Fraternity's future becomes shakier still

Time is running out on Acacia. The fraternity returned from recent probation with only two brothers, both of whom are seniors. If Acacia cannot recruit new members before the end of this school year then the fraternity will most likely lose its recognition status from the University, Matt Bixler, vice president of Acacia's local alumni group, said last night. For the second time this week, Acacia held an introductory meeting for upperclassmen interested in forming a new Acacia. No students attended the meeting last night, as was the case on Monday. "We haven't exactly decided what we're doing next," said Bixler. Andy Haut, secretary of the alumni group, admitted that a main factor which causes students to be wary of Acacia is the negative image associated with the fraternity since Acacia was placed on probation after a sexual harassment incident in 1991. "The chief liability is the name recognition is not good," he said. According to Bixler, alumni at the local and national levels will meet and decide whether the chapter will keep trying to find new members or give up its recognition status in the hopes of returning to the University in a couple of years. Bixler said the chapter would prefer to remain on campus rather than lose its recognition and wait to get it back. "We probably wouldn't be back for five years," he said. Bixler mentioned the case of Delta Tau Delta, a fraternity that resurfaced in the spring of 1992 after having been absent from the University since 1972. "The Delts had a fair amount of backing, he said. "Local alumni stuck together." But DTD still had to wait for about two years to be recognized by the University again after it reapplied for recognition status, Bixler said. Haut said he wonders if anyone is interested in starting their own fraternity from scratch. Pi Kappa Phi will attempt to organize an interest group to start a chapter at the University after the fall Interfraternity Council rush. Haut said if enough people join this new fraternity then it would definitely show that Acacia's image – and not lack of desire to form a new fraternity – is what is preventing students from joining Acacia. Regardless of what Acacia decides to do about its future at the University, the rest of the Greek system will be behind them, said Tricia Phaup, director of the office of fraternity and sorority affairs. "Whatever decision they make, we'll support them," Phaup said yesterday.