webster sees first sorority approved after fraught vote

Webster has gone most of its long life without greeks; we have written about the progress of the first fraternity there, Delta Upsilon. Now it looks to be joined by upstart Delta Phi Epsilon, the first sorority on campus. The Student Government Association (the college has no greek umbrella group yet, of course) approved the organization in a secret ballot Thursday, paving the way for DPhiE to seek colony status from their national.

The vote was attended by a raucous debate by onlookers as to the propriety of DPhiE's mission, even as Delta Upsilon men stood in the gallery to support the sorority hopefuls. Rerepresentatives of DPhiE tried to dispell stereotypes of sororities as "cliquey and shallow" and stressed their core values and strong commitment to philanthropy. But the sorority's very constitution was challenged strenuously by the SGA Segreant-at-Arms Lydia Schulte: "You have to have a vagina to get in. You have to pay to get in. How does that benefit our school?"; SGA PR Representative Justin Raymundo wondered out loud about the eligibility of the transgendered.

So frenzied grew the attacks on DPhiE's mission that both the SGA's president and vice president alternately had to admonish the crowd to behave civilly and avoid personal attacks: "I feel that we have to bring it down a little bit. Things are running pretty hot in here right now." But when the vote was finally called, Delta Phi Epsilon was approved, though by what margin was unknown. Mr Raymundo stoutly defended his motion calling for a secret ballot: "I wanted to make sure that everybody felt comfortable voting because the discussion was so heated." Wise man.

Webster Journal

uta touts plans for homecoming step competition

The University of Texas in Arlington is stepping up Sorry plans for the annual homecoming step show cosponsored by the university greek life office and the National Panhellenic Council. Eight chapters of Divine Nine will be taking part, and the venue has been upgraded to Texas Hall, which Greek Life Coordinator Robert-Thomas Jones sees as indicative of its growing role in the festivities: “I could see the Homecoming Step Show become one of the largest, biggest . . . step shows. We’re trying to pack out Texas Hall.”

Step competitions are always an extravaganza, but technology has raised the bar, and many groups employ "videos, theatrics and other media forms" to enhance the experience of the terpsichorean art yet further. Every group's themes are typically closely-guarded secrets, as a routine takes months to prepare and the shock and awe is as much a part of success as anything else, according to a Delta Sigma Theta sister. Plus, "the cash prizes are hefty," notes an Alpha Kappa Alpha sister, though averring that "the night itself is bigger than the award." That is certainly Mr Jones's aim.

While we're taking on the subject of UTA, just an offhand question. Their mascot is the shorthorn, to be distinguished from the mascot of the flagship of the University of Texas system in Austin, the better-known longhorn. Now, knowing very little about steer and the various benefits of horn length, your correspondent is not in a position to make an educated guess as to which is superior. Anyone better-versed in the matter have a thought?

UTA Shorthorn

new moso κσ going the extra mile to differentiate themselves

Nearly a year on from receiving their charter, the Kappa Sigma at Missouri Southern State University ("MoSo," apparently) is still trying to show they're cut from a different cloth. Among the host of requirements for their establishment last May, they had to collect a membership of at least fifty and raise $50 a head in philanthropies. Now a fully-enfranchised chapter, they don't want to let the momentum wane.

Chapter President Will Lynch explained the greater burden under which greeks operate in typical tropes: "Stigma is something we definitely have to put up with any time we talk to anybody about rushing. People think it's Animal House and Old School, but it's not like that at all." Certainly not at the Kappa Sigma, where even brothers of legal age are not permitted to imbibe during the pledging process, following a rush philosophy described as "good, clean, fun events." They combine these Mormonesque tendencies with a commitment to academics and philanthropy to offer what Mr Lynch calls "a little bit more out of college." Last year's charities included a "swing-a-thon" and "teeter-totter-a-thon," but the fraternity is hoping to expand its efforts this year. Keeping with the oddly playground-oriented theme, perhaps a jungle-gym-a-thon and bobbling-animals-on-springs-a-thon are in the offing.

As for recreation after a hard day of charity work? No mention is made.

MoSo Chart

poison control guidance questioned in usu hazing death at σν

We have followed for some time the fallout at Utah State University after the death of a freshman at the Sigma Nu house, even as columnist Brian Maffly of the Salt Lake Tribune has churned out a stupefying number of stories. Most of them are cumulative and repetitious, but occasionally he manages to cobble together something novel, as he did Thursday with a story examining the role of the fateful call to Poison Control by the Sigma Nu brothers on finding their pledge grossly intoxicated. The question still unanswered is why the opportunity for medical intercession by professionals did not save Michael Starks's life.

