Beta Pi:
IS BETA PI
BLOG WITHOUT ANY REDEEMING SOCIAL OR ARTISTIC MERIT?:
YEA
. .
. . or
NAY?
Beta Pi
Blog’s purpose: to bring ATO, Beta Pi Chapter Brothers and ATO Gal-Pals
together.
The blog is not to be taken seriously - it is meant for fun.
The Beta Pi Blog is non-political. It includes
pictures,
links, Archives of previous issues,
and
other time-wasters.
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ACTIVE CHAPTER UPDATE:
I was
driving down West End this evening, and did a drive-by to look at the ATO
House. It looked abandoned.
So, I
wrote a note to Active Kevin “The Troll” Groll, who was very involved in
leading the Active Chapter after the infamous PC TORPEDO E-MAIL got them in hot
water.
My E-mail to Troll:
Kevin:
I drove by the ATO House this evening – about half hour ago – and although cars were parked in the back, the House itself looked pretty dead.
Could you update me? I have several questions.
Wynn Smiley told me that he worked out a compromise that basically said
– if the ATO’s behave, Vanderbilt might allow the Chapter to recruit new
pledges this Spring, and that Wynn Smiley would work with the younger group of
Actives to “build new leadership.”
Is any of that in the works?
Are any guys living in the House?
Who is taking care of the House? Who is House Manager?
Are Actives paying dues?
Has “The Vanderbilt University” wounded ATO mortally, or are we still
“alive?”
I’d like to write something in my blog to update my fellow “oldsters”.
Please let me know, we all want to see the ATO Active Chapter flourish.
VTL,
Larry Simons
Mr. Simons,
Excuse
the delayed response. We are currently on spring break and I am enjoying the
beach in Gulf Shores.
The
chapter is moving forward. We were able to hold elections as part of the
agreement between the National Fraternity and Vanderbilt. National has also
provided the assistance of Dave Westol, a highly reputable fraternity advisor,
to aid the rebuilding process.
No
one is currently living in the house, as we are not allowed on the premises. I
presume the people taking care of the house are the school maintenance people
that care for all Greek houses.
We
did not invoke due payments for this semester as the money is not needed.
However, most non senior members have committed to continuing payments come the
fall.
Finally,
the chapter is more than alive. We have been wounded, but have already begun
the growth process.
I
hope these updates help and feel free to pass them along to fellow
alumni.
L&R,
Kevin
Groll
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“THE DOUBLE
SECRET PROBATION / DE-GIFTING CAMPAIGN”
THE DE-GIFTING CAMPAIGN.
As long as Vanderbilt has the ATO Active Chapter on “Double Secret Probation” - our campaign to "communicate" our displeasure to Vanderbilt needs to continue. Vanderbilt needs to know that we have the backs of the Active Chapter.
Larry Simons
As you know, Beta Pi Blog is committed to keeping an eye on the DOUBLE SECRET
PROBATION assault by Vanderbilt Corporate PC yes-men.
A little
history . . . Vanderbilt SUSPENDED the
Active Chapter, because the Rush Chair sent a prurient e-mail, a satirical
piece that was aimed at potential recruits.
It was indeed foul. But let’s be real: it is the way college kids talk now;
and, it is very similar to the way WE talked back in the 70’s (back then, the
word “suck” was considered profane; compare that to today, the word “suck” is
part of everyday lexicon).
The BIG
DIFFERENCE is we had the sense not to put trash talk in writing (in
fairness we didn’t have e-mail, or social networking. Hell, the smallest computer we had filled up
an entire building). The point is, we
talked that way too, it was simply confined to the air. People heard us talking trash . . . we were
fond of saying “You suck!” But we didn’t
commit our profanities to writing.
The unfortunate
guy who wrote the e-mail, the Rush Chair, put a lot of silly trash talk into an e-mail, and sent it
to a lot of people. It naturally made
its way to Dean Bandass (and yes, that is the Right Honorable Dean’s REAL
name).
