Suspended..what to do??
 

Recently, I got suspended from my sorority for alcohol. The police charged me with public intoxication. The police (from my university) contacted my chapter advisor and she suspended me over the phone. She basically suspended me for breaking the law...I'm 18. Right now, all I wanna do is get back in. It's eating me up inside. I don't know what to do. Is it possible to get back into a sorority through appeal (or other options) after being suspended for alcoholic reasons?

I had a good reputation in the sorority and have never gotten into trouble for anything. My record was clean.

One of my 'sisters' emailed her and she said that my actions were inexcusable.

I'm losing all hope..I don't know what to do :( please help.

You would know the inner workings of your sorority better than we would. Read your constitution and bylaws. There are usually codes or guidelines that say you need to obey local and national laws.

I've never heard of an advisor suspending someone before (in my experience, it's been national/regional board members), and I've never heard of someone being suspended over the phone.

I would definitely try to talk to the advisor and the chapter president and see if her suspending you over the phone is even allowed. I think in most chapters the chapter as a whole votes on these kinds of things. But Im not sure, your chapter might be different, but you'll never know unless you take action. Don't be surprised if your still suspended later on,underage drinking is a pretty big deal, especially if the police charged you with it. Good luck.

Depending on the sorority, Chapter Advisors can suspend a membership if it is in the best interest of the sorority. Usually, though there is an investigation and they have passed it up the food chain to get it approved. Check your national Constitution and Bylaws for the specific guidelines that apply to your group.

As far as over the phone, as a CA, I NEVER want to communicate important information, such as disciplinary issues over the phone. It can open you up to misinterpretation, you don't know who else is listening on the other side, etc. I've actually sent a certified letter (paid out of my own pocket) to a member to who refused to meet with me or even have a phone call to set up time to meet (it was a disciplinary issue obviously). The certified letter was to cover all based and I was instructed to do so by the women I report to.

My advice is to meet with your Chapter Advisor and find out the results of
her investigation. Maybe she has missing information, you never know.

Questions:

Was it only campus police who were aware of the situation? Or were local authorities involved, as well?

Was there a meeting between the advisor and any of the chapter members before you received the phone call? I would think that at the very least, there should have been a discussion amongst the advisor and chapter president, if for no other reason than to inform at least one chapter member of the disciplinary action taking place (assuming that the advisor has the authority to suspend a sister without chapter approval).

You say you were "suspended"... Indefinitely? Or were you given a specfic length of time for your punishment?

And as already mentioned, I would assume there is a procedure/paperwork to go along with the suspension of a member. Do you know if anything has been carried out as of yet?

No, I wasn't wearing any letters and it was not a chapter related event. It was the end of the semester and I wanted to unwind. I came from a party and was heading back to my dorm.

Is it a bad idea if I disclose the name of my sorority??

I can appeal, but I have my doubts. Recently, my chapter got in trouble for alcohol at an event (I didn't get in trouble). The area facilitator had to come in and give us a talk.

Yes, I definitely learned my lesson, but I know of other sisters who got got called in for the same thing yet none of them were suspended.
The lady who suspended me just became our new chapter adviser and she told me that our sorority has a zero tolerance on alcohol.

Ugh, I wanna fight it, but I doubt my National Council will reverse the suspension.

I'd also check your policies for any possible grounds for your suspension. Were you given a specific citation from the Const/bylaws about what you broke?

I know my sorority has a policy specifically related to underage drinking.

Um is it a suspension or disaffiliation? You make it sound like it's permanent, which isn't what a suspension usually means.

I got caught by the campus police and they arrested me and took me to the local adult detention center and I had to stay in a holding cell for a night. Now I have a court date :/

I think the chapter adviser talked to the area facilitator, but it was mainly the chapter adviser who made the decision.

She said that I was suspended, which meant that I was no longer a sister.

She just told me to turn in my pin. I think there are suspension forms that I have to fill out and sign, but I haven't gotten any yet.

Maybe my sorority is different. But our advisor actually has no official say in judicial/standards decisions. She simply advises.

I still don't get how suspension equates disaffiliation.