Transcripts of the call are revealing. Sigma Nu member Colton Starks misreported the amount of alcohol consumed by Mr Starks as "half a bottle" rather than the three-quarters actually ingested, and gave Mr Starks's age as twenty-one instead of eighteen. The fib about age was fairly obviously due to concern about admitting underage drinking, while the exact amount Mr Starks consumed was likely unclear to a brother completely unconnected to Mr Starks's earlier hazing by sorority girls.

More troubling are the failures of the Poison Control responder. While age is a factor in determining the effect of alcohol, its gravamen is dwarfed by that of body size, a critical datum that the the responder did not seek. Nor did she query the time period over which Mr Starks consumed the alcohol, the most important figure in determining potential toxicity. Without this essential information, it would be impossible to make an even remotely accurate assessment.

Thus ill-informed, she advised that "if at any time he's not arousable or if he aspirates this into his lungs then you want to make sure you get him into the hospital," advice evidently followed assiduously. But had she merely sought the most basic information, she could have immediately ordered that Mr Starks be given emergency medical care, perhaps saving his life. Instead, falsely reassured by Poison Control, the Sigma Nu brothers could only call 911 later, too late.

None of this is to excuse the culpability of those who abetted the intoxication or the practice of hazing, and some face criminal charges. But unlike in many hazing tragedies where death results from neglect or obfuscation, here medical personnel had an opportunity to intercede, thanks to the providence of more responsible fraternity men. That chance was squandered by Poison Control, and a young man's life was lost. The Tribune reports that "Center officials say they stand by the way the Starks call was handled." Unbelievable.

Salt Lake Tribune

penn state sees widespread joy at gossipmonger's comeuppance

We have previously reported on the spread of gossip sites telling tall tales about greeks on campus. Now the long-beleaguered community at Pennsylvania State University is celebrating the recent shuttering of the loss-leader of the pack. "Ding dong, JuicyCampus is dead," quipped Panhellenic Council President Mairys Joaquin. An anonymous poster on the now-defunct site agreed: "This site was f----- up. Thank god it ran into financial troubles. I guess good ol' George Dubya did some good when he destroyed our economy after all."

Penn State Director of Greek Life and Advancement joined the chorus of cheers, saying he "didn't regret" the site's ignominious end. And even the university announced its pleasure, invoking the concerns of many institutes of higher education that JuicyCampus was "crossing the line" between commentary and libel: "If there are concerns about hazing or a university violation, it should go through the right channels rather than go through a gossip Web site." JuicyGossip had been previously targeted by lawsuits and enforced moratoria by greeks elsewhere in the nation to avoid feeding its stream of calumnies.

The only ones not in the cheerleading squad cited were the site's founder, Matt Ivester, and disgruntled gossip fiends. Mr Ivester even admitted to "parts of JuicyCampus that none of us will miss—the mean-spirited posts and personal attacks," but hoped he would remembered for the "lighthearted gossip" in which it pandered instead. Perhaps were there less attacks and more banter, the site would still be a going concern. But a comment from a now dispossessed status-seeker indicated such hopes are in vain, reminding readers of the typical fare once served at JuicyGossip: "You'll be missed. ... how will I ever know what tier my frat is or if the girl I was with last night is slutty ... RIP."

Penn State Daily Collegian

vtech βθπ to hold american idol knockoff for charity

Hokies who always wanted to make a fool out of themselves on national television will now have a chance to see how it feels on a smaller stage. Beta Theta Pi at Virginia Polytechnic Institute will be holding casting calls for its homegrown knockoff of Fox's American Idol, duly titled "Hokie Idol" in a double-entrendre so perfect it seems made in heaven. For those merely wishing to gawk voyeuristically at talent train-wrecks, the price of admission is only $3, but choral hopefuls will be asked for a $5 donation, all proceeds to benefit the Free Clinic of the New River Valley, a beneficiary selected after the fraternity decided they preferred to endow a local institution than an equally noble but far-off do-gooder. The Clinic was duly enthused; "We are always hoping that the community will provide these types of resources. I was thrilled that a student organization took the time to think of us," announced its executive director.

In the spirit of full disclosure, the student paper reveals that its Editor-in-Chief will be sitting on the judge's panel for the contest. Undisclosed is whether any of the staff or editors will be auditioning.

Blacksburg Collegiate Times

skullduggery evident in rider αεπ closure

In what amounted to an ignominious coup d'etat, Rider University shuttered the local Alpha Epsilon Pi while the brothers were away on winter break. They were acting at the behest of the national, which had decided to close the chapter for a laundry list of reasons: “The national fraternity chose to close the Beta Psi chapter due to a long list of risk management violations; there had been over 100 write-ups by the university,” said an AEPi spokesman. “Employees of the university and national fraternity were disrespected by brothers of the chapter. Lastly, membership dues checks continually bounced.” Erstwhile president Sal Bruculleri disagrees: “We don’t think they bounced. Our money, as far as we know, was fine.” AEPi senior Jason Sullivan said, “we had no warning; we didn’t know. It just hit us like a ton of bricks.”

