Kappa Alpha Creates Problem with Old South Parade

AKA celebration interrupted by Old South parade
Sorority alumnae ask for event to end By Amanda Peterson
Editor-in-chief

Members of a historically black sorority plan to ask UA President Robert Witt to cancel Kappa Alpha fraternity's Old South celebration. It comes after a parade of students in Confederate army uniforms stopped in front of the sorority's house during anniversary celebration on Saturday.

A number of UA members and alumnae of Alpha Kappa Alpha were shocked when the Old South parade, displaying Confederate flags and participants wearing Confederate uniforms, stopped in front of their sorority house during the course of the parade despite requests by the sorority to move.

And from the Tuscaloosa News

Larry Wiese, the fraternity’s executive director, said the national office “is investigating the reported actions of some members of the Alpha Beta Chapter at the University of Alabama this past weekend.”

“Such behavior, if true, would violate the code of conduct of our organization, and appropriate disciplinary action will be imposed when our investigation is completed,” Wiese said. “On behalf of Kappa Alpha members in Alabama and across the nation, I apologize for any inappropriate behavior.”

Lots of Talk - Any Action?

Houston, We Have a Problem . . .

There have been several comments on the S&P Blog of late that when you put them all together begin to paint a picture that might well warrant concern and attention. Here are a few quotations from those postings – see if they catch your eye:

In times of economic uncertainty, successful organizations return to their core business and delay any/all expansion plans including growth in staffing modules.

I have no idea what business model Craig is following, but it sure isn't the one that tilts toward success. He reminds me of a Democrat controlled Congress; spend more and continue to raise taxes.

And then
Absolute power corrupts absolutely...

It looks like the NBD (and the ED) have been operating without any checks and balances for some time now. Or at least just chose which checks and balances they would follow.

Class action lawsuit?

Followed by:
Any consideration for any punitive measures against the NBD or ED for purposefully ignoring its own (NBD) rules or the rules of the Grand Chapter? Censure? A vote of no confidence? Impeachment? A return of a certain amount of fees to local chapters?

Here is a very clear statement that needs to be followed:
The real issue is one of transparency. What may have been acceptable year's ago is not acceptable for businesses and non-profits alike in a post Sarbanes-Oxley environment.

There is a difference between customers and contributors, staff and volunteers.

Poor allocation of limited resources by requiring a staff to participate in a junket at donor expense is a mis-use of resources and should become a priority.

The NBD has historically held a pre-meeting at the next GC Conclave site and for good reasons --- to scope out the facility, and to do so at potentially lower over costs --- a wise use of resources.

I am very proud of my Fraternity, and happy to serve as one of its long-term volunteers. I have personally benefitted from the experience beyond measure. And we "get it right" 95% of the time across the board, far better than anyone else.

However, it saddens me when we fritter away our resources unnecessarily in a day when the dollar is hard to get and keep. Mark my words, it's going to be a bumpy ride worldwide economically for the next five years and those that spend unnecessarily now will live to regret their foolish ways.

There have been concerns about what is happening to senior staff members disappearing and suddenly retiring and then concern about costs of staff and an October staff meeting in Las Vegas:
The staff expense went from $765,000 in 2000 to $1,700, 122 in 2007. That’s the number. $59.22 in 2000 per member now $118.45 per member. A 101% increase!

So, reduced staff coverage by 11% by increasing cost 100%.....stellar results in a decreasing wage inflation environment, especially for a non-profit.

Isn’t another expense a PR firm on retainer? Need to use it.

The point was also made again about a massive decrease in marketshare.

Perception becomes reality
The staff meeting is a perception thing. We tell chapters to be careful not to host events that would make the fraternity look bad yet Craig sees nothing wrong with spending undergraduate fees to host a staff vacation in Vegas. The staff who are on the BOG should be paying their way to the party like everyone else. It is just wrong.

Grand chapter by-laws not allowed to get in the way of progress
Check the grand chapter bylaws....editor of the Journal is supposed to be a Brother. When is Gay-Lynn Carpenter being initiated? She clearly is listed as Editor in the publications and on the website.

