So let me get this straight..You're saying that because no one has broken this rule before and they don't have a set punishment for it they SHOULDN'T get sactioned??? So let's say, hypothetically speaking, a chapter serves alcohol at a recruitment event. This is against the rules, but since no one else has done it, a precedence for the type of punishment given has not been set. Therfore, they should get a warning??? I don't understand your reasoning.

That is actually what would happen in a lot of situations. Or the chapter would face a larger category charge.

The important thing phimugirlie01 is to make sure there is a fair and consistant process.

Keeping to your hypothetical: Serving alcohol to Rushees is against Green Book Policy . . .

Ok, its a rule. But rules assume consequences. So normally there is an "OR ELSE" implied by "CAN'T".

There is not an "or else" for the RUSH infraction.

In your example, they would still be sanctioned in the absence of an NPC penalty, because they violated the "can't" serve alcohol without a lisence, to minors, etc etc. The "or else" being the sanctions from the school or national that are probably already wirtten down. Maybe even legal. Consequences.

In this case: The rule is a specific NPC RUSH infraction. So the "or else" comes from the NPC and is usually already written out.

That is why I asked what the penalties were, if any, for other types of RUSH infractions. These penalties would provide guidelines for sanctioning the chapter under a more general category of RUSH Infraction.

Otherwise,the local NPC, has to just "make it up" as they go along, in which case why not just a written warning?

Does it depend on how mad the other chapters are with them? Will that determine what happens?

Just here you have a variety of reactions and suggestions.

Creating a process is very important.

Normally, the president of the chapter in trouble goes to mediation with the person who brings the complaint (either a chapter president, panhellenic president, or rho chi), and a fair punishment is worked out. There really is not a hard and fast solution to any recruitment problem.

Contact NPC and get their input.

I'm betting the reason there is no process in place is because this is an infraction that just doesn't happen . There are plenty of rules that do get broken more commonly (promising bids, serving alcohol at informal rush) - but I have NEVER heard this one before. It would be like saying, "Why isn't there a process in place for one chapter going out and killing another's pledges?" That's how strong the taboo is here.

That's also the reason National Panhellenic needs to be involved - it's such a serious infraction. And you see how we all disagree on here about what is the right response - the other sororities on campus who are closer to the situation can hardly be expected to reach a fair, good decision.