Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol)

[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.

[JaimeNicole]

[QUOTE=blackngoldengrl;1536852]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

This is

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.

Maryland does not provide housing because recruitment (formal and informal) occurs while school is in session. No need for special accommodations..... We also allow recruitment counselors to live in the chapter house - most just use back doors. Our greek housing is so far from freshmen housing, a PNM would have to be extremely stalkerish to figure out where the recruitment counselors lived.

[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".

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

A lot of women who join sororities up here are "maybe joiners", and a high fee will drive away a lot of "maybes".

Did you read I heart Recruitment? It's the only place I've heard the term "maybe joiners" used.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

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".

OMG! Everyone keeps PMing me about this so to set the record straight:
1) My campus has NO sorority housing
2) School IS in session during our recruitment (it's hectic but we manage)
3) We DO stay in a hotel, there were 29 (Rho Gammas & Pi Chis) and our fee is only $30 (non-refundable) and we also provide dinners on the nights of recruitment for the Rho Gammas, Pi Chi and the staff that helps us and dinner on pref night for the PNMs as well.

Everyone kept assuming that we had housing for some reason...

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

OMG! Everyone keeps PMing me about this so to set the record straight:
1) My campus has NO sorority housing
2) School IS in session during our recruitment (it's hectic but we manage)
3) We DO stay in a hotel, there were 29 (Rho Gammas & Pi Chis) and our fee is only $30 (non-refundable) and we also provide dinners on the nights of recruitment for the Rho Gammas, Pi Chi and the staff that helps us and dinner on pref night for the PNMs as well.

Everyone kept assuming that we had housing for some reason...

So where does the money come from for the Pi Chis to stay in the hotels? Do the Pi Chis pay for it out of pocket? Does it come from a fee that every chapter pays per Pi Chi? Does PHA pay for it?

I don't think it's necessary to have the Pi Chis locked up like nuns in a convent during recruitment week. Is dirty rushing really that huge of a problem? Tons of schools have their recruitment counselors live in their normal accomodations (even in their chapter houses if that is where they live) without problems.

Back to the original topic, I would be really surprised if the Rho Chis at Towson and any other chapter members honestly had no idea that they were not supposed to be drinking on bid day. I think the problem stems more from the fact that because it was a "tradition" that had gone unpunished in the past, no one (including the Greek advisor) took the NPC Unanimous Agreement seriously until someone got a concussion. I am just wondering why anyone would want to drink on bid day. It's one of the most fun days of the year/semester that one does not need alcohol to enjoy herself.

[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... ?