Suspended..what to do??

[KD4Me]

It doesn't sound right that an advisor could make the decision to suspend you. To have to turn in your pin is a very BIG deal...it happened to a girl in my chapter when I was in school and, although I was a pledge at the time, I am aware that there was a lot of paperwork involved and it is my understanding that the actual decision was made by our National Council. This may be a special circumstance because your chapter has come under fire for violating alcohol policies recently, but it still doesn't seem quite right.

My advice would be to find out what the exact procedures are for suspending a member. Your chapter should have some sort of policy and procedures handbook that you can look at, to make sure that the right steps were taken. If you don't get the answers that you need from the chapter, contact the National Officer that your chapter reports to.

It is important that, if you are suspended, it is clear that it is because of something that you did, and that you did not decide to turn in your pin. I would think that it would be easier in the future to appeal for reinstatement if you can prove that you have matured and learned your lesson, rather than having to try to explain why you elected to leave the membership.

[LadyLonghorn]

When you're facing criminal charges, I think the last thing in the world you should be worried about is your sorority membership. You have much bigger things to worry about right now.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by LadyLonghorn

When you're facing criminal charges, I think the last thing in the world you should be worried about is your sorority membership. You have much bigger things to worry about right now.

Seriously.

And whatever happened to discretion?

Why is it that people feel like it's okay to discuss sorority disciplinary actions on public message boards? Whether you name your sorority/chapter or not, I just really find it inappropriate, as I am certain all discussions of member discipline are supposed to be private in most orgs.

[cbm]

I remember my chapter having some kind of rule that if we got arrested we were kicked out. Good luck.

[StargazerLily]

Originally Posted by buddhabelly

Yeah, I'm definitely going to appeal, but I just don't think the National Council will reverse it..it says that the appeal may be denied only by a four-sevenths (4/7) vote of the National Council. It's just not looking too good for me...

Yeah, good luck with that.

In my personal experience, as a member, and as an advisor, i have NEVER seen a situation where national council overturned the chapter, chapter advisors or IO/AFs recommendation. The chapter advisor and IOs are the "eyes and ears" for national council, and I suspect that only in extreme, RARE circumstances, would national council ever make a decision involving membership that the leaders and advisors personally involved with the chapter did not recommend.

What to do? Worry about your court date and make better decisions about your actions if you're going to drink while underage.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by StargazerLily

What to do? Worry about your court date and make better decisions about your actions if you're going to drink while underage.

AGREED.

You've got much bigger fish to fry than "getting back into your sorority."

Getting arrested has consequences, and this is one of them, simple as that.

Hopefully you'll take this as a lesson and won't get arrested anymore.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Maybe my sorority is different. But our advisor actually has no official say in judicial/standards decisions. She simply advises.

I still don't get how suspension equates disaffiliation.

I was thinking the SAME thing.

Usually if anything happens that involves disciplinary action there is some kind of "standards hearing" or whatever between the executive board and the person who is "in trouble".

Suspension is NOT the same as Disaffiliated. A suspension is temporary. Disaffiliation is forever. So I don't get that either.

[amanda6035]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Suspension is NOT the same as Disaffiliated. A suspension is temporary. Disaffiliation is forever. So I don't get that either.

Not true my organization. If you are suspended, you are no longer a member - whether it's voluntary or forced suspension. Some suspensions can be appealed (such as academic - you can petition to be reinstated if you get your grades up) but suspension is permanent for us.

*edit* to clarify, probation is temporary, suspension is permanent.

[LΩVE]

Stuff happens. If you have a clean record you need to make sure, first of all, that you make a good impression on the judge. It some states/counties judges will have you take a class when it's your first offense and you're underage in exchange for having it "off" of your record. This should be your priority at the moment, because you don't want an arrest and conviction on your record. Make sure you've learned your lesson. Maybe you'll get a second chance, good luck.

I've never heard of an organization where the advisor had thepower to kick out a member without any kind of procedure by the collegian executive board unless we're talking someone is caught dealing cocaine to the elementary school kids down the street. Read your chapter documents and national/international documents. IF procedure was not followed correctly you might have some way to appeal the decision. If there is a provision for an advisor to take such extreme measures, whether or not your actions warranted it, you're probably out of luck.

Honestly on mycampus it was rare for a member to be terminated just for being arrested for drinking underage especially if they had otherwise been model members. On the other hand, your timing is horrible. Your chapter being in trouble with your organization has obviously put all members under intense scrutiny and the adults in thesituation are probably annoyed that a member has gotten in trouble so soon after the chapter did. It's not going to help your case. It to me seems a little harsh but again, review your chapter and national/international documents. Also consider this: even if you fight the battle to be re-instated and are successful you'll be stuck with this advisor over your head for the rest of your time as a collegian. It might not be worth it.

[honeychile]

Let's all remember that each GLO may use different terminology for the same word. While suspension may mean a temporary situation with ABC, it may be a forever disaffiliation with XYZ.

I agree with those who said that you need to worry more about your court date than your suspension. You need to speak to a knowledgable attorney who can either get you off - because this will follow you much further than a sorority suspension. When you go job hunting, "public drunkeness" is not something a possible employer wants to see on your record.

Once your court date is over, then start making plans for setting the record straight with your sorority. Until then, you have no reasonable excuse for your I/natl office to want you to represent your sorority.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KD4Me

It doesn't sound right that an advisor could make the decision to suspend you.

I agree, especially since in some sororities and chapters, the main advisor is sometimes not even a sister. And you should have had the chance to appeal before you were terminated/suspended. Simply because you were arrested doesn't mean you're guilty.

If you get forms sent to you, do not sign them.

I'm sorry but I don't care what the charge is, advisors making decisions about members without input of the collegians is a super bogus move. If the sorority approves of that kind of in loco parentis garbage, she might be better off without her membership.

Not to mention, if it wasn't at a sorority event or the OP wasn't wearing letters, how did the campus police even know she was in a sorority and why was the advisor contacted? That would be kind of like my landlord getting a call if I got a DUI. Something's rotten in Denmark....I wouldn't be surprised if it was not the campus police that called the advisor, rather a sister that has it out for you. Did this new advisor actually get notification in writing from the police or just a phone call?

Originally Posted by 33girl

Not to mention, if it wasn't at a sorority event or the OP wasn't wearing letters, how did the campus police even know she was in a sorority

I'm from a small campus, and even without wearing letters, people know who's greek. Our campus security especially knows us from our late night rock painting. So, if she is also from a smaller sized campus, and she's not a freshman, it wouldn't surprise me if the security knew she was greek.

You said you were going back to your DORM, correct? So, you weren't going back to your chapter's house, and this adviser is not a house director? If she were a housing director, that would be more of a reason to call her. I would definitely request something in writing from your sorority.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by violet_sigma3

I'm from a small campus, and even without wearing letters, people know who's greek. Our campus security especially knows us from our late night rock painting. So, if she is also from a smaller sized campus, and she's not a freshman, it wouldn't surprise me if the security knew she was greek.

I'm from a small campus too, but I can't imagine the campus cops knowing anyone's affiliation. They could identify if a jacket or shirt had Greek letters on it, but that was about it. Like I said this just smells funny and I don't think it was really a cop who called the advisor to inform her.

We have less than 1000 students and extremely friendly security guards. Like you said, the point is that something shady is going on. Our security wouldn't even know who our advisor is.

[kddani]

Originally Posted by violet_sigma3

Like you said, the point is that something shady is going on.

.


I'd say that chances are good that we're not getting the whole story from the OP.

We so rarely do with these types of posts.