SigEp CEO speaks to the Ole Miss Chapter closing and addresses comments and questions about the decision and actions around it.
News and opinion for all the SigEp brotherhood. SigEp's "unofficial" blog.
Showing posts with label Accountability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accountability. Show all posts
Thursday, May 01, 2014
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
UT (Tennessee) report: Put directors in frat houses
After the notorious "butt-chugging" incident made the UT fraternity system fodder for the late-night comedians, the university put together a task force to find ways to improve. They released their report a few days ago.
'via Blog this'
One "solution" sounds like mandating "Housemothers/fathers" or RAs for the fraternity houses. I wonder how that would work? Having a "political officer" who reports to the administration leaves a bad taste in my mouth. However, the idea of posting academic performance and ranking online, plus philanthropy activity AND chapter violations may have some merit. A time honored management principle is "you get what you measure". Keeping track of those types of metrics, and perhaps using them as a basis for a prestigious award, could be a powerful incentive. We all know how well that works for intramural sports and Homecoming activities.UT report: Put directors in frat houses | timesfreepress.com:
What do you think? Is this a workable plan? here is a link to the University of Tennessee press release - you can get to the full report from there.
KNOXVILLE — A committee at the University of Tennessee has proposed remedies for rowdiness that made the campus the subject of late-night TV comedy.
The Knoxville News Sentinel reported the committee’s recommendations include full-time directors living in fraternity houses, amnesty for drunken students and their friends when seeking medical help and the online posting of sanctions against fraternities and sororities.
“Alcohol, for this age group, is and will continue to be our biggest issue. It is the root of most of our crimes,” said UT Police Chief Troy Lane. “There obviously was an issue that made us all kind of decide enough is enough. But we’re really not dealing with anything that any other college isn't dealing with.”
The 11-page report released Thursday comes nearly six months after a Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity member was brought to UT Hospital dangerously drunk. Police reports blamed the incident on a wine enema, which garnered national attention. That chapter and, later, the Phi Gamma Delta chapter have shut down at UT.
The 25-member task force was formed to find solutions to poor behavior among fraternities. Members include the UT police chief, students, alumni, faculty and staff. The chairman is local attorney Thomas Hale. The group met about every other week to form its recommendations.
The group found that 14 fraternities were sanctioned 30 times in the last five years, tallying 68 violations that include alcohol abuse, physical abuse, hazing and nudity.
Some of the task force recommendations are immediately moving forward, including expanding the university’s Greek recognition system. In addition to online listing of fraternities’ and sororities’ cumulative grade point averages and philanthropy work, the information will now include chapter violations.
Jeff Cathey, associate dean of students, said the university expects at least some fraternities to move quickly to add live-in advisers.
Also among the task force recommendations is the adoption of new educational programs for fraternities and sororities on hazing, managing risk, substance abuse and the code of conduct. The group also wants to review how effective and consistent campus rule enforcement is.
'via Blog this'
Wednesday, March 06, 2013
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter banned from USC campus | abc7.com
Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter banned from USC campus | abc7.com:
EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter was banned from the University of Southern California for violating school policies. The local chapter will lose its letters, its house and its charter. The fraternity chapter has been suspended for a minimum of five years. The action is meant to send a message about sexual misconduct, according to USC.
On USC's frat row, Greek names are boldly mounted on each house. Only one now is conspicuously blank.
The letters for Sigma Phi Epsilon have been removed. "SigEp," as it is called, has been expelled from its national organization and banned from the university.
The action comes following the national organization's review of reports about alleged sexual misconduct at the house. The dismissal has sent shock waves down the row.
'via Blog this'
EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity chapter was banned from the University of Southern California for violating school policies. The local chapter will lose its letters, its house and its charter. The fraternity chapter has been suspended for a minimum of five years. The action is meant to send a message about sexual misconduct, according to USC.
On USC's frat row, Greek names are boldly mounted on each house. Only one now is conspicuously blank.
The letters for Sigma Phi Epsilon have been removed. "SigEp," as it is called, has been expelled from its national organization and banned from the university.
The action comes following the national organization's review of reports about alleged sexual misconduct at the house. The dismissal has sent shock waves down the row.
'via Blog this'
Labels:
Accountability,
Housing,
Suspension
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
22 NIU frat members charged in freshman's hazing death
Quoting Michael Ellis from his Facebook post:
22 NIU frat members charged in freshman's hazing death - chicagotribune.com
(Note: the video was removed becaus of an "autoplay" issue. It can still be found on the Chicago Tribune link abouve)
A young person's death is a tragedy in everyone's eyes. The vanquishing of the bright future of a young man, because of silly over-indulging in alcohol is saddening, dismaying, disheartening.
The letters on this young man's sweat shirt were not Sigma Phi Epsilon -- this time. But this tragedy happened to all fraternity members everywhere, regardless of campus, fraternity affiliation or year of graduation.
Please take the time to talk about this event, its root causes, and whatever we can do in our own chapters to ensure that our Brothers are informed and educated about the choices they make and that they press others to make. No one has to behave this way and by the time you're 18 - 22, you really need to know better and do better. *Let's all get better at making sure everyone understands that*.
22 NIU frat members charged in freshman's hazing death - chicagotribune.com
(Note: the video was removed becaus of an "autoplay" issue. It can still be found on the Chicago Tribune link abouve)
Labels:
Accountability,
Alcohol,
Campus Tragedy,
Consequences,
death,
Drinking,
Felony,
Hazing
Sunday, December 02, 2012
Right to Wear Greek Letters Vindicated at UT Arlington
The SigEp Chapter at UT Arlington was put "under investigation", and was told they could not even wear their letters. After a student rights organization (FIRE) began asking embarrassing questions about the legality of such a ruling the college backed down. (BTW - the chapter was cleared of the original allegations).
Right to Wear Greek Letters Vindicated at UT Arlington - The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education - FIRE
Right to Wear Greek Letters Vindicated at UT Arlington - The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education - FIRE
Recently, FIRE intervened at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) after the Sigma Phi Epsilon (SigEp) fraternity brought to our attention what I suspect is an all-too-common punishment against fraternities and sororities: the prohibition on displaying their letters in any way while the chapter was under investigation. After FIRE brought this issue to UTA's attention, the university promised that students and student organizations at UTA enjoy the full freedoms of the First Amendment.
Here's the background on the chain of events resulting in this unconstitutional punishment for SigEp, as we wrote in a letter to UTA President James D. Spaniolo on September 13:
Following an off-campus party held February 4, 2012, which resulted in allegations of "hazing," UTA's Sigma Phi Epsilon ("SigEp") chapter was notified in a February 10 letter from SigEp national Chapter Services Director Josh Hodnichak that it was to "immediately cease any and all chapter activities." These activities included "new member activities, Inter-Fraternity Council events, intramural games, social events, chapter meetings, and all other chapter activities." SigEp complied with these orders. SigEp President Troy Maikowski received a similar letter, also dated February 10,from Heather L. Snow, then director of UTA's Office of Student Conduct, ordering the fraternity to "cease and desist all activity" while under investigation. Snow's letter, however, went so far as to ban "wearing of letters on campus." Snow's letter also made clear that the order covered "both on and off campus activities and include[d] formal and informal group gatherings," and warned that "[a]ny further activity that represents the Texas Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon either on or off campus during the suspension period may result in additional disciplinary action being taken."
[Link and emphases added.]
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Speaker encourages panhellenic members to buy in or get out - Daily Campus - Southern Methodist University
David Stollman tells it right.
Speaker encourages panhellenic members to buy in or get out - Daily Campus - Southern Methodist University
The simple statement “Buy In or Get Out” flashed on the screen in the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom Sunday evening as Panhellenic women from each sorority chapter on campus filled the room for the “Stand Up, Stand Out” lecture by David Stollman.
“I’m not here to blow sunshine at you,” Stollman said. “I’m pretty blunt and pretty honest.”
Stollman, who is the co-founder of Campuspeak and hazingprevention.org, has traveled to campuses countrywide for 15 years, encouraging Greek communities to “inject some backbone into their membership standards.”
As an active volunteer for his fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon and the current chapter advisor for Alpha Sigma Tau sorority at New York University, Stollman has his finger on the pulse of Greek life, its stereotypes, and what needs to be done to fix them.
“I do what I do because I believe in sororities and fraternities. This is what I do by choice, because what we do makes a difference,” he said.
Stollman immediately engaged the audience with his humor, cracking jokes about the common stereotypes that describe fraternities and sororities. He then had the audience call out adjectives that are frequently used to describe members of Greek life. A few included jerks, alcoholics, hazers, partiers, snobs and airheads.
“Would our founders be proud?” he asked.
