Butler Delta Tau Delta, His Brothers, & His Dog

[exlurker]

Good story about a sophomore, his brothers in the Delt house, and accommodations around campus:

http://dawgnetnews.com/archive/061113/3884.html

[honeychile]

Congratulations to the DTD brothers for looking past Jared's impairment, and seeing him as the man he is. When I was in school, one of the fraternities had a blind brother, and made his dog an honorary "brother".

[PeppyGPhiB]

Great story that I think demonstrates that Greek life can be very inclusive to those who seek it.

I'm a bit surprised the chapter had to change its bylaws to allow the dog. Though the article mentions him as a pet, guide and assistance dogs are actually not considered pets...they are considered an extension of the person using them in order to fulfill functions of their everyday life. Service animals are allowed to go anywhere their partner goes; to disallow them is discrimination against disability according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Therefore, legally the dog could have accompanied him into the house even if the bylaws weren't changed.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I'm a bit surprised the chapter had to change its bylaws to allow the dog. Though the article mentions him as a pet, guide and assistance dogs are actually not considered pets...they are considered an extension of the person using them in order to fulfill functions of their everyday life. Service animals are allowed to go anywhere their partner goes; to disallow them is discrimination against disability according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. Therefore, legally the dog could have accompanied him into the house even if the bylaws weren't changed.

I'm guessing that the bylaws actually said "animal" instead of "pet" and that the usage of the word pet was editorializing on the part of the story's author.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Right, I'm just saying even if the bylaws said "animal(s)" the young man still could have brought the dog in regardless of the rule change. But since bylaws were probably written long ago, the issue probably never arised.

[KSUViolet06]

Good stuff. My best friend is blind and a Delta Zeta, and I think she's an amazing addition to her chapter.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Right, I'm just saying even if the bylaws said "animal(s)" the young man still could have brought the dog in regardless of the rule change. But since bylaws were probably written long ago, the issue probably never arised.

If the house is privately owned and not under a housing corp (as some Greek houses are) I don't think the ADA would mean squat. If I want to be a jerk and tell my blind friend to leave their dog on the porch before he comes in my house, there's nothing he can do about it.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Ahhh, that's true, I hadn't thought about the house possibly being privately-owned.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by 33girl

If the house is privately owned and not under a housing corp (as some Greek houses are) I don't think the ADA would mean squat.

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Ahhh, that's true, I hadn't thought about the house possibly being privately-owned.

Privately-owned is irrelevant with regard to the ADA -- the vast majority of hotels and restaurants are privately owned. Under Title III (Sec. 302(a)) of the ADA, as a general rule: "No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation." The definition of "public accomodation" is fairly long and extensive, but includes places of lodging.

Sec. 307 exempts "private clubs" from the ADA -- I don't know if a fraternity house would meet the definition of "private club" in the Act.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Privately-owned is irrelevant with regard to the ADA -- the vast majority of hotels and restaurants are privately owned. Under Title III (Sec. 302(a)) of the ADA, as a general rule: "No individual shall be discriminated against on the basis of disability in the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation by any person who owns, leases (or leases to), or operates a place of public accommodation." The definition of "public accomodation" is fairly long and extensive, but includes places of lodging.

Sec. 307 exempts "private clubs" from the ADA -- I don't know if a fraternity house would meet the definition of "private club" in the Act.

True!

But the main point is that The Bothers of Delta Tau Delta being a Greek Organization saw in a possible Brother something special even with his imparement.

This is an amazing story and shows what Greeks really are and can be!

Kudos + for the Members of a fine and old Fraterity.

Edited to add, that you can bet Kerry has no lose for friends!

Is he spoiled? What do you think!

[AppDelt]

Stories like this really make me proud - We're setting up a colony here at Appalachian State University and this makes me have a lot of confidence in our brothers outside our school.

[DeltAlum]

Originally Posted by AppDelt

Stories like this really make me proud - We're setting up a colony here at Appalachian State University and this makes me have a lot of confidence in our brothers outside our school.

First, welcome to colonization.

I think you will find a lot to impress you within Delt.

As for the ADA, I don't know how much a local chapter might know about it, and it seems to me that it is good that the chapter took the step of changing the bylaws whether they knew about the law or not.