LSU: KA, DG punished for hazing violations
 

KA, DG punished for hazing violations

KA, DG punished for hazing violations
Delta Gamma on probation

by MIchael Beagle
August 23, 2004


In response to violations of several University policy statements, the Office of the Dean of Students has handed down sanctions against some campus fraternities and sororities.

Allegations of hazing surfaced about Delta Gamma sorority last Fall, ending with the sorority being put on one year's probation which began in May. According to Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs, the chapter violated PS-108, the University's policy against hazing, by forcing new members to sit "indian style" facing the sorority house without looking elsewhere for an extended period of time. In addition, members were told they were being video taped, which was not the case.

Additionally, Felts said there was an isolated incident where some new members were taken off campus, quizzed and asked to do calisthenics.

"Alcohol was involved," Felts said about the off-campus incident which violated PS-78, the University's policy on alcohol. "All of the new members were underage."

According to a May 11, 2004 letter from Dean of Students Kevin Price to Rachel Troyer, president of Delta Gamma, the sorority may only sponsor or co-sponsor events in which alcohol is not involved through its probationary period, ending May 15, 2005, though the official disciplinary actions report does not cite Delta Gamma for violating PS-78.

"All who were involved received the appropriate consequences from our internal board of standards," said Troyer.

Troyer said neither the acting president, nor the chapter officers know about the events which occurred in October 2003 at the time.

"[Delta Gamma] strengthened its advisory team and implemented an educational plan to ensure that our members understand both the letter and spirit of a strict 'no hazing' policy," said Delta Gamma Executive officials in a statement to the Reveille. "The chapter officers responded maturely, dealt appropriately with the individuals involved and took an aggressive role in chapter education."

The 2004 Greek Affairs Disciplinary Actions also cites Sigma Chi for violating PS-78. Sigma Chi's eight-month-long probationary period ends in mid-December. Felts said the chapter will not lose any of its privileges during its probation, but instead must sponsor a workshop for other fraternities, titled "Confronting the Idiot in your Chapter," about how one member's actions can damage the reputation of the entire chapter.

The incident was not Sigma Chi's first brush with the disciplinary action. In the 2002 Disciplinary Actions Report, they were sited for hazing violations and received a ten-month probation, ending in late January 2003.

Also currently under investigation for hazing is Kappa Alpha Order, already on probation for violating the hazing policy in 2003.

Price said all of KA's active members were given "early alumni" status by their alumni following their investigation into the latest allegations.

Felts said Greek Affairs can not formally cite KA with violations of University policy statements until a new chapter president is installed.

This is not the first time a national organization has taken action in response to wrongdoing by a chapter. Most recently, Sigma Nu's national headquarters removed the University's chapter from campus in February for hazing, alcohol violations, forging an event registration form, fighting and vandalism.

Delta Kappa Epsilon was removed from campus by its headquarters in 2003 following what a Greek Affairs report calls "repeated alcohol, assault and hazing." They will be allowed to return to campus in May 2005.

That's a shame.

Having come into contact with many LSU folks at the Sugar Bowl, I can't say I'm surprised ;)

(I'm not serious about that)

Anyhow, it's a tough situation down there. Looks like my own group lost a chapter that had a lot of history due to some of their idiocy. I hope we can recolonize there within the next few years.

LSU's greek administrators, are absolutely horrible, I think this has become a major problem or they are identifying very small things and labeling them as hazing. This is a joke, I have never scene or heard of more fraternities or sororities being kicked off a major college campus or being put on probation, there administration is notorious for being anti-greek.

Or maybe the administration is trying to force a cultural change on campus?

Possibly?

Sounds likely, doesn't it?

Wasn't there a GCer who was a DG at LSU?

maybe I'm just going crazy...

Justamom's daughter was a DG at LSU

And there was an LSU PNM who went through last year who went DG - can't remember her name offhand...

Oh, probably. :) Sort of like the culture change that's being encouraged at Chapel Hill after last year's widely-publicized discussions by the University of North Carolina's Board of Trustees. The August 25 "Daily Tar Heel" reported on some of the new anti-hazing measures in an article --

http://www.dailytarheel.com/vnews/di.../412c866bb5c08

Just A Mom is an Alum and her daughter is an active at LSU, I believe.

And yes, I think it may be a cultural issue at LSU.

I absolutely know that Delta Gamma is extremely strong in insisting on alcohol awareness and individual dignity. Hazing has no place in our group. Besides, it's SO silly and SO out of place.

My chapter's no hazing policy is so strict that it's rediculous. It often limits fun had by all.

There are always ways to have a positive experience and not violate hazing polices.