Oh...suspension basically means kicked out as in I'm no longer a sister :[

She said that I got suspended for breaking the law.

In our constitution/bylaws, it says that a collegiate member may have her membership suspended for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the fraternity considered too serious for probabtion. (I know that even though it's for drinking, it's not under the reasons for automatic suspension)

For alcohol use policies, it says that chapters are expected to abide by federal, state, and local laws and university policies...[...]

Oh, I think it's called suspension because it can be "revocable."

That kind of sounds like your answer. But like others have said you can always appeal.

Yeah, I'm definitely going to appeal, but I just don't think the National Council will reverse it..it says that the appeal may be denied only by a four-sevenths (4/7) vote of the National Council. It's just not looking too good for me...

This may sound harsh, but here's my take on what's going on and why. You didn't just get drunk, you were arrested and that's a matter of public record. Anyone on campus who knows you probably knows you're an XYZ. That looks bad for the whole chapter and for the I/natl org.

Your chapter recently got into trouble with I/natl for alcohol problems. I assume an area facilitator is an I/natl officer. In my experience when an IO comes to talk to a chapter it's a very serious situation. If your chapter wasn't placed on probation then they are at least being looked at under a microscope. It's irrelevant how other sisters with similar circumstances were treated in the past, actually that may have been part of the problem. I/natl is watching now.

As already said by others, every GLO has its own policy on how much authority an advisor has regarding disciplinary actions. As long as the appropriate procedures were followed it doesn't matter if your advisor made the decision on her own or if she is a new advisor. You stated that you believe she conferred with your area facilitator. If correct your IO knows the policies and would have made sure the advisor knew too. I suspect the IO would have also made it very clear to the advisor of any potential ramifications the chapter might face if strict adherence to zero tolerance was not shown. Part of an advisor's job is to protect the entire chapter by making the hard (and at times unpopular) decisions. This action may have saved the entire chapter from additional I/natl sanctions.

You already know you can appeal the decision. It's up to you if you want to try. If you don't appeal or if they don't find in your favor, well then you are just going to have to chalk this up to a heartbreaking life experience. There isn't much else you can do.

It doesn't sound right that an advisor could make the decision to suspend you. To have to turn in your pin is a very BIG deal...it happened to a girl in my chapter when I was in school and, although I was a pledge at the time, I am aware that there was a lot of paperwork involved and it is my understanding that the actual decision was made by our National Council. This may be a special circumstance because your chapter has come under fire for violating alcohol policies recently, but it still doesn't seem quite right.

My advice would be to find out what the exact procedures are for suspending a member. Your chapter should have some sort of policy and procedures handbook that you can look at, to make sure that the right steps were taken. If you don't get the answers that you need from the chapter, contact the National Officer that your chapter reports to.

It is important that, if you are suspended, it is clear that it is because of something that you did, and that you did not decide to turn in your pin. I would think that it would be easier in the future to appeal for reinstatement if you can prove that you have matured and learned your lesson, rather than having to try to explain why you elected to leave the membership.

When you're facing criminal charges, I think the last thing in the world you should be worried about is your sorority membership. You have much bigger things to worry about right now.

I remember my chapter having some kind of rule that if we got arrested we were kicked out. Good luck.

Yeah, good luck with that. :rolleyes:

In my personal experience, as a member, and as an advisor, i have NEVER seen a situation where national council overturned the chapter, chapter advisors or IO/AFs recommendation. The chapter advisor and IOs are the "eyes and ears" for national council, and I suspect that only in extreme, RARE circumstances, would national council ever make a decision involving membership that the leaders and advisors personally involved with the chapter did not recommend.

What to do? Worry about your court date and make better decisions about your actions if you're going to drink while underage.

AGREED.

You've got much bigger fish to fry than "getting back into your sorority."

Getting arrested has consequences, and this is one of them, simple as that.

Hopefully you'll take this as a lesson and won't get arrested anymore.

I was thinking the SAME thing.

Usually if anything happens that involves disciplinary action there is some kind of "standards hearing" or whatever between the executive board and the person who is "in trouble".

Suspension is NOT the same as Disaffiliated. A suspension is temporary. Disaffiliation is forever. So I don't get that either.

