Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol)

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Hmmmm I thought dry rush was an NPC-wide thing and not something that varied from campus-to-campus.

I'm not sure I understand why the Recruitment Counselors needed to be in contact with their chapters to know that. Considering they were Recruitment Counselors to begin with, you'd think they'd be some of the first to know about policies concerning recruitment with their own school.

You would think so, but this was across the board in panhellenic so apparently someone wasn't doing their job. Also, many of the counselors are sophomores who never participated in formal recruitment and may not have ever heard this rule. If everyone assumes that the rule is known and doesn't make sure, things like this happen. Panhellenic is very weak on campus...a strong advisor is desperately needed.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

You would think so, but this was across the board in panhellenic so apparently someone wasn't doing their job. Also, many of the counselors are sophomores who never participated in formal recruitment and may not have ever heard this rule. If everyone assumes that the rule is known and doesn't make sure, things like this happen. Panhellenic is very weak on campus...a strong advisor is desperately needed.

Honestly, I'm not trying to "shake the finger" at anyone, I'm just saying that it sounds like everyone knew it was against the rules, but it was "tradition" so they did it anyway without any regard to the consequences.

Every sorority chapter is responsible for educating their women on what is and what is not allowed during recruitment. My home chapter holds a recruitment retreat every spring (which is obviously way before disaffiliation takes place) where the chapter's recruitment team goes over everything with everyone so that we are not in violation of anything come fall recruitment time. Maybe that is something that the chapters at Townsen should consider since they are lacking in the Panhellenic Leadership department.

Maybe it's going to take strong sanctions like this for everyone to "wake up" and do everything they can to ensure this does not happen again in the future.

[ISUKappa]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

You would think so, but this was across the board in panhellenic so apparently someone wasn't doing their job. Also, many of the counselors are sophomores who never participated in formal recruitment and may not have ever heard this rule. If everyone assumes that the rule is known and doesn't make sure, things like this happen. Panhellenic is very weak on campus...a strong advisor is desperately needed.

This is why I think in order to apply to be a Rho Chi/Chi Pi/Rho Gamma/whatever you HAVE to have had at least one year on the other side. At Iowa State, I think you had to have both - you had to have gone through formal recruitment and you had to have one year on the other side as an active before you could apply to be a Rho Chi.

[DGTess]

I presume Towson is not a dry campus?

How long before someone claims after bids are open, Rush is over? Dry rush???

I'm not condoning being drunk in public, and if any of those drinking were under 21, they should be charged with "minor in possession" as well. But to put organizations on probation for following tradition??????

What's next? Elbow-length gloves and tea-party bid openings?

Originally Posted by DGTess

I presume Towson is not a dry campus?

How long before someone claims after bids are open, Rush is over? Dry rush???

The no-alcohol rule also applies to Bid Day.

VI. College Panhellenic Association Agreement

A College Panhellenic Association shall be established where two or more NPC fraternities have installed undergraduate chapters. (1A)
Each College Panhellenic Association shall prohibit the use of alcoholic beverages in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities. Each College Panhellenic shall prohibit the participation of men in membership recruitment and Bid Day activities. (2C & 2D)

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by OTW

The no-alcohol rule also applies to Bid Day.

Thank you, OTW, for locating and posting that NPC Unanimous Agreemnet. Now I remember it's right there on the NPC web site, not a big secret at all.

[PsychTau2]

Originally Posted by DGTess

But to put organizations on probation for following tradition??????

What's next? Elbow-length gloves and tea-party bid openings?

If the tradition is against the policies that everyone agrees to follow (and by joining a fraternity or sorority at some point during the NM/Initiation process you agree to follow the policies), then heck yeah, discipline is warranted.

I may have a tradition of speeding to work every day, but my tradition isn't going to stop the police tradition of writing a ticket when I get caught.

PsychTau

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by PsychTau2

If the tradition is against the policies that everyone agrees to follow (and by joining a fraternity or sorority at some point during the NM/Initiation process you agree to follow the policies), then heck yeah, discipline is warranted.

I may have a tradition of speeding to work every day, but my tradition isn't going to stop the police tradition of writing a ticket when I get caught.

PsychTau

Excellent example regarding Risk Management and Hazing and why certain "traditions" should not be continued.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

This is utter foolishness all the way around. They have way too many Rho Gammas. My school had only about 20 something for over 400 PNMs, first of all.
Second of all, don't they usually put these women up in some kind of housing accomodation during the recruitment process? My school does, and we made it clear there was to be no drinking, boys, etc. at anytime. So if something like this had happened I honestly don't think that the chapters would have taken the fall in this type of situation, the whole of Panhellenic and our Advisor would have been hauled in with a quickness because it is our responsibility to maintain the standards of the accomodations during that time.

