the college life of bernie madoff, bama σαμ brother

The New York Times is not generally known for the jejune, but it takes new strides into vapid journalism with an article Friday collecting the reminiscences of some of Bernie Madoff's college frat chums. Madoff, for anyone living under a rock, is the Wall Street operator who bilked millions out of sophisticated investors via an elaborate Ponzi scheme. Reporter Allen Salkin's research for the article evidently consisted of consulting a composite portrait from Madoff's single semester at Sigma Alpha Mu at the University of Alabama, trying to get in touch with anyone on it, and reporting the results, without particular regard for newsworthiness. Mr Salkin cites contact with five intimates, whose comments stagger the mind with their insight into the financier's psyche. A quote from each is enough to get the flavor:

• "There isn’t much about Bernie that stands out in my mind."
• "I just don’t remember anything outstanding about him."
• "Arthur never, ever mentioned Bernard Madoff," from the widow of one of his brothers
• "I don’t recall him at all."
• "He was a pledge. Maybe I had him shine my shoes or get me a soda or something like that."

You can almost see Mr Salkin pitching this idea for a article to his editor and getting an enthusiastic approval ("It'll be like a 20/20 exposé, only with responsible reporting! And there'll be the frat angle.") But somewhere along the way, Mr Salkin must have realized that there wasn't actually a story here, since not a soul seems to recall a thing about Madoff from his time as a Sammy. That would have been the time to deep-six the article.

New York Times

murray state λχα dismissed from lawsuit

In 2005, 62-year-old graduate student Nadia Shaheen at Murray State University in Kentucky was slain in a hit-and-run and left in a ditch. Burgess Harrison Yonts was convicted of wanton murder and drunken driving in her death, and sentenced to twenty years. That would normally be the end of the story, except that Yonts père was a state legislator, and prevailed on then-Governor Ernie Fletcher (later indicted on charges of conspiracy and official misconduct) to commute his son's sentence to eight years before parole.

The story took another turn when Shaheen's estate sued Yonts, the university, and a local fraternity at which Yonts had allegedly been drinking for wrongful death. As many as sixty-two brothers in the fraternity were also named individually. The claim rested on so-called "dramshop laws," which provide that those who serve alcohol to an obviously intoxicated person are liable for torts their customers drunkenly commit. While more often brought to bear against bars (a.k.a "dramshops," in olde-tyme speech), the law is equally applicable to a wet social function such a fraternity party.

Since the suit was filed, the Lambda Chi Alpha has operated under a cloud of suspicion, and all involved breathed a sigh a relief when U.S. District Judge Thomas Russell dismissed all claims against the fraternity, concluding that "Yonts consumed his own alcohol at various locations throughout the evening," and "was not served alcohol at the fraternity chapter." The Lambda Chi's former alumni advisor Dan Patterson thought the suit "was nothing more than . . . trolling for dollars by local attorneys," while the current alumni advisor conveyed sympathies to the family.

Yonts remains incarcerated, and does not seem to take responsibility for the murder. He claims not to remember the events of the evening, and allows only that he made a "poor decision" in drinking and driving. To put it mildly. His father, meanwhile, has staunchly maintained his son's innocence, importuning fellow legislators to lobby for clemency for his son. The lawsuit continues against Yonts, who may eventually find himself bankrupted as well as locked up.

Murray State NewsLouisville Courier-JournalWFIE-TV 14

duke pundit has harsh words for sorority rush

Columnist Danny Lewin begins his op-ed piece for the Duke Chronicle by denominating the closing of sorority recruitment as "Bidet," given its status as "the annual event when we cleanse our collective derrières of the smear upon our campus that is Panhellenic Recruitment." As he next notes, he's not a fan.

His column, better characterized as a screed, descends quickly from the scatalogical into the absurdist. He mordantly criticizes the cacophany of events ("The stampede was the clacking of hundreds of heels"), superficiality of selection ("The goal for prospective sisters is to create a lasting impression based on 30-second or so interactions"), and the anguish of the unchosen ("Bidet rivals national tragedies for the 'most tears shed in one day' record"), before arriving at what appears to be his preordained conclusion that "there are about 100,000 better ways to operate Panhellenic Recruitment" and referring the reader to two exemplars: those of the IFC and SLG.

Mr Lewin is unquestionably a funny author, but he is equally unquestionably overwrought about the supposed abuses of the sorority system. A thousand heels on marble and the perils of networking meet-and-greets are the regular affliction of hundreds of millions of professionals every day. If anything, the selection process for sororities reflects a more systematic real-world approach than freewheeling fraternity rush programs. His comparison of sorority recruitment with a typical career fair only underscores that this is the way the real world works; a degree of superficiality and a dose of selectivity are par for the course. Mr Lewin's uncertain acquaintance with this harsh reality does not recommend his viewpoint. Nor indeed does the fact that as a man, his criticisms of the sorority system are wholly exegetical, and come with an unmistakable whiff of paternalism, casting him as protector of weeping sorority rejectees. Perhaps he relishes that imagined position.

