Suspended..what to do??

[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.

[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.

[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.

[KD4Me]

It doesn't sound right that an advisor could make the decision to suspend you. To have to turn in your pin is a very BIG deal...it happened to a girl in my chapter when I was in school and, although I was a pledge at the time, I am aware that there was a lot of paperwork involved and it is my understanding that the actual decision was made by our National Council. This may be a special circumstance because your chapter has come under fire for violating alcohol policies recently, but it still doesn't seem quite right.

My advice would be to find out what the exact procedures are for suspending a member. Your chapter should have some sort of policy and procedures handbook that you can look at, to make sure that the right steps were taken. If you don't get the answers that you need from the chapter, contact the National Officer that your chapter reports to.

It is important that, if you are suspended, it is clear that it is because of something that you did, and that you did not decide to turn in your pin. I would think that it would be easier in the future to appeal for reinstatement if you can prove that you have matured and learned your lesson, rather than having to try to explain why you elected to leave the membership.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by KD4Me

It doesn't sound right that an advisor could make the decision to suspend you.

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?

[StargazerLily]

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...

Yeah, good luck with that.

In my personal experience, as a member, and as an advisor, i have NEVER seen a situation where national council overturned the chapter, chapter advisors or IO/AFs recommendation. The chapter advisor and IOs are the "eyes and ears" for national council, and I suspect that only in extreme, RARE circumstances, would national council ever make a decision involving membership that the leaders and advisors personally involved with the chapter did not recommend.

What to do? Worry about your court date and make better decisions about your actions if you're going to drink while underage.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by StargazerLily

What to do? Worry about your court date and make better decisions about your actions if you're going to drink while underage.

AGREED.

You've got much bigger fish to fry than "getting back into your sorority."

Getting arrested has consequences, and this is one of them, simple as that.

Hopefully you'll take this as a lesson and won't get arrested anymore.

[MaggieXi]

As an Alpha Xi Delta alum, I'm taken aback by the internet petition.

Basically, private and internal chapter and national business has been aired on the internet, painting the sorority in a negative light - to the op, how can this help your situation?

(Based up the OP's posting ONLY) I am wondering if this was handled correctly. I am not an advisor and am not up on my policies and procedures as it relates to this type of infraction, but my chapter did have something similar happen 10 years ago and it was handled internally very differently.

[DrPhil]

Personally, I don't think this reflects on Alpha Xi Delta. The "joke" is definitely on the OP and the other freshmen women who thought this was a good idea.

If anything, it reminds our orgs that even with policies and procedures individual members will do silly things, especially young members who know little about life let alone about a GLO. Can't win 'em all....

ETA: I'm just talking about the petition, not the actual policies and procedures.

[MysticCat]

Words fail me.