And then there is the stuff about money and charges to chapters
The bylaws clearly state that the fees to chapters may not be raised unless a 2/3 vote of the GCC approves it.

Specifically, the Grand Chapter bylaws state:
Sigma Phi Epsilon Administrative Policies and Procedures
Section D
EXPENDITURES
9. The National Board of Directors may authorize expenditures from the funds of the Fraternity
for the general operation of the Fraternity, including the operation of the Headquarters, and
for such other purposes as are specifically provided for in the Bylaws and Administrative Policies and Procedures.

10. A two-thirds vote of the Grand Chapter shall be necessary on all questions involving the
expenditure of any funds of the Fraternity not specifically provided for in the Bylaws and
Administrative Policies and Procedures.

Grand Chapter Bylaws
Article II
Section 7. The Grand Chapter shall determine the sources of revenue to meet the expenses of the
Grand Chapter and shall fix the amount of fees as may be required.
Section 8. All fees except charter fees shall be approved by the Grand Chapter.

Conclave went from $500 to $675 this two year period.
According to minutes of the NBD and Conclave this was never approved . It was reported to the NBD but not in the minutes.

To review the way one commentator understood it:
The Sig Ep Foundation money is a grant to SPE inc. for an educational purpose.
HQ (by way of NLC) puts on the CLAs and bills the chapters an amount that should equate to the cost difference of producing CLAs.

However, the NLC changed the makeup and required attendees of CLA. This resulted in an extra cost which was NOT subsidized by the Foundation Grant.

To cover the additional cost NLC increased the fees charged to the chapters.
However the bylaws state that fee increases must be introduced and voted on by the Grand Chapter (at Conclaves)

So according to the bylaws: a) CLA fees cannot increase; b) the fraternity could shoulder the extra cost if the NBD directs; c) but the Grand Chapter would have to approve, by a 2/3rd vote, that expense.

And if they don't? Then what? Heads rolling down the aisles!!!

Is that about it?

CLA – Problems with cost and locations
According to Ron Binder, chairman of the NLC he seems to think that the NBD voted to raise the fee. The NBD liaison person OK'd the increase to the NLC. The change does not appear in the NBD minutes. Something like that would be more than a casual thing and would be on the record. It would have to be official and would then have to be reported to the Grand Chapter to be approved at Conclave after the fact.

It appears that the NBD has been doing this for years and ignoring the bylaws when it's convenient to them. We need more of the affected chapters to speak up and express their concern.

Can anyone recall if the when the past conclaves stopped ratifying the actions of the board since the previous Conclave? We have been operating in violation for some time, if that is so.

Location, location, location
If you draw a circle around the 5 cities they booked that is about 250 miles (5 hours drive) you see where the chapters who get screwed by the CLA Change.

Supposedly the staff ran the numbers to calculate that the average chapter only added 2 hours to their drive. One look at the maps and one can see long drives for many chapters.

Costs of CLA
The charge for chapters for CLA:

2005 - $175 (4 officers & CC)
2006 - $225 (4 officers & CC)
2007 - $350 (4 officers & CC)
2008 - $500 (5 officers & CC)

If the NLC keeps adding officers as they are planning to the CLA at this rate the small chapters will no longer afford to be SigEp chapters.

These costs are exclusive of the hidden costs of extra hotel rooms and transportation. While it's great to set a goal that chapters send all 7 officers we can't bankrupt our smaller chapters to support one program.

Will we be raising the $675 per year charge for the Grand Chapter Conclave in 2009?

One Commentator Stated:
We need to move the burden for these programs over to the Annual Fee or abandon our small chapters.

In the fall 2008 semester a young man in a 30 man chapter (40 men on the March PMR) will pay $199.17 to the Grand Chapter from his fall dues. If we keep increasing the chapter fixed costs the men in these chapters feel the pain more than the larger chapters.

