Suspended..what to do??

[AOII Angel]

I agree with what others have said....forget your sorority membership issues until you finish with your legal issues. I doubt anyone will vote to reverse this decision until your case is settled for good. If you are acquitted, you'd have a much better chance of changing the suspension. Actually being convicted of these charges may make the point moot.

[srmom]

Buddhabelly, sorry to hear of your situation. As a mom who's gotten that collect call from a county jail at 4 in the morning that my son was arrested for an MIP and PI, I can empathize.

From a legal standpoint, at least in the state of Texas, a first offense MIP and PI are a class C misdemeanor, which is like a speeding ticket or jaywalking offense. My son had to take an alcohol awareness class and do 30 hours of community service to have the arrest expunged from his record. This is the avenue I would have you explore with the DA if I was your mother. THEN, be aware that any subsequent arrest, the penalty and consequences increase, SO - NO MORE MIP's!!

As for the sorority, I agree that it is probably a matter of bad timing... The chapter's issues with nationals has put them under a microscope and an issue such as yours might be all it takes to bring down the house. I'm sorry for your plight, but you may be out of luck.

Good luck, and know that this is not the end of the world, you have a full life to look forward to, including the rest of your college years. Eventually, this will be a blip on the radar

[kiteflyersmom]

Originally Posted by srmom

Buddhabelly, sorry to hear of your situation. As a mom who's gotten that collect call from a county jail at 4 in the morning that my son was arrested for an MIP and PI, I can empathize.

From a legal standpoint, at least in the state of Texas, a first offense MIP and PI are a class C misdemeanor, which is like a speeding ticket or jaywalking offense. My son had to take an alcohol awareness class and do 30 hours of community service to have the arrest expunged from his record. This is the avenue I would have you explore with the DA if I was your mother. THEN, be aware that any subsequent arrest, the penalty and consequences increase, SO - NO MORE MIP's!!

As for the sorority, I agree that it is probably a matter of bad timing... The chapter's issues with nationals has put them under a microscope and an issue such as yours might be all it takes to bring down the house. I'm sorry for your plight, but you may be out of luck.

Good luck, and know that this is not the end of the world, you have a full life to look forward to, including the rest of your college years. Eventually, this will be a blip on the radar

Buddah-

As a mom, I hope you read every word of Srmom's post and take it to heart. You should reread the last part, in particular. I hope that it works out for you with the sorority. If not, use it as a learning experience. Bad decisions result in negative consequences- but this is not the end of the world. Good luck.

[Shellfish]

I think I can tell which sorority you're in, and according to the bylaws (found online) there's an appeal process. Why not give it a try? Just be very humble, and act quickly.

[HuskyAlum]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Not to mention, if it wasn't at a sorority event or the OP wasn't wearing letters, how did the campus police even know she was in a sorority and why was the advisor contacted?

It's a VERY common practice for the Greek Advisor or other student affairs representative to receive a copy of all police reports on Monday in order to specifically look for incidents involving fraternity or sorority members. The Greek Advisor could have easily contacted the Chapter Advisor so the issue could be handled within the organization.

Also, I'm sure most sororities have under their causes for discipline (or whatever) a clause about violating federal, state, local, or university/college laws. That's a no-brainer that your membership would be removed for that, IMHO. Finally, it doesn't suprise me that a Chapter Advisor has the power to discipline members. Sure, we would rather defer to the chapter members to self-adjudicate, but sometimes the situation calls for swift and/or severe punishment. This could have been a case where chapter officers or judicial board was unwilling to take this action but since the chapter was previously under fire, the Chapte Advisor had to step in and override their decision. Pefectly acceptable.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by HuskyAlum

This could have been a case where chapter officers or judicial board was unwilling to take this action but since the chapter was previously under fire, the Chapte Advisor had to step in and override their decision. Pefectly acceptable.

As I said, sometimes chapter advisors are not members. Nonmembers should not have the power to terminate members. And at any rate - calling the member on the phone and telling her is COMPLETELY unacceptable. If this new advisor makes a practice of doing that, the chapter is going to end up in trouble somewhere down the line.

[ASTalumna06]

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.

Originally Posted by amanda6035

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.

Different sororities/chapters might call it different things. The reason it's so confusing is because the actual definition of suspension is a postponement or TEMPORARY removal. Like when in school, if you're suspended, you're not allowed to return for a set amount of time, but if you're expelled, you're removed from school permanantly.

But anyway...

Originally Posted by 33girl

I agree, especially since in some sororities and chapters, the main advisor is sometimes not even a sister. And you should have had the chance to appeal before you were terminated/suspended. Simply because you were arrested doesn't mean you're guilty.

If you get forms sent to you, do not sign them.

I'm sorry but I don't care what the charge is, advisors making decisions about members without input of the collegians is a super bogus move. If the sorority approves of that kind of in loco parentis garbage, she might be better off without her membership.

Not to mention, if it wasn't at a sorority event or the OP wasn't wearing letters, how did the campus police even know she was in a sorority and why was the advisor contacted? That would be kind of like my landlord getting a call if I got a DUI. Something's rotten in Denmark....I wouldn't be surprised if it was not the campus police that called the advisor, rather a sister that has it out for you. Did this new advisor actually get notification in writing from the police or just a phone call?

I completely agree. My understanding is that advisors are to oversee the workings of the chapter. But the advisor has no voting rights whatsoever. How can she then choose to remove a member without consulting with any active members of the chapter? Unless there is a by-law indicating that the advisor has the authority to do this, I don't understand how this could happen. And I highly doubt there is any national organization that has written in their constitution, "An advisor can remove any member from the chapter if he/she thinks she is justified in doing so." But hey, I could be wrong.

[MysticCat]

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...

That means 4 of the 7 members of the National Council have to vote against your reinstatement for the suspension to stand. Another way of putting it is that if you can convince 4 of the 7 members to revoke the suspension, you're no longer suspended.

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

And I highly doubt there is any national organization that has written in their constitution, "An advisor can remove any member from the chapter if he/she thinks she is justified in doing so." But hey, I could be wrong.

Well, it's not quite worded that way, and it's the bylaws, not the constitution, but you are.

Originally Posted by honeychile

I agree with those who said that you need to worry more about your court date than your suspension. . . .

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.

I agree that the legal problems are by far the most important problems. But I know which GLO she's talking about too, and if she follows this advice, then she loses. The bylaws in questions say that an appeal of the suspension must be made within 4 weeks from the date that the advisor notifies her that she has been suspended. She can't wait until the legal process is over without waiving her appeal rights on the suspension.

So she's going to have to go with convincing them that she's learned her lesson and that this will never happen again. Whether she also wants to argue that the advisor didn't even give her a chance to explain, or that probation would be a more appropriate discipline, is up to her.

[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.

[AOE-7]

Originally Posted by minDyG

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.

Actually, that's EXACTLY what she did, I'm just not providing the link.

[minDyG]

Originally Posted by AOE-7

Actually, that's EXACTLY what she did, I'm just not providing the link.

Oh. Well...ahem. Nevermind.

[Gucci Model]

Originally Posted by minDyG

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.

You're wrong. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/app...uus-suspension

[minDyG]

Originally Posted by Gucci Model

You're wrong. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/app...uus-suspension

Yes, thank you. I was already informed of this. And I already rescinded my prior statement.

Just playing the Devil's Advocate here, but that petition says it's sponsored by "the sisters of" her org, not herself personally. Maybe she didn't start it?

[Zillini]

Seriously? A public internet petition? "Let's embarrass the local and I/natl GLO by airing all the dirty laundry." Yeah, that ought to win over her National Council.