Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol)

[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.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by 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.

The reason they think the probation is harsh (social probation until Spring Break 08 and University probation until fall 2008) is that the error in judgement was committed by recruitment couselors who were not in contact with the sororities who had counseled their members that there would be no drinking allowed on bid day. The Panhellenic advisor apparently failed to enforce this policy. The women of the chapter did not drink on bid day but cannot have any socials and are on social probation for nearly the entire school year after doing nothing wrong. Social probation for the women caught drinking would be appropriate. Social probation for chapters who followed the rules except for their members out of their reach is inappropriate. Also, three chapters had drinking recruitment counselor sisters but no harsh probation...not sure how that is fair either.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

The reason they think the probation is harsh (social probation until Spring Break 08 and University probation until fall 2008) is that the error in judgement was committed by recruitment couselors who were not in contact with the sororities who had counseled their members that there would be no drinking allowed on bid day. The Panhellenic advisor apparently failed to enforce this policy. The women of the chapter did not drink on bid day but cannot have any socials and are on social probation for nearly the entire school year after doing nothing wrong. Social probation for the women caught drinking would be appropriate. Social probation for chapters who followed the rules except for their members out of their reach is inappropriate.

Hmmmm I thought dry rush was an NPC-wide thing and not something that varied from campus-to-campus.

I'm not sure I understand why the Recruitment Counselors needed to be in contact with their chapters to know that. Considering they were Recruitment Counselors to begin with, you'd think they'd be some of the first to know about policies concerning recruitment with their own school.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Hmmmm I thought dry rush was an NPC-wide thing and not something that varied from campus-to-campus.

I'm not sure I understand why the Recruitment Counselors needed to be in contact with their chapters to know that. Considering they were Recruitment Counselors to begin with, you'd think they'd be some of the first to know about policies concerning recruitment with their own school.

You would think so, but this was across the board in panhellenic so apparently someone wasn't doing their job. Also, many of the counselors are sophomores who never participated in formal recruitment and may not have ever heard this rule. If everyone assumes that the rule is known and doesn't make sure, things like this happen. Panhellenic is very weak on campus...a strong advisor is desperately needed.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

You would think so, but this was across the board in panhellenic so apparently someone wasn't doing their job. Also, many of the counselors are sophomores who never participated in formal recruitment and may not have ever heard this rule. If everyone assumes that the rule is known and doesn't make sure, things like this happen. Panhellenic is very weak on campus...a strong advisor is desperately needed.

Honestly, I'm not trying to "shake the finger" at anyone, I'm just saying that it sounds like everyone knew it was against the rules, but it was "tradition" so they did it anyway without any regard to the consequences.

Every sorority chapter is responsible for educating their women on what is and what is not allowed during recruitment. My home chapter holds a recruitment retreat every spring (which is obviously way before disaffiliation takes place) where the chapter's recruitment team goes over everything with everyone so that we are not in violation of anything come fall recruitment time. Maybe that is something that the chapters at Townsen should consider since they are lacking in the Panhellenic Leadership department.

Maybe it's going to take strong sanctions like this for everyone to "wake up" and do everything they can to ensure this does not happen again in the future.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

You would think so, but this was across the board in panhellenic so apparently someone wasn't doing their job. Also, many of the counselors are sophomores who never participated in formal recruitment and may not have ever heard this rule. If everyone assumes that the rule is known and doesn't make sure, things like this happen. Panhellenic is very weak on campus...a strong advisor is desperately needed.

This is why I think in order to apply to be a Rho Chi/Chi Pi/Rho Gamma/whatever you HAVE to have had at least one year on the other side. At Iowa State, I think you had to have both - you had to have gone through formal recruitment and you had to have one year on the other side as an active before you could apply to be a Rho Chi.

[DGTess]

I presume Towson is not a dry campus?

How long before someone claims after bids are open, Rush is over? Dry rush???

I'm not condoning being drunk in public, and if any of those drinking were under 21, they should be charged with "minor in possession" as well. But to put organizations on probation for following tradition??????

What's next? Elbow-length gloves and tea-party bid openings?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

This is why I think in order to apply to be a Rho Chi/Chi Pi/Rho Gamma/whatever you HAVE to have had at least one year on the other side. At Iowa State, I think you had to have both - you had to have gone through formal recruitment and you had to have one year on the other side as an active before you could apply to be a Rho Chi.

I was a little shocked at this myself. I think they have so many counselors (54 with only about 275 PNMs) that they take anyone who wants to do it.