Search Results
Below are your search results. You can also try a Basic Search.
(02/28/92 10:00am)
The expulsion of a Zeta Beta Tau brother, whom the University's judicial system found guilty of raping a woman at a January 1991 party, sparked discussion yesterday about the effectiveness of rape education on campus. While several University students and officials said significant strides have been taken towards preventing acquaintance rape, they added that this incident indicates that there is still room for improvement. "The University is doing well, but we need more information to do even better," Victim Support Services Director Ruth Wells said yesterday. According to several sources, the victim, a Harvard University student, was visiting her sister who attends the University when she was allegedly raped on January 26, 1991. The woman made a report to Harvard Police on March 19, almost two months after the incident. University Police and Philadelphia Police Sex Crimes division were informed on March 29. But last June, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office declined to press charges against the man. University officials said the ZBT brother was a sophomore at the time of the incident. InterFraternity Council President Jeffrey Blount said yesterday that any implication of the entire ZBT fraternity in this incident is unwarranted. "I don't think [the situation] is indicative of the house," the Wharton junior said yesterday. "And I was a little concerned that the house has been mentioned in this individual's case in a negative way, as [ZBT] obviously didn't condone this activity." ZBT President Matthew Feinsod declined to comment on the incident yesterday. Other members of the University community applauded the manner in which the case was handled, but added that steps could still be taken to prevent a similar incident from occurring again. Wharton senior Derek Goodman, an executive board member of Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape, said he is happy that the University's judicial process worked effectively. "I wish it didn't happen in the first place," said Goodman, who is also a Phi Kappa Sigma brother. "But I'm glad that the survivor was able to pursue [her case] through the University's judicial system." "I think a lot of the fraternities have used and objectified women, which is thought to be harmful," Goodman added. "Some of the fraternities have stopped using the objectification as a bonding tool. I think that's a positive step." College senior Jodi Gold, another member of STAAR's executive board, said that promoting respect for women is the key to rape prevention in most male groups, including fraternities. "In general, it's important in any male group to promote respect for women," Gold said. "I think the fraternities could promote a healthier atmosphere for their pledges or new brothers by stressing the importance of communication with each other and in relationships." Gold added that STAAR held acquintance rape workshops with ZBT as recently as last Thursday, which about 40 fraternity members attended. Former Judicial Inquiry Officer Constance Goodman, who investigated the case declined to comment on the specifics of the case Wednesday. But she added that "any member of the University community who is duly proven to be involved in such behavior will be rightly ousted." Victim Support Services Director Wells said that STAAR's programs play an integral part of the battle against rape. "I think it's very excellent for fraternities, for the whole University, to participate in STAAR training, and to be familiar with University policies," Wells said. "Part of [their training] should deal with the possibility [of sanctions]."
(02/28/92 10:00am)
Phi Kappa Sigma will hold its fifth annual Safe Sex party Saturday to raise money for ActionAIDS. Fraternity brothers said they are looking forward to the party. "Last year it was a great time," College junior Scott Butler said. "It was huge, easily 600 people." According to Butler, the house's community service chairperson, all proceeds from the party will be going to ActionAIDS, an organization that supplies care directly to those with the disease. Phi Kap president Justyn Tokarczyk, though unable to estimate the probable proceeds of the event, said the party will be "a little philanthropy and a little fun at the same time." The fraternity is selling t-shirts on Locust Walk this week for $10 each. They printed 200 of the shirts, which feature a skull and crossbones, with the crossbones covered with condoms. The phrase on the shirt says "cover your bone." Butler said admission to the party will cost $5, but that anyone wearing the t-shirt will be admitted free of charge. The fraternity anticipates a large turnout, but it will not be facing the party-goers alone. Tokarczyk said the house has received support from outside sources. "We received some support," said the Wharton junior. "Condom Nation [the store on 4th Street] and Student Health each contributed 200 condoms." But Tokarczyk said the Safe Sex party does not add to the stereotype that the only purpose fraternity parties serve is to find women for male guests. "I'm sure some people have the stereotype image," he said. "But that's really not the case at all. It's to raise money and contribute to a good cause."
