IFC Response to Allegations of 'Sexual Violence' (U of Southern California)

[exlurker]

After recent allegations of groping at two fraternity parties, the University of Southern California interfraternity council is taking some steps, according to the student paper -- excerpt from April 7 story below:

http://www.dailytrojan.com/news/2005...s-916057.shtml

"Even though the Interfraternity Council does not have jurisdiction over these cases, the members met for an emergency meeting Sunday night and brainstormed ways to respond to the allegations.

"We're taking this very seriously," said IFC vice president of public relations, Matt Hughes.

The council decided to require all fraternities to send 15 members to the "Take Back the Night" event on Wednesday night and vowed to take attendance.

"We want a strong Greek male presence there," said IFC president John Ellis, a junior majoring in political science.

Hughes also suggested distributing a pamphlet from the Center for Women and Men to fraternity members about preventing sexual violence and helping victims.

IFC also plans to form a new Safety Committee, which will train one member of every house to be a peer counselor for issues of sexual violence. Hughes compared this role to a residential advisor."

[DeltAlum]

The IFC's pro-active stance is a good move. It may not help the two houses if the allegations are true, but it at least dampens the effect on the other fraternities on campus.

[mmcat]

it's a good positive response, done without being pushed into it by the administration.

[hoosier]

(The amazing part of this story: "Jones said the fraternity had hired 16 security guards for the event")

Allegation of groping at parties

Presidents of PiKapp and ZBT say they expect their houses to be cleared and are cooperating with investigators.
By Rebekah Sanders
Published: Thursday, April 7, 2005

Reports of two sexual assaults at fraternities in one week has left some students shaken and prompted action by Greek leaders, university administrators and DPS to make students safer.
The incidents, reported first at Pi Kappa Phi and later at Zeta Beta Tau, have also put the two houses on interim probation. Leaders of both houses say they expect to be cleared when the investigations are complete.
The most recent incident allegedly took place Saturday at Zeta Beta Tau's "ZBTahiti" party, when a female student reported to DPS she was groped by an unknown man, according to DPS reports.
DPS officers performed "walk-throughs" twice during the night and reported that everything was all right once members turned the music down, said ZBT president Brandon Jones.
But at around 1 a.m., officers returned to the party following the sexual assault call just a few minutes earlier and the party was shut down. The hundreds of partygoers were gone by 1:30 a.m., Jones said.
Jones said the fraternity had hired 16 security guards for the event and wondered why the incident had not been reported to them at the time.
LAPD is now investigating the sexual battery case. Media relations officer April Harding said detectives have a suspect, but Jones said LAPD did not confirm a suspect to him.
"There hasn't been any suggestion to me that it was a brother in the house," said Jones, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.
The university has suspended all social activities at ZBT until the case is resolved by Student Judicial Affairs and Community Standards. The fraternity has notified its national chapter, but no action has been taken, pending further investigation.
Pi Kappa Phi fraternity lost its charter from national headquarters temporarily on March 29 after DPS received reports of a sexual assault and large-scale fight at the house three days earlier. The house has been suspended for 60 days while national headquarters examines the allegations and has received social probation from the university. The fraternity is also facing a possible lawsuit.