A fine array of (very) candid comments on Mr Lewin's thoughts is provided by the Chronicle, on both sides of the issue, for the reader who wants more.

Duke Chronicle

cal poly δχ and τκε brothers honored for anti-hazing work

The average story about hazing involves some parade of horribles eagerly repeated by local media looking for a good lede. How refreshing to read a story taking a wholly different tack out of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, the same place that so recently had a sensible-seeming conference in the wake of a hazing death. Only days after the summit, Colorado-based HazingPrevention.Org awarded three Cal Poly students, Daniel Kim, Jacob Lopez and Andrew Righter, its highest honor for taking a stand against hazing in their fraternities, Delta Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon.

All three avowedly underwent hazing when they joined the organization. Often hazing persists because memory of the indignities fade with time and brothers view through rose-colored lenses as an element of unity or tradition. But Messrs Kim, Lopez and Righter knew better. Kim evidently thought of simply leaving Delta Chi, but wisely opted to try to effect change from within; Lopez actually did quit Teke before returning to try to repair instead of jettison the organization; while Righter stepped up as a freshman to lead Teke after his predecessor was removed from office for suborning hazing.

All three are assuredly credits to their organizations, institution, and the greek system as a whole. But the problem is hardly confined to a few rogue groups: The San Luis Obispo Tribune cites statistics showing that over half of greeks and student athletes are subjected to hazing. Obviously, much work remains to be done, and more bold souls like Messers Kim, Lopez and Righter will be needed to take a stand against entrenched custom.

San Luis Obispo TribuneMustang Daily

lenoir-rhyne θχ lawsuit probes line between hazing and sport

Tiny Lenoir-Rhyne University in rural North Carolina was struck by tragedy back in November when student Harrison Kowiak died after a blow to the head. The injury occurred in an isolated pasture off campus, at an event held by the local Theta Chi chapter, whose brothers first brought him to the medical clinic for treatment. The chapter's brothers described the activity as a game of the capture-the-flag, and the injury as an accident incurred in the course of the physical sport.

An investigation by the police and district attorney's office duly followed, and recently concluded that there was no foul play, finding death by misadventure for lack of any evidence impugning the fraternity's version of events. Kowiak's family, however, does not agree. They announced Wednesday that they would filing a civil suit seeking damages for (among other things) their son's wrongful death, citing negligence on the part of the fraternity and the university in overseeing the fraternities. They have conducted their own independent investigation, and advise somewhat mysteriously that "the true facts of this hazing incident will be revealed at the appropriate time."

Undoubtedly the line between goodnatured roughhousing and physical abuse in hazing can be fine, particularly in the context of sporting events. Every day, student athletes suit up for practices where they are subject to potentially dangerous pummeling. Of course, football players have padding, coaches, referees, medical staff, and the like; but your average game of pick-up football or rugby scrum has none, and few (if any) argue such activities are proscribed. Adults can consent to a risk of injury by engaging in physical sports. But no one can consent if they are coerced into participation, as is the underlying theory in hazing. The question is whether this was an innocent fraternal game of capture-the-flag, or a pledging ordeal foisted on reticent students desperate to please upperclassmen brothers. The government concluded the former, but presumably the "true facts" in the family's possession will shed more light.

Update: Theta Chi's international headquarters has made a statement, reports the Charlotte Observer, that "the exercise the student participated in isn't a form of hazing, which the organization prohibits. Instead, he said it's an optional team-building exercise involving keeping a U.S. flag taut and off the ground." Not exactly capture-the-flag. Is it hazing?

St. Petersburg TimesWCNC-TVTampa TribuneGreenville Daily ReflectorHickory Daily RecordWRAL-TVUPICharlotte Observer

ζψ and βθπ nationals differ on reactivating dartmouth chapters

When bad things happen to good fraternities, the university often agrees with their national organization and chapter alumni to close the chapter for a prescribed period, after which it will be fast-tracked for reactivation. This allows the chapter to "cycle through" any putative bad apples and get a fresh start without losing its campus presence for long. Such enforced hiatuses can be used as chances to reinvigorate alumni support and undertake extensive renovations on property not viable when actives are in residence. While it isn't exactly a win-win situation, it's as close as many chapters get after potentially lethal scandals.

