Marty Haskell 68’ President, Theta Chapter House Corporation
A lot has happened at Theta Chapter since I wrote my last article in Theta Data (A Step Back Then Move Forward). The undergraduates completed eight of 10 corrective steps called for in the suspension letter. The two remaining steps by their nature require more time. They are scheduled for completion at the beginning of this school year.
The chapter went to convention in mid-August well prepared for their review with excellent documentation of their accomplishment and plan. Brother Eric Eickhoff ’00 made an excellent presentation of the chapter’s work and President Matt Doman ’ 00 pled for the chapter’s progress. Brother and district chief Jon Bolek ’88 supported the chapter’s report and recommended raising the chapter’s status from suspension to probation.
The review panel of five active undergraduate chapter presidents saw things differently and recommended to the convention that Theta Chapter’s status be lowered to “Reorganization”. The review panel apparently felt that the chapter disciplinary actions for the incidents leading to the suspension where inadequate, that the chapter had not sufficiently viewed their gravity, and that the chapter was not sufficiently facing its internal problems.
The vote of convention accepted the recommendation. Consequently, two weeks before the start of the school years, we were given a new set of marching orders.
Our scheduled active-alumni retreat took on new meaning and purpose. The day before its start, Brother Dick DeVos ’54 and I (with new chapter adviser Tony Pedela observing) interviewed each member and explained the rules for the chapter during reorganization. As a result, eight members elected to go on undergraduate alumni status, move out of the house and avoided further contact with the chapter while they are undergraduate. This left 21 members (12 seniors, 4 juniors and 5 sophomores) who accepted the challenge to maintain a dry house, conduct dry rush and raise the standard of conduct required to be a Beta at Ohio Wesleyan University. It had always been the contention of the chapter’s leadership that a few were bringing discredit to the whole.
Our interview process supported that belief .
The following days, the 21 remaining brothers, Tony Pedela, several general fraternity advisers and I enjoyed and were challenged by a very well-run retreat at Camp Joy Outdoor Education Center near Fort Ancient, Ohio. Our retreat included teamwork activities, a high ropes course and other individual and team challenges. Our facilitator had him self been a chapter officer of his fraternity when it was reorganized. Our chapter had a very positive experience, came away with a new appreciation of each other and a much improved understanding of communication, teamwork and commitment. All that remains is for them to surmount the challenges placed before them.
We are alumni are there to guide and support them, but it is up to the undergraduates to take Theta Chapter to the next level. I am confident that they will. The continued understanding and support of our alumni remain essential in this rebuilding process.
Marty Haskell ’68
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