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SIGMA TAU GAMMA – BETA IOTA ALUMNI CHAPTER
AMNESTY PROCESS
Amnesty Program Committee Members:
* Kevin "KJ" Jenkins, BI 447, qllpntgrpkwj@comcast.net, 301.262.9210 (h)
* Richard Saut, BI 527, Richard.Saut@Penske.com, 610.693.3143 (h)
Since the Beta Iota Chapter of Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity was established at California State Teachers College (now, University) in 1959, a small number of the over 800 brothers have been removed from the fraternity for various reasons. The process is generally described as a “blackball” and indicates a permanent removal from the fraternity and a removal of all rights afforded to Sigma Tau Gamma brothers.
Some of the most common infractions noted were nonpayment of national or local dues as required by the Sigma Tau Gamma Charter. Some infractions were violations of integrity, values, or character. In most cases, a vote of the Brotherhood at an official meeting decided the fate of the accused brother. There are cases however, where a brother may have been removed for unfair and/or unsubstantiated reasons. There have also been cases presented recently, where extenuating circumstances led to the “blackball” vote and removal from the fraternity.
There also seems to be evidence that during certain periods of Beta Iota, there were “local” brothers who joined, were given the benefits of Sigma Tau Gamma, but did not pay national dues. There were also periods of time where brothers were removed for not paying national dues. Records from most periods of time in the history of Beta Iota are largely unavailable. These two situations certainly present practices that were not standard, may have been discriminatory, and represent markedly different practices from markedly different eras of Beta Iota.
It has been suggested that in 2005, at a time when we are attempting to build the membership of the Alumni Chapter, that we should reconsider all “blackball” cases, through an Amnesty Process. The process includes an Identification Phase, Discovery Phase, Information Analysis Phase, and a Final Review Process, as follows:
• Former brothers “blackballed” from the fraternity may be identified on the Beta Iota Alumni spreadsheet.
• Former brothers “blackballed” from the fraternity may be identified by friends, pledge brothers, someone who knows the story and identifies this to a current Alumni Chapter member or to the Amnesty Committee.
• Amnesty Committee receives the referral and contact information - if it is not available or identified on the Beta Iota spreadsheet.
• Amnesty Committee utilizes search engines, and search software, where necessary, to obtain current phone numbers, addresses on the potential Amnesty Candidates if that information is not readily available.
• Amnesty Committee contacts the former brother who was “blackballed.”
• If former brother is interested in pursuing reinstatement, then proceed to the Discovery Phase.
• If former brother is not interested, hold contact information for a year. Contact at least one more time and repeat the offer; if after one year he is still not interested, note on Beta Iota Alumni spreadsheet and close case.
DISCOVERY PHASE
• Provide the potential Amnesty Candidate with reasons why Sigma Tau Gamma wants to reconnect with him. Provide recent events and future plans of Beta Iota Alumni Chapter. Welcome Amnesty Candidate to participate in the Amnesty Process.
• Obtain a recollection from the Amnesty Candidate of events or reasons that led to ouster/”blackball.” Note this on the Amnesty Committee worksheet.
• Amnesty Candidate is asked to provide 2–4 names of brothers that knew him well during college and any brothers that he still considers a friend.
• The Amnesty Committee attempts to contact referenced brothers to substantiate historical Beta Iota version as compared to the Amnesty Candidate’s recollection. If information is provided, move to the Information Analysis Phase.
INFORMATION ANALYSIS PHASE
• Amnesty Committee contacts referenced brothers regarding the Amnesty Candidate and circumstances of the ouster/”blackball.”
• Collect recollection of events, take notes and add to the Amnesty Candidates' file.
• If unable to contact the referenced brothers, contact the brothers from the preceding and following Pledge Classes. Notify the Amnesty Candidate of the alternate plan to gain information on his case.
• Once a collection of information has been accomplished, then the Amnesty Candidate’s recollection is reviewed as compared to the referenced brother's recollection by the Amnesty Committee.
• If both sides do not agree, then contact Amnesty Candidate for additional information – only one round permitted.
• If both sides largely agree, proceed to the Amnesty Committee Final Review Process.
FINAL REVIEW PROCESS
• If the recollection of the Amnesty Candidate and the referenced brothers are more in agreement than not, then move to the next step.
• Was ouster/”blackball” caused by non-payment of dues?
YES – Amnesty Candidate pays $100 to Sigma Tau Gamma Beta Iota, and Amnesty Committee recommends Reinstatement to Alumni Chapter officers.
• Did cause of ouster/”blackball” bring injury to a Sigma Tau Gamma brother?
NO - Decision Point: If Amnesty Candidate did not injure a brother or was not accused of non-payment of dues, then Amnesty Committee considers all evidence and attempts to determine actual cause of ouster/”blackball.” At this point, Amnesty Committee may recommend reinstatement based on strength of the information collected.
YES – Is injured brother(s) willing to forgive Amnesty Candidate?
*If the answer is YES – injured brother(s) concur and accepts apology of
Amnesty Candidate, then the Amnesty Committee will recommend Reinstatement to the Alumni Chapter officers.
*If the answer is NO – Amnesty Candidate is not recommended for Reinstatement to the Alumni Chapter officers.
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