Delta Zeta Reportedly Sues DePauw

[UGAalum94]

Weird, weird, weird. One of the things Delta Zeta is seeking is for DePauw to state that the group didn't make any decisions based on appearance or race.

How could DePauw know how Delta Zeta made its membership decisions?

Different topic:

"Kevin O'Neill, an attorney with Patton Boggs in Washington, D.C., who has been consulting with Delta Zeta officials but did not file the lawsuit. If punitive damages are awarded, he said, the sorority plans to reinvest that money into self-esteem programming for women at DePauw and re-establishing their chapter."

Snort.

I don't claim to know how the group or the university made their decisions in the past, but really, self-esteem programming?

[ladygreek]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

"Kevin O'Neill, an attorney with Patton Boggs in Washington, D.C., who has been consulting with Delta Zeta officials but did not file the lawsuit. If punitive damages are awarded, he said, the sorority plans to reinvest that money into self-esteem programming for women at DePauw and re-establishing their chapter."

So does this mean that the members were given alumna status, not because of their apperance or race, but because they had low-self esteem?

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

So does this mean that the members were given alumna status, not because of their apperance or race, but because they had low-self esteem?

Duh, only confident girls allowed.

[UGAalum94]

So restrained, OTW. Well played.

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

So restrained, OTW. Well played.

I'm trying. I really am.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by OTW

You're right, it is the campus PHC that decides which NPC will be invited to expand. However, to say that this won't be taken into consideration by the women who sit on PHC is just plain ridiculous. I'm sure they'll make the best decisions on what's right for their campus, but this situation's left DZ with a big fat Scarlet Letter, IMO.

I totally agree that this isn't good for Delta Zeta. Which is why I venture to guess that they (Delta Zeta HQ) may put expansion on "hold" for a while.

You live in a perfect world. Sure, we'll have the open minded PNMs, but speaking as someone who used to be an impressionable 18 year old freshman, reps are everything. They don't give a shit about the litigation, but I'm thinking that there will be a lot of them who won't want to rush a sorority with a national bad rep even though it's at no fault of the individual chapters.

You may be right. Let me ask this. Do you (and or anyone else) feel that a PNM would rather be independent than become a member? Is the rep going to be "that bad"? I still feel that the local reputation will supercede the national in most if not all cases.

No chapters have closed. See kddani's post above. She explains it nicely.

See below.

Originally Posted by kddani

And that may very well dwindle. Membership numbers will be down in the fall, and the longer this gets dragged out, the worse the results will be. Those 157 chapters have to be maintained. Thinking that this won't have any affect on their numbers and reputation is a mistake.

I agree that numbers may decrease if the case goes to trial and/or gets dragged out. But again, will it be "so bad" that a PNM would rather be an independent than join? Especially as so many of y'all have pointed out that this is no fault of the individual chapters. I would guess that every Delta Zeta chapter will (should) be prepared to address this very issue during rush.

I'd also imagine that alumnae donations will decrease greatly, and they probably already have. This lawsuit will cost an arm and a leg. DZ's finances are going to likely be in peril.

I'm sure this may be true on a national level but what about on the local (chapter) level? I'm not sure how most NPCs work, but with many NIC/IFCs, most alumni donations go directly to a local chapter or to a local housing corporation etc. And sure, the lawsuit will dip into their reserves. But I'm sure the law firm presented an fee agreement which Delta Zeta's in-house counsel reviewed and approved. Which actually makes me wonder if there isn't some sort of connection between Delta Zeta and Mr. O'Neill or his law firm. Or perhaps Mr. O'Neill is working pro bono.

There's a saying in law school/the legal field "bad facts equals bad law". If DZ did want to set an example and create certain "rights" for sororities and fraternities, they picked a horrible case to bring. This is NOT the case you want to use to set an example.

I agree 100%. However, my concern is that regardless if we like it or not, if this case moves forward, loosing it may (note *may*) set some sort of bad precedent for GLOs down the line. As such, and as much as I'm sure many people don't want to do so, it might behoove GLOs to get "behind" Delta Zeta in this. Not advocating anyone do so, but at least take a wait and see view with respect to the merits of the case.

[UGAalum94]

Is it good to file a lawsuit if losing it will create problems for GLOs down the line?

I don't claim to know everything about this situation or reorganizations, and I'm not speaking for my group at all, but I think this situation at DePauw indicated that GLOs might need some restrictions about how they do re-organizations and closings. While I don't want to open the door to a whole lot of meddling by colleges in GLO business, if no one else will lay down the rules, maybe the colleges need to to protect the interests of students who when they join one NPC organization for life expect to be active members the whole time they are in college (as long as they don't break the rules). Is that an unreasonable expectation for the students and the colleges to hold?

[Symbal]

Originally Posted by Alphagamuga

"Kevin O'Neill, an attorney with Patton Boggs in Washington, D.C., who has been consulting with Delta Zeta officials but did not file the lawsuit. If punitive damages are awarded, he said, the sorority plans to reinvest that money into self-esteem programming for women at DePauw and re-establishing their chapter."

Programming? They're people, not computers!