Sigma Sigma Sigma Closes Missouri State U. Chapter
 

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs...48/1007/NEWS01

Excerpts from article:

The Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority at Missouri State University has been closed after allegations it allowed hazing, underage drinking, drinking games and failed to register a social event last year.
The sorority had its charter suspended for four years . . . .

Just FYI, for anyone else who is like me and can't remember which is which, this used to be Southwest Missouri State U.

Wow, this is amazing for a SSS Chapter and almost unheard of in thier fine Sorority!

It seems as though The New Missouri State University (SWMO) has have problems with hazing or other violations, usually Fraternities!

I echo Jocelyn's comments. While it is wonderful to have a chapter with such a rich history, there can be no allowances for behavior that does not comply with the policies of the sorority. I hope that this chapter is able to return in the future as well. I am sure there are many women who could gain a positive sorority experience through Tri Sigma at this school when done safely as many women have done before them for 50 years.

It is always sad to lose a chapter, but I have nothing but respect for Sigma Sigma Sigma and their high standards.

http://www.sigmasigmasigma.org/files...e_01_09_08.doc

Here is a link to the announcement on Sigma Sigma Sigma's website.

I agree.

Another news article gives a few more details on the background:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs...17/1007/NEWS01

Beautiful house. It's a shame some of the members who are quoted are defensive, instead of realizing exactly what their actions have cost them, MSU, and Tri Sigma. I hope actives of all GLOs are paying attention - what seems like minor fun to you might have severe consequences.

Are all the houses there built like that? (Obviously this question is for someone familiar with the school.) Everytime I've seen pics of our house(s) there, they look more like a big family house than the traditional type house like SSS has.

It's probably more stupidity than a lack of love for Tri Sig. These women probably won't even admit to themselves that they were wrong, whether they are too stupid, too embarrassed or to arrogant to see what they did was wrong. It is a shame when an entire group gets to be judged by the actions of a few. Hopefully this will teach other women who have thought of trying the same things that it's not in the best interest of themselves or their organizations to even atttempt to get away with it! I'm sure TriSig will be back stronger than ever when their suspension is over.

I'm sorry to hear that this happened to a sorority with a long history at the school, but that Bartlett girl needs to shut her trap. Everything that she says makes Tri Sigma sound worse.

Yes, they rarely realize that talking to the press is not a good idea. Losing your chapter is nothing compared to some of the legal trouble we've read about here. Blaming the "greek rules" rather than the law is an interesting take on it also. But, she is a sophomore with a lot of living to do.

That's the one I was talking about.


ETA: This may just be the finance person in me, but I would also like to know who was paying for this. Buying alcohol for 60 underage girls isn't just illegal and dumb. It's also expensive.

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs...801170388/1007

Some reactions from the parent of one of the freshmen members.

Parents of banished sorority girls upset

Earlier trouble signs existed before an investigation.

Steve Koehler
News-Leader


The newest members of a Missouri State University sorority banished for hazing and underage drinking are caught in limbo.
Sigma Sigma Sigma members were left without a house to live in, the option of joining another sorority or a way to appeal the decision.


Parents expressed anger Tuesday that the sorority's national council pulled the sorority's charter for four years, leaving their daughters without a second chance to experience sorority life. It's the first sorority on campus to lose its charter.

"My daughter's only crime in this whole mess is that she chose the sorority that now appears to have been a sinking ship," Julie Zvacek wrote in an e-mail to the News-Leader about her daughter Kathryn, a freshman. "MSU and TriSigma should not have offered sisterhood to 59 unsuspecting girls going through recruitment in the fall."

For the record, I think it is unfair to blame Tri Sigma national hq for what happened. Why not blame the sisters who allowed it to happen?

Funny you should ask...Some of the houses look nothing like that, and some of them are off the main row and renting old residential buildings. But all the sorority houses there are really nice.

KSUViolet-

I understand that all of the girls are put on alumni status. I was wondering this scenerio: Tri Sigma has 7 other chapters in Missouri. If one of the sisters decided to transfer to Central MO or Southeast MO next year, could she become an active sister again?

(And before anyone jumps one this, I know that you go to college to get a degree, not join a sorority. I am not suggesting that any of the Beta Beta chapter members do this, it was just a thought that popped into my IFC brain last night.)

But if they were on Alum status, could they then go back to active status? Esapecially under the circumstances?

