Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Property owner of 135 McCall St. is asking a Waukesha County Circuit Court judge to reverse the decision of the Board of Zoning Appeals that states the property no longer has fraternity status.
The property owner of the building that housed the suspended Beta Pi Epsilon fraternity has filed a lawsuit against the City of Waukesha Board of Zoning Appeals after the board ruled the 135 McCall St. property no longer met the definition for a fraternity home. The owner, Thomas Higbee, was visibly angry with Carroll University administration, police, city staff and the board following the decision in early January. Higbee is now seeking a reversal of the decision that would prevent him from allowing more than three unrelated people live in the building. The lawsuit filed Monday in Waukesha County Circuit Court also seeks the costs of the lawsuit to be transferred to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Higbee is arguing in the lawsuit that the …
43.0057
-88.22505
135 McCall St, Waukesha, WI
/articles/beta-house-controversy-leads-to-lawsuit-against-city-board
/locations/8750857
Monday, January 7, 2013
Beta Pi Epsilon was suspended by Carroll University in April and their house no longer meets Waukesha's definition of a fraternity home.
Members of a former Carroll University fraternity that was suspended indefinitely may soon have to seek alternative housing. The city's Board of Zoning Appeals on Monday unanimously upheld a Waukesha building inspector’s decision that the home at 135 McCall St. no longer qualifies as a fraternity because the Beta Pi Epsilon fraternity is not recognized as an official, chartered organization. Under the city’s ordinances, no more than three unrelated people can live together in the same residence. Fraternities that are directly affiliated with a college or university are given an exception. But in April 2012, Beta Pi Epsilon was no longer recognized as a fraternity. The fraternity was suspended for a variety of reasons, including the …
43.0057
-88.22505
135 McCall St, Waukesha, WI
/articles/beta-house-loses-fraternity-designation-from-city
/locations/8547401
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Beta Pi Epsilon was suspended by Carroll University, but the owner of their home is fighting a decision by the city that states his property is no longer considered a fraternity house.
After Carroll University suspended a century-old fraternity, citing “disruptive behavior,” the owner of the fraternity’s house is left with a building that the city says violates the city’s codes. The house at 135 McCall St. was deemed to no longer meet the city’s definition of a “fraternity house.” The owner, Thomas Higbee, is fighting that decision with the Board of Zoning Appeals. Higbee’s appeal will be heard at 4 p.m. Jan. 7 at City Hall, room 207. Waukesha’s ordinances state that no more than three unrelated people can share a residence. However, there are exceptions to allow for rooming houses and fraternities. The house was home to dozens of Beta Pi Epsilon fraternity brothers. The fraternity was suspended for a variety of reasons…
Friday, April 27, 2012
Beta Pi Epsilon wants to spend fall 2012 semester addressing its academics to show university officials it can change its reputation.
Beta Pi Epsilon wants the chance to show Carroll University’s administration that the fraternity can make permanent changes. The fraternity’s requesting that instead of being suspended by the university, it be placed on probation for the fall 2012 semester. Beta Pi Epsilon was suspended indefinitely after it was unable to find an adviser. “We have complied with everything they have asked us to do,” said Beta Pi Epsilon president Alex Sutherland. “We are trying to show that we have complied with all of those changes.” The fraternity plans to take a petition for probation with more than 500 signatures on it to the campus’ Student Senate as it seeks another opportunity to keep a 106-year-old campus fraternity alive. Carroll University placed …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Citing Beta Pi Epsilon's inability to find an adviser and a record of "disruptive" conduct, Carroll University informs alumni of 106-year-old fraternity that it has been suspended.
The inability to find a faculty adviser for the Beta Pi Epsilon fraternity was the last straw for Carroll University. The 106-year-old fraternity has been suspended from the university “indefinitely,” according to a letter from the university to fraternity alumni. The fraternity missed two deadlines to obtain an adviser, the letter states. “Unfortunately, in more recent years, current members of the fraternity have fallen short in their academic endeavors and their conduct record has frequently proven disruptive,” the letter states. “This has placed the fraternity in an untenable position. These issues have continued after several years of concerted efforts on the part of Beta Pi Epsilon alumni and university administrators to help correct…
Lynn Vander Meer
12:31 pm on Thursday, May 2, 2013
I think it has more to do with real estate property status than any sort of academic or altruistic expectations. more ›