Kappa Alpha Theta at Johns Hopkins University on Probation

[littleowl33]

Another article on Kappa Alpha Theta's probation was published in the JHU Newsletter today.

http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/m...-3705607.shtml


Some highlights from the article:

Although Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) remains embroiled in controversy nearly a month after their national committee initially put them on social probation, the sorority still participated in a party at a local venue.

The sorority's probation, the result of various incidents including an alleged break-in at the Hopkins Barnes & Noble, resulted in the loss of their secret week as well as their big sister and little sister tradition in this year's pledge process.

On March 24, Theta held a party at Red Maple, a popular event space. The party was themed around the letter "P."

"It was P for 'probation,'" an anonymous attendee said. "I thought it was really fun. There weren't supposed to be more than 60 percent of the Thetas there but I think it was more like 95 percent."

"It was probably so successful because it wasn't official. Everyone could cab there instead of taking the vans and everyone basically just put money in a hat."

The party was in conflict with Theta's probation, which forbid large-scale parties. The sorority is now being threatened with more severe consequences.

According to Director of Greek Life Robert Turning, the conduct board and Susan Boswell, the dean of student life, are investigating the situation independent of the inquiry made by the national Theta organization. These inquiries are currently on hold, though, pending the disciplinary action the national committee chooses to take against Theta. Overall, Hopkins has been supportive of Theta with the hope that positive changes will be made.

The article went on to say that the school wants to support Theta because of the size of the group and the sisters' community involvement. Theta is the largest sorority on the Hopkins campus and had a very successful recruitment this year. Since the Greek Life office really wants to build the NPC presence (in fact, they tried to open for expansion last semester but were eventually voted down) I know they really don't want to lose one of the sororities, particularly the largest one.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by littleowl33

Another article on Kappa Alpha Theta's probation was published in the JHU Newsletter today.

http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/m...-3705607.shtml


Some highlights from the article:

Although Kappa Alpha Theta (Theta) remains embroiled in controversy nearly a month after their national committee initially put them on social probation, the sorority still participated in a party at a local venue.

The sorority's probation, the result of various incidents including an alleged break-in at the Hopkins Barnes & Noble, resulted in the loss of their secret week as well as their big sister and little sister tradition in this year's pledge process.

On March 24, Theta held a party at Red Maple, a popular event space. The party was themed around the letter "P."

"It was P for 'probation,'" an anonymous attendee said. "I thought it was really fun. There weren't supposed to be more than 60 percent of the Thetas there but I think it was more like 95 percent."

"It was probably so successful because it wasn't official. Everyone could cab there instead of taking the vans and everyone basically just put money in a hat."

The party was in conflict with Theta's probation, which forbid large-scale parties. The sorority is now being threatened with more severe consequences.

According to Director of Greek Life Robert Turning, the conduct board and Susan Boswell, the dean of student life, are investigating the situation independent of the inquiry made by the national Theta organization. These inquiries are currently on hold, though, pending the disciplinary action the national committee chooses to take against Theta. Overall, Hopkins has been supportive of Theta with the hope that positive changes will be made.

The article went on to say that the school wants to support Theta because of the size of the group and the sisters' community involvement. Theta is the largest sorority on the Hopkins campus and had a very successful recruitment this year. Since the Greek Life office really wants to build the NPC presence (in fact, they tried to open for expansion last semester but were eventually voted down) I know they really don't want to lose one of the sororities, particularly the largest one.

HQ's gotta be pissed! The chapter not only disobeyed the restrictions HQ placed on them, they MOCKED them!

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

HQ's gotta be pissed! The chapter not only disobeyed the restrictions HQ placed on them, they MOCKED them!

Absolutely. Usually I have a tinge of sympathy for chapters when they close, but I have none for these girls.

Way to go, ladies.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by OTW

Absolutely. Usually I have a tinge of sympathy for chapters when they close, but I have none for these girls.

Way to go, ladies.

No kidding. That just seems like a pretty big slap in the face to their IHQ.

I'm surprised they'd recolonize so quickly. Don't they usually wait 4 yrs for all of the current ppl to graduate?

[PeppyGPhiB]

Might JHU be open for expansion again soon?

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Might JHU be open for expansion again soon?

I honestly don't know. They tried to open for expansion last fall but were voted down by Panhel because one chapter (Kappa) was not meeting quota. Last year we only took about half of quota, but we quite nearly met quota this year (just 2 girls short!) so there were rumors of trying again to open for expansion soon. However now after Theta closing it's very up in the air. My feeling is that they'll probably wait a year and try to recolonize Theta before they try to bring a new group on. Panhel seems supportive of giving Theta another chance with a new batch of women - the article states that Theta "wouldn't have to jump through hoops" in order to colonize. I'm not from the Office of Greek Life, though, so I don't have the official scoop.