Average-looking girls FTL.

An article with a little more background and comments:

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs...76/1013/NEWS01

Edited to add link for January 23, 2008 editorial in local paper:
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs...801230361/1091

I respect Tri Sigma HQ's position. A new member class of 60 and a chapter of 140. I'm sure they are feeling the heat from members, parents and parents' lawyers! Hang tough. It's important to enforce the rules.

And the members still don't get it. Blaming headquarters and the "old rules". Little do they know - those rules aren't all that old. It's a shame they aren't going to learn anything from this.

I can't help but wonder what these women will think of the whole thing in 15 years...

I can't speak for the members, but the new inititiates feel ripped off. They had no idea that the chapter was even in danger of being removed, were never notified that they were on probation, AND feel especially unhappy that Tri Sig was removed only 10 days after they were initiated, thereby effectively ruining their collegiate Greek experience with no chance of pledging elsewhere.

Surely, at the very least, a group should be obligated to let its new members know about probations, etc. We make sure gpa's, costs, etc are available.

Yes, a chapter should let the pledges know about that. But on the other side of the coin - the national office knew when initiation was (or should have) and could have come in and pulled the charter before that or told the chapter that they needed to delay initiation until an investigation could be made.

Both sides are in the wrong, IMO.

:(those poor tri sigmas! why wouldnt they just suspend them socially or something like that. you know community service hours or something??? i just feel so bad for all those girls!

Exactly, 33Girl - I would really like to know the timeline of events regarding their decision to pull this chapter. Where were the chapter advisors? Where were the national reps and what steps were taken that led to this decision? Repeated infractions are usually more commonwith frats who often have less involved advisors (IMO). Surely there was LOTS of interaction between the local campus panhellenic, national and regional officers, etc before this happened. And, if there was, and the members were repeatedly violating the rules, then why were they even allowed to recruit this year? Seems like a punishment like that would have opened a few eyes and got their attention! (not to mention making it common knowledge that this group was in peril)
To my knowledge (and I live in Missouri) a lot of people were blindsided by this decision.

A chapter on my campus was "reorganized" after their HQ found out they were hazing. They made all the active sisters go alum and kept the pledge class as the active chapter. Then again, I think that the pledges were the ones who blew the whistle on the hazing.

These pledges, on the other hand, sound like they would just do all the same things that were done to them. If they were a little cannier, they'd have at least pretended to be upset and traumatized.

Some of them may have been upset and just not admitting it - but on the flip side, until you are a member and really learn about Greek life, etc. you might not realize how illegal some of these seemingly minor events are. These pledges were freshmen, new to college, Greek life, etc. Who ever told them that blindfolds are hazing? Unless they were attending campus wide panhellenic meetings on this type of stuff, they were just going along with the people in charge...- I don't think we can blame pledges - they were the "victims" at the very least.

Oh, I'm not blaming them for anything - just surprised that they didn't think "hey, they are getting their butts handed to them on a plate for this stuff. Maybe if we act upset that they did it, even if we're not, they'll let us stay active."

a lot of specuation
 

With all due respect, I don't think you have enough information on both sides of the equation for you to make a comment like this. You don't know if this chapter was already on probation or not for previous infractions. The incidents that happened during I-week were likely the last draw. (I am just speculating)

As stated above, we don't know if the chapter had been on probabtion before and what sanctions were enforced. You never know if they were restricted from recruiting in the past spring semester. The chapter could have met all of the goals in the spring and all sanctions were lifted cut were still on probation (not exactly something initiated members will advertise during recruitment). Like I said it seems like the incidents at I-week were the last draw. It would be extremely hard for the national organization to hold initiation if the events were not reported till after initiation occured.

Sigma Sigma Sigma has a Zero Tolerance Hazing Policy. If a member is found accountable of hazing by the national organization, it is immediate termination.

Actually, the new Arc Sequence (for new members) of the Essential Sigma Program, that was rolled out in the Fall, has a very long session on the National Policies and there purpose going over many senarios. The women have to sign paperwork saying they have read and understood these policies as soon as they become a member and basically again at initiation. I do feel a little sorry for the NI's. Most were probably a little naive about the situation and trying to just go with the flow.

