At Least We're Not at the top...

[PiLambda1]

Of students arrested in '06, 1-in-3 were Greek members
By Rebecca K. Quigley | rebecca.quigley@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 10:55 PM on Saturday, February 24, 2007
One in three University of Georgia students that UGA and Athens-Clarke County police arrested in 2006 was a member of a fraternity or sorority, according to records the Athens Banner-Herald obtained through an open records request.

Greeks as a whole got caught breaking the law slightly more often than the overall student body, but twice as many fraternity members were arrested as sorority members, according to UGA police and UGA Greek Life Office records.

Fraternities with the most arrests were Pi Kappa Phi with 17, Theta Chi with 12 and Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Sigma and Lambda Chi Alpha, each with 11 arrests.

Fewer sorority members were arrested, though Kappa Kappa Gamma topped the list with nine, followed by Delta Zeta with eight.

"I think it goes without saying that social organizations create more opportunities for students to become involved in activities that could result in some kind of adverse reaction," said Rodney Bennett, UGA vice president for student affairs.

"I'm not surprised that one in three arrests have been a person affiliated with a Greek organization," Bennett said.

Student affairs leaders should use the numbers as an opportunity to find out why that ratio is so high and how to make improvements, he said.

But because many fraternity and sorority members get good grades, administrators and Greek life leaders face a challenge getting those students to change their social habits to match their academic habits, Bennett said.

"Their social expectations are out of line with where they are academically," he said.

Fraternities and sororities have higher grade point averages than the general student body, according to UGA records.

So the argument that may work with other students - that alcohol problems will affect their grades - won't fly with many Greek organization members, Bennett said.

"You've got to think, 'OK, how am I going to handle that,' " he said. "It's a tough nut to crack."


GREEK ARRESTS

One in three University of Georgia students that UGA and Athens-Clarke County police arrested in 2006 was a member of a fraternity or sorority. Greeks got caught breaking the law at a higher rate than the student body as a whole, and twice the number of fraternity members as sorority members were arrested.

ARRESTS UNDERGRADS PERCENT

651 students 25,437 2.6

219 Greek members 5,416 4.0

454 male students 10,876 4.2

147 fraternity members 2,065 7.1

197 female students 14,248 1.4

72 sorority members 3,351 2.1

2006 ARRESTS BY FRATERNITY

Pi Kappa Phi: 17

Theta Chi: 12

Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Sigma, Lambda Chi Alpha: 11 each

Chi Phi, Kappa Alpha, Sigma Alpha Epsilon: 9 each

Beta Theta Pi: 7

Sigma Chi, Sigma Pi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Kappa Lambda, Pi Kappa Alpha: 5 each

Sigma Nu, Phi Gamma Delta: 4 each

Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Sigma Phi: 3 each

Alpha Epsilon Pi: 2

Phi Delta Theta, Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Chi, Chi Psi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Alpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Phi Alpha: 1 each

2006 ARRESTS BY SORORITY

Kappa Kappa Gamma: 9

Delta Zeta: 8

Kappa Alpha Theta: 6

Delta Delta Delta, Alpha Omicron Pi, Zeta Tau Alpha, Phi Mu, Kappa Delta: 5 each

Alpha Gamma Delta, Chi Omega , Sigma Delta Tau: 4 each

Gamma Phi Beta, Sigma Kappa: 3 each

Delta Gamma, Pi Beta Phi, Alpha Chi Omega: 2 each

Sources: UGA police reports, Greek Life Office membership lists from 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years

[GammaZeta]

Ya know, I'm kind of sick of certain people making Lambda Chi Alpha look like a group of thugs on this board.

Seriously. Look at some of these posts, all of which are currently on the front page. Whether it's a vote of no confidence, insulting another chapter for choosing to LEGALLY drink, threatening others with bashing their heads in with a brick, or some suggestions that we hold "MLK DAY" parties.

Yes, I know. Not everyone can be as knowledgeable, insightful or contribute as much as I have to this forum. Yes, it can be intimidating trying to come up with posts as smart and savvy as mine are, but that is still no excuse for failing. Although most posters will never come close to acheiving the high standard that I have set, you can still provide rational posts that can be helpful in our discussions.

