Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol)

[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?

Originally Posted by DGTess

I presume Towson is not a dry campus?

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

The no-alcohol rule also applies to Bid Day.

VI. College Panhellenic Association Agreement

A College Panhellenic Association shall be established where two or more NPC fraternities have installed undergraduate chapters. (1A)
Each College Panhellenic Association shall prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities. Each College Panhellenic shall prohibit the participation of men in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities. (2C & 2D)

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by OTW

The no-alcohol rule also applies to Bid Day.

Thank you, OTW, for locating and posting that NPC Unanimous Agreemnet. Now I remember it's right there on the NPC web site, not a big secret at all.

[PsychTau2]

Originally Posted by DGTess

But to put organizations on probation for following tradition??????

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

If the tradition is against the policies that everyone agrees to follow (and by joining a fraternity or sorority at some point during the NM/Initiation process you agree to follow the policies), then heck yeah, discipline is warranted.

I may have a tradition of speeding to work every day, but my tradition isn't going to stop the police tradition of writing a ticket when I get caught.

PsychTau

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by PsychTau2

If the tradition is against the policies that everyone agrees to follow (and by joining a fraternity or sorority at some point during the NM/Initiation process you agree to follow the policies), then heck yeah, discipline is warranted.

I may have a tradition of speeding to work every day, but my tradition isn't going to stop the police tradition of writing a ticket when I get caught.

PsychTau

Excellent example regarding Risk Management and Hazing and why certain "traditions" should not be continued.

[REE1993]

Originally Posted by 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?

They weren't put on probation for "following tradition". They were put on probation because they (allegedly) drank during recruitment, which is prohibited.

I do, however, think that the individuals should be disciplined, and not necessarily the entire organization. But I wasn't there and don't have all the details.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by REE1993

They weren't put on probation for "following tradition". They were put on probation because they (allegedly) drank during recruitment, which is prohibited.

I do, however, think that the individuals should be disciplined, and not necessarily the entire organization. But I wasn't there and don't have all the details.

I've also been told that the panhellenic advisor knew exactly what was going on and was partying on bid day himself. These women definitely made the wrong choice that day, but after talking to many of them, they were clueless that this could happen. Dumb... I know, but even if a rule is well known, if administration overlooks the breaking of said rule for years, this is seen as permission to break the rule. Luckily there were no serious injuries and things finally will change. It takes more than just a single chapter, member or alumna to make these kinds of changes, it needs acceptance by the entire system and change at every single level, ie. University, Panhellenic, Chapter and Individual. Focusing everything strictly at the Chapter is ignoring 3/4 of the problem. In the end, the women in these chapters are amazing...I was so impressed seeing the emphasis on philanthropy on this campus. They will rise above this fiasco and be strong again.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by 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?

And the issue would be... ?

[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.

[AOII Angel]

Don't get me wrong...there were some bad things going on at Bid Day. There were chapters that were openly drinking on Burdick Field. The campus has to take a stand, but I have to say that they are not accepting that the University has some responsibility in this mess. The Panhellenic advisor (an employee of Towson) let these obviously intoxicated women run across the field with their NMs...my PH advisor would have sent us home so fast our heads would have spun. He also wasn't the one reporting the activity and presumably watched it happen the year before without addressing the problem. I agree that something had to be done, but I don't agree that it is right to punish an entire chapter for the actions of one sister. Why is it that alcohol infractions are the only ones that get this type of attention? When members break other rules, they get to accept their punishment without affecting their sisters who didn't have anything to do with their activities. Anyway, just because it is "tradition" to celebrate the end of recruitment by drinking doesn't mean they know it is against the rules. It means that they like to drink with their "recruitment counselor sisters" before returning to their real sisters. Further more, this campus is very laid back. I don't think they do recruitment retreats or talk much about recruitment before the event. These are extremely "no-frill" only talk kind of parties. I was really amazed how little preparation and practice went into the week. They don't practice singing. They get to the party about an hour before, throw up some decorations and starting chanting.