Even Director of Greek Life Ada Badgley expressed surprise at the suddenness of the closure. Indeed, the university conspired to hide the impending doom to the students until after they had finished finals and returned home for winter recess. Dean of Students Anthony Campbell admitted deliberately waiting until after the school term had expired to hold the meeting, though he claimed only to be trying to avoid distractions to students during exam period. Mr Bruculleri objects: “we are adults, we can multi-task. They basically said that if they [told us] then our minds would not be on our academics as much as they would be on our fraternity.” And Mr Sullivan was told by resident advisors that "another reason no one was told about the closing earlier was that it was feared the brothers would throw a party and damage the house."

Meanwhile, skullduggery was also alleged at the national level. Alpha Epsilon Pi was founded as a Jewish fraternity, though they presently maintain a policy of inclusiveness. Nonetheless, Mr Bruculleri explained that they were often excoriated for their demographics: “We were told by our fraternity adviser that we were supposed to have a quota of Jewish males, and we just never followed that quota. He advised us to get at least 10 Jewish brothers [each] semester,” adding that a previous fraternity advisor had criticized them for "not doing a good job promoting AEPi nationally," though only intimating at how they could better embody AEPi's mission. Chapter advisors had also reported feeling "disrespected," "harassed and intimidated" by brothers, and one quit after words with the then-chapter president.

Whatever the truth, the AEPi closure at least raises serious questions at both the university and national level. Even in the aftermath, authorities couldn't seem to comport themselves with any surfeit of civility. Brothers had to return from their winter recess to collect their belongings from their rooms, all under the watchful escort of security personnel. And Mr Bruculleri was singled out and stopped in a public shop by a campus cop and told "to cover up his AEPi jersey or take it off." Greek Life Director Badgley and Dean Campbell uttered mollifying platitudes about policy, and claim they haven't the faintest idea why the harassment took place.

The final word goes to Mr Sullivan: “They decided to wait to tell us until we’re all home and split up because if we’re banded together we can somehow think of something. They took it away from us while we were all home. We were put in a situation where we couldn’t win.”

Rider News

dartmouth σδ's "raw deal" indicative of broken process, says editor

The Dartmouth of Dartmouth College continues its long tradition of thoughful but incendiary editorial coverage with an engrossing story detailing the travails of sorority Sigma Delta. Due to a misunderstanding over responsibilities, they left the rented rooms for their formal in some disarray, and soon enough the proprietor came knocking, looking for $1500. If they didn't pay up, he said, he would tattle on them to the Dean. (If this sounds vaguely infantile, it's because it is.) Nonplussed by such a blatant attempt at extortion and mindful of their contract terms which limited their liability to more like $600, Sigma Delta asked to see a bill itemizing the $1500, a document which never materialized. But the proprietor did make good on his threat to tattle, and Sigma Delta was summoned apace to answer for their crimes.

Evidently their protestations of innocence fell on deaf ears, because a probation ensued, along with an order to pay up. (If the lodge proprietor is the loan-shark here, then the Dean would be the shady knee-breaking character.) Sigma Delta, bravely holding the courage of their convictions, still demanded some kind of documentation of the charges—after all, only loan sharks demand money without proof. After some delay, a bill finally emerged. . . . for $562.50, about the amount the sorority had originally offered—and no mention of any damages. Sigma Delta trotted back to the Dean to clear up the error and probation, only to be shown a new and slightly different bill specially drawn up for the greek office, indicating a paltry sum ($37.50) attributed to damages. The two Jacksons, apparently, were enough to sustain the disciplinary measures. The fact that the total summed to a suspiciously neat $600 exactly is not explained.

Editor Christian Reilly relates the squallid tale of blackmail, official connivance, and Kafkaesque helplessness in the face of bureaucratic malevolence with considerable gusto, and concludes with an exhortation to reform the greek judicial process. It has evidently been brought to bear in similarly irrational situations against Sigma Phi Epsilon and Delta Delta Delta, while a recent Alpha Chi Delta booze-laced debacle replete with over thirty police citations and at least one guest hospitalized went unexamined. Such arbitrary and disproportionate application of rules—not to mention abetting of ill-disguised extortion—cannot be allowed to stand, says Reilly. If his account is at all accurate, he's absolutely right.

The Dartmouth

gw releases report on greek academic excellence

The George Washington University is generally regarded as an academic powerhouse, and evidently that tradition is well-reflected in its greek community. The university has just released scholastic achievements for the past term, which found Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Pi and Sigma Psi Zeta taking top honors for chapter GPAs. ADPi led the pack with a 3.35, followed closed by AEPi with 3.33, and rounded out by SPZ with 3.28, topping all other MGC greeks. The bottom of the barrel found Lambda Chi Alpha with 2.95, Tau Kappa Epsilon with 2.98, and Pi Delta Psi (the lowest MGC) with 2.82.

