The scandel that shook greek week, i mean games week!

[PiKA2001]

Allegations made and falsified documents found
By Martha Wood
and Anna Bialk
News Editors

A member of Wayne State University's Lambda Theta Alpha Latina Sorority filed a grievance alleging racism against the groups participating in this year's NPC/IFC Games Week, held the second week in April. In the past, Games Week was formally known as Greek Week.

Jennifer Rincones, a member of the Lambda Theta Alpha Latina Sorority, made a complaint to David Strauss, Dean of Students. Rincones said the mainstream Greek organizations did not invite WSU's historically and predominantly African-American and Latina groups. She said Strauss made comments to her in the past about the tension feeling somewhat racist.

Strauss said he didn't recall making any comments like that. But he said, "If she says I said it, I did." He said he doesn't think it's racism or ethnicity, but just, "resistance to change."

Strauss said he told the president of Wayne State's chapter of the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), Erin Moore, that if they wanted to call the event Greek Week, they must extend an invitation to all the Greek organizations on campus.

Rincones said Moore approached her in January on Student Organization Day and got her e-mail address.

"We didn't get one e-mail. She never contacted us," Rincones said.

Three Latina sororities and nine National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) sororities were not invited to this year's Greek Week. Only six mainstream sororities and fraternities participated.

When Moore filled out the Event Planning Form on behalf of the NPC, she listed the event as "NPC/IFC Games Week." The word "Greek" was initially written in the events slot on the form. "Greek" was scribbled out and "Games" was written above it. T-shirts made for the event also said "Greek Week."

"They were just looking for a way to get around the system," Strauss said. "I told them they cannot call it "Greek Week" unless they invite all the Greeks. I was adamant to them."

Last year was the first time Greek Week integrated all Greek groups on campus, but Rincones said the week was not productive.

"We felt unwanted," she said.

The groups were given a mediator, Ken Harris, an academic service officer II.

"He was there to steer communications," Strauss said.

But Rincones said there was tension and fighting between the groups. She added that she felt there were racist undertones.

"I think it's them being prejudiced," she said.

Moore was contacted by The South End for comment but did not return the calls. Members from Kappa Delta and Alpha Epsilon Phi were also contacted and were unavailable for comment.

Strauss said he confronted Moore about the shirts during Games Week, which was the first time he was aware of the situation. The next week, she stepped down from her presidency of the NPC.

Carol Warren, area advisor for the NPC, said she had no knowledge of the situation. "This is an issue between the campus and the student," she said.

Strauss said he has filed charges with Rick Earnest, assistant provost in charge of the Student Judicial Affairs Office. The charges are failure to comply with a university official's direction and falsifying university documents.

The NPC falsified documents by including Interfraternal Council (IFC) as a sponsor of the event. Identifying the organization as IFC was false because WSU fraternities do not have a local IFC.

The charge of failure to comply with a university official's direction is due to Strauss' direct order not to call the week "Greek Week" unless all Greeks were invited. Earnest will meet with the accused group and determine guilt or innocence.

Strauss said the possible punishments range from no action being taken, probationary notice or withdrawing recognition of the groups involved as official WSU student organizations. Earnest will determine the punishment.

Rincones said when she complained to Strauss, she felt as if he was only telling her what she wanted to hear, that he wouldn't do anything about it.

But Strauss said, "I'm doing it, aren't I." He also said he is in the process of writing letters to the six national offices of the organizations that participated in Games Week.

"I'm outraged. I'm disappointed. I'm going to do something about it," he said.