To enforce his point, Stollman showed a slideshow of pictures of college Greeks around the country, doing exactly what those adjectives described. He proved that there is much that needs to be fixed when it comes to the current image of Greek life.
“I don’t want these stereotypes hung around my neck,” he said. “Be the ones that don’t tolerate it.”
Speaker encourages panhellenic members to buy in or get out - Daily Campus - Southern Methodist University
The simple statement “Buy In or Get Out” flashed on the screen in the Hughes-Trigg Ballroom Sunday evening as Panhellenic women from each sorority chapter on campus filled the room for the “Stand Up, Stand Out” lecture by David Stollman.
“I’m not here to blow sunshine at you,” Stollman said. “I’m pretty blunt and pretty honest.”
Stollman, who is the co-founder of Campuspeak and hazingprevention.org, has traveled to campuses countrywide for 15 years, encouraging Greek communities to “inject some backbone into their membership standards.”
As an active volunteer for his fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon and the current chapter advisor for Alpha Sigma Tau sorority at New York University, Stollman has his finger on the pulse of Greek life, its stereotypes, and what needs to be done to fix them.
“I do what I do because I believe in sororities and fraternities. This is what I do by choice, because what we do makes a difference,” he said.
Stollman immediately engaged the audience with his humor, cracking jokes about the common stereotypes that describe fraternities and sororities. He then had the audience call out adjectives that are frequently used to describe members of Greek life. A few included jerks, alcoholics, hazers, partiers, snobs and airheads.
“Would our founders be proud?” he asked.
To enforce his point, Stollman showed a slideshow of pictures of college Greeks around the country, doing exactly what those adjectives described. He proved that there is much that needs to be fixed when it comes to the current image of Greek life.
“I don’t want these stereotypes hung around my neck,” he said. “Be the ones that don’t tolerate it.”
Labels:
Accomplishment,
Accountability,
Behavior,
Greek values,
Sorority
Saturday, October 13, 2012
The Odyssey Online - LSU - Sigma Phi Epsilon - Look How Far We've Come
An article from the Odyssey Online about the maturing of Greek life at LSU.
The Odyssey Online - LSU - Sigma Phi Epsilon - Look How Far We've Come:
The Odyssey Online - LSU - Sigma Phi Epsilon - Look How Far We've Come:
 |
| Andrew Alexander Sigma Phi Epsilon |
Long gone are the days of anything-goes house parties, beer trucks on the front lawn of fraternities and exchanges at Greek houses. Restricted guest lists, hired security guards and third-party vendors have since replaced those reminders of LSU Greek life’s wilder days.
On Aug. 25, 1997, LSU Greek life was forever changed. That night newly pinned Sigma Alpha Epsilon pledge Benjamin Wynne died with a blood alcohol level of 0.588, nearly six times the minimum limit to be considered intoxicated. The event altered the culture of LSU’s Greek life and served as a launching point for the current incarnation of fraternity and sorority life on campus.
The tragic death of Wynne sent shockwaves throughout the campus and community. Murphy’s Bar, the local tavern where Wynne consumed many of drinks at that night, was closed shortly thereafter. The LSU chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon was shut down for eight years, re-chartering in 2005. Changes in the LSU Greek system were inevitable.
According to LSU’s Greek Life website, “In Nov. 1997, Dr. William L. Jenkins, the Chancellor of LSU, appointed a 21 member Task Force of Greek Life and Related Issues to study the Greek system at Louisiana State University.”
One of the results of the Task Force’s research was the birth and implementation of the Greek Assessment. Starting in November 1998, the Greek Assessment began reviewing Greek chapters in four areas to determine how well each contributed to the mission of the university. The four areas assessed were Campus Involvement and Community Service, Education for New and Continuing Members, Academics and Operations.
Labels:
Accomplishment,
Accountability,
Education,
Greek Spirit,
Opinion,
Partnership
Sunday, August 05, 2012
National Sig Ep suspends NU chapter
On Campus - The Daily Northwestern - Northwestern University: "
All undergraduate members of Northwestern's chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon are suspended awaiting a membership review by alumni advisers in the fall, according the fraternity's national quarters.
BREAKING: National Sig Ep suspends NU chapter
All undergraduate members of Northwestern's chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon are suspended awaiting a membership review by alumni advisers in the fall, according the fraternity's national quarters.
The fraternity's board of directors decided to suspend NU's members after noting a "pattern of risky behavior exhibited by the chapter over the last year," as well as their failure to correct that conduct, executive director Brian Warren Jr. said in a statement provided to The Daily on Friday.
Warren wrote that the national fraternity "look(s) forward to working with all members who are committed to building a chapter that will enrich the college experience at Northwestern."
As of now, NU's Sig Ep members are under review by the national organization's Alumni Advisory Council, according to the statement.
NU's Illinois Lambda chapter of Sig Ep was installed in 1989 and states its mission as "Building Balanced Leaders for the World's Communities," according to NU's Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.
Interfraternity Council President Patrick Schnettler, a McCormick senior, told The Daily that IFC will likely release a statement Friday night."
'via Blog this'
Labels:
Accountability,
closing chapter,
Frat boy image,
Suspension
Monday, November 02, 2009
If you dream it, it will happen!
If you dream it, they will join it…
by Matt Mattson from our friends at Phired Up Productions
by Matt Mattson from our friends at Phired Up Productions
The best student leaders aren’t interested in helping you maintain the status quo. They might, however, be highly interested in co-creating a wild, bold, spectacular dream with you. If you can inspire them with what is to be, if you can dream a remarkable dream… then they might be interested. What do you want your fraternity/sorority to become? Watch the video and we dare you to make a two sentence statement on Facebook and Twitter stating what you want to create
Labels:
Accountability,
Good News,
Recruitment
Monday, August 03, 2009
The World Is Changing for Utah Greeks
Changes to U of U's Greek System
The stigma surrounding fraternities and sororities could soon change here in the state. When most people think of the Greek life, they may think of parities, alcohol and scenes from “Animal House”. The University of Utah is changing the Greek system to change its reputation and to attract new members from all walks of life.
The University’s Greek Council is trying to make Greek row a little more diverse. “This fall, we’re heavily pushing our Latino and Latina fraternities and sororities that are actively getting going” said Jay Wilgus the council advisor for the U. They also want more faith based chapters involved in Greek life. In fact, Wilgus says they want to hear from anyone interested in starting a chapter.
The council is using social networks such as Facebook and Youtube to encourage more students to rush this fall. There’s even free cash for those interested in the Greek life. The University will hand out 16 scholarships, each worth about $500, to those interested in joining a fraternity or sorority.
A dark cloud however hangs over the Greek system here in the state. Last year, a college student died during an initiation activity at Utah State University. Though hazing is illegal, it still happens at fraternities and sororities across the country. The University of Utah is working with the family of Michael Starks, the student that died. They’re also working with lawmakers to craft criminal hazing laws. “Hazing is certainly not tolerated,” says Wilgus. “We’re doing active work in that regard to make sure students have a positive experience and a healthy experience.”
The stigma surrounding fraternities and sororities could soon change here in the state. When most people think of the Greek life, they may think of parities, alcohol and scenes from “Animal House”. The University of Utah is changing the Greek system to change its reputation and to attract new members from all walks of life.
The University’s Greek Council is trying to make Greek row a little more diverse. “This fall, we’re heavily pushing our Latino and Latina fraternities and sororities that are actively getting going” said Jay Wilgus the council advisor for the U. They also want more faith based chapters involved in Greek life. In fact, Wilgus says they want to hear from anyone interested in starting a chapter.
The council is using social networks such as Facebook and Youtube to encourage more students to rush this fall. There’s even free cash for those interested in the Greek life. The University will hand out 16 scholarships, each worth about $500, to those interested in joining a fraternity or sorority.
A dark cloud however hangs over the Greek system here in the state. Last year, a college student died during an initiation activity at Utah State University. Though hazing is illegal, it still happens at fraternities and sororities across the country. The University of Utah is working with the family of Michael Starks, the student that died. They’re also working with lawmakers to craft criminal hazing laws. “Hazing is certainly not tolerated,” says Wilgus. “We’re doing active work in that regard to make sure students have a positive experience and a healthy experience.”
Labels:
Accountability,
Greek values
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
AKA Sues President Over Funds Use
President of black sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha sued by members over funds, including $900,000 wax statue Suits says president of Chicago-based, national group also lavished $400,000 on herself
By Cheryl V. Jackson Staff Reporter/cjackson@suntimes.com
Members of a prominent Chicago-based sorority are suing to oust their national president -- former Chicago Housing Authority comptroller Barbara McKinzie -- saying she misappropriated funds and commissioned a $900,000 wax figure of herself.
She also is accused of taking nearly $400,000 for personal expenses and arranging for a $4,000 monthly stipend to be paid to herself after she leaves office.
