Discipline Within the Chapter by Deb Eakins, ΚΚΨ Northeast District Governor
H
ow do you react when disciplinary issues arise within your chapter?
Unfortunately, within organizations such as ours things happen that we would rather not think about. It would be great if no chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi ever had to deal with disciplinary issues, but occasionally the need arises. Your Sponsor/Director of Bands should ALWAYS be apprised of situations that involve possible disciplinary action on the chapter level. The brother should also be informed in writing of the potential disciplinary action and given an opportunity to address the issue.
“It would be great if no chapter of “Kappa Kappa Psi ever had to deal “with disciplinary issues, but “occasionally the need arises.” Consider the following: Is it necessary or appropriate to take disciplinary action when a brother does not attend meetings and required events, when a brother’s behavior is not appropriate for a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, when a brother embezzles money from the chapter, when a brother treats membership candidates in ways that may be considered hazing, or when a brother fails to carry out his/her obligations of office? When considering disciplinary action for a brother, chapters must think in terms of just cause. What is just cause? Just cause is a term that indicates that there is justification for applying disciplinary action. It is not “just ‘cause we want to” punish someone. Just cause is about being fair, not only to the accused, but to the fraternity and all of its members. As a guiding principle, no disciplinary action should come as a surprise to a brother. Rather it should be the result of unacceptable action for which there has been a forewarning of consequences. Is there a constitutional or ritualistic rationale? Is it behavior (i.e., theft) that is considered reasonable outside of our organization? Keep in mind that there are four levels of discipline ac-
30—The PODIUM, Spring 2000
cording to the Kappa Kappa Psi National Constitution: 1. Probation 2. Removal from office if one is held 3. Suspension 4. Expulsion Following is a seven-rule test for determining whether “just cause” exists for disciplinary action. When a chapter is faced with disciplinary action the chapter must, in consultation with the sponsor, ask themselves the following: 1. Was the brother forewarned of the consequences of his/her actions? 2. Are the rules reasonably related to chapter efficiency and performance that a chapter might expect from a brother? 3. Has effort been made before discipline to determine whether the brother is “guilty as charged?” 4. Has the investigation been conducted fairly and objectively? 5. Has substantial evidence of the brother’s misconduct been obtained? 6. Have rules been applied fairly and without discrimination? 7. Is the degree of discipline reasonably related to the seriousness of the brother’s offense and past record? The degree to which you can answer “yes” to each of the above is the measure ofthe propriety of the disciplinary action. All seven answers should be “yes” in order to proceed with disciplinary action. Should the brother be put on probation with specific terms of the probation? Should he/she be put on suspension with specific terms to be met? Should he/she be removed from office? Or should they be expelled from the brotherhood? Expulsion is a serious action taken by a chapter and should not be undertaken lightly. Your chapter sponsor should always be aware of any disciplinary action the chapter is about to take and may be required by your institution to be involved when such action occurs. Finally, before applying disciplinary action a chapter should consult its institution’s student affairs handbook or other procedures for disciplinary action on that campus as well as the Kappa Kappa Psi national constitution.
