Faternities

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

I just got an email from the alumni president of our fraternity with an explanation of the frat situation. This is rubbish!! The college is judging frats on a system called compass. It takes into account several factors. Despite the fact that our house is close to or at the all college average in GPA and above the all male average we get 0 out 40 points which puts us on the marginal catagory.
The biggest outrage is that the all male average is 25-40 points below women. WHAT's going on here??? If it were the reverse we'd have a government investigation. This bloated overpaid administration can't take the time to do some serious analysis tells me there is an agenda a work.

Franks Tanks · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 532

TheTruth · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 485

Franks Tanks: don't forget Fiji is supposed to be dry....this was mandated by the national. I don't think 3 guys drinking beer in the fraternity warrants kicking them off campus even if it is against the franternites rules. I'd be interested in hearing if there were other violations over the past year or so to warrant this action. there must be more to the story...I hope. I do know there is an anti-fraternity sentiment in the faculty and now the administration.

Lafalum: did they explain what goes into this "compass" rating system? It must be something new. It's hard for me to believe that a fraternity would score "0" points if the process was properly explained and communicated.

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843

It is a whole list of things too long to post here but I understand that D'Orio ( the asst dean in charge of Housing) gave the greeks one week to review the scoring system in March. In our case the undergrad responsible for submitting the report never submitted it and we were scored 0. The school made no effort to contact our alumni board and to this day refused to meet with us and any alumni representative of the greek system. IF filled out we might have been at least satisfactory and maybe even excellent.

But it all points to slopiness in the Dean's office which is more agenda driven than with any desire to find out the truth. Unfortunately true in many aspects of student life management by this admistration and BOT.

Franks Tanks · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 532

TheTruth · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 485

So it's the argument that if something bad happens, then it's individuals that did it. If something good happens, it's about brotherhood and togethernes.

Would the Fiji national be willing to reprimand and discipline these 3 individuals? And since it has happened on two other occasions, it's considered trend. So shouldn't the entire house suffer for not abiding by the rules?

I'm playing devil's advocate Frank's Tanks. I do believe the rules are set up for the fraternities to fail. I do believe the faculty and now administration wants to get rid of fraternities. I just wish Weiss and the BOT would have the guts to come out and make the decision instead of these BS tactics.

In Lafalum's case, if the undergrads did not submit a plan, all Annette had to do is send an e-mail to the alumni representative and say, "the undergraduates of XYZ fraternity did not submit the necessary report and will recieve a zero and rated as "marginal". Please contact me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss." In fact, Annette can use what I jsut wrote if she likes.

Communication, communication, communication. it really is this simple.

Franks Tanks · Joined: 23 Mar 2007 Posts: 532

The Maroon · Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 459 Location: Bethlehem, PA

I can't remember why, but I found myself doing surveys of alumni at some point in school. One of the questions was what was enjoyed most about the "Lafayette Experience" and the overwhelming majority of responses were things related to being in a fraternity. I know some people that skip their class reunions but never miss a fraternity reunion. I was independant and some could even argue "anti Greek" as a student---but there was no getting around the loyalty the alums felt toward the school.

I have to believe this will have a long-term negative affect on giving.
_________________
I bleed Maroon

TheTruth · Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 485

Franks tank: I agree this is a pretty minor infraction to kick a fraternity off campus. I remember the days when you could walk across campus with a cup of beer and wave hello to security. I think that level of drinking was dangerous and out of control, what's going on now is just as bad.

I have seen and experienced first hand, colleges that have embraced the Greek system and made it an asset to the campus culture. you still have issues (and you always will with 18-22 year olds) but it is under control and the rules are spelled out.

maroon: You won't see it in the overall dollar amounts because we have so many alumni and parents capable and willing to write big checks to the school. Where you see it is in the number of donors to the College. It has continually dropped. More importanlty, this issue with fraternities affects the classes in the late 70's to mid 90's. These classes are nearing their peak earning years with the older classes finishing with sending their kids to college. There is a huge disconnect with this era of alumni that the college, if it continues operating with this veil of secrecy, will not reach. I had a long conversation with an alumni who graduated in 1980. He refuses to give to the College because he doesn't recognize Lafayette anymore. It is an issue.

Lafalum · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 843