McKinzie, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its current and some former board of directors members are targeted in a lawsuit filed by eight sorority members last month.
Among the allegations:
"Change never comes easy," she said. "The malicious allegations leveled against AKA by former leaders are based on mischaracterizations and fabrications not befitting our ideals of sisterhood, ethics and service."
McKinzie's likeness, along with one of the first national AKA president Nellie Quander, cost a total of $45,000, she said. All other figures are of group founders or first national presidents. The $900,000 "was allocated by the AKA board of directors to help defray overall expenses for our 2010 convention,' McKinzie said.
The wax figure of McKinzie is being prepped at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, where it will be in a growing exhibit of predominantly black fraternity and sorority representatives.
Parks, King, Keys, Donda West members
Founded at Howard University, AKA is the oldest predominantly black Greek-lettered sorority.
Members have included civil rights icons Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King; former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt; musician Alicia Keys; astronaut Mae Jemison; poet Maya Angelou; actresses Jada Pinkett Smith and Roxie Roker; singer Gladys Knight; TV personality Star Jones; educator Marva Collins, and Kanye West's late mother, Donda West. Michelle Obama accepted honorary membership in 2008 but has yet to be inducted.
Mattel Inc. created the limited-edition AKA Centennial Barbie, the first Barbie based on any sorority.
The suit also alleges that McKinzie persuaded the board in 2008 to approve $250,000 -- later increased to about $375,000 -- in compensation to her for services rendered on behalf of the sorority. McKinzie's pay was based on her securing $1.6 million in cost savings to AKA, but there was no proof that there were any savings, the members said.
The suit contends the expenditures should have been approved by AKA members last year. It seeks to have the board removed and money returned.
Leadership also is accused of overcharging for the group's 2008 conference, one that observed Alpha Kappa Alpha's 100th anniversary.
The registration fee was doubled to about $500 per member for the 2008 meeting, which brought in about $13 million. The complainants say expenses for that gathering were about $9 million, and the surplus was spent at McKinzie's discretion.
The dispute is being played out on open-access Web sites and blogs, a rarity among the black heritage fraternities and sororities that typically value handling internal discord more discreetly.
In another dispute, members of Illinois-incorporated Zeta Phi Beta Sorority are contesting the 2008 election of comedian Sheryl Underwood as national president. A D.C. Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to unseat Underwood.
The ABCs of AKA
________________________________________
By Cheryl V. Jackson Staff Reporter/cjackson@suntimes.com
Members of a prominent Chicago-based sorority are suing to oust their national president -- former Chicago Housing Authority comptroller Barbara McKinzie -- saying she misappropriated funds and commissioned a $900,000 wax figure of herself.
She also is accused of taking nearly $400,000 for personal expenses and arranging for a $4,000 monthly stipend to be paid to herself after she leaves office.
McKinzie, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its current and some former board of directors members are targeted in a lawsuit filed by eight sorority members last month.
Among the allegations:
- AKA directors violated the group's rules when they approved a four-year "pension stipend" for a total of nearly $192,000. They also purchased a $1 million life insurance policy for McKinzie.
- McKinzie used the group's American Express card to buy designer clothing, lingerie and jewelry, then redeemed points racked up on the card to get a 46-inch HDTV, gym equipment and other items for personal use.
- The president started a campaign to raise $100 million for an endowment fund to be run by her management firm -- BMC Associates.
"Change never comes easy," she said. "The malicious allegations leveled against AKA by former leaders are based on mischaracterizations and fabrications not befitting our ideals of sisterhood, ethics and service."
McKinzie's likeness, along with one of the first national AKA president Nellie Quander, cost a total of $45,000, she said. All other figures are of group founders or first national presidents. The $900,000 "was allocated by the AKA board of directors to help defray overall expenses for our 2010 convention,' McKinzie said.
The wax figure of McKinzie is being prepped at the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, where it will be in a growing exhibit of predominantly black fraternity and sorority representatives.
Parks, King, Keys, Donda West members
Founded at Howard University, AKA is the oldest predominantly black Greek-lettered sorority.
Members have included civil rights icons Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King; former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt; musician Alicia Keys; astronaut Mae Jemison; poet Maya Angelou; actresses Jada Pinkett Smith and Roxie Roker; singer Gladys Knight; TV personality Star Jones; educator Marva Collins, and Kanye West's late mother, Donda West. Michelle Obama accepted honorary membership in 2008 but has yet to be inducted.
Mattel Inc. created the limited-edition AKA Centennial Barbie, the first Barbie based on any sorority.
The suit also alleges that McKinzie persuaded the board in 2008 to approve $250,000 -- later increased to about $375,000 -- in compensation to her for services rendered on behalf of the sorority. McKinzie's pay was based on her securing $1.6 million in cost savings to AKA, but there was no proof that there were any savings, the members said.
The suit contends the expenditures should have been approved by AKA members last year. It seeks to have the board removed and money returned.
Leadership also is accused of overcharging for the group's 2008 conference, one that observed Alpha Kappa Alpha's 100th anniversary.
The registration fee was doubled to about $500 per member for the 2008 meeting, which brought in about $13 million. The complainants say expenses for that gathering were about $9 million, and the surplus was spent at McKinzie's discretion.
The dispute is being played out on open-access Web sites and blogs, a rarity among the black heritage fraternities and sororities that typically value handling internal discord more discreetly.
In another dispute, members of Illinois-incorporated Zeta Phi Beta Sorority are contesting the 2008 election of comedian Sheryl Underwood as national president. A D.C. Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit seeking to unseat Underwood.
The ABCs of AKA
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. has initiated more than 260,000 members since its 1908 founding at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
- About 50,000 members are active in the group’s 950 chapters worldwide.
At its 2008 centennial celebration in Washington, D.C., AKA set a Guinness record for the largest sit-down dinner, drawing about 20,000 guests. - Mattel Inc. created the limited-edition Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Barbie, the first Barbie based on any sorority.
- The group settled a $100 million wrongful death lawsuit after the 2002 deaths of two California college students who drowned in the Pacific Ocean while attempting to pledge the sorority.
- The group has offices at 5656 S. Stony Island Ave., and is incorporated in D.C. Its educational foundation, also being sued, is incorporated in Illinois.
- Dues from active members range from $70 to $200 per year, and along with meeting registrations are the primary revenue source for the group’s operations.
________________________________________
http://www.suntimes.com/business/1690163,CST-NWS-aka29.article
Labels:
Accountability
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Princeton Administration Does Not Support Greeks
Tilghman explains continued concerns about Greek life
By Melanie Jearlds, Staff Writer
By Melanie Jearlds, Staff Writer
As the University prepares to welcome another class of incoming freshmen, these members of the Class of 2013 will receive a letter from Dean of Undergraduate Students Kathleen Deignan and Vice President for Campus Life Janet Dickerson over the summer informing them that the University does not support fraternities and sororities on campus.
President Tilghman said in an interview last Wednesday that the administration continues to discourage incoming students from participating in Greek life on campus because she believes it restricts students’ social lives.
Several members of Greek organizations on campus said they were opposed to the University sending out a letter asking students not to join organizations.
“I thought it was unnecessary and really not the school’s place to interfere in such a manner,” said Caroline Rawls ’12, a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. “Does the school send out letters asking kids not to join other organizations? No. So why should they send out a letter discouraging students to join a sorority or fraternity when they would never do the exact same thing for any other organization?”
But Tilghman said she thinks fraternities and sororities do not contribute as much to campus life as other groups, like athletic teams or performance groups.
“Those groups are forming around an ability, a talent [or] an interest that is likely to attract students from lots of socioeconomic groups, from lots of different geographical backgrounds, from lots of racial groups,” she explained. “When I’ve seen the way that fraternities and sororities go about attracting their membership, it’s not based on talent. It’s based on social comfort. And that strikes me as fundamentally different than joining a football team or joining an a cappella group.”
Tilghman added that she thinks the University’s letter may serve to inform students that Greek organizations do exist on campus and actually spark interest in joining a fraternity or sorority.
“I do worry … that it is a potential unintended consequence,” she said. “I still feel that it is important for the University to inform both the students and their parents what our policy is in regards to not recognizing these social groups.”
Tilghman said she was also concerned that participation in fraternities or sororities leads to early “segregation of students along racial … [and] socioeconomic lines.”
She said she is worried, in particular, by how rush activities come early during the academic year, leaving freshmen little time to form outside friendships prior to joining Greek societies.
“I think I have to go all the way back to Woodrow Wilson ... who said one of the most important things you do at Princeton is ... encounter the ‘other,’ ” Tilghman said. “When groups form - and more often than not, these are forming among students who feel very comfortable with each other - you’re losing your opportunity during your first and second year at Princeton to encounter the ‘other,’ and that’s my philosophical objection.”