It's getting more and more painful for our small chapters to meet the financial obligations to the Grand Chapter. Many of these chapters are at smaller state schools where many of the students are on financial aid and working to stay in school. When the fees go up these chapters have to either cut programming or increase their dues. Both of these options make it more difficult for them to grow their numbers.

I hope the National Board of Directors considers these things before we increase the tax burden to these kids.

The Much Expanded National Housing Corporation
The announcement of an additional employee for the NHC raised more than an eyebrow:
National Housing Corporation Fills New Volunteer Recruiter Position

Sigma Phi Epsilon is pleased to announce that Jessica Faison has joined the National Housing Corporation's staff as volunteer recruiter.

The National Housing Corporation created the new position to focus on recruiting to fill vacant volunteer positions for the 35 Alumni & Volunteer Corporation Boards that are targeted for housing fundraising programs over the next four years.

One writer commented:
Legally, the NHC needs to be such to protect the Fraternity. And if like the Ed Foundation they can support their revenue expenses, then okay. The problem is that they are using the chapter's money to operate and not being very prudent. From what I understand collections are way off, but that does not surprise me. RDs used to have to work to get chapters and AVCs to understand the importance of rent increases and full facilities...it now is at the NHC so falls under the 'not my job' function when in the field - when the conversations are most effective.

Another said
How many "non Brothers" are we going to employ at Headquarters? Could we not find a SigEp to be able to relate to volunteers?

It was learned long ago that staff is ineffective as a recruitment tool for volunteers. No one is interested in listening to a 22 year old.

Suggestion from several:
Someone should propose legislation requiring that the bylaws be amended that all full time jobs should be offered to members of the fraternity who have been initiated at least 1 year. An exception could be made for administrative positions. Should a qualified member of Sigma Phi Epsilon not be available then the NBD may grant an exception and it noted in the minutes.

Justification is that if we are truly graduating the best men out there we should be hiring from that same pool of men. Who best understands our business than our own members?

It certainly has been a busy few days with lots of concern. SigEp needs to pay attention to those who pay the bill - the undergraduate chapters and the volunteers. That would quickly return focus to the right source.

Paper: Skit featured student playing Obama in blackface

CNN reports that a student at North Dakota State U. appeared in blackface as Barack Obama during a sorority(Alpha Gamma Delta) sponsored "Mr. NDSU" skit presentation. Horrors! Call the PC police! (Does it matter that NDSU is 92% white so that might be the only way to have a portrayal of "a man of color"?)

North Dakota State University is investigating complaints about a campus skit in which a white student in blackface portrayed Barack Obama receiving a lap dance.

The same skit, part of a charity fundraiser held at a campus theater, also featured a depiction of cowboys having sex with each other, witnesses told The Forum newspaper, which first reported the backlash Friday.

"We're trying to find out the right approaches for accountability, but at the same time try to heal wounds that have occurred and allow the campus to move ahead," Janna Stoskopf, NDSU's dean of students, told The Associated Press on Friday.

In fact, the description of the skit makes it sound offensive on a number of levels. But one wonders what, precisely, is the reason it rises to the level of national attention?

Paper: Skit featured student playing Obama in blackface - CNN.com

Further: A link to the original student newspaper article. CNN did not see fit to include that link in their story.

You can't fix stupid

Well, as Forrest Gump said, "Life is just like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get." I am really surprised that there was actually any notice or concern about my recent post regarding my response requesting an Alumni Dinner ticket only (like I have been able to do before). Circumstances prevent me from getting there for the whole thing but I was willing to fly in late Friday, attend the Alumni Dinner, and then take the red eye back out. No such accommodations could be made according to our HQ drones whose fraternity history is younger than my newest set of underwear. I should have done like others in the past, just bring an old conclave badge and walk right in ... but no, I wanted to do the right thing and at least pay for what I was getting (unlike some other alumni I know). And, I am NOT one of those alums who is getting their expenses subsidized because they are this or that with regard to working with a chapter, etc., etc.