I wish we could all agree on some kind of standard policy, but it seems that many organizations/schools have reallly erred on the cautious side of things.

Quick correction...JAM is actually an AXO alumna, but her daughter is active at LSU.

This is really surprising and disappointing. I hope that there is more behind the scenes, like y'all suggested.

aj

justamoms son is a LXA Active there also.

It seems from reports that have come up and what I have talked with people that LSU Greeks are in a lot of hot water. Now, the question is, is it from the Adm. or some of the things that go on with The Greeks?

It seems a Lot of Greeks are getting suspened or on probation including LXA.

So, where is the problem?

A Stern LSU Adm. or screw ups by the Greek Community?

Any enlightment for us here on GC?

"So, where is the problem?

A Stern LSU Adm. or screw ups by the Greek Community?

Any enlightment for us here on GC?"

Honestly, in my experience, it's both. Alcohol is a MAJOR issue at LSU. If you don't go to LSU, you probably don't understand the "party cup" phenomenon. Girls decorate party cups for themselves and their dates for everything. Football games, homecoming, grub, crush, formal. You name it, these girls have a cup for it. Party cups are for your alcohol, plain and simple.

The new greek administrators are great, IMO. Angela (Panhell Adv.) and Victor (Director of GA and Assistant Dean of Students) really go to bat for the GLOs at LSU, and have averted a lot of problems that could have resulted in certain GLOs being kicked off. But, there are higher-ups who would be perfectly happy if Greek Life disappeared. There has been some progress since the SAE death a few years back, but the culture has not changed. Until it does, look for more GLOs being kicked off or "voluntarily" leaving campus.

geauxtigers,

welcome to GC and thank you for your explanation of LSU GreekDom.

Remember, We as Greeks on G C are from All Over The Country and spectrum.

We learn as you will if you stay on long enough about what GreekDom might and can be.!:)

You mentioned that some Higher Ups would rather see the Greeks Gone. True!:confused:

Well, if the Greek System has Been There so long, I just wonder How Much Greek Alum Money is given to the School?

Your Post # 1 was very profetict! Keep Posting!:cool:

Loads and Loads of money are given by Greek Alums. That's why they're still there. But I think that as long as no one else dies from stupid hazing incidents, the LSU Greek Community will be there for years. Honestly, I was shocked that DG was hazing their members. Why these women feel the need to haze their sisters, or submit to hazing, I'll never understand. LSU Frats, we expect that. It's sad, but expected. But we have such strong sororities at LSU, that's unexpected. There is a tendency to be over-sensitive to incidents, but I don't think this instance was very trivial. There were lots of rumors flying around before the official ruling came out. I had actually heard that they were being investigated for one of the fraternity's "Pledge Pick-Up." But if alcohol was involved, then that's much more serious. Honestly, I think more chapters coming to LSU would take pressure off of some of these new girls (You're lucky to be here, if you quit, do you know how many girls would love to take your place, do you know how many girls got cut, do what we say, even if it could hurt you...). As much as I'd like to think my chapter doesn't haze, I know there are alcohol issues there, so I wouldn't be surprised. I hope this incident causes the other girls to shape up, before the administration has a reason to ban greeks totally.

The higher ups don’t want to see the Greeks gone. They just want the Greeks to act more responsibly and live up to the missions and goals of their organizations. Yes, this was heightened after Wynn’s death but it has always been a focus. Greeks have the potential to either enhance or harm. The university, the community, and the national organizations would prefer enhancement.

I also think that it is a shame that some men and women feel that there is a need to haze or be hazed. No one should expect it or accept it. My husband’s chapter came very close to losing its charter over foolishness not long ago. National representatives came through and cleaned house. They are doing well by all accounts.

As an LSU graduate and active Greek alumna, it saddens me when I go to various national conferences and our system is referred to as a “risk management nightmare.” I know of two national groups who will not touch LSU with a 10-foot pole.

BTW for all those interested, party cups aren’t just for alcohol and they aren’t only at LSU. It’s just a nice inexpensive souvenir. I rarely had alcohol in mine. We still have tons that we breakout when we don’t want to use glass. Of course, they don’t have paint on them anymore. ;)

Risk Management session
 

The session about "Confronting the Idiot in your Life" is terrific. I saw it at an AGD convention in 2001. Basically, the message was about how chapter members become alot more tolerant of their brothers/sisters, and allow them to continue destructive behavior or make bad choices, and cut them more slack, than other people in our lives, and the more lenient approach isn't necessarily the brotherly or sisterly thing to do. The more brotherly or sisterly thing to do is to confront the "idiot" and help them to help themselves or help them to seek guidance.

The topic is delivered via extremely funny ways and hilarious examples.

Hope it helps.