But Kappa Alpha Theta president Emmy Ill ’10 said she thinks sororities like hers were beneficial to the campus community.
“I feel that sororities do add to University life in numerous ways, and I hope we will develop a positive relationship with the administration,” she said in an e-mail, declining to offer any other comments on the subject.
Numerous other members of sororities and fraternities who were contacted either declined to or did not respond to requests for comment.
Fraternities and sororities have long had strained relations with the administration. Back in 2004, officials in Nassau Hall approached officers from the Greek societies about the possibility of delaying rush until January or February, and the groups refused. The students were unwilling to consider the request for fear of conflicts with Bicker, Tilghman said.
But Rawls said the timing of rush during the fall semester of her freshman year did not restrict her social life.
“We have over a month to get information about Greek life and determine whether or not it is for you,” Rawls said. “Because things like the activities fair happen before rush anyway, it’s not like people aren’t already involved in other activities and informed about other social and service options that they might find interesting.”
Tilghman also criticized the way sororities and fraternities feed directly into the bicker clubs.
“We know that happens,” she said. “We’ve documented it year in and year out. Anyone who says that doesn’t happen hasn’t looked at the data.”
Though there are clear comparisons to be made between the Greek organizations and the eating clubs, Tilghman said she thinks there was an important distinction between the two because students don’t join clubs until halfway through sophomore year.
“You don’t really become active in the eating club until your junior and senior year, so by that time you have had a year-and-a-half to two years to meet lots of people, join lots of groups, create different ways of having a social life at Princeton, and I think you are ready to make some decisions about how you want to spend your last two years,” she explained.
© 2009 Daily Princetonian Publishing Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Labels:
Accountability,
challenges,
relationships
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Auburn Report on Greeks
Fraternities: Good, bad or something in between?
Joe McAdoryStaff writer
Richard Hamrick’s visit to a 2005 Sigma Nu party at Auburn left him with brain swelling and a 10-day stay in a Columbus hospital.
Andrew Jackson Thurmond IV, 18, of Birmingham, was killed in September in a car wreck west of Auburn. The Delta Sigma Phi brother had a blood-alcohol level of 0.76, according to a coroner’s report. The Auburn Police Division has not said whether the driver, Scott Leighton, 19, also a Delta Sigma Phi brother, was drinking.
Taylor Jones is still recovering from serious injuries received during a January altercation at a Sigma Phi Epsilon party. The Auburn freshman hasn’t returned to school.Alcohol. Death. Fighting.
And a reputation.
“People believe fraternities are evil, therefore they must always be evil,” said Paul Kittle, director of the Office of Greek Life at Auburn. “The common generalization is that all fraternity men are thugs.
“We tell them, ‘The public holds the weapon, you hold the ammunition.’ The guys completely own their image. ‘Don’t play beer pong in your front yard, take pictures of yourselves and put it on the Internet.’
“We know they’re better than that. Those who do those sort of things represent a small subset of a large group. But the entire fraternity gets painted by the same broad brush. ... All of that community service work you do, your image, gone.”
Jim Hardin, director of Judicial Affairs at Auburn, reported 11 fraternity-related offenses that required disciplinary action in 2008. Four involved hazing, two theft, two disorderly conduct, one possession of drug-related paraphernalia, one vandalism and one DUI. None involved actions taking place at an actual party.
The university’s response to the incidents included counseling, probation, health behavior assessments and restitution.
By contrast, the university reported 60 such incidents last year involving non-Greeks.
Kittle estimated a little less than a quarter of all males at Auburn are involved in a fraternity.
Will Caudill, president of Sigma Chi, thinks the rap against fraternities is unfair.
“The first thing the media hears is when something goes wrong,” said Caudill, a bio-medical science from Franklin, Tenn. “We do a lot of great things. We (Sigma Chi) raised $12,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. That stuff, people don’t hear about.”
According to Bo Mantooth, advisor to the Auburn Interfraternity Council, fraternities at Auburn raised between $175,000 and $200,000 last year for local charities. They also donated 35,000 to 40,000 hours in community service, he said.
“There’s a lot more to life than the parties,” said Bradford Stewart, president of the Interfraternity Council. “That’s what the majority of non-Greeks see, parties.”
Not like the movies
Fraternity parties are legendary, from John Belushi modeling a toga in “Animal House” to the boys of Lamda Lamda Lamda getting down with the Omega Mu’s in “Revenge of the Nerds.”
But there are rules in an effort to ensure the parties are safe. Each party must have a hired security team in place to check IDs, make sure people attending the party are on the guest list and help prevent dangerous situations.
Locally, the team of FBL Security, headed by Daniel Finz, has been the preferred choice of many Greek organizations, Kittle said. Repeated attempts to reach Finz failed.
Another company, C&C Security of Birmingham, worked a recent Sigma Chi party and plans to expand full time into the Auburn area.
“Most people see security guards as idiots who beat people up when things go bad,” said Anthony Burke, who heads C&C. “But we are here to make sure nobody gets hurt and that they have a good time. When you break the rules, you have to leave. The first time, we give them a warning. The second time, we tell them to go into the house or leave.”
C&C works about 150 parties a year, including events in Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Burke said.
Checking IDs at the door is an important part of the job, he said. He said partygoers must clear a checkpoint. If legal, the person receives an arm bank. Those who do not are given a big ‘X’ on their fist.
“The problem is outsiders, the people who don’t know the rules,” he said.
All sanctioned fraternity parties must adhere to the IFC guidelines and national risk management guidelines of the Fraternal Information & Programming Group. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including a ban on future events.
“If you want to host an event where alcohol is present, there are standards that all fraternities must follow,” Kittle said. “Having proper risk management is a way to ensure safety for an event - and to ensure that you will have an event the next week.
“We hold risk management sessions at the beginning of every semester. The fact that I don’t get police reports or property complaints shows they are managing themselves well.”One such guideline includes the “bring your own beer” rule. Keg parties are not permitted.
Auburn President Dr. Jay Gogue said there is room for improvement in creating safer atmospheres at fraternity parties.
“It’s much like what we would say regarding campus safety and security,” he said. “We’ve made progress, but we can do more.”
Although Auburn is a dry campus, alcohol is permitted within the confines of a fraternity house.
“Those fraternities located within the boundaries of Auburn University lease the land for their respective houses, giving them their own sense of private property that allows for alcoholic beverages,” Kittle said. “All but six fraternities (Ki Phi, Lambda Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa, Fiji) are located on campus property.
The off-campus fraternities must abide by the same rules as those on campus, Kittle said.
Kittle said drinking is part of the college culture and that involves under-aged students.
“It’s here. Our challenge is how to educate students so they can reduce the number of incidents,” he said. “Students who choose to drink are going to drink. This city does not exist under a bubble. It’s the real world. This is a very open institution. Very rarely are there reports of injuries and I’m thankful for that. If you can find the answer to under-aged drinking, that’s the silver bullet.“Fraternity membership is not supposed to supersede the legal drinking age.”
Modern hazing often subtle
Auburn has not been immune to hazing incidents in the past.
In 1993, Chad Saucier, a student from Mobile, writhed in convulsions and died after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a Christmas party. It was reported that Saucier, dressed in an elf suit, was strongly encouraged to continue drinking.
In August 2005, a prospective Theta Chi member was hospitalized due to a high amount of alcoholic consumption. According to FIPG rules, fraternities are not allowed to use alcohol during the recruitment of pledges.
Although the word brings to mind those kinds of horror stories, Kittle said it is more subtle now.
“People think of beatings and brandings,” he said. “You can consider hazing anything with power control. Someone has to be in position of perceived power over another. But a lot of freshmen don’t know the definition of hazing. Hazing on the subtle end is an issue we deal with on a regular basis.
Four brothers faced hazing charges last year, Hardin said. All stemmed from the same incident.
“It was personal items,” he said. “Stuff like, ‘Go get me a Coke.’ But if it’s permitted to a certain amount, there are problems you can get into. While this wasn’t doing any damage, pretty soon this person isn’t studying for his chemistry exam.”
Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Division said fraternities at Auburn are well-behaved compared to others.
“As major institutions go, I’d say we have some of the best, well-behaved fraternities anywhere,” said Stofer. “They aren’t immune to problems, but they have been isolated incidents. The only time we really respond is when something gets out of hand.”
Stofer said the most common calls are fight complaints or disorderly conduct incidents.
“But this isn’t just a fraternity issue. Alcohol plays a part in society’s problems, in general,” he said. “We’re just as likely to respond to alcohol-related calls downtown as we are at a fraternity house.
“Alcohol is the root of so many problems. Date rape, domestic violence, property damage, you can often track it right back to alcohol abuse or use. We know there is a lot of alcohol in Auburn readily available.”
