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As you are by now aware, Beta Theta Pi has had its charter revoked and is no longer recognized by Pepperdine as a fraternity. We made the mistake of assuming that a restaurant setting and measures taken beforehand would ensure that all attendees followed Pepperdine sanctioned rush rules. Reports indicate that a number of students witnessed alcohol being consumed at the event and these reports are the evidence supporting the revocation of our charter.
Though the chapter acknowledges not enforcing the rules enough, it is imperative that you know the event was not designed to violate rush rules, nor was alcohol provided by members of the fraternity to potential new members at any point during the event.
Unfortunately, it seems that in this specific case, the disciplinary history of Beta on campus had more to do with our removal than did the event in question. However, since being suspended in the spring of 2005, we raised our status progressively by completing a rigorous set of University approved directives.
For example, after winning Homecoming in the spring of 2006, we captured our second consecutive “Most Improved Chapter” award, voted on by our fellow Greeks. Our suspension was upgraded to probation in the fall of 2006 and 2007 brought our third consecutive Homecoming victory, capped by another “Most Improved Chapter” award.
We capped the semester with the successful completion of our first ever philanthropy on campus. During this time the chapter did not have a single violation of student organizations policy. Pepperdine responded by raising our chapter status in the spring of 2007 from probation to “good.” This marked the first time Beta had “good” status at Pepperdine in the tenure of any active member.
The chapter deserved disciplinary action for our lapse in judgment to be sure. Not the revocation of our charter, however. Beta’s removal should be alarming to any member of any student group on campus, Greek or otherwise, because it appears that due process was not followed in the rendering of our “sentence.”
Without a single photograph or piece of hard evidence, the charter of a recognized organization on “good” status was revoked. We were already gone when we received the notification of our hearing, the actual judicial process simply gave us hope when we realistically had no reason to be optimistic. We were honest and sincere at our final hearing. We admitted having made a mistake. We were met with appreciation from the members of the Student Organizations Judicial Board (SOJB) who were present, and our chapter leaders feel that we responded to the allegations against us with dignity and class.
Why do we even have status classifications for student groups if they have no effect on the rendering of disciplinary action? If past history is to be a source of biased judgment, chapters realistically are considered good at the beginning of their tenure, and with each successive violation, possibly years apart, are regarded as progressively worse. How can we say this? Our last violation resulting in disciplinary action by Pepperdine before this recent event was in the spring of 2005. Yes, 2005 — more than two years ago.
We have been working ever since to change how the University and our peers saw us; as gentlemen instead of jerks, as active participants in campus life instead of perennial no-shows, and more importantly, men you can depend on, trust, and respect.
To a large extent we accomplished those goals. We are proud that other Greeks wanted to have events with us and even assisted in our philanthropy. We want to thank all of you for your support and friendship through the years. To our brother fraternities, we wish you the best of luck and success as you further your chapters. Greek sisters, thank you for your warmth and friendship, but most importantly for giving us a second chance when we needed it most. We will miss being a part of the Greek community. We were good people and we still are.
It is our hope that other organizations use our experience for growth in your chapters, and that our fellow students and administrators take a critical look at the framework of the student organizations judicial system. None of us are perfect and neither is the system by which we are measured. However, we as students have the ability to better, not only ourselves, but also the system of which we are apart.
We respect the decision of the SOJB, and appreciate and respect the criticism and support of the individuals comprising it. In the future, we hope that Beta Theta Pi can return to campus amid a thriving Greek culture, working in unison with the University to enrich student life on campus.
On behalf of the brothers of Beta Theta Pi, it has been an honor and a privilege to be your friends and brothers. We hope you are honored to have been ours.
Submitted 11-01-2007
MALIBU, CA
