Sigma Phi Epsilon faced other problems.That's telling 'em, Ryan. "This Fraternity will be different". Where have I heard that before? You would think that after more than 100 years we could have figured out how to do it right the first time!
The fraternity's national office put the ASU chapter on probation after learning of allegations of hazing during a Fall 2000 chapter retreat, said Ryan Jacobsen, director of resource development for the organization.
While on probation, the fraternity held a party at its house when it was forbidden to do so, and also had a fight break out in the house parking lot on a different night, Jacobsen said.
He said his group would be committed to improving itself.
"We, unlike other national fraternities, will actually go out and do something," Jacobsen said.
Where was that 'difference' when the problems were first discovered, though? More to the point, why was the chapter not supervised more completely after the 2000 incident? Probation is not enough, once a chapter has shown they have a problem they should be set to higher standards and more rigorous requirements until they prove they are living up to expectations. It seems that too often HQ takes the easy way out by first a slap on the wrist and then, when problems inevitably recur, taking the draconian step of pulling the charter.
I know - "you can't carve rotten wood" and all that. The issue is having a program that prevents rot from taking hold in the first place. Wasn't that what the "BMP" was supposed to do? Seems to me that BMP chapters get into trouble as much as 'the other kind'.
It is time for a comprehensive re-examination of all the programs from "Nationals". Maybe the brotherhood should put them on "probation" if they can't come up with programs to serve all our members.
ASU Web Devil - ASU, fraternities try to mend fences - Tuesday, August 31, 2004