Even the bottom-feeders are a credit to the university, posting averages above those at many other institutions. In additional to comporting with the general campus climate, GW greeks' academic excellence may also reflect the system or carrots and sticks in place to reëmphasize the importance of scholastic commitment to the greek experience. Although chapters are free to set their own minimum standards, noncompliant members are subject to "mandatory study hours, a fine, a suspension, or a combination of all three." Meanwhile, chapters consistently at the top of the charts can earn "bronze, silver and gold rankings," with "gold rankings make chapters eligible for a house on Townhouse Row." Qualifying for a house on the campus's frat row is powerful incentive indeed, and some chapters seem to realize this well. "There are several groups who are consistently near the top," commented the assistant director of student activities and greek life.

GW Hatchet

student paper offers detailed portait of nwu greek czar

Titled "There's Something About Mary," a feature article by Jen Wieczner for the Daily Northwestern paints a nuanced, engaging and rare picture of the link between administration and students, in the person of Mary Desler, the Northwestern University Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students.

Rare indeed is the student article this meticulously researched, intelligently written, and probing in its subject. Ms Desler evidently has quite the reputation ("In an A&O poll asking who would win in a three-way cage match—Desler, Jack Bauer or Chuck Norris—she was winning with 37 percent"), and Ms Wieczner pulls no punches in recounting both unexpectedly positive and protracted negative encounters. The stories she selects as exemplary are compelling, ranging from a Delta Upsilon deputy catapulted into the presidency with her connivance, to a student ultimately hounded from the university after being attacked by a knife-wielding assailant. . . . but no summary will do the article justice.

While Northwestern students will have the greatest connection to the subject matter, the article is excellently composed and should interest anyone with a connection to greek and college life. Your correspondent recommends it without reservation.

Daily Northwestern

sfa ifc cancels spring rush for no apparent reason

The student newspaper ("The Pine Log") of the Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX is reporting that the Interfraternity Council has banned all recruitment activities this spring. Rush has been cancelled, lock, stock and barrel. Naturally, the reader must assume that some momentous calamity has befallen the greek system, requiring this moratorium on the very self-perpetuation of its constituent groups. Perhaps a tragic death, or a debauched hazing stunt? Beer-soaked tomfoolery gone too far? Unwanted sexual overtures or outrageous behavior on the quad?

Thankfully, none of the above: In fact, the greek system at SFA seems to be in excellent health. Most of the article is spent citing the problems greek life is facing at other institutions, citing Animal House mentalities among concerned parents, misperceptions of academic stagnation, declining enrollments, and wholelsale chapter closures. Of course, none of these problems beset SFA, which is "an exception to the rule." IFC Adviser Jonathan Elder further clarified "the decision had nothing to do with changing numbers or financial woes that may be affecting other colleges." So no scandals, fiscal troubles, or conflict with the university or town. No, the SFA IFC is cancelling rush "for entirely different reasons."

The intrepid reader does not discover the long-delayed revelation of this reason until two-thirds of the way through the article: "The IFC decided to cancel this semester's rush simply because of convenience." Convenience? Convenience? There are no words to describe the appropriate reaction.

SFA Pine Log

greeks save the day after drake "inadvertently" releases grades

Drake University in Des Moines made a little slip-up. Greek presidents are supposed to receive the grades of their members, so they can monitor academic performance and provide assistance where needed. But they're not supposed to be privy to the marks of other greeks. That would be where the Drake Mistake comes in: Director of Fraternity Sorority Life Chris Juhl actually emailed a spreadsheet of every fraternity brother's and sorority sister's marks—that would be some eight hundred individuals—to every chapter president on campus.

At first, the presidents were merely surprised at receiving such an expected trove of information, but slowly it began to sink in that a major privacy violation had just taken place. "It was like, 'That's a privacy violation. That's kind of a big deal,'" recalled Tyler Boggess, Sigma Phi Epsilon president. "I didn't think too much of it, I thought, 'There must have been a mistake.'" Not just a mistake, a possible crime tort: The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) strictly prohibits universities from disclosing student records except with consent. While many greeks provide such consent with regard to their own chapters and nationals, none consented to the broader dissemination of their grades across campus.

Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Academic Excellence Wanda Everage denies any liability, opining that "an inadvertent disclosure, which is promptly discovered and corrected, is not a violation of the law" in a response to queries from the student paper. She also stresses that she obtained written confirmation from every chapter president that the offending records had been destroyed without copying. But any chapter holdouts would have thrown a wrench into the "...and corrected" loophole to university liability. After all, chapter presidents have no obligation to clean up the college's mess. In short, it appears as though the Drake greeks' cooperation pulled Mr Juhl's bacon out of the fire, saving him and the school from potential liability. Perhaps the IFC should hold a disciplinary hearing, and consider imposing a probationary period on the greek office, to see if it can manage its operations better in the future under closer scrutiny.

