West Virginia ("WVU") Suspends All Greek Social & Pledging Activities
 

http://www.businessinsider.com/west-...tudent-2014-11

All WVU fratenities & sororities have been placed on a moratorium that suspends all chapter social & pledging activites.
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Statement by WVU and its IFC and Panhellenic Council:

http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2014/11/13...further-notice

“Following emergency meetings today among West Virginia University officials, the Inter-Fraternity Council and Panhellenic Council, all campus fraternities and sororities have been placed on a moratorium that suspends all chapter social and pledging activities until further notice.

“The action comes on the heels of two recent incidents, the latest occurring today (Nov. 13) where a catastrophic medical emergency required a 9-1-1 response to a fraternity house. The other on Nov. 6 was a disturbance in South Park involving members of another fraternity. Both incidents are under investigation by both Morgantown and University Police.

“First, our hearts, prayers and support go out to the student who is gravely ill and his family. Right now that is our utmost concern,” said Dean of Students Corey Farris, Inter-Fraternity Council President Ansh Kumar and Panhellenic Council President Rachel Poe in a joint statement.” . . .

- See more at: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2014/11/13....UiBe5dbv.dpuf

Comment: Seems to be another example of a mass shutdown of parties and pledging in the wake of an incident or two. I keep thinking we're seeing a lot more of this kind of sanctioning or whatever you want to call it.

I wonder if it's individual schools simply being fed up with some Greek organizations' shenanigans or part of a larger trend. Maybe Greek life just isn't worth it to some of these schools.

My college had a notoriously lax attitude towards fraternities and sororities...and I could never see this happening there.

Because we all know that no one at WVU except Greeks parties. Seriously, talk about trying to drain the Hoover Dam with an eyedropper.

WVU has had more than "an incident or two." The place is a risk management nightmare.

I'd worry more about the burning couches.

I don't understand how issues at fraternities = suspension of pledging for sororities. NPC and IFC are two completely different systems.

I think that's what our HQs would love to be true, but really it's not. I have very rarely heard of sororities shunning fraternities with well known hazing activities. And since NPC has made it so that sororities are dependent on fraternities for their social spaces (sororities having dry housing) they're kind of tied together.

I just read online that the young man who was in critical condition has passed away. This is beyond heartbreaking. He was an 18 year old freshman. No word yet on the cause of death. My husband is a Mountaineer, class of 1977, Phi Gamma Delta (chapter is closed).

Prayers and condolences to the young man's family and friends and the WVU community.

A loss for the Greek system and all Mountaineers. I just can't imagine what his poor parents must be feeling, to lose their child 3 months after sending him to school. I'll be following this closely (a huge topic on my newsfeed right now, even 7 years post grad) to see what changes this brings to our Greek system.

Thoughts and condolences to Kappa Sig, WVU, and especially the Burch family.

Looks as if it's being widely reported:

http://www.newsplex.com/home/headlin...1.html?ref=051

Also see:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-...emergency.html

from above^^:

“Kappa Sigma’s national organization suspended the WVU chapter in mid-October for previous, unrelated violations. In a statement today, it said the chapter and school were notified on Nov. 10 that the group’s charter had been withdrawn and its operations had been closed. “[emphasis added]

Also, from NBC News:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...school-n248286

Freshman Dies At Frat House Hours After Tweeting “It’s About To Be A Very Eventful Night”
The 18-year-old was found without a pulse late Wednesday night. http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrel...ght-hours?bftw

Kappa Sigma ‏@KappaSigmaHQ 5h5 hours ago

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Burch family, WVU community and members of our former WVU chapter. Statement: http://kappasigma.org/statement-rega...t-nolan-burch/

UPDATE: WVU Confirms Student Has Died After Incident At Fraternity
Written by Alex Wiederspiel
Last updated on November 14, 2014 @ 2:43PM
Created on November 14, 2014 @ 5:48PM
http://www.wdtv.com/wdtv.cfm?func=vi...aternity-19431

​Student found unconscious at WVU fraternity dies http://www.cbsnews.com/news/west-vir...raternity-dies via @cbsnews

Death of West Virginia University Student at Frat House Stuns Campus http://nbcnews.to/11oYJIc via @NBCNews

The entire thing is so surreal. To see the house I had so many great memories in on national news in such an unfortunate and tragic light has been beyond words. I feel horrible for the young man and of course his family and friends.

It is very concerning to me that we seem to have this emerging trend around the country where if one group does something stupid, all are made to suffer. I am hoping national offices and conferences are taking note of this, because over time, this sort of overreaction is what will force Greek organizations into operating off-campus, completely outside of the regulatory oversight of the schools.

I don't think in any of these cases, these types of actions have occurred after one incident. There is one incident that tips the scales after a whole bunch of other incidents.

Well even two incidents from different houses.. or in a 20-chapter conference, 4 incidents.. whatever. In all of these cases, the vast majority of the chapters on campus had no demonstrable issues and yet were still punished for things completely beyond their control.

I believe it was Arizona who suspended all houses and had them reapply as if they were applying for new recognition. I think that's okay. In fact, that's part of what my chapter does every single year in a way. We deliver extensive reports to the school and to our HQ regarding our candidate process, risk management.