Actually this post is about two things: (1) one of the responses to my previous post regarding what a ripoff the hotel in Atlanta is and (2) conflict of interest and poor choice of locations for 2009.

With regard to Atlanta here's what a recent convention attendee had to say about the venue our experts have selected:

"Having just returned from a multi-day meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta from a 2,000 person convention --- be prepared for some sticker shock.

My hotel room was $150++ per night for the convention rate plus $14.50 per day for valet parking. My room service breakfast of 2 strips of bacon, 2 scrambled eggs, 2 pieces of wheat toast, 8 oz. orange juice, and hash browns (no grits in Atlanta?) ran me just under $30 including tip. My lobby area buffet lunch ran $20. A long-time friend hosted a reception for about 400 people. They charged him $5 for each canape consumed, $600 for a vegetable tray with two dips, and $1,000 for four hunks of cheese that were each the size of my fist. The cash bar included a glass of Coke (8 oz. including the ice) for $5.

The rooms themselves? Standard mid-upscale fare, but no mini-bar/snack availability. Nice beds. Hot bathroom water becomes questionable after 6:30 AM. Remember this hotel was built in the 1970's. Nice thick fluffy towels though oddly and lowly stored almost on the floor --- same as where the toilet paper holder resides ---- about four inches above the floor. Free coffee and coffee-maker in each room, along with a hair dryer, iron, ironing board, and a digitally programmed room temperature control.Wake up call? Very prompt. Just like clockwork. They'll even let you snooze and call you again in another ten minutes. A nice touch.

Elevators? Only six. They crowd easily. Forget taking one down to the ballroom level in the sub-basement or the Plan B ballrooms even further submerged. Take the escalators. Signage? One map right off of each escalator. It will help you find the breakout rooms which are either poorly marked or not marked at all (Hanover A - G) have no signs or are hidden when the door is open.

Banquets? The food was good, hot, and served promptly. I admit the plates looked skimpy on portions initially, but I was satisfied with each meal in quantity and quality when it was all done.

Concierge Service? Trust me, they were NOT wearing the Crossed Key emblem of a true Concierge. Their service was uneven, and understaffed. People in front of me were handed pre-printed maps and computerized directions. I was handed a torn piece of paper with a street address and a illegible phone number for my intended dining destination. Bell Staff? Invisible. At no point did anyone venture forth to ask me if I needed help with my three bags. No offer from the front desk either.

I also had a package that was sent to me for a presentation I was making that I know was sent special and arrived on-time at the hotel because of a tracking code. At no point was I called or the package delivered -- so I had to present without some of my support materials. Fortunately, I had 95% of what I needed already on-hand and "made do."

BTW, don't ask for a Pepsi. They look at you strangely and charge $2.50 for a 12 oz. bottle. If you do want one, ask for "Fred" and "Pretty Betty" in the lobby restaurant. I kid you not. It's a Coca-Cola city."

Now for our venue for 2009, the Golf Resort in Orlando. But first a few comments regarding being on a golf resort. First, who is going to lug clubs for maybe 1 round of golf, particularly when it is $150 minimum. If you rent clubs, it will be another expense. Oh, yes, I forget, we are only concerned about accommodations for the Board of Governors and beyond. Who cares about the lowly undergrads and the alums that care enough about the fraternity that they have to take out a short term loan to cover conclave expenses. Not everyone that actually cares about the fraternity (and actually makes it happen) are direct descendants of Daddy Warbucks. Oh, yeah, Graz, don't give us the line about cheap airline tickets - not everyone wants to fly a red eye or some other inconvenient flight. Well, let's look at what the every day traveler says about Rosen Shingle Creek ( which by the way, one of our alum contributors has a considerable interest in):

Hmm, This reviewer gave it a 1 out of 10: "It seemed to me that all these people at the Rosen Shingle Creek seem to care about are big corporate convention groups since there's a golf course there and they spend big tax deductible money in their restaurants entertaining each other. I felt I was sharing the lobby and pool area with Jackie Gleason and Ed Norton types at one of their cheesy raccoon lodge meetings TV scenes.

