By William Qualkinbush, photo courtesy Clemson University.

When 1934 Clemson graduate Joe Sherman wrote the timeless essay “Something in These Hills” a few decades ago, he immortalized Clemson as more than a place or an institution. Sherman spoke to Clemson as an idea, a feeling that can penetrate a person and never leaves. His words form the foundation to what some might call “the Clemson spirit” or “the Clemson family”—ideals that can link generations together through a shared experience.

The beauty of Joe Sherman’s hills is on display all throughout the fall in Clemson, especially on a football Saturday. In fact, to much of the nation, the images that come from Memorial Stadium are what Clemson is. The unity of an 80,000-person choir working as one is a powerful image, one that keeps those notions of family and spirit alive around the world.

But beneath the surface of Sherman’s hills, behind the veil of football pageantry, a battle is brewing on Clemson’s campus that could have lasting consequences for anyone associated with the university or its athletic teams.

The struggle is between the Clemson administration—specifically, the Office of Student Affairs—and the leadership of the university’s fraternities. This struggle is not a new one: For years, the two sides have waged a tug-of-war against each other, with administrators attempting to curtail reckless behavior of a few and students protesting the stringency of those measures. However, according to sources, the climate has intensified recently, and the timing coincides with an untimely death that rocked the student body at Clemson.

Tucker Hipps was pledging to join Sigma Phi Epsilon in September when his body was found in Lake Hartwell after he reportedly fell behind during an early-morning run with fraternity members. The investigation into Hipps’ death is ongoing, but authorities said hazing was quickly ruled out as a potential cause after speculation to that end began to spread on social media.

The insinuation that hazing was involved forced leaders within the Greek community to address issues with so-called “educational processes” for new members. At the same time, Student Affairs began cracking down on the Greek community for widespread behavioral issues with regards to the student code of conduct.

The result is a relationship that is currently as strained as ever, according to sources. After several years of seeing the scope of activities dwindle, some leaders within the Greek community on campus are taking action—and some alumni are following suit.

The Clemson Insider has obtained emails and letters that suggest a growing frustration among fraternity alumni over the conduct of the Office of Student Affairs with regards to the Greek community. No fewer than three fraternities have had alumni contact the Board of Trustees on behalf of the Greek community, and at least one fraternity is taking things a step further by threatening to organize a financial boycott of Clemson until conditions change for the students.

How far this boycott will go remains to be seen, but sources tell TCI the proposal has the attention of many of the other student leaders on campus. According to reports, students are now engaging alumni and encouraging them to help fight this battle in different ways—including possibly withholding donations to support the school.  TCI has obtained emails from a number of fraternity members that have already contacted the school to let them know donations will be withheld until this situation is resolved.

The primary places affected would be the Clemson Alumni Association and the Clemson University Foundation, but several sources tells TCI there is a possibility IPTAY could be affected. Given the present arms race in collegiate athletics, fraternity members withdrawing from the process could prove catastrophic for Clemson’s athletic teams. Such a move could end up leaving millions of dollars unaccounted for to complete a process that already requires more and more capital each successive year.

There is much more to this story, on both sides. Long patterns of decision-making have led to this point, where financial repercussions are on the table as a means by which the Greek community at Clemson can strong-arm the university’s administration.

Over the coming weeks, TCI will begin to delve into this issue from several different perspectives and examine the likelihood—or lack thereof—of a major fallout that affects Clemson’s athletic teams. Many questions remain unanswered, and as more details emerge, the path that led Clemson University to this point will become clearer.

Right now, this battle between students and administration is being waged out of sight and mind from the public, but it will not stay that way for long.