Five Towson Sororities on Probation (Alcohol)

[Kevin]

Someone reported ihatesquirrel's post. Ihatesquirrels either needs to name a source or stop posting rumors. If that sort of thing continues, this thread will be locked.

For what it's worth, I think everyone here has done a pretty good job calling BS where it ought to be called.

Thanks.

[DeltaBetaBaby]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Praise God that I did not see my sorority listed!

Hopefully, the suspended/sanctioned chapters can rebound!

[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.

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]

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]

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?

[ComradesTrue]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

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

My school had houses, and there was no drinking on bid day. None. And honestly no one really gave it much of a thought... we were too busy getting to know our new sisters. Sober.

[AXiDGirl10]

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.

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)

I haven't posted in awhile and I've just been lurking, but I am inclined to reply to this...

I can't believe that an alumnae that graduated "many years ago" would say this. It WAS NOT made a bigger deal than it should have. Something needed to be done. Greek life at Towson needs to have many changes if we want to stay on this campus and improve our reputation. And we are working to make those necessary changes. We have had several programs and retreats to decide how we are going to do this.

We most likely will still have "Running of the Bulls," so don't worry, new members will still be able to experience this. We are just structuring it a little differently, so it will be safer. And we will have a more selective Rho Chi application process to ensure that the Rho Chis will be following and implementing the rules. We are also trying to plan several other fun alcohol-free events for all sororities to participate in on Bid Day.

I understand it was tradition, but seriously, do you want to keep a tradition that could possibly get all of Greek life eventually removed from Towson? We have a bad enough reputation as it is with the administration and the rest of campus.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by Blondie93

My school had houses, and there was no drinking on bid day. None. And honestly no one really gave it much of a thought... we were too busy getting to know our new sisters. Sober.

Don't worry. I wasn't referencing all chapters with houses. Just this particular campus I was wondering.

[WVU alpha phi]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

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?

Not sure how this is a tradition, but to answer your question, Towson sororities do not have houses.

[violetpretty]

Originally Posted by AXiDGirl10

I haven't posted in awhile and I've just been lurking, but I am inclined to reply to this...

I missed you!