Colgate University to buy Greek Houses

[winnieb]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/EDUCATION/04....ap/index.html

HAMILTON, New York (AP) -- Colgate University is forcing fraternities and sororities to sell their off-campus houses to the school, a move partly aimed at ending "a pattern of problems" including sexual assaults, hazing and fights, officials said.

College spokesman James Leach said the purchases were recommended by a task force formed after a drunk-driving accident left four people dead and the driver in prison for vehicular manslaughter.

"There have been sexual assaults, hazing, violent fights and a pattern of problems over the years. Many people thought change was necessary," Leach said. "The task force looked at several options, including eliminating the Greek system. Instead, it recommended a way for the university to assert greater control, and still give students authority over their operations."

Under the plan, almost all students would have to live in university-owned housing. Any Greek organization that retained ownership of its property would lose university recognition.

Opponents call the plan an attempt to end the Greek system on campus and students and alumni planned to rally against it Tuesday. About 40 percent of Colgate's students belong to a fraternity or sorority.

"They are acting like corporate bullies instead of a university," said senior Sean Devlin, of Connecticut, a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Charles Sanford, a trustee emeritus who graduated from Colgate in 1958, has formed Student & Alumni for Colgate to oppose the college's plan. "They are being coerced into giving up their property rights -- or face extinction," Sanford said.

Most of the university's Greek houses have agreed to sell. Two of the three fraternities that refused are currently inactive.

The third, DKE, filed a federal lawsuit in February accusing the university of violating antitrust and monopoly laws and students' rights, said attorney Tom Weincek, a former DKE president and Colgate graduate.

In 2001, Colgate shut down DKE for a year for serving alcohol to the driver in the crash that killed four people.

The university is located about 45 miles southeast of Syracuse and has about 2,750 undergraduates.

[Tom Earp]

While there was thread in GC somewhere, it is worth repeating.

With the stupidity of Greeks there, they are now in the clutches of the College, period.

While there was an injunction against Colgate taking the houses, a Judge once again decided against the Greeks.

So, it boils down to how much the School will pay and is it fair market value?

While we all feel bad, they brought it upon themselves and no one else.

[winnieb]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
While there was thread in GC somewhere, it is worth repeating.

There's a thread on this??? Sorry... I searched (quickly though- so the boss didn't catch me on here) but I didn't see it-- and this article is on CNN.com today.

[Tom Earp]

WOW, way to go CNN, must be in the running with Foxy Newsie to be the biggest trash networks of today!

Not to worry, hell, is hard to find post with so many of them.

Working on the KC deal with honey for Aug!!!!