Brothers,
I am sure that most of you have heard that, at the request of our insurance carrier, chapters are no longer allowed to provide designated drivers. An explanation of all this is included in the most recent officers & volunteers monthly. Nowhere in this explanation does it assert that eliminating designated drivers will make our brothers safer and save lifes. In fact, it will do the opposite, although this is a result not mentioned.
The reasoning behind scrapping DD's is clear - reduce insurance costs. But there are other factors at hand that need to be considered. Exactly what price do we attach to the safety of our brothers? Did HQ's do a net present value problem and determine that three brothers' lives had less value than a $7 per member reduction on our insurance premiums (note these numbers are made up). Or did HQ's just not consider the potential loss of life and limb? They will certainly feel the insurance claim, will they not care if one of our brothers dies?
The fact that these programs exist points to their necessity. While on some campuses it is possible to walk everywhere or (free) public transportation is readily available, that is not the case everywhere. Maybe if HQ's staff spent a little more time visiting their chapters in backwoods locales like Cullowhee, NC, they would realize that in such places its next to impossible to either walk anywhere or to get professional transportation.
All in all, it is unconscionable to me as a brother that we would put our liability ahead of our brothers' lives. I for one am willing to pay a few extra bucks to keep my brothers safe and anyone that isn't doesn't deserve to wear our letters.
HFF,
Justin Pace
Ruck Scholar '03
NC Pi '04
Hear Hear, brother Pace!
The HQ Director of Risk Management is Kathy Johnston. I am sure she would be happy to hear from concerned brothers and will pass along your concerns to our insurance carrier.
I bet Executive Director Craig Templeton would like to hear from you as well.
