There have been a lot of misconceptions about the current relationship between the Mu Epsilon chapter of Beta Theta Pi and the University, and the e-mail sent to students and parents on March 5 did not help matters.
The e-mail, written by Dean of Students Rick Culliton and Vice President for Student Affairs Dean Mike Whaley, described the University’s efforts to “resolve…behavioral issues and improve the relationship between the organization and Wesleyan.” The University withdrew recognition of Beta in June 2005, forcing it to become an off-campus institution, because Beta “failed to satisfy the requirements to remain in [the University’s] program housing system…and prohibited representatives from…Public Safety from addressing behavioral and/or safety concerns on their property.”
The administration’s decision to send the e-mail, as well as the e-mail’s tone, was strange for several reasons. Despite the fact that Beta refused to enter an affiliation agreement with the University just this past semester, most of us were unaware of any recent issues between Beta and the University, and so were surprised and confused by the news. In addition, the administration’s discussion of Beta’s dangerous atmosphere seemed defeatist, as if they are throwing their hands up in despair rather continuing to work towards reconciliation.
However, the administration raises two legitimate issues with Beta’s insistence on remaining an off-campus institution: student safety and the important role of on-campus housing in fostering community. The dramatic tone of the e-mail aside, the fact that public safety cannot assist students at Beta parties is a serious concern. Whatever Beta may say about the intrusiveness of PSafe, they are there to help protect and assist students—not to just get them in trouble.
Moreover, in its relationship with the wider campus community, Beta has shown itself to be especially uncooperative. In their defense, Beta emphasizes the freedom of undergraduates to live wherever they want and make independent choices. However, the University makes it very clear that all students are required to live on-campus unless there are special circumstances preventing them from doing so. All students who choose to attend Wesleyan are aware of this policy, and most appreciate the sense of community fostered by the practice. Thus, Beta shouldn’t be surprised that students will have difficulty living there if they insist on being an off-campus institution.
Clearly, the issues with the relationship between the University and Beta are fairly complicated, and so the administration should have expressed that complexity in its March 5 email. It is fine to explain to the Wesleyan community that public safety cannot help students at Beta, but talking about the danger of Beta abstractly is not helpful. In addition, leveraging parents’ fear of Beta against the frat is a questionable tactic that does little to advance reconciliation and seems like an attempt to undermine students’ independence.
If the University ever hopes to move past this disagreement, the administration should work harder to inform the community and work with Beta without resorting to fear tactics, and Beta must address the University’s safety concerns instead of continuing to be belligerently stubborn, and work towards contributing to the Wesleyan community rather than escaping it.
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