(02/26/92 10:00am)
Representatives of the University's next sorority introduced themselves and their organization to the University last night in Houston Hall. Pi Beta Phi sorority, which will become the University's ninth member of the PanHellenic Council, stressed its strong support nationally and its focus on sisterhood during an hour-long presentation. The presentation in Bodek Lounge included a slide show and question-and-answer session and capped off the sorority's three-day long visit to campus, which featured display tables and a constant flow of prospective members into the room. "The representatives have been very impressive," Anne McGowan, chairperson of the PanHel expansion committee said. Pi Phi is one of the largest PanHel sororities nationally, boasting 129 chapters as well as the one colonizing at the University in the fall. They have chapters on several other Ivy League campuses, including Cornell University and Princeton University. Kim Barker, a resident graduate consultant for Pi Phi at Marquette University in Wisconsin, told the group they could shape the process the Pi Phi colony would undertake. "You can shape [the new chapter] from the ground up and make it what you want it to be," she said to the audience of about 150 women, a mix of prospective Pi Phis and members of other PanHel houses showing their support. Barker added the chapter is looking for "go-getters," and that "diversity is key." McGowan said the new sorority is being welcomed with open arms. "During rush, it became apparent that there is a demand for more houses on this campus," the College senior said. "Every chapter had a say in this, and the chapters overwhelmingly wanted a new sorority." Jane Russell, Pi Phi's national expansion director, said in her speech that the University's PanHel is eager to have the sorority come to campus. Pi Phi will be conducting a colony rush in the fall and will join the other eight PanHel houses in regular rush in the spring. Pi Phi's representitives said they will not, however, have a house next year. Carolyn Lesh, Pi Phi's national vice-president for membership, said that finding a chapter house is a priority. "[We will] try very hard to get a house," she said. Tricia Phaup, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, said she was pleased with the turnout. PanHel President Debra Frank said that she is happy to welcome the new sorority to the University community. "I am very excited to extend to Pi Phi a warm welcome on behalf of the entire system," she said.
(02/18/92 10:00am)
It was a party with a purpose. The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity hosted a party Saturday night to benefit ActionAIDS, an organization which helps patients to cope with the disease. According to David Katz, one of PiKA's community service chairpersons, the night was a big success. "Being that this was our first party in a number of months, we wanted to capitalize on the large expected turnout," said the College sophomore. Katz said the party, which featured a DJ, "was completely packed for about three hours." Admission at the door was five dollars, a price which Katz said many often feel is too steep. "A lot of people don't like to pay five dollars," he said, "but because it was a good cause, people were more willing to pay." According to College junior Daniel Levin, the party cost $1200, adding that after covering costs, PiKA will donate over $500 to ActionAIDS. "We were hoping for a little bit more, but we're all very happy children," said the fraternity treasurer. Katz said the fraternity is still in the process of raising money, an effort that began before the party. The timing of the party coincided with the end of National AIDS Awareness Week and provided an outlet for increased visibility for the week. "The money is going to help the people with the problem right now," Katz said. "That is the social aspect of AIDS Awareness Week." Katz described the party's mood as "upbeat." "Everyone was happy to come in from the rain and dance around," he said. "It also brought some people who may not normally have come to our house." "Instead of coming out and having a good time, it's coming out and having a good time for a good cause," said Katz. According to Katz, Student Health donated 150 free condoms, which were quickly snapped up by the party-goers. They also obtained posters from Planned Parenthood and brochures from Student Health. PiKA brother Jonathan Snyder, a College sophomore, was in charge of publicity for the party, which over 400 attended. InterFraternity Council president Jeffrey Blount said the party is an example of the good things the Greek system has to offer. "I think that it's a great idea," the Wharton junior said. "It shows the type of resources the Greek community has to offer. I think it's great that they did what they did." PiKA President Josh Dorfman said he was very satified with the success of the party. "The event was a huge success," said the College sophomore. "PiKA looks forward to even bigger and better things in the future."