If you enjoy being treated like crap this is the place for you because the staff likes to play dumb when it comes to basic requests. On one day I was out all morning and when I returned about noon the room still wasn't done. Not enough cleaning staff I guess.

If you have pretty woman in your family or group like I did beware. I noticed some of those convention guys, wearing their stupid name tags, staring at the woman I was with as they walked by. I did not find this place family friendly at all. The legionaries can keep this place since I'll never go back. I would go somewhere else in Orlando; I couldn't wait to leave Rosen Shingle Creek."

This reviewer gave it a 3 out of 10: "If all you care about is how the hotel looks then Shingle Creek is perfect. We were very comfortable, and the sheets were probably a high thread count. The restaurant food was really good. Still, I'm surprised that for the amount we paid for the room (which was still a discounted price for a convention) there were so many things not included. No breakfast, no free parking, no free internet. I've been to hotels where you pay under $100 a night and get all these things included plus a free newspaper! What on earth was I paying for?

Another 1 out of 10:"you plan on staying at Shingle Creek, rent a car it will be well worth it as you are trapped, as this place is isolated. Meals are overpriced and the service is slow. They have high cab fares to get off-site. Put all expenses on your room or pay cash and don't run a tab. I closed all of my lounge tabs with cash and they were added to my bill. My room receipt did not match my credit card statement, as they charged me an extra night's stay on my credit card. Good luck finding anybody at the front desk with authority. I attended a convention at the resort, don't book the ballrooms for speakers as they are huge echo chambers and nobody will hear the speakers. Even if the rooms here were free, you couldn't afford to stay here."

Ooops an 8 out of 10, but they had a car: "I loved the Rosen, it was a beautiful hotel. The rooms were furnished very tastefully, and the grounds were perfectly manicured. We had a room overlooking the golf course, and it was perfect. I do admit though that we didn't have much interaction with the staff, other than the valets and the front desk staff. They were friendly and efficient. We didn't eat at the hotel either. We did get a good rate because they had a lot of empty rooms and would definitely stay there again at a discounted price."

And so it goes. Do the Google yourself, don't take my word for it. Of course this smacks of the Phoenix Conclave which was actually at very nice place other than there was no restaurants of worth on the property, you were trapped at then end of the world unless you had a rental car. Of course it was a dry heat, but 120 degrees is still hot - you wouldn't stick your head in an oven would you?

Why do we look for venues that pander to the wealthy or the inner circle. I thought our Fraternity's Goal was to be all inclusive. I guess we are PC at the front end but when it comes to an event that is a major celebration of our existence we strive to be the elitists we say we aren't.

Student Threats Not Being Taken Lightly

Georgia Grad Student Cited for Threats

The Frat Boy News daily campus police report for Thursday:

University of Georgia Doctors are evaluating a University of Georgia student after statements he made to a professor and a run-in with police in Athens.

This comes in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy. Campus police in Athens said that a UGA professor did the right thing -- calling them after hearing some disturbing comments from an MBA student.

"Those comments that were made were no overt threats, or direct threats to any one individual, group or staff, but they were in such a way that that person may be of risk to injuring himself of somebody else," said UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson.

Armed with a court order for a mental evaluation, police went to the apartment of Brandon Ginyard. They thought he wasn't home, but as the landlord let them in, they learned otherwise.

"As we identified ourselves and started to enter the apartment, my officers came in contact with the party in the rear bedroom. At that time, he brandished a firearm," Williamson said.

Ginyard, 27, now faces not only a mental evaluation, but two charges of aggravated assault against officers. Campus police have since sent out an e-mail to all faculty, staff and students, calling it simply a public safety matter.Police were able to talk Ginyard into putting down the weapon, but he still faces the related
charges.

A fraternity house the neighbors like

'We realize we're not on some island'

Freshman Greg Gold shaves his head during Sigma Phi Epsilon's fundraiser for Crohn's Disease reserch at the Johns Hopkins University's spring fair April 14.

