More than 200 Hillsdale College students and alumni signed a petition this week to save Delta Sigma Phi’s house.
On Sunday, Delt Sig alumni launched the petition online, to gain support for the fraternity’s chapter.
“We felt the need to spread the word to obtain support so quickly … because all of us were left in the dark about it,” said Jason Stomps ’10, a Delt Sig alumni and founder of the site www.SaveTheDSPHouse.com.
Many alumni have criticized the college administration for last week’s decision to take away the Tau chapter’s house.
“The decision to turn the house into a dorm was made by the administration and two hand-picked members of the alumni board — the entire board wasn’t even made aware of it,” Stomps said.
“The decision was just handed down to us,” said Chapter Advisor Al Seder ’75. “We really had no say in it.”
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen announced last Tuesday that the college was closing the fraternity house at the end of this semester due to continued alcohol policy violations that were in conflict with national fraternity restric- tions. The action was intended to help build up the chapter, not tear it down, Petersen said.
“We are removing the distractions and problems of the chapter house while the men regroup and refocus on their fraternity’s purposes,” Petersen said.
The 36-member strong fraternity has been on campus for 97 years, and lived in the house for 34 years.
Alumni said the administration’s action seemed harsh, given the chapter’s improvement in the last decade.
“The bottom line: the punishment doesn’t fit the crime,” Stomps said. “Not in the least bit.”
Seder called the decision “disingenuous” and “unfair,” pointing to the chapter’s recent record particularly in the areas of grade point average and philanthropy.
“They’re doing a whole lot more than they’re getting credit for,” Seder said.
Instead, Seder said many of the administration’s criticisms of the chapter were unfounded, from a billing problem that started as a mix-up in paperwork, to an inconsistent administrative drinking policy.
“Nationals told us, we’re not as concerned with drinking in rooms, it’s the parties, the big picture we’re worried about,” Seder said. “And the dean has often told us in the past, ‘We know you guys are moist, just be careful.’”
Representatives from the national fraternity will come to Hillsdale next week to do a chapter review. Seder said that usually means 85 percent of a chapter’s members are cut.
“They told us on the phone it would be down to eight to 10 guys,” Seder said.
Another campus fraternity, Alpha Tau Omega experienced a similar treatment several years ago, after fraternity and campus violations. Their house was not taken away, but their charter was also in jeopardy.
Seder said the dean’s decision seemed unfair, especially in comparison with ATO.
“They let the ATOs stay in the house. At least treat us the same way,” he said.
Associate Professor of Biology Anthony Swinehart, DSP’s faculty adviser, said the tension between administration and alumni is part of the “growing pains” of campus policy changes toward Greek houses.
“One of the main issues here is the relatively quickly changing expectations for fraternity life, which for the upperclassmen has probably seemed to be a moving target,” Swinehart said.
Swinehart said that in the four years he served as the fraternity’s adviser, he saw improve- ments in ritual, commitment, and philanthropy that were “like night and day.”
“Five years ago, there would have been additional issues, including lack of adherence to fraternity rituals, lack of proper organization of pledge education, far greater disrespect for the house and alcohol policy, etc.,” he said. “But these are issues which I think the fraternity has made great gains in improving, including the issue of alcohol in the house.”
Swinehart highlighted the chapter’s recent record in philanthropy as an example — last semester the house raised a record amount — $1,152 — for a local teen center through its annual Haunted House event.
Petersen said he appreciated DSP alumni’s frustration and concern.
“We look to the alumni and the national fraternity to help the men of Tau chapter become an exemplary fraternity according to the mission and principles of the college and the national fraternity.”
The active members of the chapter declined to comment.
Stomps said the petition and the website accompanying it are not intended to send the administration a message.
“While it might be nice to present a list of hundreds upon hundreds of supporters, I’m not confident that it will mean much to the Hillsdale College administration, although it is my hope,” he said.
Meanwhile, Swinehart said active members spent Saturday deep-cleaning and repainting the house.
“It has unified most of the membership and inspired them to take the high road and work hard to earn back their privileges,” he said.
“I have been proud of how they have responded,” Swinehart said.
Seder said the alumni have also rallied around the chapter.
“They’ve showed what brotherhood is all about,” Seder said.