Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol)

[exlurker]

The Towerlight reports that alcohol at Bid Day activities has resulted in probation for five sororities:
Alpha Omicron Pi
Alpha Phi
Phi Mu
Phi Sigma Sigma
Zeta Tau Alpha.

The paper's article is at:


http://media.www.thetowerlight.com/m...-3025639.shtml

A few excerpts from the article:

"They violated the 'no drinking' [rule] during formal recruitment. We substantiated there was drinking on the field. There was drinking prior to the event. And that is against their policy as it relates to recruitment," Patrick Daniel, director of student activities, said.

Formal recruitment is supposed to be a "dry" recruitment.

Daniel said the University learned of the infractions because numerous injuries were reported and there were pictures on Facebook. . . .

The social probation will last until Spring Break 2008.

"They cannot tailgate. They can't participate in Homecoming events. They can't have events with other chapters. That includes fraternities and other student organizations. [There will be] no formals, semiformals, no date parties or crush parties, no socials," he said.

Whether there was also underage drinking at Bid Day is still under investigation, Daniel said. Individual sorority members are going through the judicial process. . . .

Thank you, AGD, for not being on that list.

I know we have some Towson students on GC. I'm curious as to what they think of the situation.

[kathykd2005]

I'll definitely echo that, and say thank heavens KD is not on that list. However, all of the sororities there were sanctioned... So that does tell you that this is a Greek-wide problem, and not just a problem for the houses that got CAUGHT. I am interested in seeing what a "long-term" solution to a situation like this would be, since a student mentioned that there needed to be one in the article.

[33girl]

I'm sorry but this is super ghey.

There are 8 sororities on NPC. 5 are on total probation, and the other 3 were "sanctioned." I'd love to know what the other 3 didn't do.

If that many groups are on probation, they'll just back each other up, cover for each other, and party illegally. When everyone's a criminal, no one is.

Dumb.

[kathykd2005]

Precisely what I was alluding to. It seems to be a common occurrence in their Greek system; like I said, the other five just happened to get "caught."

[AOII Angel]

I can tell you that the 5 sororities sanctioned are very angry about the sanctions which are deemed to be excessively harsh. The problem started because the recruitment counselors decided to get drunk before bids were handed out that day. Apparently this is a stupid "tradition" that the girls let get way out of control. Every sorority was involved including AGD, KD and AXD so they were sanctioned. The other sororities were probated because there were supposedly worse offenses. I know there was at least one group that was openly drinking at the Bid Day "Running of the Bulls" but I know for a fact that AOII was not since we actually had two alumnae advisors present who witnessed the whole thing. The university was notified of the drinking by an advisor for one of the groups so Panhellenic was not allowed to handle this internally. Towson was also mad that some girls got hurt during the festivities including a NM of one group who was taken off the field by EMS and sent to the hospital with a concussion. I understand that the tradition is for the girls to tackle the new members as they run toward their new group. Apparently all groups participate and the fraternity men sit on the sidelines and egg it all on. Running of the Bulls will never occur again. (I'm thankful for that!) The groups on probation are allowed to submit an appeal. Towson is holding fast to punishing the whole group for the offense of a very few. It's unfortunate for the NMs of these groups and the responsible women who did not drink on bid day. AOII actually did a great job of investigating and assigning sanctions to our members that were involved. They are understandably embarrassed, but they'll survive and hopefully learn a big lesson.

[texas*princess]

Am I reading this wrong? It says the sanctions are in effect until Spring Break 2008.

Why is that harsh? It's a few months away.

IMHO, tradition or not, they should have known better. It's not like the concept of dry rush is a new one.

And based on how I thought Greek Life worked, everyone in a particular GLO is responsible for following the rules because we all represent the same organization. And while the entire chapter of ABC or XYZ may not have ALL been drinking, what members do reflects on the entire chapter.