As was appropriate, the offending
fellow was ousted from ATO by the Active Chapter, and also by National. But that
wasn’t enough.
Vanderbilt conducted a kangaroo court, and brought up some previous infractions by the Chapter, namely providing alcohol to pledges. (to THINK, alcohol in college!)
So, the
“E-PORNO” was just the straw that broke the camel’s back. THAT is how the Actives got put on DOUBLE
SECRET PROBATION.Vanderbilt conducted a kangaroo court, and brought up some previous infractions by the Chapter, namely providing alcohol to pledges. (to THINK, alcohol in college!)
IT WAS NOT
FAIR, not when (the previous semester) another House on campus got caught with
cocaine, and GET THIS: they appealed
their suspension, AND WON. Needless to
say, I advised the Actives to appeal.
SO, in December,
Mike McCarty and I had discussions with Mr. Wynn Smiley, CEO of ATO National, regarding the Active
Chapter Suspension. The Actives chose
not to appeal the suspension. However,
in the run up to the appeal deadline, we pressured Mr. Smiley to renegotiate
with Dean Bandas, in an effort to turn around the suspension.
Wynn Smiley
worked out a compromise with Dean Bandas:
The Chapter remains suspended, with a chance to recruit a new Pledge
Class this Spring! This Spring 2014, ATO
National will be working with the Sophomores to reorganize new leadership, and
Mr. Smiley said if they can demonstrate “an ability to operate effectively” in
the eyes of Dean Bandas, then, the suspension might be lifted to allow them to recruit for a Spring Pledge Class
in 2014. That is WAY better than the flat suspension, which would have
meant NO new pledge class in 2014, period.
So, we will
continue to watch and learn.
THE DE-GIFTING CAMPAIGN.
As long as Vanderbilt has the ATO Active Chapter on “Double Secret Probation” - our campaign to "communicate" our displeasure to Vanderbilt needs to continue. Vanderbilt needs to know that we have the backs of the Active Chapter.
One conservative alum told me he thinks this campaign - encouraging guys not to give - is "harmful to the Institution." Sniff-sniff. Wow, I really want to give alot of thought to that! Ok, I'm done thinking. Here are the
Alums who have boldly committed to stop giving money to Vanderbilt:
Here is the updated list of supportive ATO
Alums. We SHALL be heard, SO SAY
JACK MUENCH
TIM CUSACK
JEFF OVERBY
CHET BREWER
JOHN HARTONG
MIKE McCARTY
PIERCE HODNETTE
GEORGE FORD
COREY CLARK
RICHARD NOONAN
MARK McGANN
KEITH SCHNEIDER
MARTY HEFLIN
FRANK BILLER
HERB LADLEY
VAN SAYLER
TOM LOVINGGOOD
J. NEAL CRENSHAW
CONRAD PETERSEN
RICK ZISKA
JEFF PEROUT
BOB SMOOT
CHARLY McGIBONY
TISON KEEL
TIM CUSACK
JEFF OVERBY
CHET BREWER
JOHN HARTONG
MIKE McCARTY
PIERCE HODNETTE
GEORGE FORD
COREY CLARK
RICHARD NOONAN
MARK McGANN
KEITH SCHNEIDER
MARTY HEFLIN
FRANK BILLER
HERB LADLEY
VAN SAYLER
TOM LOVINGGOOD
J. NEAL CRENSHAW
CONRAD PETERSEN
RICK ZISKA
JEFF PEROUT
BOB SMOOT
CHARLY McGIBONY
TISON KEEL
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BETA PI BLOG ROSTER STATS: As of
March 8, 2014, there are 37 Blog Website Members; there are 115 ATO’s on
the blog list, plus 16 ATO Gal-Pals. And,
there are 6 Brothers who do not have e-mail, led by J.D. Strickland who refuses
to get a computer.
VTL,
Larry Simons