Drake Times-Delphic

lsu πκφ subject of unmitigated puff piece

Many student journalists are assiduous and objective fact-gatherers, serving the greek community well with thoughtful stories highlighting subtle or unpopular issues. Ally Champagne, of the Louisiana State University Tiger Weekly, does not exemplify this storied tradition. Her article today is titled simply "Pi Kappa Phi," and subtitled "leaders by choice," a designation not so much informative as jingoistic. At least it serves as a warning to those who proceed.

The 495-word article is an unmitigated profusion of puffery in favor of the titular Pi Kappa Phi. It begins by walking the reader down a figurative and literal primrose path, to the threshhold of the Pi Kapp house: "Who would have thought," gushes Ms Champagne, "that a house with such a manicured garden would end up being a fraternity house?" The story only trends downhill from there, quoting brothers' testimonials to their excitement at joining and pride at belonging; the fraternity's boasts of its above-average scholasticism (GPA: 2.91, or B/B- average); and their bold assertion that the house "owns rush week" with an average of thirty men. At least these take the form of sourced quotations, so Ms Champagne might be deplored only for soliciting glowing pabulum.

But Ms Champagne then veers farther into the murk of editorial aggrandizement, declaring abruptly that "Pi Kapp is a unique and praised fraternity." As evidence, she cites the chapter's blatantly untrue claim to have the only national philanthropy; their capture of what must be the supremely prestigious title of "Best Homecoming Lawn Decoration" in 2007; and plaudits for "Best Male Performance" in some sort of ill-defined musical competition. (Incidentally, the fund-raising event for their philanthropy? Skeet-shooting. Gotta give them points for originality.)

Ms Champagne rounds out the piece by reassuring the reader, who by now might be overawed by the sheer enormity sic of Pi Kappa Phi's eleemosynary, academic and social supremacy, that "Pi Kappa Phi also knows how to have fun." A blessedly brief account of their semiannual formal at Panama City Beach follows, complete with helpful quote from a senior opining that "formal is great because it’s a weekend where we can get away with our girlfriends and hang out on the beach."

Join Pi Kapp! This statement does not represent the views of anyone at FRATblog. It appears to be sarcasm.

LSU Tiger Weekly

emory χφ chapter gutted by national; ousted brothers given the bums rush

All upperclassmen in the Chi Phi at Emory University are being removed from the active brotherhood in a stunning announcement by their national headquarters, while sophomores are being forced to undergo an inquisitorial panel next week to justify their continued membership. Although expelled juniors may be eligible for reinstatement next year, seniors are being relegated to a fraternal limbo until they graduate, unable to associate with brothers at fraternal functions but not yet alumni. (Rather doubtful, of course, is whether there will be any fraternal functions, or any fraternity, after the cataclysm.)

With essentially every member of the fraternity either ousted or under investigation, this semester's pledges may understandably be nervous about their future. Chi Phi Executive Director Michael Azarian quipped brightly, “we hope they stick around,” and explained the national office would be conducting the remainder of the pledging process. But he admitted that some if not many had already bailed the sinking ship in the face of the palace coup—though he did not concede failure even with upperclassmen exiled, sophomores being weeded out, and the pledge class dissipating: "This is something we will come back from, and will come back from even stronger."

As to the cause for the drastic action, Mr Azarian explained that the chapter has had a long history of "policy violations" involving alcohol, and had recently been under investigation for another "alcohol-related" infraction. No allegations whatsoever were made of (dare we say, "actual") crimes, including hazing. It seems distinctly odd, in fact, that the brothers expelled ostensibly for alcohol infractions are the very ones who are likely of legal age to be using alcohol. Still, none can argue with the prerogative of a self-selective organization to set standards for its membership, however arbitrary, and to hold its members strictly thereto.

That being said, your correspondent can't help but agree with the majority of the Emory Wheel's editorial board: allowing the expelled brothers only two days to pick up the tatters of their lives and quit the premises is simply cruel. Chi Phi has every right to excise brothers whom they view as bad apples, but basic human decency demands the refugees at least be given enough time to pack their belongings and arrange transport with some semblance of order. Throwing them and their chattel out onto the front lawn is not acceptable. The national fraternity, and the university enforcing the eviction, should be ashamed of themselves.

