Stanford Places Tri Delta on "Alcohol Suspension" Through June 2005

[exlurker]

About a month ago newspapers and TV stations carried stories about the no contest pleas of the football players involved, and the fines levied.

For example, this story, picked up from the San Jose Mercury News, I believe:

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortway...ts/7823852.htm

The article indicates that The LSJU aka The Farm, in its wisdom, is allowing as how there will be "some type of disciplinary action through the team in the summer."

Can we settle down and have a show of hands, here, class? That's better. How many people think that a Big Time Football team is going to carry out serious discipline for these players' actions? Yeah, even after the country has been treated to weeks of a polished but unconvincing duet by the president of the U of Colorado and the NCAA featuring the Gershwins' classic "How Long Has This Been Going On?"

Anybody?

Bueller?

[James]

I think that in the grand scheme of things it is just showing that the entire issue is relatively unimportant to most people and only merits a wrist slap because it got publicity.

Keep in mind that sororities and fraternities and other PC institutions such as colleges DECIDE to make these situations into issues. They are not inherently issues, such as violence or theft, they are more disagreements on how people want others to live their lives.

Also, Greek Letter Organizations tend to be Politically Correct in aReacitve manner. They have decided to past rules that are more strict than the Laws or Universisty guidelines in an efort to appease their critics (who mostly don't like them anyway). Now all Headquarters know that you as undergrad are drinking under age, having sex out of wed lock and probably using party drugs. And not is much done to prevent that.

However, the secondary message we get from our Nationals is very clear: follow the 11th Commandemnt and all is well .. . "Thou Shalt Not Get Caught" If you do we shall handeth your asses to you.

The only thing predictably boring about it is that when I read the rhetoric on this board and people going OH MY GOD they drank underage? (almost in the same tone they would say OMG they killed her and then sodomized her?) Like they believe both the issue is earth shaking as well as the silly rhetoric we spew out about this stuff.

Do you guys really believe the rhetoric of your nationals' when it comes to this stuff? Thye are primarily posturing.

Originally posted by exlurker
About a month ago newspapers and TV stations carried stories about the no contest pleas of the football players involved, and the fines levied.

For example, this story, picked up from the San Jose Mercury News, I believe:

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortway...ts/7823852.htm

The article indicates that The LSJU aka The Farm, in its wisdom, is allowing as how there will be "some type of disciplinary action through the team in the summer."

Can we settle down and have a show of hands, here, class? That's better. How many people think that a Big Time Football team is going to carry out serious discipline for these players' actions? Yeah, even after the country has been treated to weeks of a polished but unconvincing duet by the president of the U of Colorado and the NCAA featuring the Gershwins' classic "How Long Has This Been Going On?"

Anybody?

Bueller?

[sugar and spice]

I swear my viewpoint on this is NOT related to the fact that the chapter in question is my own sorority because I hate hate hate it when other people on GC defend a chapter's obviously wrong behavior just because it's their own GLO.

Just to clear some things up, sometimes in Tri Delta, the RM chair and the social chair are one in the same. This is the case in my chapter although I don't know if it's true for Stanford. This is a good idea in theory, intended to keep the social chair from planning inappropriate events. But in reality I think it often leads to a conflict of interest since the RM chair's responsibility is to make sure everybody stays safe and the social chair's responsibility is to make sure everybody has fun, and as we all know, in college those two do not always go hand in hand. I can't even imagine how difficult of a job it is to balance those two.

That said, as a Tri Delt I am embarassed by the way the "Big Sisters" behaved. As a woman, though, I am incredibly glad that they were responsible enough to report what happened, knowing that they would probably get punished for it, after the sexual assault occurred. At many, many sorority houses across the nation that would not happen, and in fact I'm sure at some, the girls would be pressured into staying silent for the sake of the group -- and I am really glad that that's not what happened here. It sounds like, from the articles, that both the individuals in question and the chapter itself realized that this was a major mistake and have been working to take some sort of responsibility for their actions.

Like I said in the Bucknell thread, Tri Delta has been cracking down pretty hard on risk management violations over the past year or so and I'm sure they will be paying very close attention to this chapter. It sounds like there was a major lapse in judgement both by the women involved and by the way the university is handling the situation, but it sounds like from what people have posted that the girls are getting their heads on straight and they will come out of this fine.

[sugar and spice]

Originally posted by James

Do you guys really believe the rhetoric of your nationals' when it comes to this stuff? Thye are primarily posturing.

James, I agree with you on the tone of this thread. I sincerely doubt there was legitimate hazing involved -- from what I seen on my campus and what I've read about this situation, the little sisters were probably willing participants. And it shouldn't come as a surprise that many college students drink alcohol. And I don't think it should even surprise most people that on many campuses, alcohol is included in events like this. (As Michelle said earlier, it wasn't the first time a Stanford sorority had done something like that, simply the first time a group had gotten caught.)

BUT I think that there is a major difference between most national fraternities and most NPC sororities. I do agree with you that the fraternities seem to be mostly about the whole "Do what you do, just don't get caught" angle -- at least moreso than the sororities. However, from my dealings with sororities I've noticed that many of them -- and Tri Delta especially -- is definitely not just "posturing" on this front.

[DolphinChicaDDD]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
I swear my viewpoint on this is NOT related to the fact that the chapter in question is my own sorority because I hate hate hate it when other people on GC defend a chapter's obviously wrong behavior just because it's their own GLO.