But maybe we should consider criminal activity off limits for a while? So we can reclaim the positivity that was once on this board.

[PiLambda1]

I have Google set to send me news articles with the words "Lambda
Chi Alpha" in them. This is what came tonite. I thought it was
interesting. As far as I'm concerned it makes the entire greek community
at UGA look bad.

I assure you if the article had been about a Brother rescuing and infant
from a burning building (or something equally moving) I would have posted
it...


PS - get over yourself...:-)

[GammaZeta]

Just because you can....

...doesn't mean you should.

[PiLambda1]

Knowing is half the battle...

Knowledge is power...

You must know of problems and acknowledge their existence before
you can hope to correct them...

[Ottor 246]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Yes, I know. Not everyone can be as knowledgeable, insightful or contribute as much as I have to this forum. Yes, it can be intimidating trying to come up with posts as smart and savvy as mine are, but that is still no excuse for failing. Although most posters will never come close to acheiving the high standard that I have set, you can still provide rational posts that can be helpful in our discussions.

You know what you're problem is, GZ? You lack confidence. It's not good to keep your feelings bottled up this way. Why don't you come out of your shell for once and tell us what you really think?

Has anyone thought of launching an investigation into the UGA police force to find out why they're unfairly targeting greeks for arrest? One in three sounds like a pretty high rate of arrest for a group which, by their own admission, has higher grades than the student body as a whole. Could it be someone has a grudge?

All I'm saying is there's usually more than one way to interpret a news story.

[GammaZeta]

My whole point is, why do we need such negativity?

Will it help this board if we are constantly flooded with negative articles about LXA?

I remember a few days ago one member said that they were concerned about potential members coming on this board and seeing negative posts. Well. Why wouldn't all these posts discourage someone?

[Ottor 246]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

My whole point is, why do we need such negativity?

Will it help this board if we are constantly flooded with negative articles about LXA?

I remember a few days ago one member said that they were concerned about potential members coming on this board and seeing negative posts. Well. Why wouldn't all these posts discourage someone?

I guess sarcasm dosn't translate well to the written word. I agree with your post. I was just marvelling at the extent to which you are in touch with your own awesomeness.

[GammaZeta]

Ottor, I don't believe my god-like stature is up for debate. Yes, it is true that I have never been wrong while posting on this board, and that my opinions should be taken as LXA canon, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't try to prove me wrong.

After all, by trying to prove me wrong, people soon realize that through their own errors, that I am correct.

[Tom Earp]

I do not feel that LXA is being singled out by any stretch of the imagination.

While none of us want to see nagativity about LXA Brothers, it is a fact of life.

I for one want to see any problems that our members do and in the same vein, I also wish to see any accolades. If it is not posted here by a Brother, it can and will be found by someone on site and posted on another thread.

By seeing problems, it may head of problems else where at other Zetas as it may give some a few thoughts about what not to do.

First things first, I suggest the bickering among Brothers cease. Tha would be a good start. Members of IHQ monitor this site and there are some who are members and post often.

[GammaZeta]

Tom, it's the same problems over, and over, and over, and over, and over again. I could take any of those news stories, just change the location, names and date, and there wouldn't be any difference between them.

So that tells me either:

1. Someone at IHQ isn't doing their job...again.

2. Zetas, and college students in general, simply don't learn by others mistakes.

3. Both

So what is the point in either case to continue posting negative news stories?

It's not like whoever is responsible at HQ will get fired and it's not like some chapter will stop doing something wrong just because of a news story.

It also doesn't seem that HQ monitors this site. If they did, they would be getting their act together. It just seems like there is one negative story after another. Nothing is being done.

There is also nothing wrong with bickering between brothers, although everyone SHOULD agree with everything I say because I am always right.

Maybe it's time we start rethinking the LXA national structure? Maybe it's time to tear down and start anew?

[EM1843]

HQ doesn't moniter the site per say, but individual board members do. I know because I've had my own words get back to me more than once.

Gamma I was really thinking that you had come around and were going to be a rational level headed poster. I guess I was wrong.

