Suspended..what to do??

[buddhabelly]

No, I wasn't wearing any letters and it was not a chapter related event. It was the end of the semester and I wanted to unwind. I came from a party and was heading back to my dorm.

Is it a bad idea if I disclose the name of my sorority??

I can appeal, but I have my doubts. Recently, my chapter got in trouble for alcohol at an event (I didn't get in trouble). The area facilitator had to come in and give us a talk.

Yes, I definitely learned my lesson, but I know of other sisters who got got called in for the same thing yet none of them were suspended.
The lady who suspended me just became our new chapter adviser and she told me that our sorority has a zero tolerance on alcohol.

Ugh, I wanna fight it, but I doubt my National Council will reverse the suspension.

[Nanners52674]

Originally Posted by buddhabelly

No, I wasn't wearing any letters and it was not a chapter related event. It was the end of the semester and I wanted to unwind. I came from a party and was heading back to my dorm.

Is it a bad idea if I disclose the name of my sorority??

I can appeal, but I have my doubts. Recently, my chapter got in trouble for alcohol at an event (I didn't get in trouble). The area facilitator had to come in and give us a talk.

Yes, I definitely learned my lesson, but I know of other sisters who got got called in for the same thing yet none of them were suspended.
The lady who suspended me just became our new chapter adviser and she told me that our sorority has a zero tolerance on alcohol.

Ugh, I wanna fight it, but I doubt my National Council will reverse the suspension.

Um is it a suspension or disaffiliation? You make it sound like it's permanent, which isn't what a suspension usually means.

[buddhabelly]

I got caught by the campus police and they arrested me and took me to the local adult detention center and I had to stay in a holding cell for a night. Now I have a court date :/

I think the chapter adviser talked to the area facilitator, but it was mainly the chapter adviser who made the decision.

She said that I was suspended, which meant that I was no longer a sister.

She just told me to turn in my pin. I think there are suspension forms that I have to fill out and sign, but I haven't gotten any yet.

[Nanners52674]

Originally Posted by buddhabelly

I got caught by the campus police and they arrested me and took me to the local adult detention center and I had to stay in a holding cell for a night. Now I have a court date :/

I think the chapter adviser talked to the area facilitator, but it was mainly the chapter adviser who made the decision.

She said that I was suspended, which meant that I was no longer a sister.

She just told me to turn in my pin. I think there are suspension forms that I have to fill out and sign, but I haven't gotten any yet.

Maybe my sorority is different. But our advisor actually has no official say in judicial/standards decisions. She simply advises.

I still don't get how suspension equates disaffiliation.

[buddhabelly]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Maybe my sorority is different. But our advisor actually has no official say in judicial/standards decisions. She simply advises.

I still don't get how suspension equates disaffiliation.

Oh, I think it's called suspension because it can be "revocable."

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by Nanners52674

Maybe my sorority is different. But our advisor actually has no official say in judicial/standards decisions. She simply advises.

I still don't get how suspension equates disaffiliation.

I was thinking the SAME thing.

Usually if anything happens that involves disciplinary action there is some kind of "standards hearing" or whatever between the executive board and the person who is "in trouble".

Suspension is NOT the same as Disaffiliated. A suspension is temporary. Disaffiliation is forever. So I don't get that either.

[amanda6035]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

Suspension is NOT the same as Disaffiliated. A suspension is temporary. Disaffiliation is forever. So I don't get that either.

Not true my organization. If you are suspended, you are no longer a member - whether it's voluntary or forced suspension. Some suspensions can be appealed (such as academic - you can petition to be reinstated if you get your grades up) but suspension is permanent for us.

*edit* to clarify, probation is temporary, suspension is permanent.

[LΩVE]

Stuff happens. If you have a clean record you need to make sure, first of all, that you make a good impression on the judge. It some states/counties judges will have you take a class when it's your first offense and you're underage in exchange for having it "off" of your record. This should be your priority at the moment, because you don't want an arrest and conviction on your record. Make sure you've learned your lesson. Maybe you'll get a second chance, good luck.

I've never heard of an organization where the advisor had thepower to kick out a member without any kind of procedure by the collegian executive board unless we're talking someone is caught dealing cocaine to the elementary school kids down the street. Read your chapter documents and national/international documents. IF procedure was not followed correctly you might have some way to appeal the decision. If there is a provision for an advisor to take such extreme measures, whether or not your actions warranted it, you're probably out of luck.

Honestly on mycampus it was rare for a member to be terminated just for being arrested for drinking underage especially if they had otherwise been model members. On the other hand, your timing is horrible. Your chapter being in trouble with your organization has obviously put all members under intense scrutiny and the adults in thesituation are probably annoyed that a member has gotten in trouble so soon after the chapter did. It's not going to help your case. It to me seems a little harsh but again, review your chapter and national/international documents. Also consider this: even if you fight the battle to be re-instated and are successful you'll be stuck with this advisor over your head for the rest of your time as a collegian. It might not be worth it.

