Rust College: boots three BGLOs

[hoosier]

AKA gets 5 years, SGRho, 7, for illegal intake, hazing activities
KAP here today, gone tomorrow
By: Danielle Moore
Issue date: 11/19/05 Section: News
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1
Barely three years after suspending two Greek organizations, Rust College again recently stamped out the activities of two others on campus.
Three, in fact, considering the back today, gone tomorrow misfortune of another. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority campus chapters are now proscribed.
Both will not be allowed to carry out or engage in any functions on campus pertaining to their organization. The AKA is suspended for five years and the SGRho, seven years.
Dr. Eric Jackson, dean of student affairs at Rust College, said the two organizations violated the college policy on hazing and new membership intake. "They get kicked out
because they carried out illegal and unauthorized intake, and they were hazing as well."
When asked to explain the different punishment meted out to each, Jackson relates the difference to the severity of the
offense.
He said that the SGRhos were given lengthier suspension because there was evidence of actual physical abuse, but there was no such report regarding AKA.
Jackson said the AKAs however engaged in another form of hazing. "AKAs didn't hit their
victims, but the Gamma Rhos did. They think they could beat anyone. They physically beat
their victims. AKAs hazing is mental and verbal torture, including extortion. Hazing in
whatever form is illegal at anytime,"
Jackson said.
"The AKAs forcibly require them to do certain things that are illegal. They could not eat certain things, they are not supposed to talk to a boy, they are supposed to dress in certain way, and they extortioned money from them, including compelling the intakes to buy gifts for members."
The sororities are barred from sporting their paraphernalia, chanting their slogan, and hosting any event on campus. The decision to suspend them and the length, Jackson said, was
made by the college president Dr. David L. Beckley.
"The president steps in and he wants to send a strong message that here on this campus, we are not going to tolerate it. If you haze, you are not going to have an organization." Jackson said that students could get killed, injured, or maimed and the college could get sued. "This is one measure to protect the college from that kind of liability that can happen."
Asked if there was any reactions from the regional and national chapters of each organization on the suspension, Jackson said that they have been informed; however, there is not much they can do in this situation.
He explained that any sorority or fraternity on any college campus exists only because the college allows them. In addition, the schools have the power to say that Greek life is not permitted at any time deemed necessary.
"The regional and national chapters were informed on the situation, but it's the school's ultimate decision to decide whether
or not a sorority or fraternity should be suspended from a college campus during mishaps of this sort," he said.
Dean Jackson explains the zero tolerance anti-hazing policy. He said no sorority or fraternity is allowed to physically abuse anyone during the intake process, take any monies from anyone trying to join that organization, except the intake fee, nor should any sorority or fraternity begin an
intake process without the authorization authorization from the school He said there is a memo that is circulated throughout the campus to all students informing them of the designated intake process and time period as approved by the school. The memo fully explains when the intake process begins and ends, and what is permitted and not during the intake process.
"They knew about the antihazing policy. They all have the document that lay out the policy
on hazing and what they are not supposed to do. It's in the student handbook and the brochure we distribute to everyone." He emphasized, "Each sorority and fraternity is well aware of the information stated in the memo."
Soror Keila Crenshaw, the immediate past president of the proscribed AKA campus chapter, said that she was only "mildly
informed on what was going on," and that she had no idea or knowledge of the hazing treatment to prospects. She said that she loves her sisters and "it was quite upsetting" to hear that her sorors behaved as alleged.
Crenshaw finds the punishment too severe, however. "The entire chapter did not participate in the action, but the accusations
were brought up on everyone," she said.
Campus advisors to each organization refused to make any public comments on the issue
when approached by The Rustorian.
In another development, it was a short-lived joy for members of the Kappa Alpha Psi when the organization made a comeback
last spring after a three-year hiatus on campus.
Twelve new members were inducted including a new campus advisor. But, this fall the organization got axed again for a repeat violation of the anti-hazing policy.
This time the fraternity is slapped with a five-year suspension by the college administration. According to one member, the
suspension is unfair. "What happened did not occur on Rust campus, and the organization is not even directly involved."