U. of Michigan Sorority Will Press Charges

[exlurker]

A sorority at the U. of Michigan will press charges in the case of illegal entry into their house (allegedly to steal composites). One of the chapter officers is quoted as indicating that it's a security issue. Several members of a fraternity were arrested in the incident, which is reported in the Michigan Daily.

http://www.michigandaily.com/vnews/d.../41b455f173591

As many GCers will recall, the U. of Michigan has seen a lot of negative incidents involving Greeks over the last couple of years or so. This doesn't help.

My opinion is that the sorority is doing the right thing from the standpoint of sisters' safety and general risk management principles.

[Rudey]

Who is pressing the charges?

Is it the international sorority? The local alums/housing board? The current undergrad chapter members?

It was a prank...I know it was foolish but you are about to ruin some kids' lives over this.

-Rudey

Putting the intent of the break-in aside, I'm glad they're pressing charges. Doing so tells everyone that they don't take this crap lightly, and anyone who tries to break in will be punished!

Sure, it was composites they were after, but what'll happen if G-d forbid, someone breaks in and assaults one of the sisters? No one likes the fact that someone broke into their house, ask anyone who's ever been burglarized...it's a sense of violation and you have a hard time feeling like you're safe.

[OleMissGlitter]

I agree, they need to be punished...this year it is a composite and then next year what are they going to take? Composites are pretty expensive and I would hate for any sorority or fraternity to have to try and replace their composites because of a fraternity prank.

[33girl]

From what I understand composite "stealing" is common on many campuses. I don't think it's so much that they took it, as it is that they broke in to do so - that's different than having people over for an event and them leaving with it. People that you don't know well entering thru your bathroom is just major ick factor.

[sambadoll]

I know my house would take the security thing very seriously, considering a certain infamous event where security was breached... if you know what I mean.

[MTSUGURL]

Originally posted by Rudey

It was a prank...I know it was foolish but you are about to ruin some kids' lives over this.

-Rudey

Not technically. They are having charges brought against them for something that they decided to do. They've ruined their own lives; whether it was mean spirited or not, prank or not, breaking and entering is illegal.

[PhoenixAzul]

Originally posted by MTSUGURL
Not technically. They are having charges brought against them for something that they decided to do. They've ruined their own lives; whether it was mean spirited or not, prank or not, breaking and entering is illegal.

cosign. I don't care if it was a composite. What if it had been a computer? Would it still be a prank? What if the people stealing the composite weren't greek, what if they were high school boys? Let's look at this... 1) enter a girls bathroom (in the residential part of the house, I assume. Where a woman might have been showering or doing something else private) 2) poke around in the house looking for what they wanted 3) TAKE something they did not pay for simply for shits and giggles. 4) think that because they said it was a prank that it was OK. Anyone else seeing something wrong with that?

[Rudey]

Originally posted by MTSUGURL
Not technically. They are having charges brought against them for something that they decided to do. They've ruined their own lives; whether it was mean spirited or not, prank or not, breaking and entering is illegal.

Not technically what?

I don't disagree that a law was broken. I just think it's harsh is all. They might not think the same way as I do, but I'm not pressing the charges.

It does make me wonder though, who is pressing the charges. I am curious as to how things like this work.

-Rudey

[Rudey]

Originally posted by PhoenixAzul
cosign. I don't care if it was a composite. What if it had been a computer? Would it still be a prank? What if the people stealing the composite weren't greek, what if they were high school boys? Let's look at this... 1) enter a girls bathroom (in the residential part of the house, I assume. Where a woman might have been showering or doing something else private) 2) poke around in the house looking for what they wanted 3) TAKE something they did not pay for simply for shits and giggles. 4) think that because they said it was a prank that it was OK. Anyone else seeing something wrong with that?

From my understanding fraternities and sororities have often kidnapped each others mascots and composites. It makes all the difference that it is a composite and not a computer and that it is a fraternity and not high school boys.

Your what if situations don't make sense here to me.

-Rudey

[kddani]

I think the problem with this situation, unlike other pranks that we've heard about involving composite swapping, is the method by which it was stolen- breaking in through the women's bathroom, at 4 in the morning.

Also not smart on the men's part because many young women are trained in self defense now adays. I'd imagine that if a man broke into your dwelling at 4am someone could get seriously injured.

As someone who's apartment had been broken into in the past, it is a MAJOR violation of your feeling of personal safety. It's hard to describe to someone who's never dealt with it.

[texas*princess]

Originally posted by OohTeenyWahine
Putting the intent of the break-in aside, I'm glad they're pressing charges. Doing so tells everyone that they don't take this crap lightly, and anyone who tries to break in will be punished!

Sure, it was composites they were after, but what'll happen if G-d forbid, someone breaks in and assaults one of the sisters? No one likes the fact that someone broke into their house, ask anyone who's ever been burglarized...it's a sense of violation and you have a hard time feeling like you're safe.

I def. agree 100%.

[bruinaphi]

The year before I started college a pledge class from a different school broke into our house during their hell week for a panty raid and two of our members wound up in the hospital and two other members wound up with broken arms. It was not a funny situation.

Only the police and prosecutor's office can decide when to press charges. The chapter and HCB only have the ability to decide whether or not to bring a civil suit.

[Tom Earp]

It may seem like a prank at the time, but can get out of hand.

We had an (Unnamed Fraterity) come into our house and steal the only Composite of the Local I started. I was livid. When I got back home from the visit, I emailed that chapter and IHQ.

Plainly put it, get it back or I would prefer charges.

We got it back damaged. According to the Fraternity, they were going to suspend the people responsible for the theft.

Theft, the taking of property that does not belong to said person.

Breaking and entering, entering without permission through distruction of property.

Nice signature, love it!

I beleive it says Theta Chi and Tri Delta, and I hate to see things like this escalate this far. 15 years is a long damn time!

[honeychile]

Two words: Ted Bundy.

If someone can break into your house to steal a composite (prank or no prank), someone can break in for much more evil purposes.

While I don't like to see these guys get criminal records, somebody has to draw the line. Good for the sorority involved!!