Emory Wheel

duke details results from its rush, claims 213 pledges

With students papers replete this time of year with stories summarizing the results of rush, some articles are more noteworthy than others. And we select only the most noteworthy for your attention. Duke's roundup of its spring recruitment recommends itself for attention to detail, a snazzy color graphic of fraternal crests and pledges gained, and some actual quotes to put some meat on the gristle.

The raw numbers: 470 men rushed, 255 were given bids, and 213 accepted a bid, a small fall from last years' 225 pledges. In the current climate, anything better than a dramatic decline should be viewed as a victory. Duke appears to suffer from a certain stratification of its greek society, with Pi Kappa Phi claiming nearly half again as many pledges, 31, as the next-best recruiter with 22. A large cluster of greeks occupy the middle ground of high teens and low twenties, leaving three laggards in the single-digit recruitment range, bottomed out by Delta Kappa Epsilon with only four bids accepted.

But any paper can spout statistics. Duke illustrates the real human drama of the process in the person of Matthew Clayton, who was torn between following his friends to non-recognized Eta Prime (Kappa Sigma before the derecognition) and Delta Tau Delta, before ultimately opting for the latter. He explained: "With all of your friends going one place, you feel the pressure to follow. Then during rush you realize it's important not to think of it as following rumors or the image the frat puts out, but the group of people you want to emulate and live with."

The Interfraternity Council's response to the Sophie's Choices faced by some freshmen? Make them decide more precipitously! Wrote the Duke Chronicle, the "IFC might re-evaluate the length of time recruits can defer bids, so that fraternities know sooner who will constitute their incoming pledge class." They do at least acknowledge this may be disservice to rushees, though only obliquely by suggesting it may encourage more to drop bids. All in all, a fairly institution- rather than individual-centered treatment.

Duke Chronicle

miss state panhel, bursting at seams, invites πβφ to colonize

The National Panhellenic Council at Missisissipi State University is officially welcoming Pi Beta Phi to campus as the first sorority to accede in almost two decades. While tradition has its place, the existing six sororities were averaging over 170 sisters apiece, well over the 150 cap that many sororities view as an upper practicable limit. The PHC invited six sororities to bid for the open slot, from which they selected three finalists—Alpha Gamma Delta, Alpha Delta Pi and Pi Beta Phi—who were each asked to make a personal pitch. The finalists realized well that Mississippi State was a highly motivated buyer, explained the associate director of greek life: they came "to sell us on why they should be the one we choose," but "it goes both ways . . . because we were trying to sell ourselves as well."

Pi Beta Phi admits it "stepped up its campaign" once selected as a finalist. As part of their winning package, their new sisters will be given preferential on-campus housing together, and the sorority will be granted one of three empty lots along frat row on which to build their house. The national has committed to investing "millions of dollars" to construct the property, as well as on efforts to settle into their new home at Mississippi State; they will also be tasking two full-time staff to work on-campus for the rest of the term. Pi Beta Phi already has 67 pledges, and is still recruiting.

Miss State Reflector

mich state frats await zoning decision by city council

The Lansing City Council is deliberating over a plan to fold a number of historical greek houses along the main frat row at Michigan State University into a proposed Fraternity-Sorority Historical District. As many as thirteen houses in the area were considered for inclusion, but the candidates were slowly winnowed down as newer and less historically-relevant houses were dropped from the plans. Three units date back less than half a century, which looks set to disqualify them, as do the recent renovations performed on another three properties. And the local Delta Chi may find itself out in the cold for rankly political considerations, as it is in the path of another development project, and any restrictions on its sale could be a wrench in the works.

Both the Inter-Fraternities Council and the individual chapters are ambivalent about the District. “It’s a double-edged sword,” said the president of FarmHouse, one of the greeks on the cusp of disqualification. “We’ve had a lot of great people in our fraternity, and we’d like to stick around for awhile . . . but there would be some restrictions on what we can and can’t do, and some of those restrictions could be a hindrance.”

A ruling is anticipated by the City Council this evening. Update: the new zoning was approved and six houses are now protected by Historical District designation.

Michigan State News

emory πκα and tufts δτδ illustrate anatomy of a refounding

The frequent remedy for incorrigibly errant chapters who nonetheless maintain a strong membership is derecognition followed by refounding several years later, to maintain campus reputation while excising the troublesome actives. Such was the lot of Pi Kappa Alpha at Emory University, which was dercognized by both the university and its national in 2004 for unspecified but chronic infractions. So abject were their sins that the Interfraternity Council felt obligated to champion their ouster; the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life recalls that "the attitude of the members was such, that they were untouchable," and that in the end the IFC "presented its evidence and documentation to the vice president for Campus Life, who agreed that the blatant disregard for University and IFC policies warranted removal."