(02/07/92 10:00am)
The sorority system at the University is flourishing, with one glaring exception. Over the past three years, the University's PanHellenic Council sororities have benefitted from a resurgence in the popularity of Greek life. The number of women national PanHel regulations require each chapter to take has hovered around 50 in the past few years -- a number more than double the size of an average fraternity's pledge class. But fewer than 15 women accepted bids at Kappa Delta this year, less than one third this year's quota of 51. While KD's size is lagging behind the other seven sororities, it is still larger than many of the fraternities on campus, which are free to take any size pledge class they wish. But some members of the sorority system worry that next September's anticipated addition of the Pi Beta Phi sorority -- a move intended to help the entire system -- may inadvertently harm KD. National PanHel rules mandate each chapter in a college's PanHel system take an equal number of pledges. This number is derived from the number of rushees entering the second-round parties divided by the number of houses on campus. By compiling the number of pledges from the other seven PanHel houses and subtracting that number from the total number of pledges, it is possible to estimate the size of KD's pledge class, as the sorority would not release the number itself. According to Tricia Phaup, the director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, PanHel had "359 or 360" pledges this year. Without KD, the other seven sororities totaled 349 pledges. Subtracting 349 from 360 leaves KD with a pledge class of 11 people. KD president Rebecca Schaefer refused to confirm this number yesterday. In 1990, 585 women rushed and 325 accepted bids. KD listed the names of 28 pledges who joined the house in The Daily Pennsylvanian, which fell short of the 47-woman quota by 19. The following year, over 650 women began rush, and 391 eventually pledged. With quota set at 55 women, KD collected 23 bids, 32 below the quota. This year, with the overall numbers for PanHel down slightly, KD saw its class size halved. 622 women began rush this year, and 360 signed bids. Of these, only 11 belonged to KD. Quota, which was set at 51, was 40 above KD's estimated total. This year, though KD ideally comprises 12.5 percent of the University's PanHel, this year's pledge class only makes up 3.1 percent of the total pledges entering PanHel. KD's Schaefer said last week that the numbers aren't very important to the house. "The fact is that we did receive some wonderful people that we're very happy to have," said Schaefer last week. "KD has no problem. We've been on this campus for 70 years, and we'll continue to do well." "We really have no problem with [the situation]," she said. "We'll continue to get people who we like, who are compatible with us." "For us it's not a numbers game," she added. Schaefer, a College junior, said that the system is not a problem either. "It's set up so that every woman who goes through rush has a chance to get in where she wants," she said last week. "It's the only fair way to go about it." Though Schaefer considers the system fair, the addition of Pi Phi might hurt KD, as it could attract some rushees that would otherwise consider KD. "The PanHellenic Council was unified in its decision to bring on Pi Phi . . . it is in the best interest of all sororities," said Debra Frank, newly-inaugurated PanHel president. But Alpha Phi president Christina Usher said she is not sure it is a good idea. "I think it's a tough trade-off," the Wharton senior said. "It's possible KD will be hurt [by Pi Phi's arrival]. We rush as a system so that houses like KD aren't hurt. They've gotten a reputation that they cannot shake, that they don't have a strong house. I don't feel they deserve it, but it's been that way for a while." Others within PanHel are also concerned about KD. "When the decision was made for Pi Beta Phi to come on campus, the PanHel was a lot stronger," said a prominent member of PanHel. Harriet Macht, chairperson of the National PanHellenic Council, said this week that PanHel has an obligation to aid a struggling chapter. "It's the responsibility of the PanHellenic Council to help that house, if they want to be helped," she said. Macht, however, did not say that helping a chapter included keeping other houses from colonizing on campus. OFSA's Phaup contended last week that the addition of Pi Phi would not hurt KD, and that it is important for PanHel, whose chapters are getting too large. By extending the system, Phaup said, chapters would create a "smaller nucleus group," as some houses now have nearly 200 women. PanHel