Even before the official announcement, many on campus had probably heard the big news: two fraternities, Zeta Beta Tau and Alpha Chi Rho, were losing their charters. On the heels of two New York Times articles, the University’s subsequent scrutiny of Greek organizations on campus, and the arrest of two fraternity presidents last month, surely this is proof that the school has found the scapegoats they were looking for — the public hangings that portend the end of Greek Life at Binghamton University.
Not so fast. While the timing of the two most recent incidents may appear to point in that direction, the facts tell a different story. First and foremost, Alpha Chi Rho, otherwise known as AXP, has not lost their charter; they are simply being investigated. The investigation stems from allegations of hazing leveled, not by a concerned parent or friend as has been the case in the past, but a “disgruntled, dissociated” former member of the fraternity. Whether the allegations are true or not, this is the University fulfilling its obligation to look into the reports; it’s not the case of an overzealous administration chasing geese.
The fact that the investigation of AXP was launched a mere day before ZBT’s dismissal from campus does, on its face, appear to be something of a two-pronged attack by the administration. ZBT’s loss of their charter, though, did not stem from hazing, parties or any other violation of campus or legal rules. Rather, they revoked their own charter — the ZBT national organization made the decision after its chapter here racked up debt totaling almost $20,000.
As with AXP, the circumstances leading up to their troubles were caused not by a University on a witch hunt, but by internal problems. In neither case was hazing the direct cause of the loss of a charter, nor do the cases seem to be linked in any way.
Whether this sets a precedent for disgruntled brothers in other fraternities, national organizations looking to reduce the liability their highly scrutinized chapter here must be, or an administration that will use this momentum to chase down other organizations remains to be seen.
For the time being, however, the two incidents appear to be isolated from each other and from any broader campus initiative. The administration, despite taking allegations of hazing more seriously, does not appear eager to vilify all of Greek Life. So, easy as it may be to jump to hyperbolic conclusions, we’re sticking with: hold your horses. At least for now.