But now representatives from Pi Kappa Alpha international are on campus gauging the temperature of the student body and seeking recruits. The IFC recently voted unanimously to permit Pike to recolonize, and Pike is assiduously putting together a taskforce of interested actives, regional alumni, professional staff, and university resources to get the chapter back on its feet. The only folks not invited to the party? Former active members from the failed chapter: "We are starting with a blank canvas. If there are students on campus that were a part of the chapter when we revoked the charter [they] were automatically placed on alumni status and thus cannot become members of the colony," explained one of the Pike staff, Duncan Robinson.

Mr Robinson further adverted to the caliber of brother they were seeking, citing the fraternity's program calling for "S.L.A.G., which stands for Scholars, Leaders, Athletes and Gentlemen." That is a very unfortunate acronym. Very unfortunate. Though probably the reverse order ("G.A.L.S.") would be worse.

A similar process is underway for Delta Tau Delta at Tufts University; though there the misdeeds are specified as debauchery and hazing that almost led to a pledge's death. They too stress that "it is very important for the community to note that the new Delta Tau Delta at Tufts will not be the same chapter that was expelled." And in a particularly odd twist of date, the chapterhouses of both the erstwhile Pike and DTD are now occupied by chapters of Alpha Epsilon Pi, which on this evidence must hover vulture-like over beleaguered chapters waiting to snap up their house. No fears for either, though: AEPi is scheduled to be ejected from both houses once the new colonies are up and running.

Emory WheelTufts Daily

csuf mgc seeks unique philanthropic footprint on campus

We're not normally given to bad puns, but this one was too tempting: the Multicultural Greek Council at California State University, Fullerton—the largest campus of the Cal State system—is making a bid to establish a memorable footprint on campus with a new philanthropy. Their cause: Soles4Souls, a charity founded after the 2004 Indonesian tsunami which collects new or gently-used footwear and donates it to the third of a billion children worldwide who lack shoes.

Don't blame us for the paranomasia: MGC President and Lambda Sigma Gamma sister Phuong Le, claims the idea came to her as she "thought about a 'kick-off,' and immediately knew she wanted to do something with shoes." Multicultural greek councils generally represent greeks focusing on minority cultures, and as such they often place a strong emphasis on cultural events and charities. But in this case, the cultural connection is worldwide: "It doesn't just help one specific region. It goes where it's most needed," explained a Sigma Delta Alpha brother quoted in the Daily Titan article.

But the month-long drive may also serve to bring the MGC's good work to the attention of the university at large. A Chi Sigma Phi sister explained that "We're a pretty small council, and we're trying to put our name on the map. By doing Soles4Souls, it's a way to show that [the MGC], as small as we are, is trying to give back to the community as much as we can."

Fullerton Daily Titan

ucsb λθφ and λθα expand high school outreach program

Most greeks' philanthropic goals are heavy on fundraising for charities, and somewhat lighter on community service. Not so the Lambda Theta Phi fraternity and Lambda Theta Alpha sorority at the University of California, Santa Barbara, which annually sponsors the "Barrio to Academia" conference, counseling regional high school students on a range of issues related to tertiary education. Foremost among its topics are resources for applications, resources for financial support, navigating the state bureaucracy, and the benefits of academia.

Many of the speakers offer cautionary tales about their experiences with gangs, and try to frame their presentations not as admonition but as parable. Their advice on daunting paperwork to establish eligibility and obtain aid should also provide a palpable value-added to the targeted youth audience.

The program is always in a state of evolution; this year two new high schools were added to the all-day conference, and the greek sponsors are trying to increase publicity to cast a wider net and bring in more talent. “Our fraternity doesn’t get a lot of coverage for what we’re doing to help the community,” said the Lambda Theta Phi vice president; “We want to get our name out there and we want to expand our outreach programs, so this was a good start.” Offering direct services may be less glamorous than presenting a many-zeroed check to a noble charity, but the impact on the ground is surely more decisively felt.

Santa Barbara Independent

wsu ifc offers to help avoid further housing overflows

Washington State University faced an unfortunate problem: their freshman class was dramatically over-enrolled in the autumn. So much so, in fact, that many first-years' lodgings for the term were student lounges, nestled on couches amid unopened cardboard boxes parents had delivered to the dorms, assuming their sons and daughters would have at least a room to call their own. The housing crunch has finally subsided in the Spring term, but university officials are pondering how to avoid another infrastructure disaster when even more students arrive in August.

The problem was greatly exacerbated by the policy requiring first-years undergoing rush in the autumn to remain in university dorms throughout. Much of the easing of housing pressures has resulted from students moving into the greek houses they pledged in the fall. At least the university is wise enough to waive the early-termination fee otherwise payable by students leaving the dorms. But the Interfraternity Council, speaking through Recruitment Director Matt Carmody, has offered "to work with university housing on a positive solution rather than requiring men to live in lounges," and suggested greek housing as a palliative measure. University officials, however, seem skeptical. The senior director for administrative services allowed only that he wanted to make "temporary housing a positive experience," evidently foreseeing future freshman crammed onto couches and closets. Meetings continue among the IFC and officials from housing and residential life departments to reach some kind of solution.