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

Might JHU be open for expansion again soon?

That'd be up to their Panhellenic, right?

Anyhoo . . . here's what Theta HQ's site has posted:

http://www.kappaalphatheta.org/whats...m=HomeAreaLink

Excerpts from ^:

"Zeta Chi Chapter Closing

April 16, 2009 - Grand Council regrets to announce the closing of the Zeta Chi Chapter at Johns Hopkins, effective April 14. Recent chapter activities constituted serious violations of Fraternity policies and were contrary to the Fraternity’s basic principles. While Theta’s presence at Johns Hopkins has ended for the foreseeable future, the Fraternity values Zeta Chi’s alumnae, . . . .

The Johns Hopkins College Panhellenic has agreed to the Fraternity’s request for a recolonization plan. Under this plan, Kappa Alpha Theta will be given notice and an opportunity to recolonize . . . prior to opening the campus to extension by any other NPC group. "

[33girl]

Originally Posted by littleowl33

On March 24, Theta held a party at Red Maple, a popular event space. The party was themed around the letter "P."

"It was P for 'probation,'" an anonymous attendee said.

I'm sorry, but this is darned funny. I assume everyone had to come dressed in P themed outfits and drink Pabst, Pimm's and Pepsi.

To correct the poster above: I'm betting these women do value their chapter and the bonds formed within it very much. Their charter and national connection is what they could do without.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I'm sorry, but this is darned funny. I assume everyone had to come dressed in P themed outfits and drink Pabst, Pimm's and Pepsi.

To correct the poster above: I'm betting these women do value their chapter and the bonds formed within it very much. Their charter and national connection is what they could do without.

It's funny to me, too! Also, they broke into a BOOKSTORE. How Hopkins is that?

It's interesting to see how academically rigorous private schools often skirt the rules of their IHQ. Often times, those schools have less restrictive requirements in regards to drinking, housing, and activities than state schools do. Often times, the flouting of the rules is ignored by national bodies since the organizations like the "prestige" of having a chapter of their organization at that school.

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

It's funny to me, too! Also, they broke into a BOOKSTORE. How Hopkins is that?

It's interesting to see how academically rigorous private schools often skirt the rules of their IHQ. Often times, those schools have less restrictive requirements in regards to drinking, housing, and activities than state schools do. Often times, the flouting of the rules is ignored by national bodies since the organizations like the "prestige" of having a chapter of their organization at that school.

True, that is VERY Hopkins... though rumor has it that they were just breaking in to use the bathroom.

[littleowl33]

The JHU Newsletter reported today that Kappa Alpha Theta Nationals "unanimously voted" to close Zeta Chi Chapter at Johns Hopkins University yesterday. They may recolonize with a new group of women in at least 12 months if both Nationals and the Hopkins Panhellenic vote to approve it. From what I've heard, sisters in good standing will receive alumnae status. Their New Members from this year's Recruitment (we have deferred, so they received their bids this February) were never Initiated, so they'll be eligible to join one of the remaining three NPC sororities next Spring.

Just for the record, here's the Panhellenic history for JHU:
Alpha Phi: 1981-Present
Phi Mu: 1981-Present
Delta Gamma: 1990-1995
Kappa Alpha Theta: 1997-2009
Kappa Kappa Gamma: 1999-Present

I find the whole thing very sad. Approximately 140 women, of which 40 were un-Initiated New Members, are now without a sorority. Last fall Theta was the largest GLO at Hopkins and was considered by many of the students to be the "it" sorority... and now they're gone in the course of just a few months.

http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/m...-3713697.shtml

[AlwaysSAI]

Originally Posted by littleowl33

alumnae status. Their New Members from this year's Recruitment (we have deferred, so they received their bids this February) were never Initiated, so they'll be eligible to join one of the remaining three NPC sororities next Spring.

Let me preface this by saying--I am not in an NPC, but I am somewhat familiar with their rules and regulations.

I do have a question, however. The women that were pledged to Theta in February, why can't they pledge another organization in the fall? I guess I don't understand why they have to wait a full calendar year when they didn't depledge and had full intentions of becoming initiated members.

[littleowl33]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

The women that were pledged to Theta in February, why can't they pledge another organization in the fall? I guess I don't understand why they have to wait a full calendar year when they didn't depledge and had full intentions of becoming initiated members.

I was mistaken in writing that. My apologies! I was told after posting that they actually are eligible for Fall recruitment and do not have to wait a full calendar year. Usually if a woman accepts an NPC bid but does not initiate she has to wait a full year before she is eligible for another NPC bid, but I guess it's different if the chapter is closed before she is initiated.

If I'm wrong about this, please correct me!