Fraternity Lawsuits against Colgate University
Free Association for Everyone but DKE
Stalinist Russia and the Nanny-state in Hamilton
Coercive Land Grab Portends End of Greek Life
Colgate Views Involved Parents as a Problem
Practical Advice for Fraternities In Free Speech Battles on Campus
Expectations for Fraternity and Sorority members
An Execution in Stalinist Russia:
By Sean Devlin
3/3/05
sfitzmichaeld@msn.com
A distinguished old man is brought out from his home onto a broad expanse
and placed on his knees. In front of him are 13 men, holding 13 rifles,
loaded with 13 bullets aimed at his chest. Lieutenant Zolotoi (1) approaches
the distinguished old man and asks ever-so-politely, “You
will transfer your property to me or you will die?” The
distinguished old man draws his stare up to Lieutenant Zolotoi’s
wan eyes. Between those sickly eyes protruded a fleshy misshapen purplish-red
nose. This grotesque nose seemed to tumble into a crooked yellow smile
interrupted by a consistent licking of his bright red chops. Disgusted,
the distinguished old man peered beyond Lieutenant Zolotoi’s obese
torso at the 13 men, holding their 13 rifles, loaded with their 13 bullets.
He found more comfort staring down the barrels of the 13 rifles than looking
at Lieutenant Zolotoi’s revolting figure. The old distinguished
man pleaded, “Sir, my property has been in my family for
almost 150 years now. I cannot sell it. You may lease the property from
me.” Lieutenant Zolotoi’s face grew as red as his
nose and he scoffed, “You insolent peasant! How dare you
presume to determine what I may and may not do! Ready! Aim! Fire!”
13 shots rang out simultaneously through the surrounding valleys and hills
and the body of the old man slumped to the ground. A lake of warm maroon
blood flowed freely from his chest into the surrounding snow.
This is not a description of an execution in Stalinist Russia. This is happening in Hamilton, New York.
On Colgate’s website the question is posed, “Are fraternities and sororities being asked to transfer ownership or will it be mandated?” The reply is as follows, “Fraternities and sororities are being asked to transfer ownership of their houses voluntarily, but the transfer has not been mandated.”
I should go over some definitions that are pertinent to the question posed above. A mandate is an authoritative command or instruction. To ask is to require or call for as a price or condition. “John asks to buy Mike’s house for $500,000,” as apposed to “King John mandates that Mike sell his house for $500,000.” These are two fundamentally different scenarios.
In the first scenario, Mike is in a position to freely decide to sell his house. True, Mike might be short on money right now and it seems like a great deal, however he has always wanted his kids to own the house they grew up in. Mike chooses to reject John’s offer and the two men part amicably.
The second scenario is drawn from a different well, and one that I find to taste quite bitter. King John, attempting to act in a benevolent manner towards his subject due to some recent peasant uprisings, stoops so low as to offer to buy Mike’s house instead of simply killing Mike and seizing his property as was done in the past. If Mike does not sell his house, as mandated by King John, he will be forcibly removed from his home and executed. Mike is presented with two choices; sell or die.
The board of trustees and administration are mincing words
that read more like the speech of a dirty politician rather than a group
of men and women interested in forwarding the mission of an institution
purporting to “develop wise, thoughtful, critical thinkers.”
It is clear the university is mandating the sale of the fraternity
and sorority properties. They have issued a command from a position of
authority. Fraternities and sororities are offered two choices; sell or
die.
Has Colgate offered the university’s oldest and most distinguished
a cappella group, the Colgate 13, the same deal as fraternities and sororities
for their property on College Street? Has Colgate asked the Colgate
13, “Sell us your house or else never sing again?” The university
has made it clear through their dealings with the fraternity and sorority
organizations that they believe they are entitled to do so. They
have the power to mandate it and the audacity to call it asking.
If fraternities and sororities choose not to sell, they will die by two
means simultaneously. Both are described here in the university’s
own words, “Organizations that choose to retain ownership
of their houses may not house Colgate students after the 2004-05 academic
year and will no longer be recognized by the university.”
The first condition that is described is a financial death. The
organizations cannot maintain their properties without students occupying
them and providing income. The second condition that is described is a
death by lack of membership. Without recognition by the
university, students who join organizations that choose to retain ownership,
and are therefore no longer recognized by the university, risk expulsion.
It is hard to perpetuate an organization that does not have any members.
An organization that does not have any members is a dead organization.
I hold dear objections to both of these conditions. Concerning the first
condition, the university allows 250 students to live off campus.
Why can’t these 250 students choose to live in properties owned
by fraternity and sorority organizations? These organizations own private
property zoned for student housing. Why not allow these 250 students the
most options for off campus housing? This clearly appears to be a monopolistic
action by the university that hurts Greek alumni corporations in favor
of certain owners of downtown rental properties.
Concerning the second condition, the university has no place telling
students what organizations they may join. Will administrators
soon be telling every black male at Colgate who has joined a fraternity
at Syracuse that they must renounce their membership or risk expulsion?
This is a real issue that I believe the university would have a hard time
handling. Students should exercise their First Amendment right of freedom
of assembly as protected by the Constitution. Colgate University accepts
government funds and is subject to the laws of this land.
If you wish to start an organization; start it. Don’t let some administrator
tell you what your organization should be so that it fits some politically
correct mold that enhances their vision of what Colgate should
be. In fact, do not tell any administrator about your organization. You
are much better off not having to deal with their programs that only serve
to fatten their resumes. Do it because you believe in it.
Why is Colgate’s administration growing due to the new Vision? Shouldn’t
it get smaller? It is my understanding that students should be doing more
and the administration less. And yet, today, we find more programming
by administrators than ever before.
Be a Colgate scholar. Be an adult. Do it yourself. Be a leader. The Board
of Trustees and administration are drowning this great Colgate tradition
in the murky waters of Taylor Lake.
(1) Zolotoi is Russian and translates into the English
word golden
Sean Fitzmichael Devlin