And lastly, for those who keep insisting that these Rho Gammas "may not have known" I find it impossible everyone is required to know their organizations alcohol policy (usually for insurance/risk management purposes) unless you belong to some renegade chapter that has utter disregard for "The Book" and throws it out the window. I know that we are made very aware of what is expected of us at all times in my chapter. And I'm taking a wild guess that it is mandatory for all other NPC chapters as well. That is simply a vital part of risk management and new member education and any chapter who ignores it is in violation of the risk management policy by not putting that information out there. When you are a new member you usually have to sign paperwork and complete programs clearly stating this. Now whether the chapter abides by them is another story, but in that case then they are clearly in violation. I'd find it hard to believe that there is any group that lacks sometime of clearly stated information regarding the alcohol policy for new members and sisters.

But regarding this particular case, I feel like Panhellenic and the Advisor is responsible because chapters, while having policies against these activities, are unable to enforce them while members are disaffiliated. ...Come to think I believe we had Rho Gammas sign information stating that they would follow certain rules as a precaution...they dropped the ball over there BIG TIME!

[blackngoldengrl]

[QUOTE=BabyPiNK_FL;1536777]This is utter foolishness all the way around. They have way too many Rho Gammas. My school had only about 20 something for over 400 PNMs, first of all.
Second of all, don't they usually put these women up in some kind of housing accomodation during the recruitment process? My school does, and we made it clear there was to be no drinking, boys, etc. at anytime. So if something like this had happened I honestly don't think that the chapters would have taken the fall in this type of situation, the whole of Panhellenic and our Advisor would have been hauled in with a quickness because it is our responsibility to maintain the standards of the accomodations during that time.

This is Maryland. We don't do rush that way, as in before school starts and all. Even at the University of Maryland, it isn't done this way. And not all the sisters live in the house either.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

Second of all, don't they usually put these women up in some kind of housing accomodation during the recruitment process? My school does, and we made it clear there was to be no drinking, boys, etc. at anytime.

There are at least three reasons why this would be silly at Towson:

1. Sororities at Towson do not have chapter houses. It's not like you'd have a Rho Chi living with 80 of her sisters.
2. School is in session during recruitment. These women have other things to do with their lives other than recruitment.
3. Since school is in session, the only place to put the Rho Chis would be a hotel. That cost would probably get passed to the PNMs in the form of a hefty registration fee. A lot of women who join sororities up here are "maybe joiners", and a high fee will drive away a lot of "maybes".

[REE1993]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I presume Towson is not a dry campus?

How long before someone claims after bids are open, Rush is over? Dry rush???

I'm not condoning being drunk in public, and if any of those drinking were under 21, they should be charged with "minor in possession" as well. But to put organizations on probation for following tradition??????

What's next? Elbow-length gloves and tea-party bid openings?

They weren't put on probation for "following tradition". They were put on probation because they (allegedly) drank during recruitment, which is prohibited.

I do, however, think that the individuals should be disciplined, and not necessarily the entire organization. But I wasn't there and don't have all the details.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by REE1993

They weren't put on probation for "following tradition". They were put on probation because they (allegedly) drank during recruitment, which is prohibited.

I do, however, think that the individuals should be disciplined, and not necessarily the entire organization. But I wasn't there and don't have all the details.

I've also been told that the panhellenic advisor knew exactly what was going on and was partying on bid day himself. These women definitely made the wrong choice that day, but after talking to many of them, they were clueless that this could happen. Dumb... I know, but even if a rule is well known, if administration overlooks the breaking of said rule for years, this is seen as permission to break the rule. Luckily there were no serious injuries and things finally will change. It takes more than just a single chapter, member or alumna to make these kinds of changes, it needs acceptance by the entire system and change at every single level, ie. University, Panhellenic, Chapter and Individual. Focusing everything strictly at the Chapter is ignoring 3/4 of the problem. In the end, the women in these chapters are amazing...I was so impressed seeing the emphasis on philanthropy on this campus. They will rise above this fiasco and be strong again.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by DGTess

I presume Towson is not a dry campus?

How long before someone claims after bids are open, Rush is over? Dry rush???

I'm not condoning being drunk in public, and if any of those drinking were under 21, they should be charged with "minor in possession" as well. But to put organizations on probation for following tradition??????

What's next? Elbow-length gloves and tea-party bid openings?

And the issue would be... ?

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by ISUKappa

This is why I think in order to apply to be a Rho Chi/Chi Pi/Rho Gamma/whatever you HAVE to have had at least one year on the other side. At Iowa State, I think you had to have both - you had to have gone through formal recruitment and you had to have one year on the other side as an active before you could apply to be a Rho Chi.

I was a little shocked at this myself. I think they have so many counselors (54 with only about 275 PNMs) that they take anyone who wants to do it.