I understand the Greek Life office is in touch with us and knows who we are, but I suspect these decisions to place the entire system on probation come from higher ups who don't know that there is a huge difference between the various chapters. I'd like to think that if we play by the rules and manage ourselves well, we can avoid the adverse consequences of other people's stupidity, but maybe not.

I wouldn't look for the ban to stick permanently. Schools with long established Greek Life, know a large part of alumni funding comes from Greek alumni. They need that funding. They also need Greeks to help promote their campuses to prospective freshmen. When money starts drying up, they will look to bring Greek Life back...or maybe back from the underground.

I think a lot of these cases with Greeks anyway are due to lack of FIPG education. Sororities may often depend on the fraternities for their parties, but in so doing, they forget that they are violating their own organizations policies by partaking in risky events such as these.

I don't think our organizations do enough across the board with individual chapters in promoting risk policy from a safety point of view vs. a "we have this policy in hopes we won't get sued" perspective.

I don't think chapter risk education across the board does enough to show our members real life/true examples of court cases/lawsuits that have happened as a result of these types of events and education with how far liability can be traced. I think NPC's Something of Value (SOV) Program is an excellent start, but there needs to be a follow up program for the campuses that it comes to. Lack of a follow up program is where the program fails. I would love for the NIC to do something similar with their groups. I've been to four SOVs myself--lack of FIPG knowledge and above things I mentioned are what I see regularly. Every SOV I've been to has mentioned that there are a growing number of law firms that are specializing in the suing of Greek organizations. This is another reason why risk education is so important.

I think lack of active and present advisors (and lack of knowledge on the advisors' parts on risk policy) are also contributors to some of these issues.

A lot of the issues stem from campus cultures, cultures that won't change with the elimination of Greek Life, but education is key to reducing incidents. Nothing will ever 100% eliminate risk and all incidents though.

I wouldn't either.

Right. In many cases, advisers don't even know much about FIPG, which is crazy. I'm sure the Greek Life Office knows what FIPG is. And really, the cost for a major university to be sued is hard to quantify since they typically have a general counsel's office staffed with attorneys who handle this sort of thing.. and really, it's tough to make a case for the GLO to be at fault in this these cases and it's even tougher to hold the university liable, so I think there is something of an overabundance of caution being exercised here.

I am just going to assume in this case that the Greek Life office wasn't really consulted very much in this decision and I really wouldn't expect provosts and deans and such to know what FIPG is.

I think we underestimate our collegian members. I think it's okay to tell them that the reason we no longer haze is because financially, we can't afford to, rather than "it is immoral and against our values." That's a tough argument to buy when your parents have such great stories about the good 'ol days, which somehow, they survived.

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I think when it comes to hazing the conversation is a little different than that of unregistered/unsafe policies/alcohol, etc. Hazing is certainly risky and lawsuits can come from those same as other violations, but to your point, when it comes to hazing I think the education on why we don't do that should be both risk of lawsuit/financial reasons and it does not support the values and ritual of our organizations--because both are the truth!

Making pledgeship so easy that becoming a member with all its demands is a rude jolt and often results in self-termination is something that organizations can't afford, either.

I was NOT hazed, but you knew for that pledge time, you were going to have to work and it was worth it in the end. It seems that reassurance isn't there for a lot of members anymore, or is backwards.

The other issue is that the turnover is so fast on college campuses...you have to continuously educate members because after a couple years, no one is aware of a major one-time educational effort or one-time program. I also notice a certain amount of "we're still going to do this, but we'll just be sneakier about it," instead of real change, and inappropriate practices that can sneak in and quickly become part of the culture...because of the turnover, no one realizes that this risky/borderline tradition was recently started by a peer with poor compliance behavior. Although they know it's inappropriate, they think there's some tradition involved that they're powerless to change. Underlying all of it is age, developing decision-making skills (which may be compromised by alcohol use), groupthink, feelings of invincibility, etc., which really underscore the need for proactive advisors who have a strong rapport with members and the respect of the chapter

Yes!

I'm gonna go ahead and say that when even one fraternity on campus has a pattern of gang raping women, it's fair to suspend activities across the system while everything is investigated.

What on earth does that have to do with the WVU incident? Did I miss something?

I think DBB is using that to illustrate the reasoning behind "punishing" all for the behaviors of a few, especially if the behaviors are indicative of a pattern.

So much this. I currently advise an active who is very strong in her role. Her predecessor was very weak in the same role. The talk right now in the chapter is that they want my current advisee to be followed by someone who will behave in the way her predecessor did. It is so easy to undo the hard work that has taken so much blood, sweat, and tears.

Sorry for the double post, but I have to agree and say that especially when said gang raping is not so secret in the Greek system. I believe that in such a case, not saying anything and not supporting the victims is just about as bad as the action taken.

No, I'm an idiot and don't know the difference between WVU and UVA.

WVU Student in Frat Death Had Blood Alcohol Six Times Legal Limit:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wvu-student...536569&ts=true

A second student faces charges in the death -- in addition to the young man who was charged earlier:

http://www.bdtonline.com/news/nd-wvu...7c49130fc.html

Hazing that results in a death should be subject to stronger charges than a misdemeanor. Where were this young man's "brothers" when he was drinking a lethal dose of alcohol? Did no one notice?

This chapter needs to be shut down.