Dartmouth sororities announce new policy

[33girl]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Then you probably won't bring the matter to Panhel in the first place. You'll note it says that they will only respond if the matter is brought to them.

Actually, those two things are not the same, per the article.

“The role that we are certainly not taking on is one of detective,” she said. “If something occurs we are only going to be able to respond if it is brought to us — we are not going out and searching for things.”

Under the new policy, when a sorority president becomes aware of an alleged case of assault against a member of her sorority, she will notify the other Panhell presidents. The president of the alleged perpetrator’s organization will then be notified, according to the written Panhell policy released to The Dartmouth.

If the alleged victim is unaffiliated, the Panhellenic Council as a whole will contact the president of the organization to which the alleged perpetrator belongs, according to the policy.

It says nothing about WHO can bring the matter to Panhel. Example: Drunk Diane and Drunk Dave are having a fight at the ABC house. Drunk Dave shakes Drunk Diane. Nebby Nancy (who doesn't know either party) sees this, is enraged, and contacts Panhel.

Maybe LocalLove9 can shed some light on whether this is truly the case, but the way this article is written, it certainly seems like the above scenario can happen.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

I don't like this part at all.

Originally Posted by 33girl

If the alleged victim is unaffiliated, the Panhellenic Council as a whole will contact the president of the organization to which the alleged perpetrator belongs, according to the policy.

I would be somewhat pissed if a group that I either chose not to be a part of (or that didn't choose me to be a part of them) was in effect filing charges without my consent to satisfy their agenda.

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Um, if you're unaffiliated, why do you care if Panhel isn't having an event with them anyway?

Originally Posted by Drolefille

There are no charges filed. Basically they're saying that the fraternities can't slack off because a victim is not in a sorority. Otherwise the chapters are creating two classes of women - those protected, and those not. In this way, all are protected.

Protected? How are they protected? Because an organization that they’re not a member of isn’t going to have a party at the fraternity’s house this weekend?

I'm going to have to agree with 33girl here.

It doesn't matter who reports this to Panhel, it's not the job of sorority women to speak on behalf of all women on campus.

If you choose not to have social events with a fraternity because of an alleged incident involving a sorority member, so be it. If you want to get involved in the life of a young woman who has nothing to do with you or your organization, you need to back off.

I mean, what will this lead to? Questioning of the “victim” by Panhellenic to determine how serious the incident is? Ridiculous accusations by crazy girls (yes, this happens), leading to the cutting of ties between two organizations which is based on nothing at all? It's a slippery slope they're heading down.

To think that fraternity men will only be held accountable if sorority women watch over all of the women on campus is ridiculous. If a female student feels that her personal space has been violated, she can go to the school or to the police and file a report. I’m sure at that point, the whole school will know, and Panhellenic can make a decision based on that information. But a “random” (whether it be the victim, or someone who claims to have heard or saw something happen) reporting a problem to Panhellenic is going to cause more problems than I think Panhel wants to deal with.

If an incident turns out to be no big deal, the “victim” won’t make it one. If it is and she reports it (to the proper authorities), then you can make a decision based on charges brought against the fraternity member. The end.