This is not a problem of someone at HQ not doing their job, rather it is invidual brothers choosing to act inapproprately. I think there may be some truth in Ottor's suggestion that UGA police may be unfairly targeting Greek members, but we will always be under increased scruitiny. It may be time for the leaders of the Greek community there to meet with the local police forces to figure out why a statistically higher percentage of Greeks are being arrested. Are the cops hanging out at fraternity row waiting for someone to bust? Are the "frat boys" looking for a fight when they are out? There must be some reason why more Greeks are being arrested, even if it stems from perceptions in the community as to who needs to be watched the closest.

[Tom Earp]

GammaZeta, there is nothing wrong with the structure of LXA and does not need to be fixed.

The staff at IHQ and the Grand High Zeta are if nothing else very dedicated LXA Brothers or they would not be where they are and do what they do for what they get paid if it was not for the love of LXA.

Granted your experience was not the best but you can still carry on and try to get built back up. While your experience was bad, mine was good as many others have had.

There is not enough people to police each and every chapter to make sure everything is run to order. We as LXA with over @ 200 chapters and not being a super wealthy organization along with most cannot afford to it.

There is certain responsibilities that go along with joining any Greek Orgaization by the local members. Oh, "kids will be kids gets over used", and I like all of the rest on site have partied while in school and there are many chapters who have little or not problems. The ones who have been closed are done not at a whim, but because the continued to do what was wrong.

Remember, that Greeks are maybe unduly targeted can be true, but whose fault is that?

[john1082]

I, too, get the Yahoo news briefs for LXA. But there is far more news out there than Yahoo reports. Yahoo does miss news - both bad AND good news. We have to have both to keep track of what is going on within the Brotherhood.

Members of the GHZ drop by once in a while - actually, I suspect that they lurk more than we know. If they read something here that warrants attention by staff members in Indy or by the GHZ there is a fiduciary duty to report the bad (and good) news to the appropriate folks. We're not hiding much. Indy gets those same Yahoo alerts.

If the Zeta at Georgia has 100 members and 11 were arrested in any one year, that tells me that there is something wrong at Georgia. Perhaps not within our chapter, but somewhere on campus and within the Greek environment there. Gang, that is an 11% arrest rate!

The local authorities may be applying special emphasis on the Greeks. It has been known to happen. We had that at Fullerton - we can discuss this off-line. If there is special emphasis on Greeks then our Brothers of the Peach State must figure out how to keep a low profile and not allow a situation to develop that would lead to an arrest. That's life. Learn how to adapt.

These numbers should scare the High Zeta at Georgia, from the High Alpha all the way to the guy who picks up after the house mascot dog. If the Executive Committee at Georgia will not or cannot cool the situation down then the General Fraternity will, and must step in to clean up the mess. In many Zetas an arrest would be more or less automatic expulsion. What is going on at Georgia?

We have many obligations as members of the Bond. One, whether stated or unstated, is to ensure that there is a Zeta at a campus because only then can young men, whom we have never met, discover what we have found within the Brotherhood. If we must exercise greater control over a Zeta then it is, unfortunately, what we must do. Been there, done that. And, oh yes, these numbers WILL make it to parents when Rush is discussed.

If I were the king I would call the Greek affairs advisor and set up an appointment for either myself or the Exec. VP, or perhaps both, and go down there and see WTF is going on. A meeting with the Zeta would also be in store. I want to know why 11 young men were taken into custody and what is being done about it.

[GammaZeta]

Ok, so what do we do? Responsibility should be at the top of the organization, or at the very least HQ in general.

Tom, I'm not talking about any of my experiences or anyone else's, I'm talking about article after article after article that has been posted on these forums over the last several months. Mostly negative.

Ultimate responsibility falls on the HQ, they're the ones that monitor the chapters, cut the checks and have ultimate authority.

Maybe having a centralized HQ isn't working so well. Maybe we should divide HQ into regions, better suited to handle each areas needs, keep closer tabs on the chapter? After all, we are an INTERnational fraternity. Why have one building in the middle of Indiana?