Not true my organization. If you are suspended, you are no longer a member - whether it's voluntary or forced suspension. Some suspensions can be appealed (such as academic - you can petition to be reinstated if you get your grades up) but suspension is permanent for us.

*edit* to clarify, probation is temporary, suspension is permanent.

Stuff happens. If you have a clean record you need to make sure, first of all, that you make a good impression on the judge. It some states/counties judges will have you take a class when it's your first offense and you're underage in exchange for having it "off" of your record. This should be your priority at the moment, because you don't want an arrest and conviction on your record. Make sure you've learned your lesson. Maybe you'll get a second chance, good luck.

I've never heard of an organization where the advisor had thepower to kick out a member without any kind of procedure by the collegian executive board unless we're talking someone is caught dealing cocaine to the elementary school kids down the street. Read your chapter documents and national/international documents. IF procedure was not followed correctly you might have some way to appeal the decision. If there is a provision for an advisor to take such extreme measures, whether or not your actions warranted it, you're probably out of luck.

Honestly on mycampus it was rare for a member to be terminated just for being arrested for drinking underage especially if they had otherwise been model members. On the other hand, your timing is horrible. Your chapter being in trouble with your organization has obviously put all members under intense scrutiny and the adults in thesituation are probably annoyed that a member has gotten in trouble so soon after the chapter did. It's not going to help your case. It to me seems a little harsh but again, review your chapter and national/international documents. Also consider this: even if you fight the battle to be re-instated and are successful you'll be stuck with this advisor over your head for the rest of your time as a collegian. It might not be worth it.

Let's all remember that each GLO may use different terminology for the same word. While suspension may mean a temporary situation with ABC, it may be a forever disaffiliation with XYZ.

I agree with those who said that you need to worry more about your court date than your suspension. You need to speak to a knowledgable attorney who can either get you off - because this will follow you much further than a sorority suspension. When you go job hunting, "public drunkeness" is not something a possible employer wants to see on your record.

Once your court date is over, then start making plans for setting the record straight with your sorority. Until then, you have no reasonable excuse for your I/natl office to want you to represent your sorority.

I agree, especially since in some sororities and chapters, the main advisor is sometimes not even a sister. And you should have had the chance to appeal before you were terminated/suspended. Simply because you were arrested doesn't mean you're guilty.

If you get forms sent to you, do not sign them.

I'm sorry but I don't care what the charge is, advisors making decisions about members without input of the collegians is a super bogus move. If the sorority approves of that kind of in loco parentis garbage, she might be better off without her membership.

Not to mention, if it wasn't at a sorority event or the OP wasn't wearing letters, how did the campus police even know she was in a sorority and why was the advisor contacted? That would be kind of like my landlord getting a call if I got a DUI. Something's rotten in Denmark....I wouldn't be surprised if it was not the campus police that called the advisor, rather a sister that has it out for you. Did this new advisor actually get notification in writing from the police or just a phone call?

I'm from a small campus too, but I can't imagine the campus cops knowing anyone's affiliation. They could identify if a jacket or shirt had Greek letters on it, but that was about it. Like I said this just smells funny and I don't think it was really a cop who called the advisor to inform her.

We have less than 1000 students and extremely friendly security guards. Like you said, the point is that something shady is going on. Our security wouldn't even know who our advisor is.

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I'd say that chances are good that we're not getting the whole story from the OP.

We so rarely do with these types of posts.

I agree with what others have said....forget your sorority membership issues until you finish with your legal issues. I doubt anyone will vote to reverse this decision until your case is settled for good. If you are acquitted, you'd have a much better chance of changing the suspension. Actually being convicted of these charges may make the point moot.

Buddhabelly, sorry to hear of your situation. As a mom who's gotten that collect call from a county jail at 4 in the morning that my son was arrested for an MIP and PI, I can empathize.

From a legal standpoint, at least in the state of Texas, a first offense MIP and PI are a class C misdemeanor, which is like a speeding ticket or jaywalking offense. My son had to take an alcohol awareness class and do 30 hours of community service to have the arrest expunged from his record. This is the avenue I would have you explore with the DA if I was your mother. THEN, be aware that any subsequent arrest, the penalty and consequences increase, SO - NO MORE MIP's!!

