Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol) - Page 2

fantASTic · #1 10-18-2007, 12:22 AM

You know, the more I read about this, the more I think it's just. They knew it was wrong - whether it was tradition or not. Hazing is a tradition in many chapters and schools, yet we all know it's wrong. If we choose to do it, we must be prepared to accept the consequences. These women represent their sorority, and all the sororities deserve to be punished.

Greek Life cannot afford to keep around schools which flaunt the rules like this. It becomes a liability as opposed to a benefit.

AlphaXi4983 · #2 10-19-2007, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fantASTic

You know, the more I read about this, the more I think it's just. They knew it was wrong - whether it was tradition or not. Hazing is a tradition in many chapters and schools, yet we all know it's wrong. If we choose to do it, we must be prepared to accept the consequences. These women represent their sorority, and all the sororities deserve to be punished.

Greek Life cannot afford to keep around schools which flaunt the rules like this. It becomes a liability as opposed to a benefit.

This is not a new problem at Towson. It was a problem when I pledged, it was a problem before I was there, it was a widely known (within the greek system) problem when I was active, it's just that no one did anything about it. One of my sisters was rushed to the hospital on Bid Day for almost the exact same reasons as we saw this Bid Day. It was common knowledge that Rho Chis showed up to the field drunk, many of the sisters drank before and I'm sure there were even pledges that did the same. I know of at least once incident where sisters of one of the sororities would drink in the garage before bid day and not even get caught. The girls knew it was wrong - they're not stupid, they just don't expect to get caught becuase Towson has been, in my opinion, notoriously flawed in dealing with issues in the Greek system unless the national gets involved.

The reason they got caught this time? They were stupid enough to post pictures of themselves drinking on Bid Night on Facebook. Really now - how dumb can you be? We were always told that any Bid Day activities were to be dry. The rush process is going to be dry. Did people drink? Yes. But we didn't have Facebook to post it on. They were wrong. They know it. They're just pissed they got caught and called out on it. And I'm not just talking about the 5 on probation - I'm talking about all 8, my chapter included. Kudos to Towson for finally having the balls to act. I whole-heartedly support their decisions.

33girl · #3 10-21-2007, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaXi4983

This is not a new problem at Towson. It was a problem when I pledged, it was a problem before I was there, it was a widely known (within the greek system) problem when I was active, it's just that no one did anything about it. One of my sisters was rushed to the hospital on Bid Day for almost the exact same reasons as we saw this Bid Day. It was common knowledge that Rho Chis showed up to the field drunk, many of the sisters drank before and I'm sure there were even pledges that did the same. I know of at least once incident where sisters of one of the sororities would drink in the garage before bid day and not even get caught. The girls knew it was wrong - they're not stupid, they just don't expect to get caught becuase Towson has been, in my opinion, notoriously flawed in dealing with issues in the Greek system unless the national gets involved.

The reason they got caught this time? They were stupid enough to post pictures of themselves drinking on Bid Night on Facebook. Really now - how dumb can you be? We were always told that any Bid Day activities were to be dry. The rush process is going to be dry. Did people drink? Yes. But we didn't have Facebook to post it on. They were wrong. They know it. They're just pissed they got caught and called out on it. And I'm not just talking about the 5 on probation - I'm talking about all 8, my chapter included. Kudos to Towson for finally having the balls to act. I whole-heartedly support their decisions.

I'm sorry, but I have a giant problem giving "kudos" to a school that knew this was going on for years, to the point of people getting rushed to the hospital, and the only reason they used any discipline is because pictures showed up on Facebook. That sounds an awful lot like "do things that might be injurious to yourselves or others, things that are against your national rules, as long as you don't embarrass the school."

AOII Angel, I agree w/ everything you said.

AlphaXi4983 · #4 10-21-2007, 09:26 PM

The problem is, even if the school knows its going on, it can be hard to take action until they have tangible proof that it's going on - and what better way than sisters self-incriminating by handing out photos for the world to see? There have been cases where the university has taken action against individuals or even certain chapters, but this if the first time (that I know of) where it has been addressed as a wide-spread problem.

33girl · #5 10-21-2007, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlphaXi4983

The problem is, even if the school knows its going on, it can be hard to take action until they have tangible proof that it's going on - and what better way than sisters self-incriminating by handing out photos for the world to see? There have been cases where the university has taken action against individuals or even certain chapters, but this if the first time (that I know of) where it has been addressed as a wide-spread problem.

A member having to go to the HOSPITAL isn't tangible proof??

And for what it's worth, photos can be altered or doctored. I would find them the least credible thing to hang something on, and one of these days that's going to happen - photoshopped photos online expressly to get a group in trouble and the group fights it.

Just interested · #6 10-19-2007, 08:31 PM

Amen

DeltaBetaBaby · #7 10-28-2007, 02:07 PM

Some thoughts:

1) Rho Chis, even if they are disaffiliated, are entirely responsible for representing their chapters and always have been. Let's say Suzy RC from XYZ really loves Janie PNM and they are best buds during recruitment. On the last night, Janie is really struggling to decide if she should put ABC or XYZ first on her bid card. Suzy RC tells Janie she is an XYZ and she should put XYZ first so they could be sisters. Janie ends up bidless and heartbroken, and tells the GA what happened. Would you expect there to be consequences? I would expect XYZ to be held responsible for a rush infraction. Sure, Suzy would probably also be held responsible by her chapter, but to the community, the punishment of XYZ is all that matters. Rho Chis are expected to know the rules and follow them, even if they are disaffiliated.

