What punishment will work ?

[DCDisney]

If there's a problem with a chapter that continues to have unapproved or underground parties (including providing alcohol to minors, underage drinking, and some hazing), what punishment can work to get the chapter to stop this risky behavior ?

In the past, the chapter has been required to attend risk management workshops, sign statements that they understand the GLO's requirements and promise to abide by them, and required to pay monetary fines to the GLO headquarters. Apparently these things didn't work, and the unapproved parties have continued, and even become more frequent. (And, have taken place in some very scary old houses that look like they could either trap members during a fire, or collapse on their heads).

What will stop it ? Does it take a tragedy within the chapter ? Or will something else work ?

I particularly am interested in current collegians' opinions on what will work, or what won't work. Thanks !

[DeltAlum]

Alums,

How about if we let the undergraduates/colligians reply first. We might learn something.

Then we can add our "wisdom" later.

Just a thought.

[Rudey]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Alums,

How about if we let the undergraduates/colligians reply first. We might learn something.

Then we can add our "wisdom" later.

Just a thought.

Hosting unapproved parties? Before we add our "wisdom", what does this even mean? I'm assuming this is a sorority?

-Rudey

[adpiucf]

I'm an alum adding my $.02...

If fines and workshops have failed to effect any sort of impact, other options include:

1) The University and/or the national office for the GLO banning the group in question from participating in any sort of new member recruitment for a full school year. This will weed out a lot of members due to graduation or sour grapes.

2) The university will require increased security at all Greek events, and any groups who do not comply will be placed on social probation for an extended period. Students who are in attendance at unapproved parties or who throw unapproved parties will receive some penalty in the form of community service, fines, or risk some form of academic suspension for causing the university a severe risk management issue.

3) The national GLO HQ should send a field consultant out to the chapter for a prolonged period of evaluation and leadership training.

4) The university can kick the chapter off-campus and/or the national GLO HQ can revoke the chapter charter, making these activities neither university nor nationally sanctioned.

ETA: What the chapter can do:

1) Monthly open forum where the chapter provides feedback and suggestions to the exec board without the exec board getting defensive and mouthing off.
2) Required member education monthly
3) Recognizing chapter members when they have gone above and beyond
4) Delegating leadership to chapter members, especially during these workshops
5) Asking for help from nationals, rather than fearing them, and being open and honest with nationals when a situation is brewing. They want to help-- they are not disapproving parents-- they are the management arm of your org.
6) Call people up to standards and be harsh--clean house. Numbers may drop, but so will the problems.

[Rudey]

This honestly sounds severe...like you are treating them like little children at best and prisoners at worse.

-Rudey

Originally posted by adpiucf
I'm an alum adding my $.02...

If fines and workshops have failed to effect any sort of impact, other options include:

1) The University and/or the national office for the GLO banning the group in question from participating in any sort of new member recruitment for a full school year. This will weed out a lot of members due to graduation or sour grapes.

2) The university will require increased security at all Greek events, and any groups who do not comply will be placed on social probation for an extended period. Students who are in attendance at unapproved parties or who throw unapproved parties will receive some penalty in the form of community service, fines, or risk some form of academic suspension for causing the university a severe risk management issue.

3) The national GLO HQ should send a field consultant out to the chapter for a prolonged period of evaluation and leadership training.

4) The university can kick the chapter off-campus and/or the national GLO HQ can revoke the chapter charter, making these activities neither university nor nationally sanctioned.

ETA: What the chapter can do:

1) Monthly open forum where the chapter provides feedback and suggestions to the exec board without the exec board getting defensive and mouthing off.
2) Required member education monthly
3) Recognizing chapter members when they have gone above and beyond
4) Delegating leadership to chapter members, especially during these workshops
5) Asking for help from nationals, rather than fearing them, and being open and honest with nationals when a situation is brewing. They want to help-- they are not disapproving parents-- they are the management arm of your org.
6) Call people up to standards and be harsh--clean house. Numbers may drop, but so will the problems.

[33girl]

I'm with Rudey, we need to know 1) if this is a fraternity or a sorority and 2) whether the chapter housing is located on campus.

[Kevin]

I believe that any chapter that thinks the rules somehow do not apply to them that actively refuses to do what members of their organization should do should be removed from the organization.

I'm up to the granting of early alum status, suspending charters, making chapters dormant, whatever needs to happen. It's not just about the people that are breaking the rules, it's about the culture within the Greek system. Until HQ's start to really get tough on their chapters trying to change this, insurance is just going to keep heading north.

[hoosier]

Take away their checkbook - have an alum or a private accountant control the $$$.

Allow spending only for approved stuff.

If they want to pay addl. money and have a party, so be it.

[Rudey]

What the heck is this approved business???

What does that even mean? In my mind it's someone stealing money from the fraternity and throwing a party and putting up the fraternity banner. This can't be it so what does that mean??

It's probably some sorority BS where the undergrads want to do something and haven't gone through 5,000 approval procedures with alumni, regional whomever, and advisors in my opinion.

-Rudey

[DCDisney]

Yes, this is a sorority. No chapter house, only a common area inside a dormitory floor. Parties took place at privately leased houses in a city, off-campus.