Boys and girls clubs
Dr. Alan D. DeSantis, professor of communication at the University of Kentucky, wrote about Greek life in “Inside Greek U.: Fraternities, Sororities and the Pursuit of Power, Pleasure and Prestige.”
DeSantis said failures within the Greek system cannot totally be traced back to the men and women involved.
“Fraternities and sororities are social boys and girls clubs run by boys and girls,” he told the Opelika-Auburn News. “There is not enough adult presence for guidance in their lives. It is a rare professor who I meet that even gets involved in these organizations. We do a far better job with student-athletes. No wonder they become really incredible people.”Although he supports the Greek system, DeSantis said it has lost its focus.
“I think the major problem is that it has become all about the social aspect,” he said. “The mission in college is to expand the lives and minds of students to help them think better and more critically. A person should be forever changed by this experience. Sadly, I do not believe the Greek system aids in that goal. I don’t think it challenges them.”
Some fraternity members make it to the top. Take Gogue, for example.
“More than anything else, fraternity membership taught me that there is something out there that’s much bigger than me,” said the Sigma Chi alum. “The collective membership can do a lot more together than each person can do individually, and that understanding has proven valuable as I’ve worked to lead a large organization such as a university.”
Joe McAdoryStaff writer
Richard Hamrick’s visit to a 2005 Sigma Nu party at Auburn left him with brain swelling and a 10-day stay in a Columbus hospital.
Andrew Jackson Thurmond IV, 18, of Birmingham, was killed in September in a car wreck west of Auburn. The Delta Sigma Phi brother had a blood-alcohol level of 0.76, according to a coroner’s report. The Auburn Police Division has not said whether the driver, Scott Leighton, 19, also a Delta Sigma Phi brother, was drinking.
Taylor Jones is still recovering from serious injuries received during a January altercation at a Sigma Phi Epsilon party. The Auburn freshman hasn’t returned to school.Alcohol. Death. Fighting.
And a reputation.
“People believe fraternities are evil, therefore they must always be evil,” said Paul Kittle, director of the Office of Greek Life at Auburn. “The common generalization is that all fraternity men are thugs.
“We tell them, ‘The public holds the weapon, you hold the ammunition.’ The guys completely own their image. ‘Don’t play beer pong in your front yard, take pictures of yourselves and put it on the Internet.’
“We know they’re better than that. Those who do those sort of things represent a small subset of a large group. But the entire fraternity gets painted by the same broad brush. ... All of that community service work you do, your image, gone.”
Jim Hardin, director of Judicial Affairs at Auburn, reported 11 fraternity-related offenses that required disciplinary action in 2008. Four involved hazing, two theft, two disorderly conduct, one possession of drug-related paraphernalia, one vandalism and one DUI. None involved actions taking place at an actual party.
The university’s response to the incidents included counseling, probation, health behavior assessments and restitution.
By contrast, the university reported 60 such incidents last year involving non-Greeks.
Kittle estimated a little less than a quarter of all males at Auburn are involved in a fraternity.
Will Caudill, president of Sigma Chi, thinks the rap against fraternities is unfair.
“The first thing the media hears is when something goes wrong,” said Caudill, a bio-medical science from Franklin, Tenn. “We do a lot of great things. We (Sigma Chi) raised $12,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network. That stuff, people don’t hear about.”
According to Bo Mantooth, advisor to the Auburn Interfraternity Council, fraternities at Auburn raised between $175,000 and $200,000 last year for local charities. They also donated 35,000 to 40,000 hours in community service, he said.
“There’s a lot more to life than the parties,” said Bradford Stewart, president of the Interfraternity Council. “That’s what the majority of non-Greeks see, parties.”
Not like the movies
Fraternity parties are legendary, from John Belushi modeling a toga in “Animal House” to the boys of Lamda Lamda Lamda getting down with the Omega Mu’s in “Revenge of the Nerds.”
But there are rules in an effort to ensure the parties are safe. Each party must have a hired security team in place to check IDs, make sure people attending the party are on the guest list and help prevent dangerous situations.
Locally, the team of FBL Security, headed by Daniel Finz, has been the preferred choice of many Greek organizations, Kittle said. Repeated attempts to reach Finz failed.
Another company, C&C Security of Birmingham, worked a recent Sigma Chi party and plans to expand full time into the Auburn area.
“Most people see security guards as idiots who beat people up when things go bad,” said Anthony Burke, who heads C&C. “But we are here to make sure nobody gets hurt and that they have a good time. When you break the rules, you have to leave. The first time, we give them a warning. The second time, we tell them to go into the house or leave.”
C&C works about 150 parties a year, including events in Auburn and Tuscaloosa, Burke said.
Checking IDs at the door is an important part of the job, he said. He said partygoers must clear a checkpoint. If legal, the person receives an arm bank. Those who do not are given a big ‘X’ on their fist.
“The problem is outsiders, the people who don’t know the rules,” he said.
All sanctioned fraternity parties must adhere to the IFC guidelines and national risk management guidelines of the Fraternal Information & Programming Group. Failure to comply can result in sanctions, including a ban on future events.
“If you want to host an event where alcohol is present, there are standards that all fraternities must follow,” Kittle said. “Having proper risk management is a way to ensure safety for an event - and to ensure that you will have an event the next week.
“We hold risk management sessions at the beginning of every semester. The fact that I don’t get police reports or property complaints shows they are managing themselves well.”One such guideline includes the “bring your own beer” rule. Keg parties are not permitted.
Auburn President Dr. Jay Gogue said there is room for improvement in creating safer atmospheres at fraternity parties.
“It’s much like what we would say regarding campus safety and security,” he said. “We’ve made progress, but we can do more.”
Although Auburn is a dry campus, alcohol is permitted within the confines of a fraternity house.
“Those fraternities located within the boundaries of Auburn University lease the land for their respective houses, giving them their own sense of private property that allows for alcoholic beverages,” Kittle said. “All but six fraternities (Ki Phi, Lambda Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Pi Kappa, Fiji) are located on campus property.
The off-campus fraternities must abide by the same rules as those on campus, Kittle said.
Kittle said drinking is part of the college culture and that involves under-aged students.
“It’s here. Our challenge is how to educate students so they can reduce the number of incidents,” he said. “Students who choose to drink are going to drink. This city does not exist under a bubble. It’s the real world. This is a very open institution. Very rarely are there reports of injuries and I’m thankful for that. If you can find the answer to under-aged drinking, that’s the silver bullet.“Fraternity membership is not supposed to supersede the legal drinking age.”
Modern hazing often subtle
Auburn has not been immune to hazing incidents in the past.
In 1993, Chad Saucier, a student from Mobile, writhed in convulsions and died after consuming a large amount of alcohol at a Christmas party. It was reported that Saucier, dressed in an elf suit, was strongly encouraged to continue drinking.
In August 2005, a prospective Theta Chi member was hospitalized due to a high amount of alcoholic consumption. According to FIPG rules, fraternities are not allowed to use alcohol during the recruitment of pledges.
Although the word brings to mind those kinds of horror stories, Kittle said it is more subtle now.
“People think of beatings and brandings,” he said. “You can consider hazing anything with power control. Someone has to be in position of perceived power over another. But a lot of freshmen don’t know the definition of hazing. Hazing on the subtle end is an issue we deal with on a regular basis.
Four brothers faced hazing charges last year, Hardin said. All stemmed from the same incident.
“It was personal items,” he said. “Stuff like, ‘Go get me a Coke.’ But if it’s permitted to a certain amount, there are problems you can get into. While this wasn’t doing any damage, pretty soon this person isn’t studying for his chemistry exam.”
Capt. Tom Stofer of the Auburn Police Division said fraternities at Auburn are well-behaved compared to others.
“As major institutions go, I’d say we have some of the best, well-behaved fraternities anywhere,” said Stofer. “They aren’t immune to problems, but they have been isolated incidents. The only time we really respond is when something gets out of hand.”
Stofer said the most common calls are fight complaints or disorderly conduct incidents.
“But this isn’t just a fraternity issue. Alcohol plays a part in society’s problems, in general,” he said. “We’re just as likely to respond to alcohol-related calls downtown as we are at a fraternity house.
“Alcohol is the root of so many problems. Date rape, domestic violence, property damage, you can often track it right back to alcohol abuse or use. We know there is a lot of alcohol in Auburn readily available.”
Boys and girls clubs
Dr. Alan D. DeSantis, professor of communication at the University of Kentucky, wrote about Greek life in “Inside Greek U.: Fraternities, Sororities and the Pursuit of Power, Pleasure and Prestige.”
DeSantis said failures within the Greek system cannot totally be traced back to the men and women involved.
