Chi Psi has been an organization that has prided itself on being run by its undergraduate brothers. Chi Psi brothers, Chi Psi Nationals, and the Alumni organization have worked together over the years to address a variety of issues involved in running the house and the chapter. However, over the past two years, Chi Psi Nationals and the Alumni Organization have not worked with or communicated with the brothers. Instead of being a resource to the fraternity, they have acted as policemen, making unilateral decisions, and generally not consulted with the brothers, nor been willing to have a two-way conversation about the structure of our chapter. The proposed restructuring is another example of how the Nationals and Alumni Organization have refused to discuss changes with the current brothers. As undergraduate brothers and recent alumni, we request that you treat us as you would expect to be treated. We request that you have a discussion about how the structure of Chi Psi Alpha Epsilon can be put back in the hands of the undergraduate brothers. The brothers will work with Nationals and Alumni, who will provide guidance and serve as consultants in the running of our chapter.As undergraduate and recent alumni, we demand that structure of Chi Psi Alpha Epsilon be put back into the hands of the undergraduate brothers. Something else here.....Please Sign this petition to put Chi Psi back into the hands of the current brothers.
Updates
March 31, 2016
I really never thought this would gain this much steam but here we are and it is honestly wild to see so many people getting behind the brothers on this. It feels like the tide is finally turning because people are seeing that the current way things are being handled just does not make any sense for the future of the house.
8 Comments
Would somebody be able to post the proposal? It sounds like the current undergraduate brotherhood is facing a lot of the same or similar issues that we faced a decade ago, but I would like to understand better.
I stand by every last word Brother Macknzie has said. The Lodge will never see a brother under the age of 35 again, nor will it see our money. The local alumni hide their intentions under the guise of preserving tradition, when in reality they are killing it. Everyone knows it's an oligarchy of a few brothers, whom I'm ashamed to call brothers, that run the lodge like an investment property, making money any way possible. They're trying to get guaranteed tenants by having students sign 3 year leases and then pushing the meal plan and performing "property management" to get their cut. I'm not entirely sure how they are entitled to more of a say in any decisions related to the Lodge than younger alumni. After all, we spent our years at Michigan as brothers of chi psi same as they did.
Chi Psi Ever
Having seen the proposal, or vision, for the future for the first time today, it is truly hard to imagine a more misguided attempt to forge a way forward for Chi Psi. Essentially, it seems like those that now find themselves tasked with being in charge are trying to recreate the fraternity as they wish it had been. One of the main benefits of joining such an organization as an undergraduate is having the ability to run it. There will always be ups and downs with such a method, but that is exactly the point -- students can learn from the successes and failures of the organization that they can then apply to the experiences in their own lives going forward. The proposal seems to be intended to inject parental figures (whether it be the local corporation or the national organization) into every part of the fraternity life. While it may be well-intended, it is also incredibly short sighted. The Lodge has never been, and never will be a perfect place for anyone. But that is the beauty of it. While a member, one must deal with all sorts of different people, all with different goals and strengths, and get them all to buy-in to the same cause. Those who are seeking to implement the new policy would do well to ask themselves whether they would have had such a positive experience, or even joined Chi Psi in the first place, had such measures been in place at the time they were in college. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many wondered, with the proliferation of information sharing, how the greek community could survive given that negative incidents were bound to happen. Few would have predicted that the fall of such a great opportunity that an organization like Chi Psi represents would come from that organizations own ranks. Hopefully, it is not too late for the rulemakers to reconsider their actions. Dave Kaplan, Epsilon class of 2003.