Such a scandal befell the Zeta Psi chapter at Dartmouth College in the early 2000s, when a private letter containing lurid sexual commentary was allegedly stolen from the house by the jilted ex-girlfriend of several brothers and disseminated through the university. (For those iniquisitive as to the details, The Dartmouth Review has a meticulous story.) In the ensuing brouhaha, an arrangement was reached to shutter the chapter to modernize the physical plant, after which the chapter would be permitted to resume operations. The time has now come, and Zeta Psi's executive director Dave Hunter calls Dartmouth reactivation its "number one" priority. The Zete Dartmouth alumni president agrees that the national has been "extremely supportive," and with renovations nearing completion, "expects formal re-recognition to proceed quickly."

This seamless coordination of national, alumni and university is contrasted with the travails of the local fraternity Beta Alpha Omega, the rump remains of a Beta Theta Pi chapter derecognized in 1996. The chapter has just completed its first recruitment season since the derecognition, but their former national has taken a dramatically different position from Zeta Psi. Beta executive director Jud Horras said, "I just think that local alums have chosen to start the chapter outside the guidelines of our organization, so the decision was made that they were more than welcome to start a local organization, but it is in no way associated with or sanctioned by Beta Theta Pi." Since fraternities must be affiliated with a national to be recognized at Dartmouth, this could be a stumbling block.

The DartmouthDartmouth Review

pitt greeks seek greater coöperation in good times

There's typically a fair amount of jockeying for status and recruits among greeks, given the inherently competitive nature of self-selection. But the Pitt greeks are looking to go in a different direction: "We're trying to work together because we all are Greek. We all wear the same letters," says the president of the Panhellenic Conference, which regulates sororities. The presidents at the local Inter-Fraternity Council, which regulates fraternities, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which brings together historically black greeks, are on board. At the moment, the initiative is in the planning stages, but they are planning a "tri-council" event this semester. In the past, events crossing group boundaries have been the most successful and appreciated by members and independents alike. All this spirit of good feeling may owe to the rude health of the greek system at Pitt, which a spokewoman for the National Panhellenic Conference said "is at a great size, and the community is improving and getting stronger each year." In good times for greeks, organizations can afford to spend time forging ties in a broad spirit of camaraderie. It is to be hoped the groundwork will be well laid to continue such programs should the climate for greeks worsen.

Pitt News

city imposes unfunded fire safety mandate on mizzou greeks

As regular readers should know, your correspondent is an ardent advocate for supporting greeks in proper fire safety. The confluence of collegians and common living can be a potential tinderbox (forgive the tasteless pun) for disaster. But the city of Columbia, Missouri, home of the flagship University of Missouri campus, has eschewed the carrot for the stick. A new ordinance forces frathouses—and not any other sort of multiple-use dwellings—to install expensive fire safety systems on their own dime on pain of eviction.

Resistance has centered around the manifestly discriminatory nature of the law, imputing to greeks some greater risk of conflagration. The Columbia Fire Marshall Steve Sapp scrabbled ineffectually to explain delicately what makes greeks so special: "That’s a long answer.... Not to be argumentative, and it’s hard to do this, but I know from being in them, there is a difference between sorority houses and frat houses. There is a tremendous difference in the way the house is up-kept and the things that go on." Well put, Mr Sapp. That explains everything. Meanwhile, the Building Construction Codes Commission has recommended the law be scrapped.

But there's nothing wrong with encouraging fire safety. The problem is encouraging it without actually provinding any money for reforms: what is called in government an "unfunded mandate." Certainly drumming up scarce cash and handing it preferentially to greeks to upgrade purported firetraps is not likely to be any more popular with independents than the current ordinance is with the greeks. The proper compromise is encapsulated in the proposed federal Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, which would make alumni donations for fire safety tax-deductible, if passed.

In the absence of such a happy medium, Mizzou frats are considered disaffiliating with the university to avoid the effective tax on fraternity status. Great result: drive the organizations underground into yet more unregulable territory.

Columbia Daily HeraldMizzou Maneater

uo θχ shut down after fellow frat tattling

Sometimes even the best efforts of a fraternity at rehabilitation aren't enough—especially when fellow greeks play spoilers to your good works. The local Theta Chi at the University of Oregon certainly had a laundry list of infractions in its past: they were cited for alcohol infractions in 2005 and 2006, and another fraternity reported seeing them with kegs, leading to another reprimand in March 2007. But Theta Chi seemed on course to fulfill the conditions of its probation this past fall and soldier on. Since the keg incident, they have reported excellent progress, and in the autumn recruited 32 men and achieved a 3.23 GPA, the highest of all fraternities.

