ith Deep Regret
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ERC
By a recent action taken by the Trustees of Davidson College, all fraternities occupying houses on the campus must accept the condition that "After a possible initial period of random selection, (by the non affiliated student) affiliation with the groups occupying the houses will be based on the choice of the individual rather than on invitation from the groups." Our Supreme Law required that "Election to membership by an undergraduate chapter shall be held by secret ballot." The Davidson Administration did give fraternities four options : 1. The fraternities might accept the college's plan, keep their charters, and remain in their houses. This is the option desired by Epsilon Chapter upon unanimous vote of the membership. Please note also that this option is in direct conflict with the Supreme Law.s of the Fraternity.
2. The fraternities might accept the college plan, lose their charters, but remain in their houses as locals. This was adopted by four of the 12 fraternities at Davidson, with four others se.. lecting ''1" above - a course leading to option 1 and 2 becoming the same. It is understood that one national fraternity could operate under its national laws within this option. S. The fraternities might refuse the college plan, keep their charters, and leave their houses on Patterson Court (college owned lodges). This approach was recommended to the Chapter by the National Office with offer of direct financial support and with support of local alumni. Four fraternities have chosen this approach. One having selected option "2'' now reported to be considering changing to this approach. 4. The fraternities might elect to cease operations, leaving their houses vacant. This would result in the total dissolvernent of the chapter concerned. The chapter would be operating in
8/THE STAR AND LAMP
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selection of option above. The National can cil cannot change the Supreme Law ;11°rs all it knowingly allow a chapter to oper~teh ~s ill 1 active chapter in good standing wh1c violation of a specific Supreme Law.
The National Council, therefore, had three op· tions: •
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1. Allow Epsilon Chapter to operate 1n known lation of the Supreme Law.
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2. Suspend the charter.
3. Revoke the charter. 27, the National Council voted to .suspend thehc?a stJS· 19 of Epsilon Chapter effective immediately. T pension is to remain in effect until: d ge 1. The Supreme Law of Pi Kappa Phi is ~ha~f B in such a way as to allow the initiation upoll member based upon his selection of. or t 11Jl his assignment to Pi Kappa Phi w1thoU f pi 0 election to membership by the chapter Kappa Phi.
EpsiJoil 2. Existing undergraduate members of under Chapter decide to change and operate option "3".
de' 3. Other undergraduates of Davidson Co~Ie~!ppll sire to operate under the name of Pt tbe Phi and within option "3" set forth bY college.
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no further possibility of operation at a and the charter is revoked. 1 The National Council regrets that Davtdsondu~te
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lege has taken this action, and the undergr~se of
members did not want to follow the one cou inti!!' action which would have guaranteed the cont 'fbe tion of Pi Kappa Phi's fifth oldest chapter. eceS' combination of these two decisions has made n sary this action.
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