[11603] in APO-L
Re: Responding to some ?'s on...
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Elliot Echlov)
Tue Feb 28 21:04:14 1995
Date: Tue, 28 Feb 1995 21:03:17 -0500
Reply-To: CFKnights@AOL.COM
From: Elliot Echlov <CFKnights@AOL.COM>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L%PURCCVM.BITNET@mitvma.mit.edu>
Whew! For the most part Monica, very well said! However, I think the point
Jumpy was trying to make was that on a national basis, the ties of the "Big
9" seem to be stronger than that of APO. You cite some excellent examples of
individual chapters who do indeed have strong bonds with other chapters, and
I am proud to be part of the same fraternity as these (and all other)
brothers. However, how strong is the national bond when less than half of
our fraternities chapters remain active? How strong is the bond when our
original chapter hasn't been active for years? I'm not looking for answers
to these questions...just trying to serve food for thought. I do believe the
bonds are stronger than Jumpy portrays them (I hope you agree with me Jumpy),
for the simple fact that 99 and 44/100 percent of APO brothers are brothers
mainly because of what the fraternity stands for.
One point I do take exception to that Jumpy made regarded the 900,000+
members of the "Big 9". Since the average would be around 100,000 members
per fraternity, that makes the average Big 9 fraternity membership roughly
43% the size of APO's membership. I would think that the larger the size of
the group, the less cohesive it naturally tends to be.
Where APO may be "weaker" is that most, if not all, social fraternities and
sororities have certain requirements (i.e. dues, attendance at events, and
even service, among others) that if not met, can cause a brother or sister to
have his/her membership revoked. I have never known an APO chapter to do
that. How active a brother is depends entirely upon that brother. If s/he
falls 10 hours short of a service requirement, we don't vote them out...we
encourage them to do better the next time. Does this apparent laxness weaken
the bonds of brotherhood? Watch and see what happens the next time a brother
who hasn't been active for a while comes to a chapter meeting. I'll
guarantee that brother is treated with the same level of respect and
friendship as any other brother in the room. To me, there is no stronger
bond.
YiLF&S
Elliot Echlov
Advisor - Iota Mu Chapter
