The University chapter of Theta Chi closed its doors last Monday after being on an extended probation period because the members of the house failed to meet University standards to remain part of the Greek Community. Live-in members must now find alternative housing before winter term begins.
All University endorsed fraternities must maintain certain standards and criteria to remain affiliated with the University, said Geoff Palachuk, the Interfraternity Council President. The standards include strong academic performance, healthy living, community service and philanthropy.
The local chapter was on probation for several years for “behaviors that reflected poorly on both the organization and the actions of individual members,” according to an announcement distributed to the Greek community last Monday.
After the probation period, the decision to disaffiliate the chapter came from the University administration, Theta Chi International Headquarters, and local alumni of the on-campus Theta Chi chapter, according to the announcement.
Palachuk said the Theta Chi organization could still operate without being affiliated with the University, but the local chapter chose to shut the house completely down.
The actual property is owned by a board of Theta Chi alumni, said Peter Swindells, the vice president of the local Theta Chi chapter.
Swindells and the other house leaders now are actively working with the University, Theta Chi International Headquarters and the local alumni to get the house re-opened. Then, they will begin the process of re-joining the University Greek Life as an affiliated fraternity.
Swindells is not sure how long this process will take. But Palachuk said it generally takes fraternities about four years after being disaffiliated to get to the point where they can become a part of the Greek community again.
The Greek announcement stated that the Interfraternity Council would “work to provide opportunities where Theta Chi could successfully return at a time that is healthy for them to do so if they choose.”
Swindells said in the mean time, he and all the live-in members must find other housing.
“A good portion of the (live-in) members might not be able to come back (to the University) if they can’t find housing,” Swindells said.
Theta Chi had more than 80 members before it was closed down, Swindells said.
Swindells declined to comment on why the fraternity was on probation.
“It’s kind of a big mess,” he said.
Palachuk said he does not know the details of the probation. He said that about one fraternity generally closes down each year, but it is very uncommon for a house to be on a probation that lasts several years.
“It’s a roll-over process as the organizations have their ups and downs,” Palachuk said.
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