2. Towson should have been concerned with PREVENTING this behavior, not punishing it. They could have put word out in advance that this would be a "no tolerance" year and that alcohol on bid day would be taken very seriously. Then, if people still chose to drink, they would have deserved what they got. As it was, you can't silently condone something for years and then suddenly change your tune.

3. It is nearly impossible for one chapter to decide on its own that there will be no booze on bid day. If your chapter is the one following the rules, and everyone else isn't, your NM's want to know why they aren't having the same fun as the other girls in the dorms. I would be really curious to know the difference between "sanctions" and "probation", but they should really treat all chapters the same.

AOII Angel · #8 10-31-2007, 01:28 PM

I will defend Ihatesquirrels on one thing only, the AGD advisor did report the drinking to the administration, but I won't agree that this was malicious or inappropriate. She was present that day and saw the dangerous situation. Acting, rather than continuing to watch this recur is responsible.

In my field of work, I have seen what can go wrong (medically/surgically.) They were lucky that more serious injuries weren't sustained during this fiasco.

I think people can argue that she should have spoken to the other chapter advisors first, but she did the right thing to stop this nonsense. In terms of liability, she would be responsible if something happened while she was present as an advisor. I think the rumor that this was all done maliciously may stem from prior actions, but no one has ever given me any details to support these allegations.

Unfortunately, one of the houses is in serious trouble with their nationals and may loose their charter. This, of course, is due to multiple infractions not just the Bid Day event.

exlurker · #9 12-03-2007, 03:44 PM

The Towerlight reports that last month Zeta Tau Alpha national conducted a membership review of its chapter at Towson:

http://media.www.thetowerlight.com/m...-3127295.shtml

The article has very few details, which is probably as it should be.

33girl · #10 12-03-2007, 04:20 PM

According to Miele, during a membership review, the national organization interviews members of the individual chapter to make sure their values are connected.

"[Greek] organizations are value-based organizations and they want to make sure the undergrads are getting the most out of this type of organizations," Miele said.

This kind of doublespeak annoys the piss out of me.

Why don't they just say "they want to find out who the ding-dongs are who drank on bid day and got caught and posted pictures all over the internet"?

I'm sure they wouldn't be worrying about if the girls were "getting the most" out of ZTA if the semester was just going along with no problems.

AOII Angel · #11 12-09-2007, 09:04 AM

ZTA, thank goodness, will stay on campus. I'm not sure what the entirety of the sanctions imposed on them by nationals consisted of, but they did remove the entire leadership from office. I have a feeling they will be scrutinized closely. I've heard that the majority of the chapter are good, upstanding members.

5Knowledge1913 · #12 01-01-2008, 06:43 PM

Praise God that I did not see my sorority listed!

Hopefully, the suspended/sanctioned chapters can rebound!

AOPIROSES · #13 04-06-2008, 04:19 PM

i graduated from Towson many years ago. We had the running of the bulls event back then too. EVERYONE DRINKS.... yes its a dry rush. But lets get real ladies. We all know we drank back in college even when we werent always supposed to.

Its unfortunate that these girls were injured this year to the point where panhel felt it necessary to eliminate the event forever. I remember when I ran to AOII i got the hugest bruise on my knee. And then again when I was a rho chi and ran to them I was tackled and knocked in the face by elbows. Lot's of us got injured in some way or another. It was all part of the fun. Battle wounds if you can call them that.

And yes, when i was a rho chi I drank before bid day too just like these girls did (we never included new members. rho chi's would have a pre bid day party before meeting up with our rushees). We all did... girls from Alpha Phi to Phi Sig to Zeta to AGD, phi mu and KD and AZD. WE ALL DID IT!! We were just smart enough to do it responsibly and without getting caught. We knew we'd get in major trouble if we were caught, so we used our brains. No one was exempt from drinking ill tell you that.

Although, we ALSO DID NOT HAVE FACEBOOK BACK THEN. Facebook was a major issue in this case (from what i heard) where panhel went online and printed pictures that girls posted of themselves drinking before bid day was completed. I have pictures of myself drinking on past bid days. I just didnt have facebook back then to post them on.

I do think Panhel made a bigger deal out of this than they should have. But, whatever is necessary to keep our girls safe is fine by me. I just feel sorry for the future new members who won't get to experience all the fun that once was "The Running of the Bulls!"
(probably one of the most fun events that ALL sororities participated in as one)

violetpretty · #14 04-06-2008, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOPIROSES

i graduated from Towson many years ago. We had the running of the bulls event back then too. EVERYONE DRINKS.... yes its a dry rush. But lets get real ladies. We all know we drank back in college even when we werent always supposed to.

It's true that most college students, regardless of whether they are Greek, drink, and drink underage. I went to school a few miles down 95, and I can tell you that drinking is NOT a bid day tradition. No one drinks on bid day! Is my school in the minority or is Towson?

BabyPiNK_FL · #15 04-06-2008, 07:27 PM

What is with the urgent need to drink on bid day? This day is so important because you have to be out making sure that the new members feel welcome and they fully understand the time and financial commiment they are making since many blow it off during rush. They also need to be meeting the sisters and if they've been drinking, how many will they remember? I could not imagine drinking on bid day, nothing would get done and it'd be a fiasco! If my sisters had been drinking on bid day I would have quit on day one.

I wonder how this got to be such a tradition and how their bid day is structured. (I'm wondering if they have houses and don't have to worry about certain things women at my school would) any info?