An underground organization, billing itself as a chapter of the Theta Nu Epsilon Society of 1870, distributed their third major newsletter this past Tuesday.
The flier falsely accused Dr. Debbie White, associate vice president for Student Life and Leadership of distributing student funds unequally.
In fact, White plays no role in determining how student organizations are funded, university officials say.
TNE originally appeared on ETSU’s campus last October, releasing a letter for recruitment and an announcement of their arrival. Since then, three major newsletters have been distributed.
According to Baird’s Manuel of Fraternities and Sororities, TNE was originally founded in 1870 and it subsequently ceased to exist in 1942.
However, the national organization, which was re-chartered in 1989, maintains that TNE has continued to exist as a secret society since its supposed demise in 1942.
The newsletter sent out last Tuesday claims that organizations such as Lambda Society have been funded while other Greek-lettered societies have not received proper financial support.
The newsletter states, “Why is Dr. White giving Tennessee State funds to a group whose sole intent is to support a practice that is impossible for every student to exercise?”
In response, White said, “[Allocation of money] is not my job. I don’t have any say so about any student activity expenditures.”
She also pointed out that the Lambda Society has been inactive for the past year, and has only recently begun anew.
Dr. Steve Bader, senior associate vice president for student affairs, explained that he, in conjunction with SGA, handled all student appropriations and that White has no say in the process.
“They got their facts wrong. Dr. White is not in charge of funding any organizations, nor did the Lambda Society request or receive any student funding this past year,” he said.
Also, the newsletter demands that all uses of student money be made readily available to students for review, calling for all students to involve themselves in student government.
Dr. Bader said that all student expenditures are public record, and may be requested from the Student Affairs office at any time.
In an official press release concerning the matter, Inter-fraternity Council President John Hocker stated, “The IFC is not affiliated [with] and henceforth has no jurisdiction over Theta Nu Epsilon.”
However, while TNE’s actions may be distasteful to some, and they are unfounded in many of their accusations, they have committed no crimes, merely breached TBR policy requiring all student organization to register on campus if they wish to distribute literature.
“As far as I know, they have not done anything illegal,” said Officer Michael Orr, of ETSU’s Public Safety.
Public Safety has been aware of the situation since last October.
The recently distributed fliers were placed in Culp Center in the racks of the East Tennessean newspaper without the consent of the student publications office.
“The newspaper has not given Theta Nu Epsilon or any other group permission to use its racks to distribute literature,” said Martha Milner, advisor to the East Tennessean.
White said that while the allegations made are untrue, “If students or anybody want to have a secret society, they can have a secret society.

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