Absolutely pathetic how little nationals/corp care about the undergraduate experience as a Chi Psi in 2016. A lot has changed since 1845 and other antiquated "glory days" that our alumni so desperately want to relive vicariously through a bunch of social misfits like they were back in the day. Unfortunately, with the recruitment of kids that have given Chi Psi the highest GPA in all of Greek Life, nearly all actives holding meaningful leadership positions throughout the university, and our fraternity being held in high regard within IFC at UofM, the creation of too many lifelong friendships too easily severed their poor little kindred hearts. Too many good times were being had between brothers. Too many times being sociable enough to have women wanting to come over to hang out and not enough instances of throwing glass bottles at Beta and rho etas occurring. As the many successful businessmen that are AE alums would know, if your business can't adjust to change, your business is subject to failure. Well, case and point. I'm glad they will be able to see such a great and thriving fraternity of 170 years, the true backbone of Chi Psi nationally, eliminated under their watch and because of their direct actions. - Nathan Crockett AE '16
To the Corporation: Take all of the money in dues, rent, fees, and nickle and diming you have collected and buy yourselves a nice little cottage down by the stadium where you can smoke your cigars, and drink your whiskey sours, and blast your classical jazz. We understand that you have fond memories of your time in college. Many of us have the same feelings. What we do not understand is why you feel the need to choke the life out of the current brotherhood, who are guilty of nothing but acting like every other kid on campus, as some sick sacrifice to your archaic idea of what a party should be. I hope Nationals is prepared to pay the property taxes, maintenance, and upkeep for the building for the foreseeable future. Under these policies you will have fewer than 10 live-ins. If you want to continue the ideals and values that were a part of the fraternity when you were here you need to be a positive influence on the organization, Not Tyrants. Times change, the lodge will never go back to the days of the 50's and 60's with servants and tuxedo'ed dinners. You need to adapt or you will become extinct. Brother Wilen and Brother McKenzie have my full endorsement for their sentiments as well, I was under the impression the old tactics were on the decline with Brother Williams and Brother Wydra joining the local corporation but it seems the ugly spectre has re-appeared. I am sorry to the current brotherhood who, like many of the recent brothers, have had their undergraduate experience marred by the cynicism of these out of touch alumni.
Alpha Epsilon Alumni May 2014 Whoever decided to move the fraternity without consulting the current brothers deserves to be thrown out of Chi Psi, I don't care if he is the new national president of the fraternity. Alpha E. has a good reputation and a good group of guys. If you do this, you will completely alienate any alumni from Alpha E under the age of 35 from ever wanting to associate with the fraternity. The Lodge will die because the rules are unrealistic. No one is going to live in for 3 years, that is absurd. The one Football Saturday that I get to make it back for each year will be ruined by a bunch of people who don't even go to the lodge anymore. It should be a place of fun and a time for brothers to make some questionable decisions, LIKE WE ALL DID, in a safe environment with friendly people. I will talk anyone out of this because you will effectively be making my favorite place in college irrelevant for the rest of my life
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Chi Psi has been an organization that has prided itself on being run by its undergraduate brothers. Chi Psi brothers, Chi Psi Nationals, and the Alumni organization have worked together over the years to address a variety of issues involved in running the house and the chapter. However, over the past two years, Chi Psi Nationals and the Alumni Organization have not worked with or communicated with the brothers. Instead of being a resource to the fraternity, they have acted as policemen, making unilateral decisions, and generally not consulted with the brothers, nor been willing to have a two-way conversation about the structure of our chapter. The proposed restructuring is another example of how the Nationals and Alumni Organization have refused to discuss changes with the current brothers. As undergraduate brothers and recent alumni, we request that you treat us as you would expect to be treated. We request that you have a discussion about how the structure of Chi Psi Alpha Epsilon can be put back in the hands of the undergraduate brothers. The brothers will work with Nationals and Alumni, who will provide guidance and serve as consultants in the running of our chapter.As undergraduate and recent alumni, we demand that structure of Chi Psi Alpha Epsilon be put back into the hands of the undergraduate brothers. Something else here.....Please Sign this petition to put Chi Psi back into the hands of the current brothers.
Updates
March 31, 2016
I really never thought this would gain this much steam but here we are and it is honestly wild to see so many people getting behind the brothers on this. It feels like the tide is finally turning because people are seeing that the current way things are being handled just does not make any sense for the future of the house.
8 Comments
This is ridiculous. The house belongs to the undergrads and it always has. Nationals is completely out of touch with what the chapter actually needs right now.
Would somebody be able to post the proposal? It sounds like the current undergraduate brotherhood is facing a lot of the same or similar issues that we faced a decade ago, but I would like to understand better.
I stand by every last word Brother Macknzie has said. The Lodge will never see a brother under the age of 35 again, nor will it see our money. The local alumni hide their intentions under the guise of preserving tradition, when in reality they are killing it. Everyone knows it's an oligarchy of a few brothers, whom I'm ashamed to call brothers, that run the lodge like an investment property, making money any way possible. They're trying to get guaranteed tenants by having students sign 3 year leases and then pushing the meal plan and performing "property management" to get their cut. I'm not entirely sure how they are entitled to more of a say in any decisions related to the Lodge than younger alumni. After all, we spent our years at Michigan as brothers of chi psi same as they did.
