As the "Mother of Fraternities," Miami University has a long history with the Greek system. 2009-10 has seen many changes, with three fraternities returning to campus and three Greek organizations seeing their way out.
Delta Delta Delta (Tri-Delta), Sigma Nu and Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) did not return this fall and the road to regain recognition from Miami can be filled with obstacles.
Sigma Nu President RJ Whittington said he hopes to re-organize his suspended fraternity before graduating.
According to Whittington, the chapter is organizing a new philanthropy to present to the Miami's Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution (OESCR) and the Oxford community.
"We're hoping that it will show we are in fact trying to hold up a good standing with Miami University and the Greek community and that we actually want to support our national philanthropy," Whittington said. "Ultimately we are hoping that this will put some good light on our fraternity's chapter."
The chapter plans to accomplish this by hosting a "Freight-ernity House," a fraternity-style haunted house mapped out in the Sigma Nu residence, Whittington said.
The event will take place from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 28 to Oct. 30 at the Sigma Nu house on Tallawanda Avenue. The cost is $4 for adults, $2 for children.
Whittington explained his chapter settled on offering the scary treat since Sigma Nu was barred from its previous philanthropy event.
"Because we are off-campus and not registered, we aren't able to participate in the two philanthropies that we normally participate in," Whittington said. "This is something we can do on our own."
Whittington hopes to see involvement from everyone in Oxford, with proceeds going to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
"We are hoping to get a lot of community members to attend," Whittington said. "We are going spread the word and pass out flyers at Talawanda High School."
For the Delta Beta chapter of Tri-Delta, the road will be longer, said Delta Delta Delta Director of Chapter Services Jason Gomez. Gomez said at this time Tri-Delta cannot say with certainty they will be returning.
"If we would look into coming back, we would start conversations with the university in the next year (2010)," said Gomez.
Gomez said it is up to the board whether Tri-Delta's presence will resume on campus.
"There will be some continuing conversation with students and alumnae. Ultimately it's our board's decision," Gomez said. "We left on good terms."
Gomez was confident in the possibility of seeing Tri-Delta back on Miami's campus.
"We have a 98-year history at Miami and we very much value everyone who is a Tri-Delta at Miami," Gomez said. "I think it's the intention that Tri-Delta would come back."
April Robles, director of the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternal Life, said proceedings for Tri-Delta and Sigma Nu's university displacement are in the hands of the Office of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution (OESCR).
Susan Vaughn, director of Ethics and Student Conflict Resolution, said approval for university re-recognition is different for every organization.
"It depends on their sanctions," Vaughn said. "Whatever the sanction was, then they would have done that and we would have approved (for the organization to be recognized)."
Sigma Nu and Tri-Delta, sanctioned in spring 2009, will need to work to meet the requirements of their sanction letters.
According to press releases put out by OESCR, both chapters will not be recognized until they present a re-organization plan. Tri-Delta will need to complete an alcohol education program.
Robles said the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternal Life will not monitor the activities of the chapters.
"There isn't any monitoring on our office's behalf until they submit information to be re-organized by the university," Robles said.
Vaughn said OESCR would not regulate the organizations either.
"Both of those organizations are suspended so we are not dealing with them," Vaughn said.
Vaughn stated that many suspended organizations face declining membership due to graduating seniors and are forced to turn to national headquarters for help.
"A lot of students will graduate, so their national headquarters will work with the Cliff Alexander Office and then they'll put together the re-organization package," Vaughn said.
Whittington said Sigma Nu plans to highlight the "Freight-ernity House" event in its plan for reinstatement, which must be submitted by Dec. 31.
Robles said Miami did not close TKE.
"That was a decision based on alumni and membership," Roble said. "Right now it's up to the alumni on how they decide to proceed."
While alumni kept the doors of TKE closed, Sigma Nu's national headquarters keep the doors of their house open.
"They are not recognized (by the university), and they are by national headquarters," Robles said. "Their off-campus house is not anything we would decide on."
The chapter is allowed to reside in its house unless the city of Oxford states otherwise, according to Robles.
Kappa Sigma, Delta Chi and Phi Gamma Delta fraternities were all able to meet their individual requirements to regain recognition by the university, Robles said.
Once the brothers of Sigma Nu and sisters of Tri-Delta are recognized by the university the members will decide how to model themselves as a responsible group, according to Vaughn.
In the meantime, the brothers of Sigma Nu will plan and plot for their re-arrival to campus, in time for winter rush.
"During the past semester, we are doing the best we can, I feel like we've developed into stronger chapter and are looking forward to coming back in January," Whittington said.