“Fraternities and sororities are social boys and girls clubs run by boys and girls,” he told the Opelika-Auburn News. “There is not enough adult presence for guidance in their lives. It is a rare professor who I meet that even gets involved in these organizations. We do a far better job with student-athletes. No wonder they become really incredible people.”Although he supports the Greek system, DeSantis said it has lost its focus.
“I think the major problem is that it has become all about the social aspect,” he said. “The mission in college is to expand the lives and minds of students to help them think better and more critically. A person should be forever changed by this experience. Sadly, I do not believe the Greek system aids in that goal. I don’t think it challenges them.”
Some fraternity members make it to the top. Take Gogue, for example.
“More than anything else, fraternity membership taught me that there is something out there that’s much bigger than me,” said the Sigma Chi alum. “The collective membership can do a lot more together than each person can do individually, and that understanding has proven valuable as I’ve worked to lead a large organization such as a university.”
Labels:
Accountability,
Alcohol,
Legal Issues
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Dartmouth Sig Eps Appeal Probation
Three fraternities, no sororities to appeal Dartmouth's probation decisions
All three fraternities recently placed on probation by Dartmouth College have decided to appeal, while the two sororities on probation will not take any further action, according to the presidents of the organizations. Chi Heorot, Kappa Kappa Kappa and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities have submitted or plan to submit appeals to Dean of the College Tom Crady and will be not be on probation while their appeals are under review. Delta Delta Delta and Sigma Delta sororities chose not to challenge the decision.
An organization may appeal an Organization Adjudication Committee decision if new information comes to light or if the organization's members believe that procedural errors occurred in association with the original hearing, Crady said in an interview. After an organization files an appeal, the College lifts any sanctions resulting from the original OAC decision pending the outcome of the review, he explained.
Crady declined to discuss the details of ongoing cases.
Tri-Kap plans to submit its appeal Tuesday, the fraternity's president, Andrew Jean-Louis '09, said.
"We just wanted to make sure we got everything worked out before [we submitted the appeal]," he said.
Tri-Kap will provide new evidence in its appeal and argue that procedural errors were made in the original hearing, which was heard by special assistant to the Dean of the College Katherine Burke, Jean-Louis said. Tri-Kap was placed on probation after two underage students taken to Dick's House said they had been drinking at the fraternity, Jean-Louis told The Dartmouth in a previous interview.
"We thought [the OAC] took too long to see the charges," he said. "[The incident] was during Homecoming, and they didn't see us until late January."
Burke, who presided over the initial review, declined to comment for this article.
"Burke was very open to hearing to what we have to say," Jean-Louis said.
Cases may be heard either by an OAC chair, like Burke, or the full OAC committee, which includes students, faculty and administrators. An Undergraduate Judicial Affairs officer, in consultation with the Dean of the College and an OAC chair, decides who hears probation-level cases, according to the Student Handbook.
Sig-Ep President Kevin Scully '09 said his organization's appeal will also provide new evidence and argue that the original hearing had several procedural errors. The fraternity submitted an appeal on Jan. 29, and Scully said he hopes to receive a response from the College later this week. He declined to elaborate on the nature of the new information or the alleged procedural errors outlined in the appeal.
Sig-Ep was placed on probation for "a violation of the College's standards policy, for a formal incident," Scully said in a previous e-mail to The Dartmouth.
Tri-Delt chose not to appeal the OAC decision, President Meg Montgoris '09 said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth, citing a lack of new evidence or procedural errors on the part of the OAC.
Montgoris said she was disappointed that Tri-Delt was not allowed to present its case to the full OAC committee and that the decision was rendered by "a singular individual who may or may not have already decided where she stood on the matter."
Tri-Delt's sanctions stem from the organization's fall formal event, held at Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury, N.H. The resort's staff filed a complaint with the College regarding "public intoxication and indecent conduct between sisters and their dates" at the event, Montgoris said. She added that Tri-Delt was not aware that a complaint had been filed until a week later, when she was notified that a College investigation was underway.
"Though our organization was somewhat rattled by the extent of our punishment, we take full responsibility for our unacceptable behavior at Ragged Mountain," she added.
Sigma Delt President Kristen Rounds '09 told The Dartmouth in an e-mail that her organization has chosen not to appeal the OAC decision. Rounds declined to comment further.
The sorority was put on probation after the OAC determined that it had violated the College's disorderly conduct standard, Rounds said in a previous interview with The Dartmouth.
Chi Heorot officials declined to comment.
http://thedartmouth.com
All three fraternities recently placed on probation by Dartmouth College have decided to appeal, while the two sororities on probation will not take any further action, according to the presidents of the organizations. Chi Heorot, Kappa Kappa Kappa and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities have submitted or plan to submit appeals to Dean of the College Tom Crady and will be not be on probation while their appeals are under review. Delta Delta Delta and Sigma Delta sororities chose not to challenge the decision.
An organization may appeal an Organization Adjudication Committee decision if new information comes to light or if the organization's members believe that procedural errors occurred in association with the original hearing, Crady said in an interview. After an organization files an appeal, the College lifts any sanctions resulting from the original OAC decision pending the outcome of the review, he explained.
Crady declined to discuss the details of ongoing cases.
Tri-Kap plans to submit its appeal Tuesday, the fraternity's president, Andrew Jean-Louis '09, said.
"We just wanted to make sure we got everything worked out before [we submitted the appeal]," he said.
Tri-Kap will provide new evidence in its appeal and argue that procedural errors were made in the original hearing, which was heard by special assistant to the Dean of the College Katherine Burke, Jean-Louis said. Tri-Kap was placed on probation after two underage students taken to Dick's House said they had been drinking at the fraternity, Jean-Louis told The Dartmouth in a previous interview.
"We thought [the OAC] took too long to see the charges," he said. "[The incident] was during Homecoming, and they didn't see us until late January."
Burke, who presided over the initial review, declined to comment for this article.
"Burke was very open to hearing to what we have to say," Jean-Louis said.
Cases may be heard either by an OAC chair, like Burke, or the full OAC committee, which includes students, faculty and administrators. An Undergraduate Judicial Affairs officer, in consultation with the Dean of the College and an OAC chair, decides who hears probation-level cases, according to the Student Handbook.
Sig-Ep President Kevin Scully '09 said his organization's appeal will also provide new evidence and argue that the original hearing had several procedural errors. The fraternity submitted an appeal on Jan. 29, and Scully said he hopes to receive a response from the College later this week. He declined to elaborate on the nature of the new information or the alleged procedural errors outlined in the appeal.
Sig-Ep was placed on probation for "a violation of the College's standards policy, for a formal incident," Scully said in a previous e-mail to The Dartmouth.
Tri-Delt chose not to appeal the OAC decision, President Meg Montgoris '09 said in an e-mail to The Dartmouth, citing a lack of new evidence or procedural errors on the part of the OAC.
Montgoris said she was disappointed that Tri-Delt was not allowed to present its case to the full OAC committee and that the decision was rendered by "a singular individual who may or may not have already decided where she stood on the matter."
Tri-Delt's sanctions stem from the organization's fall formal event, held at Ragged Mountain Resort in Danbury, N.H. The resort's staff filed a complaint with the College regarding "public intoxication and indecent conduct between sisters and their dates" at the event, Montgoris said. She added that Tri-Delt was not aware that a complaint had been filed until a week later, when she was notified that a College investigation was underway.
"Though our organization was somewhat rattled by the extent of our punishment, we take full responsibility for our unacceptable behavior at Ragged Mountain," she added.
Sigma Delt President Kristen Rounds '09 told The Dartmouth in an e-mail that her organization has chosen not to appeal the OAC decision. Rounds declined to comment further.
The sorority was put on probation after the OAC determined that it had violated the College's disorderly conduct standard, Rounds said in a previous interview with The Dartmouth.
Chi Heorot officials declined to comment.
http://thedartmouth.com
Labels:
Accountability
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Three UT frat houses closed due to safety problems
TN Alpha SigEps will have to find another place to live when they return from the Christmas break. The inspector says the house is unsafe to inhabit.
The house was built in the mid sixties as part of a campus renovation plan which included a new "Fraternity Row" on campus. All the houses affected are in the same area and were built around the same time.
The SigEp chapter at Tennessee has plans to build a new house on the same site, but has not yet set a date for ground-breaking. Maybe this will be the "opportunity" needed to get things started.
Three UT frat houses closed due to safety problems : Local News : Knoxville News Sentinel
"We found a few things that upset us, such as fire alarm systems, emergency lighting, exit signs - life safety features that require attention," Boyd said today.
Boyd said the first fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi, 1828 Fraternity Park Drive, was closed Saturday. Two other fraternity houses, Lambda Chi Alpha, 1848 Fraternity Park Drive, and Sigma Phi Epsilon, 1832 Fraternity Park Drive, were closed Tuesday.