[whittleschmegg]

The university I attended was also pretty informal, so I can understand how some members may not realize how seriously they can get introuble for not following certain rules; especially as sophmores. I do however think a majority of the blame should be put on advisors and the recruitment chair on panhellenic. I was recruitment chair and it somewhat frightens me that a general statement was not made informing all members that even though this is tradition it is NOT PERMITTED and anyone caught disregarding the rules will be punished. I think it's a little irresponsible to punish women who most likely did not understand the severity of their actions. Something must be done but to put the chapters on social probation for basically the entire year and campus probation until next fall may be a very premature rash decision.

[whittleschmegg]

One more thing, are their any measures being taken towards the advisor who new this was going on and alegedly participating in these drinking activities.

[kathykd2005]

Totally off topic, but I REALLY think there needs to be a universal name for Recruitment Counselors. When I went through, they were called Rho Chis, then it changed to Pi Chis, then it changed to Rho Gammas. It should be the same on ALL campuses. *Sorry for the hijack!*

[SWTXBelle]

Slightly ot - I've known several cases where the fact that the Greek advisor was a man and really had no clue about NPC has been a problem. I really wish campuses would have an advisor for fraternities, and one for sororities. Money may be the issue - but I think it might help in many situations.

This is an unfortunate situation, and my only hope is that other campuses with "traditions"that are liability nightmares are paying attention. At least the advisors . . .

[Just interested]

I am wondering AXiDGirl10, what was the dividing line between probation and sanctioned? Obviously, no one group was totally not involved. I suspect, from what little I know, that National Panhellenic will investigate the situation.

As far as probation or even being sanctioned, that little bit of punishment shouldn't worry these girls as much as when their National organization gets a hold of them. I won't be pretty. There should be no excuses. If this is a school of "maybe joiners"
then maybe they don't need to have National Panhellenic groups on their campus

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by Just interested

If this is a school of "maybe joiners"
then maybe they don't need to have National Panhellenic groups on their campus

Excuse me? Are you implying that NPC groups are only for Southern Belles bred to rush? Just because schools in the North aren't full of women who have been primed for recruitment since conception doesn't mean that NPC groups aren't valuable, needed, and enjoyed up here. I myself was a maybe joiner. Tons of women at my school are maybe joiners, and many of them are won over once they actually go through recruitment. Just because someone is a "maybe joiner" doesn't mean they're going to be less committed. It could just mean that all they know of sororities are stereotypes and need convincing that a sorority is a good investment of time.

AOIIAngel, I didn't read I Heart Recruitment, but maybe it was in a review or summary of it that I read that most schools have 10% "always joiners", 10% "never joiners", and 80% "maybe joiners". The key is winning over the maybe joiners.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

AOIIAngel, I didn't read I Heart Recruitment, but maybe it was in a review or summary of it that I read that most schools have 10% "always joiners", 10% "never joiners", and 80% "maybe joiners". The key is winning over the maybe joiners.

I loved this discussion in the book. Unfortunately, widespread sanctioning of Greeks will only drive away these people who fit into the "maybe joiners" group. I'm hoping Panhel can get together to improve the image of Greeks on campus at Towson. These groups have so much to offer, and Bid Day antics are such a small part of the picture, but it is beginning to overwhelm the positives of Greek life.

A strong panhellenic presence will help all of the chapters on campus. Hopefully, activities will be a little more circumspect, dirty rushing will be eliminated and rules will be enforced consistently. Of course, ignorance is never an acceptable excuse for breaking the rules, but rules being broken in such a widespread manner indicates major problems at a much higher level than the individual chapters. I'm staying positive that this campus will make the necessary changes to improve the status of Greek organizations so that the negative stories aren't the only stories heard by the public.

[fyrnymph]

Quote - I suspect, from what little I know, that National Panhellenic will investigate the situation. Unquote.

Correct me if I am wrong, but I do not believe NPC has an investigatory function. The local Panhellenic may, and the university certainly should, conduct an investigation, but to the best of my knowledge the NPC as a body doesn't work like that. The fact that the GLOs are NPC means that the groups have a national headquarters that I am sure is VERY interested in making sure the groups follow the rules from here on out. Were they local groups, that would not be the case.

I hope the groups use this as an opportunity to focus on their sisterhood, and to come back from this unfortunate event stronger and more focused on what is really important.