Nonetheless, at the end of fall term they were informed they would be derecognized by the university for failing the nebulous "good conduct" requirement of their probation, despite achieving every other (tangible) stricture. Notable incidents involved a shirts and skins football game early in the semester reported by another frat as an incident of hazing. The university agreed. Later in the term, the fraternity's off-campus retreat racked up a cool $10G in damages, though they evidently paid it promptly. The university does not point to any "one instance or set of recent instances" as triggering the decision, but rather their decade-long pattern of conduct. Yet evaluating Theta Chi's present compliance with enunciated probationary goals on anything other than the present is oblique at best. And Theta Chi cites the university uniquely calling the lodge at their retreat, but not other greeks', as part of a pattern of "inconsistency in the Greek office's enforcement."

Moreover, they seem to have been kyboshed in part by the gossipmongering of rival fraternities. Your correspondent certainly doesn't argue that fellow greeks, or indeed any university citizen, should eschew reporting clear violations of policy out of some misguided sense of loyalty. But Theta Chi's record seems peppered with instances of unnamed fraternity brothers reporting on at best trivial infractions. (Shirtless football equals hazing? Please. America needs more football, not less.) Given Theta Chi's outstanding performance in academics and recruitment, maybe this was all just an age-old case of stab-the-leader. If so, for shame.

Readers may also find interesting the Daily Emerald's editorial on the ouster, which places considerably more emphasis on the off-campus damages.

Oregon Daily EmeraldKVAL-TVCoos Bay World

σαε pledge death spurs greek conference at cal poly

Six weeks ago, a freshman at the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo died in an accident allegedly related to his pledging Sigma Alpha Epsilon. In response, the university convoked a high council this past weekend to discuss issues raised by the tragedy. Not surprisingly, "alcohol abuse and hazing were the primary points of discussion," reports KSBY-TV. But Cal Poly's response is more nuanced than the typical knee-jerk reaction of administrations to unruly greeks; the month and a half elapsed since the incident reflects the cooling-off period to allow for deliberative rather than reactionary measures. (Though some knee jerking seems appropriate: Sigma Alpha Epsilon was ousted shortly after the incident, and its members were investigated vigorously for involvement.)

The greek leadership in attendance broadly agreed to vigorously guard against hazing and ban alcohol from all pledging activities—one wonders those weren't on the books already. The Winter recruiting season has evidently been cancelled. But perhaps most promisingly, this council is set to be followed by a more inclusive "Greek Academy" in a month which will expand the discussion from the seventy-odd high officers in attendance Saturday to a broader swathe of the rank-and-file membership. It is to be hoped that the continuing conferences will be used an opportunity for genuine give and take on greek life, rather than a trojan horse to impose unduly onerous restrictions. But to all appearances, Cal Poly's response to an undeniably appalling event has been measured, thoughtful, and productive.

KSBY-TV 6MSNBCSan Luis Obispo Tribune

vandy columnist abuses statistics to impugn greek academics

A singularly blinkered take on statistics and greeks comes out of Vanderbilt University. Op-ed contributor Matt Popkin has been forced to admit begrudgingly that the all-greek GPA is superior to the unaffiliated population. ("Somehow during the height of pledging," he writes, presumably without sarcasm, "which as we all know consists of nothing more than study hall and games of freeze tag on Alumni Lawn, the Greeks still beat the rest of us undergraduate students.") He wants to know how such a travesty of the natural order could have occurred, and he has an answer. Be still my heart.

The intrepid Mr Popkin has taken to heart Twain's admotion as to the close relationship between lies, damned lies, and statistics, and says that somehow statistical methodology is at fault. You see, those manipulative greeks have conspired with the university to require a 2.3 GPA (a.k.a C+ average) to join or maintain membership in a fraternity. So all the otherwise worthy D-average students are relegated to the general population, thus skewing the greek average up and the unaffiliated down. "This restriction," he triumphantly concludes in a flurry of allusive bravado, "skews the statistic in the same way that making all basketball players under 5-foot-6-inches play on the same team would influence the game’s rebound margin."

Quite true, Mr Popkin, quite true. But what would also be true is that the team of shorties would be a lot worse at rebounding. All he seems to have proven is that greek societies have membership standards that emphasize academics. Accordingly, its members are, on average, more talented academically, since the D-students are not eligible for memnbership. Is Mr Popkin against emphasis on scholastic achievement?

His problem seems to be in the nature of post hoc ergo propter hoc: the suggestion that fraternities actively cultivate academics rather than self-selecting those who have demonstrated themselves to be talented. True, simply ensuring one's membership is academically-oriented does not mean the fraternity is improving any given member's GPA. But one has to think that being surrounded by more scholastically-minded individuals is more likely to engender excellence than marinating with the D-students ineligible for membership. To rejoin Mr Popkins' earlier simile, a midget little person joining an NBA practice team may not get much better at rebounding, but he's sure to learn better techniques practicing with elite players than the D-squad.

The Vanderbilt Hustler