Maybe Someday...
The SigEp chapter at Tennessee has plans to build a new house on the same site, but has not yet set a date for ground-breaking. Maybe this will be the "opportunity" needed to get things started.
Three UT frat houses closed due to safety problems : Local News : Knoxville News Sentinel
Labels:
Accountability,
Housing Codes,
safety,
SigEp,
TN Alpha
Friday, October 17, 2008
Fraternities Seeking Student Learning Outcomes
DELTA SIGMA PHI, DELTA UPSILON FRATERNITIES ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP
Delta Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon Fraternities have announced a partnership centered on a shared commitment to utilizing student learning outcomes as a basis for informing student programming and fraternity operations. The two organizations have contracted with the Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment and the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity to measure their members’ experience.
The 2007 American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) College Learning for the New Global Century report has served as a call to action for the fraternities. The report recommends a set of Essential Learning Outcomes that outline the hallmarks of the 21st Century college graduate. To remain relevant with an ever-changing global society and to align with the educational mission of higher education, Delta Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon will make assessment of student learning outcomes a top priority.
“This initiative is about the shared commitment of Delta Upsilon and Delta Sigma Phi Fraternities and their leadership to remain a relevant and vital contributor to the development of young men of high moral character,” said Scott Wiley, Executive Director of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. “Instead of talking about ways to collaborate our two organizations are choosing to act.”
The assessments will begin immediately with a set of pilot chapters this fall. The two organizations will hold a joint board meeting in January to review the initial data.
“Delta Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon share a common mission of building better men and desire to be partners with higher education,” Justin Kirk, Delta Upsilon Executive Director said. “We want to use assessment as a means of ensuring that our rhetoric is congruent with our reality.”
The Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment will administer the University Learning Outcomes Assessment (UniLoa).The UniLoa is an assessment tool designed to measure student behaviors and development in seven domains regarded as critical by employers and experts in the field of higher education.
Dr. Mark Frederick, co-developer of the UniLoa, believes the partnership presents a tremendous opportunity.
“Fraternities and sororities are in a unique position to positively impact holistic student growth, learning, and development. By accurately understanding and measuring current levels of student behaviors, those organizations can move swiftly to develop programs and interventions designed to overcome weaknesses. As such, they can better prepare their members to succeed after graduation and to make significant contributions to themselves and the world around them,” said Frederick.
The organizations will also work with the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity (CSCF) using the Fraternity / Sorority Experience Assessment (FSES). The FSES measures eleven critical components of a chapter’s environment.
"These fraternities are setting an assessment precedent. The examination of both individual learning outcomes and correlating it with how their fraternity's environmental factors contribute to students' success will change, elevate, and solidify the value fraternity adds to the collegiate experience,” said Steve Veldkamp, Executive Director of the CSCF.
For more information on the partnership, please contact:
Justin Kirk - Executive Director, Delta Upsilon Fraternity
kirk@deltau.org - (317) 875-8900
Scott Wiley – Executive Director, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity
wiley@deltasig.org - (317) 634-1899
Dr. Mark Frederick – Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment
mfrederick@isugw.indstate.edu – (812) 237-3888
Steve Veldkamp – Center for the Study of the College Fraternity
Veldkamp@indiana.edu – (812) 855-4311
Delta Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon Fraternities have announced a partnership centered on a shared commitment to utilizing student learning outcomes as a basis for informing student programming and fraternity operations. The two organizations have contracted with the Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment and the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity to measure their members’ experience.
The 2007 American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) College Learning for the New Global Century report has served as a call to action for the fraternities. The report recommends a set of Essential Learning Outcomes that outline the hallmarks of the 21st Century college graduate. To remain relevant with an ever-changing global society and to align with the educational mission of higher education, Delta Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon will make assessment of student learning outcomes a top priority.
“This initiative is about the shared commitment of Delta Upsilon and Delta Sigma Phi Fraternities and their leadership to remain a relevant and vital contributor to the development of young men of high moral character,” said Scott Wiley, Executive Director of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity. “Instead of talking about ways to collaborate our two organizations are choosing to act.”
The assessments will begin immediately with a set of pilot chapters this fall. The two organizations will hold a joint board meeting in January to review the initial data.
“Delta Sigma Phi and Delta Upsilon share a common mission of building better men and desire to be partners with higher education,” Justin Kirk, Delta Upsilon Executive Director said. “We want to use assessment as a means of ensuring that our rhetoric is congruent with our reality.”
The Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment will administer the University Learning Outcomes Assessment (UniLoa).The UniLoa is an assessment tool designed to measure student behaviors and development in seven domains regarded as critical by employers and experts in the field of higher education.
Dr. Mark Frederick, co-developer of the UniLoa, believes the partnership presents a tremendous opportunity.
“Fraternities and sororities are in a unique position to positively impact holistic student growth, learning, and development. By accurately understanding and measuring current levels of student behaviors, those organizations can move swiftly to develop programs and interventions designed to overcome weaknesses. As such, they can better prepare their members to succeed after graduation and to make significant contributions to themselves and the world around them,” said Frederick.
The organizations will also work with the Center for the Study of the College Fraternity (CSCF) using the Fraternity / Sorority Experience Assessment (FSES). The FSES measures eleven critical components of a chapter’s environment.
"These fraternities are setting an assessment precedent. The examination of both individual learning outcomes and correlating it with how their fraternity's environmental factors contribute to students' success will change, elevate, and solidify the value fraternity adds to the collegiate experience,” said Steve Veldkamp, Executive Director of the CSCF.
For more information on the partnership, please contact:
Justin Kirk - Executive Director, Delta Upsilon Fraternity
kirk@deltau.org - (317) 875-8900
Scott Wiley – Executive Director, Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity
wiley@deltasig.org - (317) 634-1899
Dr. Mark Frederick – Center for Learning Outcomes Assessment
mfrederick@isugw.indstate.edu – (812) 237-3888
Steve Veldkamp – Center for the Study of the College Fraternity
Veldkamp@indiana.edu – (812) 855-4311
Labels:
Accountability,
Greek values,
Making a Difference
Sunday, October 12, 2008
The Financial Crisis and SigEp
Anyone who has a 401-K plan, a mortgage on a house that has lost value, or works for a company that needs to borrow short term money knows that these are troubled times. A loss of value like we have seen in the last two weeks will not be recovered quickly, and the loss of confidence in the working of the markets may lead to significant changes in the way financial business is done.
Bro. Gene Schurg sent these thoughts about the recent meltdown of the financial markets and how it may affect SigEp:
Anyone reading a newspaper or watching a newscast the past few weeks knows that the United States and the world is in a financial meltdown. Fannie and Freddie are under government control. Banks won't loan money to other banks. Student loans are becoming more difficult to find.
As corporations cut back the workforce in this crisis our young brothers will find it more difficult to pay for “optional” activities in college or may be pulled from school totally when their parents lose their jobs. Young men who were able to live in the fraternity house in past years will find it more economical to live at home and commute to campus.
Educational saving funds accumulated by the families of our members that were adequate for a 4 year education a year ago now are valued at significantly less today.
Faced with buying books or paying fraternity dues, books are required... fraternity is not.
In the bigger picture, our key contributors to the foundation are finding their savings cut by the loss of value in their stock holdings. Will they still give to the programs of SigEp? When manpower drops how will we keep doing the programs at the national level? AVC's previously strapped for cash in good times will find it exceedingly difficult to keep the doors of the fraternity house open.
As a fraternity we can stick our heads in the sand and pretend that "this won't affect SigEp" or "my school is above all of this financial mess." Poor leadership would do this. What should SigEp leadership do to adopt a defensive position against what may be a long recession or worse a depression?
Now more than ever SigEp has to show the value of our fraternity. Chapters that fail to show value of the SigEp experience to the member and recruits will become that “optional” expenditure for men on our campuses. Our men must be able to communicate how a man will have a better opportunity for employment and better prepared for life after college if he joins Sigma Phi Epsilon.
It could be gloom and doom... or we could survive if our leaders plan now.
I would be interested in discussing how the financial meltdown is affecting our chapters across the country.
The Trustees of the foundation and the leadership of the Fraternity include some very astute financial minds. I hope we don't have to cut back on the good programs and guidance that are provided to our undergraduate members. This would be a good time to "put your money where your heart is" and help SigEp remain a strong and respected builder of leaders.
Often on this blog we talk about those areas where we believe the Fraternity could be better, and Gene is certainly not shy about offering his opinion. But no one wants to see SigEp fall by the wayside. We all care deeply about the brotherhood. All fraternities will face challenges like those Gene refers to and we need to make sure - with our time, talents, and treasure - that OUR fraternity continues to offer the best undergraduate leadership experience.
