Delta Zeta UConn Sorority Suspended While Hazing Allegation Is Investigated

[SOM]

A letter to the Delta Zeta sorority from Kimberly Hill, UConn's associate director of community standards, dated last Friday, said the organization has been placed under an interim suspension "until this student conduct matter is resolved." According to the letter, members of Delta Zeta have been accused of forcing men involved with a school fraternity to consume alcohol, eat dog treats, paint their bodies, wear women's thong underwear and take shots of alcohol off each others bodies, among other things. The incident allegedly took place March 7 at the Mansfield Apartments, a university residence hall....
http://www.courant.com/community/man...,6869624.story

[carnation]

How on earth are sorority members forcing fraternity pledges to do this stuff?

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

How on earth are sorority members forcing fraternity pledges to do this stuff?

The fraternity sends their pledges to the sorority house telling them they have to do everything the sorority sisters tell them to do. The sorority reports back to the fraternity. It's not rocket science.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by 33girl

It's not rocket science.

Indeed.

I would take any uproar about hazing and pledging more seriously if people were aware of different GLOs practices. That includes NPC and IFC GLO chapters with practices that span beyond what many people attribute to NPC and IFC GLOs.

LOL @ AZTheta. Wellllll...some of us are surrounded by the positive things GLOs accomplish. Some of us are also surrounded by GLO traditions that do not automatically constitute hazing (or banned pledging). People who feel stories of the cons far outweigh stories of the pros need to span their media/news and social circles.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Indeed.

I would take any uproar about hazing and pledging more seriously if people were aware of different GLOs practices. That includes NPC and IFC GLO chapters with practices that span beyond what many people attribute to NPC and IFC GLOs.

LOL @ AZTheta. Wellllll...some of us are surrounded by the positive things GLOs accomplish. Some of us are also surrounded by GLO traditions that do not automatically constitute hazing (or banned pledging). People who feel stories of the cons far outweigh stories of the pros need to span their media/news and social circles.

Point well taken to be sure!!!! Oh and explained very well!

[AZTheta]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Indeed.

LOL @ AZTheta. Wellllll...some of us are surrounded by the positive things GLOs accomplish. Some of us are also surrounded by GLO traditions that do not automatically constitute hazing (or banned pledging). People who feel stories of the cons far outweigh stories of the pros need to span their media/news and social circles.

Is that an invitation? YAY!

[carnation]

Originally Posted by 33girl

The fraternity sends their pledges to the sorority house telling them they have to do everything the sorority sisters tell them to do. The sorority reports back to the fraternity. It's not rocket science.

I get that. What I don't get is why the fraternity pledges go along with it. No fraternity I know would have done that and no pledges would've gone along with it, it's just bizarre.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by carnation

I get that. What I don't get is why the fraternity pledges go along with it. No fraternity I know would have done that and no pledges would've gone along with it, it's just bizarre.

Another venue where men can assert their dominance as men over women, perceived or actual, under the guise of the bonds of brother/sisterhood? You betcha.

Cross-pledging is not something I'm a fan of (how a fraternity can add to my becoming a member of a sorority, unknown), but I can see how it would regular practice amongst brother-sister orgs:

• Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta (constitutionally)
• Omega Psi Phi/Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Phi Alpha/AKA, KAPsi/SGRho, unofficially (and somewhat regional/local)

And to dig into the NALFO/NMCG side... (Don't know if there are any Asian interest orgs with such relationship)

• Sigma Lambda Gamma/Sigma Lambda Beta
• Lambda Theta Phi/Lambda Theta Alpha
• Mu Sigma Upsilon/Lambda Sigma Upsilon (I think they're connected - same colors/similar letters/founded at same university around the same time)

I don't recall any NPC/IFC with nationally/historically recognized bonds, but I also don't know their histories. I vaguely recall a sorority being founded on being little sisters to Alpha Phi Delta.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by carnation

I get that. What I don't get is why the fraternity pledges go along with it. No fraternity I know would have done that and no pledges would've gone along with it, it's just bizarre.

Then you don't know many fraternity chapters.

I know IFC chapters that cross-pledged with NPC chapters and NPHC sorority chapters.

Cross-pledging is not uncommon for many collegiate and alumnae/graduate/alumni chapters of some NPHC GLOs and GLOs of other councils/conferences.

I don't consider it the least bit bizarre. There is variation in what cross-pledging entails. There is also variation of opinions as to whether (for the people familiar with this terminology) a fraternity member can "make" a sorority member and whether a sorority member can "make" a fraternity member.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by carnation

I get that. What I don't get is why the fraternity pledges go along with it. No fraternity I know would have done that and no pledges would've gone along with it, it's just bizarre.

Because (as stated previously) they know that the sorority is going to report back "well, Vincent didn't know the words to your sweetheart song" or whatever. We often had fraternity pledges come to the house on scavenger hunts or other pledge duties. Not to this degree, it seems like these chicks need to get a couple boy on boy videos and just make the guys do their dishes or something.

[tld221]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Because (as stated previously) they know that the sorority is going to report back "well, Vincent didn't know the words to your sweetheart song" or whatever. We often had fraternity pledges come to the house on scavenger hunts or other pledge duties. Not to this degree, it seems like these chicks need to get a couple boy on boy videos and just make the guys do their dishes or something.

well that's just petty.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by carnation

I get that. What I don't get is why the fraternity pledges go along with it. No fraternity I know would have done that and no pledges would've gone along with it, it's just bizarre.

They go along with it because they lose face if they can't handle what the girls dish out. Whenever I hear about hazing, I don't get why the pledges go along with it... whether it's doled out by their own chapter or another chapter. But I also don't get why the members ever think it is a good idea.

[Sciencewoman]

Linking this to the previous situation at UConn this year, there seems to be some wider issue of cross-group hazing at mixed gender parties?

[sigmagirl2000]

This makes me sad. I'd love to see greek life continue to grow in my home state. However, UConn seems to have many issues coming to light currently. I wish the best for whichever group comes on in the midst of these situations and hope that their support for a new colony is prepared to work with the culture there....

[Xidelt]

I wonder if it is even a wise decision to bring a new group on with this culture of hazing.