Chi Psi Ever
Having seen the proposal, or vision, for the future for the first time today, it is truly hard to imagine a more misguided attempt to forge a way forward for Chi Psi. Essentially, it seems like those that now find themselves tasked with being in charge are trying to recreate the fraternity as they wish it had been. One of the main benefits of joining such an organization as an undergraduate is having the ability to run it. There will always be ups and downs with such a method, but that is exactly the point -- students can learn from the successes and failures of the organization that they can then apply to the experiences in their own lives going forward. The proposal seems to be intended to inject parental figures (whether it be the local corporation or the national organization) into every part of the fraternity life. While it may be well-intended, it is also incredibly short sighted. The Lodge has never been, and never will be a perfect place for anyone. But that is the beauty of it. While a member, one must deal with all sorts of different people, all with different goals and strengths, and get them all to buy-in to the same cause. Those who are seeking to implement the new policy would do well to ask themselves whether they would have had such a positive experience, or even joined Chi Psi in the first place, had such measures been in place at the time they were in college. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, many wondered, with the proliferation of information sharing, how the greek community could survive given that negative incidents were bound to happen. Few would have predicted that the fall of such a great opportunity that an organization like Chi Psi represents would come from that organizations own ranks. Hopefully, it is not too late for the rulemakers to reconsider their actions. Dave Kaplan, Epsilon class of 2003.
Absolutely pathetic how little nationals/corp care about the undergraduate experience as a Chi Psi in 2016. A lot has changed since 1845 and other antiquated "glory days" that our alumni so desperately want to relive vicariously through a bunch of social misfits like they were back in the day. Unfortunately, with the recruitment of kids that have given Chi Psi the highest GPA in all of Greek Life, nearly all actives holding meaningful leadership positions throughout the university, and our fraternity being held in high regard within IFC at UofM, the creation of too many lifelong friendships too easily severed their poor little kindred hearts. Too many good times were being had between brothers. Too many times being sociable enough to have women wanting to come over to hang out and not enough instances of throwing glass bottles at Beta and rho etas occurring. As the many successful businessmen that are AE alums would know, if your business can't adjust to change, your business is subject to failure. Well, case and point. I'm glad they will be able to see such a great and thriving fraternity of 170 years, the true backbone of Chi Psi nationally, eliminated under their watch and because of their direct actions. - Nathan Crockett AE '16
To the Corporation: Take all of the money in dues, rent, fees, and nickle and diming you have collected and buy yourselves a nice little cottage down by the stadium where you can smoke your cigars, and drink your whiskey sours, and blast your classical jazz. We understand that you have fond memories of your time in college. Many of us have the same feelings. What we do not understand is why you feel the need to choke the life out of the current brotherhood, who are guilty of nothing but acting like every other kid on campus, as some sick sacrifice to your archaic idea of what a party should be. I hope Nationals is prepared to pay the property taxes, maintenance, and upkeep for the building for the foreseeable future. Under these policies you will have fewer than 10 live-ins. If you want to continue the ideals and values that were a part of the fraternity when you were here you need to be a positive influence on the organization, Not Tyrants. Times change, the lodge will never go back to the days of the 50's and 60's with servants and tuxedo'ed dinners. You need to adapt or you will become extinct. Brother Wilen and Brother McKenzie have my full endorsement for their sentiments as well, I was under the impression the old tactics were on the decline with Brother Williams and Brother Wydra joining the local corporation but it seems the ugly spectre has re-appeared. I am sorry to the current brotherhood who, like many of the recent brothers, have had their undergraduate experience marred by the cynicism of these out of touch alumni.
Alpha Epsilon Alumni May 2014 Whoever decided to move the fraternity without consulting the current brothers deserves to be thrown out of Chi Psi, I don't care if he is the new national president of the fraternity. Alpha E. has a good reputation and a good group of guys. If you do this, you will completely alienate any alumni from Alpha E under the age of 35 from ever wanting to associate with the fraternity. The Lodge will die because the rules are unrealistic. No one is going to live in for 3 years, that is absurd. The one Football Saturday that I get to make it back for each year will be ruined by a bunch of people who don't even go to the lodge anymore. It should be a place of fun and a time for brothers to make some questionable decisions, LIKE WE ALL DID, in a safe environment with friendly people. I will talk anyone out of this because you will effectively be making my favorite place in college irrelevant for the rest of my life
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This is ridiculous. The house belongs to the undergrads and it always has. Nationals is completely out of touch with what the chapter actually needs right now.