Labels:
Accountability,
Alumni,
challenges,
Education Foundation,
NBD,
SigEp,
Volunteers
Thursday, September 25, 2008
SigEp Executive Director sheds some light
Craig Templeton, SigEp's Executive Director, sent this email today to several interested parties. We suggested that it be posted on the blog since it speaks to several items that have been discussed lately and he agreed.
Brothers:
I hear there is discussion of phones and staffing on the blog. I thought some background might help.
Last year, we did a review of the Headquarters & staff structure to overcome barriers to serving volunteers and their chapters. Telephone accessibility was a hot topic. We installed an advanced phone system that seamlessly connects callers to employees whenever and wherever they might be. If away from our desks, calls can be automatically forward to cell phones. Callers can now reach any employee any time, unless on an airplane, or otherwise "indisposed," by just dialing their extension.
That doesn't mean you won't get voice mail, but they'll get your message immediately.
Another barrier was the limited times a receptionist was available to answer & direct calls―particularly annoying to those in western time zones. When Douglas retired, our answering service proposed that, with our new phone system, they could provide live service, not just until "closing time," but 24 hours a day, seven days a week, just as they do for the Crisis Hotline. Particularly beneficial for reaching Regional Directors―calls now transfer directly to them too.
So now, rather than depending on one receptionist who often had to be away from her desk and left at 4:30 p.m. eastern/1:30 Pacific, we have four receptionists dedicated to answer every call. Live.
Like any new employee, they are getting used to our nomenclature, names, organization and services. They'll have everyone's availability on their screens just like Douglas did. When they can't reach me at my desk for any reason, they roll over to Karen for help―just like Douglas did. The same goes for every person and their backup in the building.
And best of all―if it doesn't improve service and accessibility, we can always go back to an in-house receptionist. In the meantime, I thought we'd try actually expanding and improving our service and accessibility…and, yes, at a small fraction of what our undergraduates paid for a full-time receptionist.
For those of you who know the Fraternity so well, I hope you'll help bring the new receptionists up to speed. As with any new employee, you will surely be able to catch them losing now and then, but please let me know when you experience any problem with the service. They have always been responsive and committed to performing at our standard, but if it doesn't work, we'll fix it.
Another top concern was with Chapter Services. Staff guys have come & gone over the years, but we've just undertaken the first staff structural reorganization since I arrived eight years ago. I am sending a letter to all chapter volunteers next week to detail the changes―again designed and intended to improve responsiveness and efficiency. We moved volunteer functions together under Gary Huff's direction and then divided the country east and west for Chapter Services, with a director and administrative coordinator for each, east & west.
I'm impressed by those who think the size of Headquarters staff has grown so much. Perhaps it is a sign of greater staff performance, presence and visibility, because this week I issued exactly the same number of paychecks as in 2000 before I came in. Also, that year our PMR (campus membership) was 12,917 & last year was 14,353. I know it's not popular to hear management in business terms at SigEp, but that's an 11% reduction in the staff to student ratio.
We are committed to finding ways to be more efficient and responsive to better serve volunteers working with undergraduates and chapters. I appreciate any ideas, feedback―or even volunteer assistance in improving. It's a challenge I take very seriously. In the meantime, if you have a favorite who normally helps you in Zollinger House, simply ask for them. Karen, Donna, Kathy, Debbie, Jan, Susan Ilch and Jerry are all still there and love to hear from you. And the newer folks on staff are anxious to get to know you.
You may also be interested that the RD fall meeting is in Lake Las Vegas next month. As it turns out, Vegas is a pretty cheap destination and the Foundation donors (Board of Governors) are having their fall gathering there and offered career planning meetings with RDs. Nice deal―the Fraternity saves on travel and the RDs get an added benefit. I've seen the schedule. Fall is our busiest season. No time for golf, but I hope they have a good time anyway. We'd love to have you to join us at the Foundation Homecoming Weekend in Nevada.
Please let me know if you have any questions, ideas or concerns and thanks for your continued commitment to SigEp.
Craig.
SigEp│All men by nature desire knowledge―Aristotle
Craig D. Templeton, Executive Director
310 S. Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220
Thanks, Craig, for shedding some light on the issues. Communications such as this helps bring a much desired transparency to the workings at HQ. Still, I am sure that our readers will have comments and opinions on this post as they do on others.
Labels:
Accountability,
goals,
HQ News,
HQ Staff
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Hello? Is anyone home?
A disconnected brother sent this message to several of his friends. We got it by the usual "over the transom" method.
In the last year or so we have seen the departure of long-time employees such as "Debit" Wester, Douglass McRaney, and this past Friday it was Barbara Shanahan. In their place are lots of new faces with fancy titles. But where is the service? Total staffing at HQ has grown much faster than the undergraduate manpower. Have the chapters experienced a comparable growth in services?
SO you call 1-800-353-1901 and don't know who you want to talk to or you go to voice mail and your question could be answered by someone else on staff. In the past you would dial 1 for the receptionist and ask who ever picked up (if it wasn't Douglas) "Is anyone in the building today?Normally we would have let this pass, but we had the exact same experience last week when trying to find out if HQ was aware of the hurricane that passed over Lamar and U of Houston. Our power and internet were out so we did not know who to try to reach by telephone. It was voice mail hell, then some answering service that had no idea what a "Director of Chapter Services" is. We were finally contacted (the next day) by Gary Huff, who had apparently been pressed into "storm duty." He was able to assure us that HQ was indeed aware and informed, and the members accounted for.
I need to talk to someone about ..."
Try this today and you get a generic answering service who doesn't know (or care who you are) and only flips your call to someone... if they are there, lucky you. If they aren't there you go to voice mail.
Great customer service! Thanks Craig! Save a few more bucks that he can hire another person from Richmond to build the empire... hmmm maybe he needs a VCU sorority woman to be Director of Malcontents.
In the last year or so we have seen the departure of long-time employees such as "Debit" Wester, Douglass McRaney, and this past Friday it was Barbara Shanahan. In their place are lots of new faces with fancy titles. But where is the service? Total staffing at HQ has grown much faster than the undergraduate manpower. Have the chapters experienced a comparable growth in services?
Labels:
Accountability,
Communication network,
HQ Staff,
Ike,
Texas hurricane
Friday, August 01, 2008
What's the connection?
Three articles. How are they related and how does it affect SigEp? Comments encouraged.
First story: Dead Drunk
Drinking games prove deadly to college kids - Addictions- msnbc.com
Second Story: Review This!
PRINCETON REVIEW, TOP PARTY SCHOOLS: Princeton Review ranks top party schools of 2008 -- chicagotribune.com
Story Three: Beer Pong - the Wii experience
Finally: Beer Pong Comes to the Wii - AppScout
First story: Dead Drunk
Drinking games prove deadly to college kids - Addictions- msnbc.com
This is your brain after a "21-for-21" session: ---------. Any questions?On the morning after the house party on Johnson Street, Jenna Foellmi and several other twentysomethings lay sprawled on the beds and couches. When a friend reached out to wake her, Foellmi was cold to the touch.
The friend's screams woke up the others still asleep in the house.
[...]
Exactly how much Jenna drank that night isn't clear. The coroner did not release her blood-alcohol level, saying only that it was "not compatible with life."
Second Story: Review This!
PRINCETON REVIEW, TOP PARTY SCHOOLS: Princeton Review ranks top party schools of 2008 -- chicagotribune.com
At least the Administration is on board with Florida's reputation. As a Tennessee grad I'm chagrined to be bested by the Gators in anything, especially since we were "only" 18th. (Practically a Sunday school class, in comparison.) Here is the list. Is your school there? Are there any schools on the list that don't have a SigEp chapter? Coincidence?Freshman Allison Belanger, a journalism and political science major, said she's only been on campus for a few weeks but already has had no problem finding a party.
"All I have to do is leave the dorm," said Belanger, 17. "A lot of people study hard and party hard."
[...]
"The fact that we have three national championships in two years is probably a major contributing factor," spokesman Steve Orlando said. "We know our students like to have a good time."
[...]
Florida also came in first this year in the categories of students who study the least and students who pack the stadiums.
Story Three: Beer Pong - the Wii experience
Finally: Beer Pong Comes to the Wii - AppScout
Well, at least you won't have the health department condemn the basement when the party is over.Available for WiiWare, the game is the first installment of the company's new Frat Party series. Pong Toss is pretty much like it sounds. Users toss ping-pong balls into keg cups. It's a bit like that recently released competitive-eating WiiWare, only instead of projectile vomiting, users can unlock such hidden features as virtual cirrhosis and walks of shame.
[...]
Look for the hazing game early next year.
Labels:
Accountability,
Alcohol,
Binge Drinking,
death,
Drunk,
Frat boy image,
Party,
Party Games
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