Just to clear some things up, sometimes in Tri Delta, the RM chair and the social chair are one in the same. This is the case in my chapter although I don't know if it's true for Stanford. This is a good idea in theory, intended to keep the social chair from planning inappropriate events. But in reality I think it often leads to a conflict of interest since the RM chair's responsibility is to make sure everybody stays safe and the social chair's responsibility is to make sure everybody has fun, and as we all know, in college those two do not always go hand in hand. I can't even imagine how difficult of a job it is to balance those two.

You beat me too it!!!
We just seperated our RM and Social chair, because of the inherent conflicts.
And don't forget, the RM is still a student, is still a sister, and is still a human. While this incident certianly was very wrong, people make HUGE mistakes in their lives sometimes. My point is, yes she should have known better, yes she should be held to a higher standard because she sets the standard for the other chapter members, but she isn't this holy person on a pedastol who never does wrong.

As far as the punishment for the football players goes, 'through summer' thats a load of BS if I ever heard one. I am an intercollegic athlete and am a sister of Tri Delta, and as such I see the gross difference in punishment in my own, small, Division III school. The things the lax and soccer teams get away with.... the things my own team got away with before our coach started kicking people off for second offenses.

[33girl]

I just wanted to state that a college CANNOT revoke a fraternity or sorority's charter. They can derecognize them and kick them out of college housing, but they do not have the power to say that the Mu Mu chapter of XYZ is closed or no longer exisits. The closing of a chapter is usually the national HQ's reaction to the above things happening. But the power to keep the group from taking members and initiating them lies with the national.

This just sounds like they can't have mixers or alcohol at their formal, which is what a lot of chapters not on probation do anyway.

[thetalady]

Originally posted by James
<snip> The only thing predictably boring about it is that when I read the rhetoric on this board and people going OH MY GOD they drank underage?

James-

Please do not reduce the alcohol issue here to merely "drinking underage". I don't think any eyebrows here have been raised over that. Of course college kids drink. We aren't talking about 3 or 4, even 5 drinks here.

The concern here is that these girls drank excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. That can lead to alcohol poisoning, coma, etc. It was irresponsible and stupid behavior, especially considering the emphasis on educating college people about the dangers of over indulging. They knew better, but chose to act in a way that endangered their lives.

What if they had passed out before puking? Then the issue might have been a whole different story involving dead women.

Am I amazed that 18 year olds still act THIS kind of stupid? I guess so, but I have always been a bit naive! eta: I guess hope springs eternal that kids will one day LISTEN to the dangers of OVER indulging.

[Rudey]

I don't think power hour could have hurt anyone but what do I know.

-Rudey

[James]

Thetalady what you are saying isn't wrong.

However, they are getting punished for underage drinking, thats the only regulation tha involved.

ALso, it would be real hard to kill yourself with beer. In fact if beer was the only kind of alcohol consumed there would be almost no cases of alcohol poisoning. I think you might actually drown first.

And a power hour is basically 4 pints/glasses of beer over the course of an hour. Its not that much even for a lightweight in terms of damage.

I am not disussing impaired judgement lol.

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by 33girl
I just wanted to state that a college CANNOT revoke a fraternity or sorority's charter. They can derecognize them and kick them out of college housing, but they do not have the power to say that the Mu Mu chapter of XYZ is closed or no longer exisits. The closing of a chapter is usually the national HQ's reaction to the above things happening. But the power to keep the group from taking members and initiating them lies with the national.

This just sounds like they can't have mixers or alcohol at their formal, which is what a lot of chapters not on probation do anyway.

A private school may not have the statuatory right to do so, but it has the de facto power to revoke a charter. You can not exist at Stanford with school recognition. It is not practically possible. Also, Stanford has the right to expell students who join an unrecognized organization, if it so chooses.

[GeekyPenguin]

I am "shocked and awed" at some of the attitudes on this thread. Who out there can honestly say they didn't know somebody who played Power Hour, or Century Club, or even Beirut in college?

Nobody?

That's what I thought.

I've played Power Hour and I've done a keg race with ROOT BEER. Guess which one made me sicker?

I also think some of you are being insanely harsh on these ladies for alcohol consumption, particularily since no sorority is immune for this. Should we bump up the thread on the Theta at Vanderbilt and rip that chapter to shreds next?

[PhiPsiRuss]

Originally posted by thetalady
Am I amazed that 18 year olds still act THIS kind of stupid? I guess so, but I have always been a bit naive! eta: I guess hope springs eternal that kids will one day LISTEN to the dangers of OVER indulging.

Being 18, means that you often act stupid. Its simply par for the course.

[James]

Being 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 often means that you act stupid. ITs simply par fr the course.

Originally posted by russellwarshay
Being 18, means that you often act stupid. Its simply par for the course.

[valkyrie]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I am "shocked and awed" at some of the attitudes on this thread. Who out there can honestly say they didn't know somebody who played Power Hour, or Century Club, or even Beirut in college?

Nobody?

That's what I thought.

I've played Power Hour and I've done a keg race with ROOT BEER. Guess which one made me sicker?

I also think some of you are being insanely harsh on these ladies for alcohol consumption, particularily since no sorority is immune for this. Should we bump up the thread on the Theta at Vanderbilt and rip that chapter to shreds next?

Well said.

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
I am "shocked and awed" at some of the attitudes on this thread. Who out there can honestly say they didn't know somebody who played Power Hour, or Century Club, or even Beirut in college?

I know what Century Club is. What is Beirut and what is Power Hour? Please tell me, I honestly don't know.