The Board of Trustees has approved a resolution saying that no student may be a member of a fraternal or social organization that is not recognized by the College.
The resolution, adopted by the board at its June meeting, says that rushing, pledging, perpetuating, and initiating activities by non-recognized fraternal or social organizations are prohibited. Anyone engaged in those activities — either as a member, recruiter, or potential pledge — will be suspended for a minimum of one year and may be subject to additional penalties that could include expulsion.
Dean of Students Fred Alford, in a letter to students and their families over the summer, emphasized that the policy is not intended to discourage students from joining civic organizations or beginning new clubs or organizations.
It is intended, he said, to prevent underground social groups in general, and to put an end to the activities of two fraternities (Delta Upsilon and Beta Theta Pi) that have operated underground since losing their charters and recognition in 1995 and 1997. Those groups' activities have included hazing and vandalism, he said.
“There are other groups on campus which have had social and/or residential privileges withdrawn, but they are still recognized and not subject to the terms of the Trustee resolution,” Alford said. “Similarly, new social, artistic, political, literary, athletic, and recreational groups form on a regular basis, and we do not want to place limits on these new endeavors.”
Alford said students who have joined Delta Upsilon or Beta Theta Pi should sever those bonds or run the risk of suspension or expulsion should they be involved in any activity that perpetuates or promotes the unrecognized groups.
He said that leaders of recognized Greek organizations on campus supported the new policy because they are aware “that the system needs to dissociate itself from regressive traditions like hazing and alcohol abuse if it is to survive.”