Wash. State Pi Phi loses university recognition

[SigKapCoug]

There have been rumors floating around campus for a while but this was in the school paper today:

The Pi Beta Phi sorority lost its university recognition last week on charges of hazing.

The letter announcing the Student Conduct Board’s findings was delivered Feb. 27, said Chris Wuthrich, associate director of Student Conduct. The chapter has until March 20 to file an appeal.

Unless the decision is successfully overturned, Pi Beta Phi’s loss of university recognition will run through June 2010. By that time, the chapter must file a petition describing what it has done to improve its operations.

As a result of this sanction, the sorority may not participate in formal recruitment or house freshmen.

The chapter’s hazing incident occurred last semester, Wuthrich said. Loss of university recognition is a mandatory punishment for all hazing cases.




http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/28033


We had two sororities lose recognition about 5 years ago, one for a semester and the other for a year. It makes me sad that there is still hazing going on on campus.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Whoa, that is major. Pi Phi is a strong chapter at WSU.

SigKap, when the other chapters lost recognition, did their organizations revoke their charters? I can't imagine a NPC not.

[KSUViolet06]

I think that there actually ARE a *few* NPCs who will allow their chapters to remain at a school without recognition. Example: The entire Greek system at Santa Clara (CA) is unrecognized and 4 chapters exist there (I think Kappa, Alpha Phi, DG, and maybe Theta).

[AlphaXi_Husky]

Wow, that's crazy. And too bad.

KSUViolet - you're correct on the 4 GLO's at Santa Clara.

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I think that there actually ARE a *few* NPCs who will allow their chapters to remain at a school without recognition. Example: The entire Greek system at Santa Clara (CA) is unrecognized and 4 chapters exist there (I think Kappa, Alpha Phi, DG, and maybe Theta).

But I think that is different.

My organization is one of the ones that you listed, and yes, we are unrecognized at Santa Clara, as well as Harvard, but so is the whole greek system.

Losing recognition on a campus with a strong greek presence because of risk management issues is a whole 'nuther ball of wax.

[SigKapCoug]

No, the two chapters (I won't name them because I don't see a reason to drag up old business) both kept their charters. chapter A (unrec for a year) informally recruited and got about the same size nm class as everyone else and chapter B (unrec for a semester) was unrecognized in spring and in fall pretty much none of the PNMs knew about it (I know I didn't!)

In the past, fraternities who lose campus recognition continue to operate with the NHQ's blessing - i can think of one that was unrecognized for several years and didn't get their charter taken. So it is pretty much standard at my campus.

I've been wondering what was going on with Pi Phi here for a while. They have a huge parking lot and it has been pretty empty this semester which i thought was totally weird.

They are housing freshmen right now and the freshmen have the choice to stay in the chapter house or move out. This is kind of unusual because freshmen must live in "approved university housing," but I would guess it is because it is March and would be very hard to find a place to live for the last 2 months of school.

I hope everything works out for them, I got to know a few of their women through a campus-philanthropy we did together and they were very sweet girls.

[qbt1990]

It makes me so upset to hear about my sisters being hazed I really hope everything works out!

[wsuTriDelt]

It's really sad that the girls who were hazed and those who didn't have anything to do with the hazing have to be punished.

If they do stay on campus I'm sure they won't have a problem building the house up again. A few years ago we underwent membership review and a few girls got the boot. There was a lot of misinformation and it ended up being 8 girls who stayed to rebuild (fall 06). Now, with only 3 pledge classes we have over 100 members.

Best wishes and luck to them.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by wsuTriDelt

One of my friends, who is currently a Pi Phi here, said that they're hoping to only be unrecognized for 6 months. If it's longer than 6 months their nationals will shut them down.

Of course, that could be wrong, but I'm assuming the Pi Phis who have stayed with the chapter know what's going on.
It's really sad that the girls who were hazed and those who didn't have anything to do with the hazing have to be punished.

If they do stay on campus I'm sure they won't have a problem building the house up again. A few years ago we underwent membership review and a few girls got the boot. There was a lot of misinformation and it ended up being 8 girls who stayed to rebuild (fall 06). Now, with only 3 pledge classes we have over 100 members.

Best wishes and luck to them.

I remember when your chapter had issues (I will be honest it was pretty shocking to hear at the time), and it is impressive how hard you and your sisters have worked to turn things around from that unfortunate time.

[OPhiAGinger]

It's not clear from this little news blip. Is this the response to a hazing allegation, or is it fact? Has Pi Phi admitted fault? And does anybody know if the specific individuals involved have been dealt with appropriately?

The Pi Phis I've known personally have had such high integrity that it's startling to hear this kind of thing. I know GLOs vary from campus to campus, and even from year to year within the same campus, but still this makes me very sad.

[purplesocks]

Pi Phis are unrecognized until June of 2010. Their nationals are not pulling their charter. Their parking lot is probably empty because most people can't bring their car back until the snow stops. It's been looking pretty full lately though.