KA, DG punished for hazing violations
KA, DG punished for hazing violations
Delta Gamma on probation
by MIchael Beagle
August 23, 2004
In response to violations of several University policy statements, the Office of the Dean of Students has handed down sanctions against some campus fraternities and sororities.
Allegations of hazing surfaced about Delta Gamma sorority last Fall, ending with the sorority being put on one year's probation which began in May. According to Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs, the chapter violated PS-108, the University's policy against hazing, by forcing new members to sit "indian style" facing the sorority house without looking elsewhere for an extended period of time. In addition, members were told they were being video taped, which was not the case.
Additionally, Felts said there was an isolated incident where some new members were taken off campus, quizzed and asked to do calisthenics.
"Alcohol was involved," Felts said about the off-campus incident which violated PS-78, the University's policy on alcohol. "All of the new members were underage."
According to a May 11, 2004 letter from Dean of Students Kevin Price to Rachel Troyer, president of Delta Gamma, the sorority may only sponsor or co-sponsor events in which alcohol is not involved through its probationary period, ending May 15, 2005, though the official disciplinary actions report does not cite Delta Gamma for violating PS-78.
"All who were involved received the appropriate consequences from our internal board of standards," said Troyer.
Troyer said neither the acting president, nor the chapter officers know about the events which occurred in October 2003 at the time.
"[Delta Gamma] strengthened its advisory team and implemented an educational plan to ensure that our members understand both the letter and spirit of a strict 'no hazing' policy," said Delta Gamma Executive officials in a statement to the Reveille. "The chapter officers responded maturely, dealt appropriately with the individuals involved and took an aggressive role in chapter education."
The 2004 Greek Affairs Disciplinary Actions also cites Sigma Chi for violating PS-78. Sigma Chi's eight-month-long probationary period ends in mid-December. Felts said the chapter will not lose any of its privileges during its probation, but instead must sponsor a workshop for other fraternities, titled "Confronting the Idiot in your Chapter," about how one member's actions can damage the reputation of the entire chapter.
The incident was not Sigma Chi's first brush with the disciplinary action. In the 2002 Disciplinary Actions Report, they were sited for hazing violations and received a ten-month probation, ending in late January 2003.
Also currently under investigation for hazing is Kappa Alpha Order, already on probation for violating the hazing policy in 2003.
Price said all of KA's active members were given "early alumni" status by their alumni following their investigation into the latest allegations.
Felts said Greek Affairs can not formally cite KA with violations of University policy statements until a new chapter president is installed.
This is not the first time a national organization has taken action in response to wrongdoing by a chapter. Most recently, Sigma Nu's national headquarters removed the University's chapter from campus in February for hazing, alcohol violations, forging an event registration form, fighting and vandalism.
Delta Kappa Epsilon was removed from campus by its headquarters in 2003 following what a Greek Affairs report calls "repeated alcohol, assault and hazing." They will be allowed to return to campus in May 2005.
Sort of like the culture change that's being encouraged at Chapel Hill after last year's widely-publicized discussions by the University of North Carolina's Board of Trustees. The August 25 "Daily Tar Heel" reported on some of the new anti-hazing measures in an article --
Linear Mode
