Quote:
Originally Posted by greekalum
ETA also, unless fraternities function vastly differently than sororities in this regard, I can't imagine that chapter advisors are required to follow their pledges around campus at all times, even during the day in the middle of the week (when this occurred).
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You are right- we aren't. In fact, the real trick of being a good advisor is letting a chapter make their own decisions and only stepping in forcefully when you see something serious that needs immediate correction.
We are still waiting on the facts, but this appears to me to have been one of those random incidents that was not planned in advance. Greek houses change over time, but the UGA Chi Phi chapter I knew when I was at UGA (I was not a Chi Phi to be clear) would never have sanctioned something like this. And it would be impossible for any advisor to anticipate this incident if it was, as I suspect, not reflective of the chapter's general attitude.
Since this is the Risk Management forum, here is the RM point I made a moment ago in the Greek Life forum where we are discussing the first attack article on the situation,
"I do not think, based on the facts known to date, that Chi Phi has been fairly treated in this article. And this will not be the last mention of it I fear.
But this is the reality that could have been forseen.
The Risk Management issue here is that any fraternity needs to gather its pledges together the DAY they are formally tapped in and let them know the ground rules. Not just the rules of how to conduct one's self, but the rules about who is allowed to give orders and who to approach among the officers if something like this incident is ever ordered.
We may never know if these guys did this on their own, or were prompted. But the risk management approach I mention above should deal with that assuming the chapter does not consider this action acceptable."