DARKENING
OF THE HALL On December 28, General Secretary David Schmidt, South Florida ’92, announced the closure of the Fraternity’s treasured Beta Lambda Chapter at Vanderbilt University. Schmidt’s letter to Betas and parents included the following excerpts: DARKENING OF THE HALL
“Unfortunately, while many individual undergraduate members have excelled in their own collegiate pursuits, risk management concerns and a deep sense of entitlement have continued to exist within the chapter’s culture which are incongruent with the values of Beta Theta Pi and Vanderbilt University.
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
10 THE BETA THETA PI
Beta Lambda Chapter Nashville, Tennessee Chapter Motto: A grim crest Founded: Feb. 23, 1884 Lifetime Initiates: 2,311
Recent examples of the chapter’s disregard for safety occurred during its spring 2015 “Farm Party,” which included kegs, allegations of cocaine use and deception by the undergraduate leadership during the university’s investigation. The chapter’s laissez-faire attitude gave rise to similar alcohol violations and repeated drug-use allegations during the university’s homecoming in late October. Even in the midst of an alumni-led reorganization this past August, including the hiring of a professional chapter development consultant (a technique implemented by other Beta chapters undergoing culture re-alignment processes), the chapter again had multiple risk management violations during their one sanctioned event of the semester in December. Surprisingly, instead of working with the university and General Fraternity to find identifiable solutions aimed at remedying Beta Lambda’s issues and, thus, work toward a more sustainable future, the men met on December 11 and voted to disband rather than hold the brothers responsible for the ongoing behavioral problems. To quote one of the member’s social media posts that included a picture of the chapter in front of the chapter house with hands raised and middle fingers prominently positioned, “We’ll go down like the band in Titanic; well-dressed, affluent, and on our own terms.” As a result of the chapter’s conduct, the Fraternity’s Board of Trustees and Vanderbilt’s administration have concluded that – in keeping with our commitment to the core mission of both institutions – a period of closure of the Beta Lambda Chapter is, indeed, the most appropriate course of action.”
The General Fraternity and Vanderbilt University have agreed to an initial period of suspension and disbandment of the chapter through the spring of 2018, at a minimum. The chapter’s re-establishment will begin at a mutually agreeable time frame sometime thereafter.