Sorority either attended a party, after organizing attendance, transportation, themed costumes or clothing, or they actually co-sponsored a party with a fraternity group.

"Approved" vs "unapproved" means the parties were not in compliance with the GLO's risk managment policies and procedures. Unapproved means the events weren't approved by the proper GLO-designated advisers, etc. before the events happened.

Parties were funded by "passing the hat". Official sorority funds were not used. It isn't an issue of spending money they shouldn't have, or writing checks out of the sorority account. They funded the party "underground" or passing the hat.

Alcohol was consumed by minors. Alcohol was served via common source, like a keg.


BTW .... nationals have been brough in over the past few years. I don't think the chapter members "fear" the nationals, but I also don't think they respect them either. They just tolerate their brief visit, and then go back to their partying.

Maybe taking individual membership action (suspending people, or "kicking them out") should happen. Would that be a deterrant to chapter members in the future ?

Yes... I'd love to hear from current collegians. Honestly, what do you think would help stop this ???

[Rudey]

So would they not be allowed to throw a party outside of the sorority? Can they have birthday parties or are they Jehova Witnesses?

Remember if you treat people like children or criminals, then they respond in the same way. But then again sororities have all sorts of silly rules that I can't begin to comprehend.

-Rudey

Originally posted by DCDisney
Yes, this is a sorority. No chapter house, only a common area inside a dormitory floor. Parties took place at privately leased houses in a city, off-campus.

Sorority either attended a party, after organizing attendance, transportation, themed costumes or clothing, or they actually co-sponsored a party with a fraternity group.

"Approved" vs "unapproved" means the parties were not in compliance with the GLO's risk managment policies and procedures.

Parties were funded by "passing the hat". Official sorority funds were not used. It isn't an issue of spending money they shouldn't have, or writing checks out of the sorority account. They funded the party "underground" or passing the hat.


BTW .... nationals have been brough in over the past few years. I don't think the chapter members "fear" the nationals, but I also don't think they respect them either. They just tolerate their brief visit, and then go back to their partying.

Maybe taking individual membership action (suspending people, or "kicking them out") should happen. Would that be a deterrant to chapter members in the future ?

Yes... I'd love to hear from current collegians. Honestly, what do you think would help stop this ???

[James]

Is the way they are having parties in-line with the campus Greek Culture?

If thats standard operating procedure you are going to be working up hill against whats been done for years.

If they are having off-campus stuff as a group of friends are they even in violation of your national's rules?

[kappaloo]

I'm "almost" a current collegian (I graduated about 4 months ago).

No offense, but you really can't get at them if they go to a party "not as XYZs". If they want to organize rides etc together - that's their perogative. They shouldn't do that (eta: organizing the non-sorority social outing) during meetings of course, and an alum at the meetings would stop that.

As for co-sponsoring and underage drink - that's a liability|legality issue I can see why you're against it.

I'm always for a sorority dealing with itself, too much interferance from above will only make it worse. Inform them of the rules, let them know they'll get caught. When they are caught, send them to your version of standards and let them deal with it. If your standards council isn't working properly - well, that's another issue all together, and that should be dealt with by the appropriate parties.

Originally posted by DCDisney
Yes, this is a sorority. No chapter house, only a common area inside a dormitory floor. Parties took place at privately leased houses in a city, off-campus.

Sorority either attended a party, after organizing attendance, transportation, themed costumes or clothing, or they actually co-sponsored a party with a fraternity group.

"Approved" vs "unapproved" means the parties were not in compliance with the GLO's risk managment policies and procedures. Unapproved means the events weren't approved by the proper GLO-designated advisers, etc. before the events happened.

Parties were funded by "passing the hat". Official sorority funds were not used. It isn't an issue of spending money they shouldn't have, or writing checks out of the sorority account. They funded the party "underground" or passing the hat.

Alcohol was consumed by minors. Alcohol was served via common source, like a keg.


BTW .... nationals have been brough in over the past few years. I don't think the chapter members "fear" the nationals, but I also don't think they respect them either. They just tolerate their brief visit, and then go back to their partying.

Maybe taking individual membership action (suspending people, or "kicking them out") should happen. Would that be a deterrant to chapter members in the future ?

Yes... I'd love to hear from current collegians. Honestly, what do you think would help stop this ???

[Kevin]

Originally posted by Rudey
What the heck is this approved business???

What does that even mean? In my mind it's someone stealing money from the fraternity and throwing a party and putting up the fraternity banner. This can't be it so what does that mean??

It's probably some sorority BS where the undergrads want to do something and haven't gone through 5,000 approval procedures with alumni, regional whomever, and advisors in my opinion.

-Rudey

Absolutely.

Groups should be responsible for following their own rules. And with that responsibility, they should face the appropriate consequences when they get caught not following the rules.

I wish some national organizations were tougher on their chapters.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

I have to agree with ktsnake on this one. It really sounds like pulling the charter is the only thing to do if they are completely ignoring all rules. I'm surprised the nationals hasn't done it already. Our IH is pretty harsh on this stuff (at least in the instances that I know about).

BUT, in this case it was an off campus party so where were the cops? If they were supplying alcohol to minors then they were breaking the law. It doesn't matter what the rules of the sorority are.