[19229] in APO-L
Data on revocations, presidents and APO
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Rock)
Sun Oct 4 14:13:49 1998
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 14:11:45 -0400
Reply-To: Chris Rock <rock@CITLINK.NET>
From: Chris Rock <rock@CITLINK.NET>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
Although there are many brothers here on APO-L, the majority are not.
Regardless of the amount of discussion that occurs on the list, it is
likely to be repeated on the convention floor in Minneapolis. Likely
because it is clear from posts made to the list already that someone will
make the motion for the revocation of Bill Clinton's membership in APO. On
that convention floor, out of all the thousands of brothers, the decision
will rest in the hands of the possible 700 chapter delegates, 18 board
members, and 10 regional alumni delegates. It is for the rest of the
brothers to make sure those brothers walk onto the convention floor armed
with as many facts as possible. It is in that spirit that this post is
made. This post may be redistributed as any brother sees necessary,
provided that it is kept INTACT. If additional information is added to it,
please make sure the additions are differentiated from the original post.
References are provided on all points. This was by no means an exhaustive
literature review. Only what was available via the internet and fraternity
publications is found below. For those wishing to do further research on
improper behavior in the White House, the present review indicated two
excellent books on the topic are White House Confidential by Jim Morris &
Greg Stebben and Sin: Moral Politics from the Puritans to the Clintons by
James Morone. You can also read a related article Dr. Morone wrote for the
Brown University paper at
<http://www.brown.edu/Administration/News_Bureau/Op-Eds/Morone3.html>
**Membership Revocations**
1996
"Upon recommendation of the Rho Chi Chapter, Gannon University, Erie
Pennsylvania, the 1996 National Convention revoked the Fraternity
Membership of George W. Bodmer for violation of the membership policies and
principles of Alpha Phi Omega, particularly those policies and principles
prohibiting hazing." -- T&T Winter-Spring 1997
"We removed the membership of a brother who, among other things, stole money
from his chapter, lied to his brothers (though I don't think that alone
would have convinced me to support the motion), and attacked his
ex-girlfriend, who was a brother in his chapter." -- Mark Allen Stratton,
voting delegate 1996 convention
"I believe the two people I've heard of being "dis"-brothered were involved
with a) an incident of repeated sexual assault against a fellow brother and
b) stealing of large amounts of chapter funds. I believe both were
prosecuted by the legal courts as well prior to their disbrothering. I
know one took place at Phoenix for sure..and the other maybe was at
Dallas." -- Kat Zibell
1994 - None
1992 - None
1990 - None
1988 - None
1986
"President Herbert presented a motion to the National Board of Directors
that Steven Dungee be expelled from membership in Alpha Phi Omega. After
discussion it was determined that adequate notice had been given Mr. Dungee
concerning his situation. He was not present at the National Convention to
present testimony and did not have anyone representing him to answer the
charges. The convention proceeded with its consideration and expelled
Steven Dungee from membership in Alpha Phi Omega." -- T&T Winter-Spring 1987
I believe this revocation related to the October 1985 "kidnapping" at Iota
Xi at Edinboro University which resulted in a member jumping a guardrail
and being severely injured after a long fall. The incident is described in
the article "Never Celebrate A Tragedy" by Jerry Schroeder in the Winter
1988 T&T. -- Chris Rock, delegate 1986 convention
1984 & earlier
Those with the appropriate collection of T&T's or memories, please feel
free to continue this history.
**Presidents, Adultery and Lying**
The following is a list of presidents since the founding of APO that have
been said to or have said themselves that they had an adulterous affair
while president. The woman's name that follows each president's name is
the woman to whom he was linked.
Warren G. Harding - Nan Britton
<http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/wgharding.html>
<http://www.ipl.org/ref/POTUS/name_b.html>
Franklin Delano Roosevelt - Lucy Mercer
<http://www.upapubs.com/guides/eroos.htm>
<http://www.arlington.net/news/doc/1047/1:BPAGE61/1:BPAGE61012398.html>
Dwight D. Eisenhower - Kay Summersby
<http://www.aspenonline.com/AspenTimes/dir/96/Jun/week4/stone.html>
<http://www.arlington.net/news/doc/1047/1:BPAGE61/1:BPAGE61012398.html>
John F. Kennedy - Blaze Starr <http://www.alexautographs.com/presidents2.htm>
Judith Exner
<http://www.arlington.net/news/doc/1047/1:BPAGE61/1:BPAGE61012398.html>
Lyndon B. Johnson - (Made numerous statements to press bragging about his
affairs but names are withheld because of his wife)
<http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9808/20/presidential.hankypanky.cnn/index.html>
<http://www.arlington.net/news/doc/1047/1:BPAGE61/1:BPAGE61012398.html>
Richard Nixon - Unnamed Cocktail waitress
<http://www.cnn.com/books/news/9808/20/presidential.hankypanky.cnn/index.html>
George Bush - Jennifer Fitzgerald
<http://www.arlington.net/news/doc/1047/1:BPAGE61/1:BPAGE61012398.html>
**Presidents with a tie to APO**
from Bob Barkhurst, National Archivist
Eisenhower - Honorary
Kennedy - Honorary & Pledge Class namesake 1961
Ford - Honorary
Bush - Honorary
Those are the data that exist on previous revocations of membership in APO,
on presidential adultery and lying, and on the relationship of the
presidents to APO.
With this knowledge in hand, the questions that need to be addressed when
the issue of revoking Brother Clinton's membership is raised on the
convention floor are:
Given the precedents set by previous membership revocations, are lying and
adultery in the White House appropriate grounds for membership revocation?
Is Brother Clinton's behavior outside the realm of normal behavior for a
president occupying the White House?
If Brother Clinton's membership is considered for revocation, should the
memberships of all presidents with similar behaviors while in office be
revoked?
A related issue which should also be considered: In the current search of
internet resources, only one, small, positive article was found which
associated Brother Clinton with Alpha Phi Omega
<http://www.davisenterprise.com/NEWS/16guests.html>