As for the sorority, I agree that it is probably a matter of bad timing... The chapter's issues with nationals has put them under a microscope and an issue such as yours might be all it takes to bring down the house. I'm sorry for your plight, but you may be out of luck.

Good luck, and know that this is not the end of the world, you have a full life to look forward to, including the rest of your college years. Eventually, this will be a blip on the radar :)

Buddah-

As a mom, I hope you read every word of Srmom's post and take it to heart. You should reread the last part, in particular. I hope that it works out for you with the sorority. If not, use it as a learning experience. Bad decisions result in negative consequences- but this is not the end of the world. Good luck.

I think I can tell which sorority you're in, and according to the bylaws (found online) there's an appeal process. Why not give it a try? Just be very humble, and act quickly.

It's a VERY common practice for the Greek Advisor or other student affairs representative to receive a copy of all police reports on Monday in order to specifically look for incidents involving fraternity or sorority members. The Greek Advisor could have easily contacted the Chapter Advisor so the issue could be handled within the organization.

Also, I'm sure most sororities have under their causes for discipline (or whatever) a clause about violating federal, state, local, or university/college laws. That's a no-brainer that your membership would be removed for that, IMHO. Finally, it doesn't suprise me that a Chapter Advisor has the power to discipline members. Sure, we would rather defer to the chapter members to self-adjudicate, but sometimes the situation calls for swift and/or severe punishment. This could have been a case where chapter officers or judicial board was unwilling to take this action but since the chapter was previously under fire, the Chapte Advisor had to step in and override their decision. Pefectly acceptable.

As I said, sometimes chapter advisors are not members. Nonmembers should not have the power to terminate members. And at any rate - calling the member on the phone and telling her is COMPLETELY unacceptable. If this new advisor makes a practice of doing that, the chapter is going to end up in trouble somewhere down the line.

Different sororities/chapters might call it different things. The reason it's so confusing is because the actual definition of suspension is a postponement or TEMPORARY removal. Like when in school, if you're suspended, you're not allowed to return for a set amount of time, but if you're expelled, you're removed from school permanantly.

But anyway...

I completely agree. My understanding is that advisors are to oversee the workings of the chapter. But the advisor has no voting rights whatsoever. How can she then choose to remove a member without consulting with any active members of the chapter? Unless there is a by-law indicating that the advisor has the authority to do this, I don't understand how this could happen. And I highly doubt there is any national organization that has written in their constitution, "An advisor can remove any member from the chapter if he/she thinks she is justified in doing so." But hey, I could be wrong.

That means 4 of the 7 members of the National Council have to vote against your reinstatement for the suspension to stand. Another way of putting it is that if you can convince 4 of the 7 members to revoke the suspension, you're no longer suspended.

Well, it's not quite worded that way, and it's the bylaws, not the constitution, but you are. ;)

I agree that the legal problems are by far the most important problems. But I know which GLO she's talking about too, and if she follows this advice, then she loses. The bylaws in questions say that an appeal of the suspension must be made within 4 weeks from the date that the advisor notifies her that she has been suspended. She can't wait until the legal process is over without waiving her appeal rights on the suspension.

So she's going to have to go with convincing them that she's learned her lesson and that this will never happen again. Whether she also wants to argue that the advisor didn't even give her a chance to explain, or that probation would be a more appropriate discipline, is up to her.

Posting an online petition about your case doesn't show much discretion, sweetheart. I'm sure the folks at your HQ are thrilled about your enthusiasm.:rolleyes:

To be fair, it's not a petition, it's a general inquiry seeking the advice of people she assumed would have more inside information. It's not like she made a group on Facebook called "The Petition to Get Bhudda Belly Back Into XYZ" where everybody who saw it would automatically know her real name and the identity of her org.

To the OP: Good luck, dear. With the legal troubles AND with the sorority woes. To any naysayers: remember that membership is lifelong, not just a collegiate enrichment. So even though this might become just a "blip on the radar," it could also be a lasting wound.