Clearly the delegation the chapter sent to convention this past summer did not go to the prestation by the lawyer. WOW! Was that ever enlightening. Most of the colligates I spoke with about the presentation had this as an expression :eek:. It was basically about a chapter that had a scavenger hunt across town. After the event had ended, a group of members on their way home when they were in a car accident. One woman was paralyzed by the accident. The parents sued the chapter, chapter officers, and national organization and won. An event that seemed totally innocent turned into a large expense for the chapter and national organization.

Most of the "rules" in place my many national organizations have come about in the last 20 years as a result of lawsuits. They really aren't as archaic as many of today's colligates think.

You make some good points Cruise4fun - but I still feel like there could have been something worked out for those new initiates. I am sure there are anti-hazing policies explained in new member materials, but I have to side with the pledges on this one.

And I agree, we are speculating on the chain of events. I just have to ask again, where were the adult women in charge of this chapter?! If this was the huge problem it is being made out to be (and again, I want to say I understand the need for these rules, etc) I just have to hope that there was lots of interaction with alumni who were providing guidance, hands on involvement, etc.

I cannot imagine this happening with my group (I am speaking of a chapter being closed) without numerous visits from national officers, visiting fraternity reps, etc. and lots of pressure from national office as well as local panhellenic to have alumni very involved in all aspects of the chapter. I would really like to know if that happened.

I still feel bad for the pledges who were totally left in the cold.

As I understand it (from the articles posted here), the hazing and drinking related allegations (i.e. the reasons given for the suspension by both the University and by Sigma Sigma Sigma HQ) came to light right *after* initiation.

And frankly, the chapter was on notice. Every chapter of every inter/national fraternity/sorority is on notice. Every chapter should know that if they go against fraternity/sorority policy, their charter may be pulled.

Now I understand why the new initiates might feel cheated. However, I would hope that Missouri State's Campus Panhellenic made it clear to each girl participating in recruitment that hazing is not allowed. That if it happens, a chapter may close. And after the women accepted their bids, it should be drilled into them by the current chapter members and through their new member education - as Cruise4fun noted. If the recent initiates (pledges at the time) were willing participants, then they too should be held accountable for the hazing and risk management related issues. If they were forced, then perhaps they should be allowed to withdraw from Tri Sigma without prejudice (i.e. as if they never accepted a bid) and allowed to rush again.

Generally speaking it seems easier for a chapter to come back from a closing due to risk management issues than from closing due to low numbers.

As such if this had been an IFC, I wouldn't have been surprised if a membership review of the chapter wouldn't have been in order similar to the one 33girl noted in a previous post. The likely result being perhaps only the actives (not the recently initiated members) being suspended. It seems like a more fair thing to do than suspend the whole membership. In this situation the sixty new members would have been allowed to remain active in the chapter and help reorganize it. Perhaps they might be on some sort of social probation if warranted. Bottom line is that only the women who deserved to be suspended should be suspended.

But to be clear here, if the (at the time) pledges *knew* (understood) that they were participating in hazing and other types of risk management activities, then they too should be held accountable. Which is what I feel was the result of Tri Sigma's and the University's findings. That all (most) members (active and recent initiates) were perhaps culpable. Thus the whole chapter's suspension was warranted.

33girl - I am impressed that an NPC chapter did this type of reorganization (i.e. keeping the pledges and allowing the suspended actives to accept alum status) at your campus. It seems like it might be difficult for most NPCs to implement. If you do not mind, how has that chapter faired?

You know...according to the article, the new members didn't even think they had been hazed. I'm not calling conspiracy theory here,but that definitely concerns me. One of them apparently even recited the definition right there and said, "We have NOT been hazed."

Is it possible that there's a lot of overreaction going on here?

Nor am I calling consipiracy theory - but there are details that are not being explained to all concerned. If the hazing incident occurred during initiation, then who's to say that the new members just thought that it was part of the 'secrets'?
And, I still want someone to explain WHERE THE ADULTS WERE. If not publicly, I sure hope some adults are being called on the carpet internally, because you can preach to young women, and print in manuals all you want, but if the advisors are turning a blind eye, then who is really to blame here? Or did they even have a chapter advisor working with them?

It is such a shame that the new members will not be able to experience being a Tri-Sigma as a collegiate because of the actions of a few.

My favorite quote from the article:

Ummm, sweetie, they are not just "Greek rules"... they are federal laws that the University and Greek system are abiding by.