed.

QUESTION, do you have the same house that was there many years ago? Brick and flat roofed? I was there many years ago and was treated very very well as a Brother along with my then wife.

Is this the one that the Un. owns?

At one time, LXA at U. Tenn. was a very strong and vibrant Zeta.

I know they ran into tough times adnd now is the time to really dig in and work like crazy, get Alums re-involved.

While as Brother Lenox said, Actives dont like Alums to nit pick, but ask Brother Lenox who was instrumental in getting Shippensburg into a new beautiful House. Our own LXA/GC Brother Lenox!

Ryan400z · #7 06-27-2004, 01:19 PM

Thank you Mr. Earp for the advice. Jono has been very helpful he has told me the same things you have which I have been researching. The brotherhood is still strong here but we need better relationships with our alumni, who really left the fold fifteen years ago for various reasons. Obviously, that is what we need to concentrate on first and that is what we are doing. We have a list of influential alumni that could help out and a list of all of our brothers that I hope will lend a hand.
Yes this is the same flat roofed house you saw when you were here in the past, what year did you come to UT? Yes the university owns the house which makes this situation so much harder because nationals cannot help out.
Another cool thing is I just signed up for GA yesterday I cannot wait for that I want to learn so much more about our fraternity and learn how to deal with different issues and so forth. Thank you once again for your advice and I will be in touch.

In ZAX,

Ryan Daley