[honeychile]

Let's all remember that each GLO may use different terminology for the same word. While suspension may mean a temporary situation with ABC, it may be a forever disaffiliation with XYZ.

I agree with those who said that you need to worry more about your court date than your suspension. You need to speak to a knowledgable attorney who can either get you off - because this will follow you much further than a sorority suspension. When you go job hunting, "public drunkeness" is not something a possible employer wants to see on your record.

Once your court date is over, then start making plans for setting the record straight with your sorority. Until then, you have no reasonable excuse for your I/natl office to want you to represent your sorority.

[buddhabelly]

Oh...suspension basically means kicked out as in I'm no longer a sister :[

She said that I got suspended for breaking the law.

In our constitution/bylaws, it says that a collegiate member may have her membership suspended for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the fraternity considered too serious for probabtion. (I know that even though it's for drinking, it's not under the reasons for automatic suspension)

For alcohol use policies, it says that chapters are expected to abide by federal, state, and local laws and university policies...[...]

[Nanners52674]

Originally Posted by buddhabelly

Oh...suspension basically means kicked out as in I'm no longer a sister :[

She said that I got suspended for breaking the law.

In our constitution/bylaws, it says that a collegiate member may have her membership suspended for conduct detrimental to the best interests of the fraternity considered too serious for probabtion. (I know that even though it's for drinking, it's not under the reasons for automatic suspension)

For alcohol use policies, it says that chapters are expected to abide by federal, state, and local laws and university policies...[...]

That kind of sounds like your answer. But like others have said you can always appeal.

[buddhabelly]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to appeal, but I just don't think the National Council will reverse it..it says that the appeal may be denied only by a four-sevenths (4/7) vote of the National Council. It's just not looking too good for me...

[AOE-7]

Originally Posted by buddhabelly

Yeah, I'm definitely going to appeal, but I just don't think the National Council will reverse it..it says that the appeal may be denied only by a four-sevenths (4/7) vote of the National Council. It's just not looking too good for me...

Posting an online petition about your case doesn't show much discretion, sweetheart. I'm sure the folks at your HQ are thrilled about your enthusiasm.

[minDyG]

Originally Posted by AOE-7

Posting an online petition about your case doesn't show much discretion, sweetheart. I'm sure the folks at your HQ are thrilled about your enthusiasm.

To be fair, it's not a petition, it's a general inquiry seeking the advice of people she assumed would have more inside information. It's not like she made a group on Facebook called "The Petition to Get Bhudda Belly Back Into XYZ" where everybody who saw it would automatically know her real name and the identity of her org.

To the OP: Good luck, dear. With the legal troubles AND with the sorority woes. To any naysayers: remember that membership is lifelong, not just a collegiate enrichment. So even though this might become just a "blip on the radar," it could also be a lasting wound.

[Zillini]

Originally Posted by buddhabelly

Recently, my chapter got in trouble for alcohol at an event (I didn't get in trouble). The area facilitator had to come in and give us a talk.

Yes, I definitely learned my lesson, but I know of other sisters who got got called in for the same thing yet none of them were suspended.
The lady who suspended me just became our new chapter adviser and she told me that our sorority has a zero tolerance on alcohol.

...I think the chapter adviser talked to the area facilitator, but it was mainly the chapter adviser who made the decision...

This may sound harsh, but here's my take on what's going on and why. You didn't just get drunk, you were arrested and that's a matter of public record. Anyone on campus who knows you probably knows you're an XYZ. That looks bad for the whole chapter and for the I/natl org.

Your chapter recently got into trouble with I/natl for alcohol problems. I assume an area facilitator is an I/natl officer. In my experience when an IO comes to talk to a chapter it's a very serious situation. If your chapter wasn't placed on probation then they are at least being looked at under a microscope. It's irrelevant how other sisters with similar circumstances were treated in the past, actually that may have been part of the problem. I/natl is watching now.

As already said by others, every GLO has its own policy on how much authority an advisor has regarding disciplinary actions. As long as the appropriate procedures were followed it doesn't matter if your advisor made the decision on her own or if she is a new advisor. You stated that you believe she conferred with your area facilitator. If correct your IO knows the policies and would have made sure the advisor knew too. I suspect the IO would have also made it very clear to the advisor of any potential ramifications the chapter might face if strict adherence to zero tolerance was not shown. Part of an advisor's job is to protect the entire chapter by making the hard (and at times unpopular) decisions. This action may have saved the entire chapter from additional I/natl sanctions.

You already know you can appeal the decision. It's up to you if you want to try. If you don't appeal or if they don't find in your favor, well then you are just going to have to chalk this up to a heartbreaking life experience. There isn't much else you can do.