The situation calls to mind the Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act, currently pending in Congress, which recognizes the substantial and essential role that fraternities and sororities play in housing student populations. The Act seeks to help them upgrade the facilities on which univerisities depend to avoid overflows by allowing tax-deductible donations to be spent on housing. Perhaps WSU administrators will now add their voice to the chorus calling for its speedy passage.

WSU Daily Evergreen

u iowa φβχ views houselessness as a selling point

Certainly many greeks have made the best of lacking or losing a house—the proverbial making a virtue of necessity. Far rarer is the group that actively extols the benefits of houselessness and does not seek to alleviate that necessity, but such an outlier is the newly chartered Phi Beta Chi sorority at the University of Iowa.

Relatively young among the panhellenic pantheon, Phi Beta Chi was founded in 1978 at the University of Illinois as a Lutheran organization, declaring that its sisters "shall strive to be faithful and energetic Christian leaders and shall celebrate the Lutheran heritage" in its credo—though the president at Iowa, Kristen Donahoe, stressed that "anyone can be a member." Its expansion has been modest, encompassing fewer than a dozen chapters and colonies. But its smaller size, both of and within chapters, is generally seen as an asset by members: their vice president at Iowa, Samantha McWilliams, explained that "We're small, and we're really close. . . . Sometimes in a bigger sorority, you might get overlooked." Both the sorority's advisor and Ms Donahoe cited the lack of a house as a "perk," distinguishing them from the largely housed sororities on campus and permitting a more eclectic sisterhood.

In this, they are following the mold of older chapters, only one of which maintains a house nationwide. Ms Donahoe herself is a transfer student from Iowa State University, where she was a member, and wanted to bring the close-knit tradition to their new alma mater. Still, with a membership of fewer than ten sisters, Ms Donahoe is looking to grow, hoping by three or four new sisters.

But there are limits to the perceived virtues of smallness: Ms McWilliams wants "at least six."

Daily Iowan

dayton πκα honors rivalry with philanthropy

Greeks are generally heavily involved in both school athletic rivalries and philanthropy, so it made sense to combine them. The local Pi Kappa Alpha of the University of Dayton is honoring the annual mens' hoops rivalry with Xavier University by dribbling a basketball almost fifty miles from Cincinnati to Dayton in preparation for the schools' matchup. Brothers will spell one another over the double-marathon trek, which is expected to take about eight hours. Sponsored donations are being solicited for the Victor J Cassano Health Center, which typically runs a $2.5m budget deficit. Though the $15,000 Pike hopes to raise will not put too great a dent in that hole, every little bit helps. And with this the third annual Pike Bounce for Charity, they are setting a valuable precedent for the integration of sports and service.

Dayton Daily News

lawsuit in λχα party fight draws conflicting account

A fight at the Lambda Chi Alpha house at Elon University in North Carolina on 3 February 2007 left John Lee Mynhardt paralyzed from the neck down. Two years later, almost to the day, he is filing a lawsuit for personal injury and negligence against the brothers who allegedly assaulted him, their chapter, the university, and the national fraternity. In his complaint, he admits crashing an "informal fraternity party" to which he had not invited, though he calls it "ostensibly open." Once there, he claims that several brothers informed him that he was not welcome, physically attempted to eject him from their property, and that in the ensuing struggle, the brothers "either fell or threw" him to the floor, resulting in his quadriplegia. Brother John Ferrell Cassady and Clinton Joseph Blackburn, of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, would later be charged with felonious assault, though nothing has yet been proven.

Mr Mynhardt's theory of liability for the chapter, university, and national simply asserts that they should have exerted greater oversight over the brothers who assaulted him, and that their negligence resulted in his injuries. A pretty weak claim—though he does allege that he was being given the bum rush "to comply with fraternity policy," which might make some hay if at all true.

The defendants in the suit tell a rather different story, which casts Mr Mynhardt as an unwelcome and belligerent drunk who assaulted members when they insisted he leave the premises. They say that his injuries were caused when Mr Blackburn tried to restrain Mr Mynhardt from a confrontation with Mr Cassady; as Mr Mynhardt continued to struggle, the two fell to the floor. Mr Mynhardt at least concedes that he was intoxicated at the party, though he denies starting any fights.

The uncontroverted facts indicate (a) that Mr Mynhardt was inebriated, and (b) that he was trespassing—whether from the start, by attending a party uninvited, or when he failed to quit the premises on being directed to leave. Drunken trespassers do not always find the legal system breaking in their favor, but Mr Mynhardt seems determined to try.

Burlington Times-News