It was announced on Wednesday, October 3 that one of Ball State University's oldest chapters, the Theta Chi fraternity, would be losing its national charter. The fraternity's headquarters, located in Carmel, Indiana, released a statement on Wednesday, stating that the revocation was due to "confirmed violations in Theta Chi policies", with no further explanation given. Members of the fraternity are to move out of the house on Riverside Avenue and find other living arrangements.
So, what exactly does this mean? Being a student, you hear different stories every day. This past June, a former Theta Chi brother filed a lawsuit against a fellow member after the brother was "struck" in the face, resulting in injuries. Just last school year, 12 of the 13 fraternities on campus were placed on a "social pause" due to unacceptable behavior. At the beginning of this fall semester, a girl had reported being raped by a Theta Chi brother. There are more and more fraternities being shut down all around the country for issues just like these, all the time.
People take sides, form opinions, draw their own conclusions, so you never really know what to believe. However, one thing seems to be made abundantly clear over and over again: there appears to be a lot more than formals and fundraisers going on behind the doors of Ball State University frats.
I don't know many women who haven't had some sort of uncomfortable/dangerous/cautious interaction with a frat boy. Whether it was a Tinder date who took "getting to know each other" a little too far, or a sweaty boy getting too confident with his hands while you're dancing together in a sticky frat basement. Everyone has their own story. Everyone knows someone this type of thing has affected.
My question is: when did Greek life go from a brotherhood of philanthropy, academics, and common goals, to sexual assaults, violence, drug abuse, and probations? I'm not saying all frats are bad, and I'm also not saying that these issues weren't relevant in the past. It's just an observation that people used to really revere Greek life and those who were involved with it. Over decades of tarnishing that image with rape cases and drug scandals, it's no wonder why so many American fraternities are where they are today.
Personally, I think it's a good thing Theta Chi was renounced. Obviously, if the university finds that it's in the best interest of the rest of the school, they're probably not far off. As I said before, I don't believe all fraternities are bad, and I absolutely don't believe all frat boys are bad. It's a shame that a few burnt cookies force you to throw out the whole batch. There were members of the Theta Chi chapter who had nothing to do with any of the past investigations. They joined a frat because they thought it would be a fun way to get involved and make friends in college. I'm sure they never expected the notoriety or the temporary homelessness.
I hope this revocation serves as a wakeup call to other fraternities, all across the country. Fraternities can, and are supposed to be a really good, positive experience for everyone involved. It's truly a shame that this is even an issue. Just be good people, do the right thing always, and don't be afraid to report something that needs to be spoken up about. If you see someone in need of help, be the person who makes a difference stands for those who can't stand themselves. Your university needs more people like that.
