Kappa Alpha Theta at Johns Hopkins University on Probation
 

From the March 5th Johns Hopkins Newsletter:

An investigation regarding events aurrounding the last Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) formal is ongoing, according to several administrators at Hopkins.

"I am not free to discuss this matter as it is being investigated by the Office of the Dean of Student Life and Kappa Alpha Theta Headquarters," Director of Greek Life Rob Turning wrote in an email.

Although many members of Theta declined to comment because of the investigation, an anonymous pledge at the sorority confirmed that Theta is on probation.

"We're on probation and I think it is until next December that it is being reviewed, although I'm not sure when," the pledge said.

The anonymous source confirmed that one factor contributing to the sorority's probation was somebody breaking into Barnes and Noble while people were waiting for the bus.... "Theta is on social probation because of some bahavior at their date party. Now they can't have date parties or formals for a while," an anonymous member of Alpha Phi said.

The chapter president and several council officers were also removed, though it wasn't mentioned in the article. The chapter made quota of 40 New Members in Formal Recruitment, which ended about one month ago. The chapter members are understandably very upset that the actions of a few individuals have put the chapter in jeaprody, especially after a very successful recruitment. Theta is the largest sorority at Hopkins and has been on campus for a little over 10 years.

Here's the original article online: http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/m...-3662948.shtml

Ouch, not a very discrete article. Even though the author quoted anonymous sources...eek! There's a reason we have all of these rules about NPCs and media!

An anonymous pledge...

What a highly reliable source. Anonymous pledges always know exactly what is going on. Excellent piece of journalism.

Almost as reliable as an anonymous member of a *different* organization.

I agree. It's not a good article. I think the author was kind of grasping for straws since no Thetas would talk to her about it. In terms of quoting from Alpha Phi... the author is an APhi New Member, and they're probably the only ones she could get any info from about it.

Oh for sure! *end sarcasm*
I would think that would create a huge rivalry between the two orgs. Not good...

That's very panhellenic of her then! She should be ashamed of spreading rumors.

ugh...I will contact someone who can speak to the John's Hopkins A Phi's

OK, is anyone else cracking up that they allegedly broke into a Barnes & Noble? I mean, when I think of crazy collegians breaking into places, a bookstore doesn't really spring to mind.

Yeah, but they have a really sweet kids section...

Lol, I worked at B&N in high school.

Another article on Kappa Alpha Theta's probation was published in the JHU Newsletter today.

http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/m...-3705607.shtml


Some highlights from the article:

Although Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) remains embroiled in controversy nearly a month after their national committee initially put them on social probation, the sorority still participated in a party at a local venue.

The sorority's probation, the result of various incidents including an alleged break-in at the Hopkins Barnes & Noble, resulted in the loss of their secret week as well as their big sister and little sister tradition in this year's pledge process.

On March 24, Theta held a party at Red Maple, a popular event space. The party was themed around the letter "P."

"It was P for 'probation,'" an anonymous attendee said. "I thought it was really fun. There weren't supposed to be more than 60 percent of the Thetas there but I think it was more like 95 percent."

"It was probably so successful because it wasn't official. Everyone could cab there instead of taking the vans and everyone basically just put money in a hat."

The party was in conflict with Theta's probation, which forbid large-scale parties. The sorority is now being threatened with more severe consequences.

According to Director of Greek Life Robert Turning, the conduct board and Susan Boswell, the dean of student life, are investigating the situation independent of the inquiry made by the national Theta organization. These inquiries are currently on hold, though, pending the disciplinary action the national committee chooses to take against Theta. Overall, Hopkins has been supportive of Theta with the hope that positive changes will be made.

The article went on to say that the school wants to support Theta because of the size of the group and the sisters' community involvement. Theta is the largest sorority on the Hopkins campus and had a very successful recruitment this year. Since the Greek Life office really wants to build the NPC presence (in fact, they tried to open for expansion last semester but were eventually voted down) I know they really don't want to lose one of the sororities, particularly the largest one.

HQ's gotta be pissed! The chapter not only disobeyed the restrictions HQ placed on them, they MOCKED them!

Absolutely. Usually I have a tinge of sympathy for chapters when they close, but I have none for these girls.

Way to go, ladies. :rolleyes:

Shows how much they value their chapter.

I'm sorry, but this is darned funny. I assume everyone had to come dressed in P themed outfits and drink Pabst, Pimm's and Pepsi.

To correct the poster above: I'm betting these women do value their chapter and the bonds formed within it very much. Their charter and national connection is what they could do without.