U of Chicago: Sorority Philanthropy Fundraiser and Money for Repair Costs

[exlurker]

U of Chicago: Sorority Philanthropy Fundraiser and Money for Repair Costs

http://chicagomaroon.com/2015/04/03/...charity-money/

NPC sorority hosts an event to raise money for philanthropy (children’s literacy).

A performance at the event causes damage to university-owned floor.

Sorority is held responsible for the damage – repair cost = ~$5,000.

Sorority agrees to pay.

Chapter votes to pay the university using money from funds raised at the fundraising event (instead of money from the chapter’s regular budget – for example, money for the chapter’s formal).

Some members are are not happy, according to story with quotes in the student paper (above)

[ColdInCanada11]

I never paid that closely when I was a collegian, but would there not be by-laws to prevent this? I remember when we had some broken plates from an event, the money owing was divided by the number of members and that was that. This is a bad situation, yikes.

[Maman]

Yikes!
I believe this sorority has been on campus only a few years.

[thetalady]

I think that redirecting the funds raised for charity to pay for the damage is illegal. And yes, Sigma Chi should pony up and reimburse them a minimum of 50%, if not all, of the repair cost. Good for the members who disagree with the decision and want to make the donation in full as planned.

eta: OK, further reading seems to indicate that a foundation's donations are allowed to be the net remaining after expenses.

[Sciencewoman]

I'm disappointed that Sigma Chi hasn't offered to make it right, but I'm also disappointed that the university is playing "hard ball," when their budget could withstand the cost of the repairs much more readily than either of these groups could. This was a charitable event, and it doesn't sound like anyone intentionally damaged the floor. It just seems mean to "stick it" to the student members who were only trying to do good...and now criticize their vote, when it's highly unlikely these college-aged women have a sophisticated understanding of the laws regarding charitable donations.

This is a good reminder to check your liability insurance.

I see this kind of thing at the university where I teach...some of the things they do to get money out of the GLOs are highly questionable. Until there were faculty advisor complaints, they fined chapters $50 each semester for each individual member whose GPA was below a 2.5 (still university good standing)...and put it in the Student Life budget. GLOs were the only student group this applied to. Last fall, when our group and several others moved into new houses off-campus, Housing wanted to sell each chapter the wooden signs with stenciled letters that hung above the door on the old houses...for $500 each. We said, "no thanks." They said this was to cover removal. I knew they had to take the letters down anyway because they were turning the building into non-Greek housing, and the sign was just a small, painted piece of wood.