This school year has not been a good one for some fraternities on the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.

Last fall, the Sigma Chi chapter drew national media and the attention of the Black Student Union after the fraternity threw an allegedly racist-themed "Halloween in the Hood" party.

Currently, Tuscany-Canterbury is fighting the return of a Phi Kappa Psi house, where police were called 37 times in 2 1/2 years.

But not all Hopkins fraternities are controversial. Take Sigma Phi Epsilon, whose house at 2900 Wyman Parkway is in good standing with its neighbors.

Owen Fuqua, 77, said he has lived at 2940 Wyman Parkway for 40 years, about as long as the frat house has been there.

"I enjoy having the students around," Fuqua said. "I like the college atmosphere. I'm sort of a perpetual student myself."

He said that noise levels aren't a problem in the neighborhood and that neighbors appreciate the frat helping them with community projects.

"They could be a little bit better housekeepers," he said, but added, "Our frat people have improved a lot since I've been here."

"I don't know that they're there," said another resident a few doors down who would not give his name.

According to Baltimore City Police spokesman detective Donnie Moses, police have not received any complaints about the house in the last 30 days.

The key to the frat's success is its sensitivity to its surroundings, the chapter's president, Alex King, said. King, who doesn't live in the house, said the biggest struggle is making sure that noise levels stay down during events and that trash doesn't accumulate.

King acknowledged that neighbors have complained about trash piling up at the house. He said frat brothers used a Habitat for Humanity trash container to get rid of the excess rubbish.

Sam Charlton, 21, past president of the fraternity and a resident of the house, said police stopped there once in 2 1/2 years because of a complaint about loud noise.

Although the house plays host to weekly meetings and events that can attract all 73 fraternity brothers, only 10 live there.

"We realize we're not on some island," King said.

Baltimore Messenger

Long Beach Sigma Pi Chapter Caught in Feud with Neighbors

Incident Provokes Concern Between Fraternity, Neighbors

An evening of green-beer debauchery has restarted a long time feud between the brothers of Sigma Pi at California State University, Long Beach and the neighborhood surrounding their fraternity house.

On the evening of St Patrick's day one of the Sigma Pi brothers broke a window at a nearby coffee shop. However, no charges were pressed because the brother reached a financial settlement with the shops proprietor.

Now neighbors are planning on calling a community meeting to bring up some of the issues they have with the fraternity. One of the communities concerns is the frat houses close proximity to a elementary school.

Anna Christensen, a resident of the area said “We want some dialogue.”

The fraternity's feud with the neighborhood goes back to at least 2002, when the frat was receiving a visit from the police 10 to 20 times a month at their neighbors request.

In the same year they were hit with an injunction from the Long Beach City prosecutor’s office. It stopped them from having parties, or events with more that 60 people at the house.

Long Beach has a history of clashes with fraternities. With no designated area for Greek housing, the houses are scattered amongst the surrounding neighborhoods. Phi Kappa Tau was hounded out of their house in 2002 after similar neighbor issues.

AEPi at UMass Question Police Tactics

UMass Frat Violated By Police
Frat To File Police Complaint

The Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at the University of Massachusetts believes their civil rights were violated when local police entered their house and arrested both their president and vice president last month.

Police responded to a noise complaint at their house on Saturday, Feb. 2, and came into the building without a search warrant and the only probable cause being too much noise.

"I'm just hanging out in my room with one person, and all of the sudden I hear all this commotion," said Jordan Finkelstein, a Alpha Epsilon Pi brother. "I open up my bedroom door and the police officer's standing in our house. She's standing right in front of my bedroom door, and she goes, 'Get the fu** outside.'"

The brothers were told to evacuate the house by police, who then arrested the frat's president and vice president for "unlawful noise."

"I had no clue what was going on," said Finkelstein. "You feel like you're completely helpless in your own house and you just feel like you can't do anything, and you're just completely pinned against the wall.

It just sucks when you get taken advantage of and bullied by people with power."The brothers plan to file a complaint with the local police department soon.