University of Colorado Fraternities

FratAmerica · #1 01-30-2006, 01:07 PM

All,

Here's a link to a newspaper article about the situation at the University of Colorado. As many of you know, the interfraternity council decided to "go independent" and forgo its recognition by the school. The fraternity chapters' national organizations supported this move. This decision was made in response to demands made by the school (which the women's groups agreed to uphold).

All fraternities at the University of Colorado are currently independent.... a great experiment and one we should all be watching.

http://www.thecampuspress.com/news/2006/01/frats.php

Optimist Prime · #2 01-30-2006, 01:22 PM

Best of luck to them all!! I think its great. Sometimes the Alma Mater in question doesn't always know what's best for the students. Good for them, I hope we hear some updates soon.

DeltAlum · #3 01-30-2006, 01:35 PM

From the article link above:

NewsTHE CAMPUS PRESSThursday, January 26, 2006 8:37 AM
Spring recruitment for local fraternities to begin Sunday

Monica Banks
Staff Writer

"Things have become more expensive since the fraternities are no longer affiliated. For example, students involved in a fraternal organization must pay the fees as if they were not a student to use the university’s facilities for a Greek-related event. There is also a 500 percent increase of dues the members of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) must now pay."

One of the things folks don't think of when they consider university support or lack thereof.

FratAmerica · #4 01-30-2006, 03:06 PM

Costs of being an independent organization can increase, but it doesn't have to be that way.

In the case of Colorado, they decided to hire a full-time "Greek Advocate". This person is a former high school teacher and serves as a quasi-greek advisor. His salary and benefits were the primary reason for the cost increase. But, those increases were voted on and approved by the interfraternity council - so they obviously saw the benefit. (By the way, just the position title itself says a lot about what they're trying to do in Boulder... they need an Advocate, not a school official breathing down their necks and trying to control chapters.)

The other thing that the interfraternity council is running into in terms of costs is meeting space (renting rooms in the student union) and the higher cost of marketing for recruitment. But, again, this is a choice they've made. The most effective recruitment method is individual contact - not mass-marketing. At some point, they'll figure this out and then their costs will be reduced.

Finally, what is not included in this analysis is the non-accounting, but economic, costs and benefits. For example, how do you put a price on the fact that the fraternities and/or interfraternity council is no longer having to deal with ridiculous school imposed regulations, or mandatory school meetings, or the rest of that junk. (Wouldn't we all pay more to get out from under those requirements?!) Also, consider the alternative costs - the school's demands included a resident advisor for each chapter house and deferred rush... just think of those costs!

Again, if the guys in Boulder can make a go of it, it's going to be "Fraternities' Shot Heard Round the World". It will show schools that "partnerships" (i.e. recognition) needs to be a two-way street, with mutual benefits.

33girl · #5 01-30-2006, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
There is also a 500 percent increase of dues the members of the Interfraternity Council (IFC) must now pay.

Dues to the IFC, or dues to their national HQs? Or their local dues?

And as far as using uni facilities, for what? Can't they have meetings in their houses?

DeltAlum · #6 01-30-2006, 03:20 PM

On the other hand, many of the houses in Boulder have been out of control in the past. Our chapter there was closed for the third (and very likely final) time a few years ago due to alcohol, drugs and destruction of chapter property, and even the alumni of that chapter don't want to recolonize.

Nothing is ever a one way street, though. The university has been fighting the "party school" attitude for years, and at one time adopted a policy of "hands off" the Greek organizations in the hopes that if they gave us enough rope, we would hang ourselves.

That nearly happened, and when the Gordy Bailey death occurred last year, it appears the university realized that it could not duck liability lawsuits either way -- and that's when the new regulations were drafted.

In the end, though, the fact is that the IFC now has much higher costs to assume because of the break from the university. Of course, those are passed on to the individual members in the long run.

ETA

Following posted while I wrote the above:

"Dues to the IFC, or dues to their national HQs? Or their local dues?

And as far as using uni facilities, for what? Can't they have meetings in their houses?"

The IFC has higher expenses because of hiring the advocate mentioned above, and probably must rent space for rush and possibly IFC meetings -- although I don't know why the latter couldn't be moved from house to house for meetings. It's touch for a large IFC not to have space to store paperwork, etc. They could probably rent space in other than university buildings -- but there would probably be a higher cost doing that.

33girl · #7 01-30-2006, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
They could probably rent space in other than university buildings -- but there would probably be a higher cost doing that.

Or they could rent out a regular rental space, like normal (aka nonstudent) people do.

I guess it's because I'm accustomed to all our houses being off campus, and there not being a lot of $$ available period, but to me it's like second nature to go into the community at large to take care of things like that rather than always relying on the university.

Optimist Prime · #8 01-30-2006, 04:25 PM

I'd just like to say publicly in this forum that the NIC is completly useless and has failed at the ideals outlined at it's inception. Seriously, someone from that office should be down in Boulder helping out. And at Dartmouth. And Colgate.

Tom Earp · #9 01-30-2006, 05:55 PM

DeltAlum has some very valid points to be sure.

But, it seems that The Un. Of Co. has many more problems than just Greeks.

As far as Increasing Dues 500 %, I have no clue where that even came from?

Using School space for funtions, getting money from the Un.?

My Alma Mater gives money to many groups, but not Greeks. We do not depend on it at all. Meeting in School spaces, yes We did and why I do not know.

With Our New House gong into place, We will be with all Chapters of having space to meet within our Houses.

Does there need to be constraints on out of control People, not just including Greeks where does it come from if The College cannot do thier own supervision?

The Main point is for Both The Greek Community and The School to work together or not at all.

There seems to be a major problem at this Institution of "Learning".

exlurker · #10 02-01-2006, 04:45 PM

Hazing: Sigma Nu Suspends Some Members of U. of Colorado Chapter

http://www.coloradodaily.com/article...lder/news4.txt

A few excerpts from an article in the January 31 '06 Colorado Daily:

The Sigma Nu fraternity has suspended an unspecified number of members because of alleged hazing incidents that took place last semester, according to a letter written Sunday by an official of the fraternity's international office.

“The suspension action was taken following the confirmation of violations by individual members of the Fraternity's laws, policies and principles primarily related to the treatment of candidate (pledged) members of the chapter,” according to Brad Beacham, the executive director of Sigma Nu Fraternity, Inc. “Sigma Nu will not tolerate actions that defy the Fraternity's most basic values and principles.”

. . . “Depending on several factors, we may rebuild the chapter immediately, working with the candidate members and a small number of initiated members not involved in the violations,” wrote Beacham.

AngieWashU · #11 02-01-2006, 04:55 PM

The sororities complete a recruitment that is successful--at least successful in staying out of the news and then this. When will something go right for CU greeks?

Tom Earp · #12 02-01-2006, 05:09 PM

Maybe, just maybe, the Fraternitys will take on a greater amount of responsibilty for policing themselves.

If it is going to hit them in the pockect it will get some attenton We would hope.

What I wonder also, if the Center for Students is open to them, what keeps the GLOs from meeting there?

"China Shop and Bull or is it Bull and China Shop"?

I never understood about getting funding from Colleges for Greeks as We never got any funds as Chapters.