president Frank said bringing on a new house will add to the system as a whole. "The reason we're bringing Pi Phi on is so that women have more houses, and more chapters that they're able to be part of as a sister," said the College junior. Kappa Alpha Theta president Rebecca Foote said Pi Phi's arrival is necessary. "I think it's great [they're coming] since sororities have become more popular over the last few years," said the College senior. But the Theta president said she was not completely certain the new chapter's arrival would achieve its purpose and lower the quota. "[Quota] could go up if Pi Phi was very popular and more women rushed, but I have a feeling quota will go down," she said. Pi Phi's executive director, Virginia Fry, could not be reached for comment. KD's executive director said yesterday that she had no comment. Schaefer said yesterday that she was instructed by her national office not to comment further on her chapter. (CUT LINE) Please see PANHEL, page 5 PANHEL, from page 1
(01/27/92 10:00am)
Over 350 women signed bids early yesterday afternoon to become pledges at one of the eight PanHellenic Council sororities. The bids were distributed in Bodek Lounge of Houston Hall amid shrieks of joy and excitement. PanHel President Maureen Hernandez, who was one of the women who gave out the bids by hand, said that the women receiving bids "usually had friends there to support them." College senior and Chi Omega sister Hernandez noted that when she arrived to pass out the bids, a large number of future-pledges were anxiously waiting to find out which sororities they would be joining. "The entire lounge was filled," said College freshman Carineh Martin. "There was a lot of hugging and screaming, but there were a few people crying and talking to their rho chis." The Delta Delta Delta pledge added that she is looking forward to the coming months in the sorority. "I am so excited. Pledge is going to be great," she said. Jennifer Pollock, PanHel vice-president for rush, said that this year's quota for each house was set at 51 pledges, four less than last year. According to the College senior and TriDelt sister, PanHel arrives at that figure by taking the number of women invited back to second round parties, and dividing it by eight. "The reason we do this is to help insure that every girl invited back to the Preference parties will hopefully receive a bid," she said. Pollock noted that the high number is indicative of trends in the sorority system at the University. "The number 51 shows that the system is still very strong. Even though it has decreased by four, it shows that we're popular and that there is the need for another house on this campus," she said. Hernandez said that a new sorority will be colonizing on campus in the fall of 1992, and that it is a good option for those who didn't receive bids or chose not to rush. "Pi Beta Phi is coming in the fall," she said. "They'll be here in February providing information." Pollock added that the effort put into the process is definitely "worth it" if it makes so many people happy.
(01/27/92 10:00am)
Yesterday morning, upon signing her bid, Leigh became a member of the PanHellenic Council sorority system. Now, with the intense week of rush complete, she moves on to pledge the house that she chose -- and chose her. "I feel like I'm not quite sure what I'm getting myself into," Leigh said yesterday. But she is looking forward to the daily experiences that go along with being in a house more than anything else. "It's the little things like getting my pledge pin, being able to wear the letters and getting my big sister," she said. With the rush process a thing of the past, Leigh took time to reflect on a long week. "There's a sense of relief," she said. "Not only because I got the sorority of my choice, but because sorority rush is over." · Leigh visited four houses in the Second Round of parties, and she said at the end she liked three of those houses even more. But one house she disliked. "I walked out of the house and said to myself, 'I'm not crazy about that [house] anymore," Leigh said. "I had good conversations [at the other houses], but at this one house we never really got past the small talk." The added five minutes at each house, along with tours and videos, helped her narrow her options to two sororities for the Preference round. But on Friday night, before the Pref parties, she still did not know which house to choose. "Part of me is hoping I'll go to one house [on Saturday night] and hate it," she added. Because of her desire to be in a house she liked, she was nervous going into Pref but also excited for it. "I'm definitely looking forward to Pref," she said Friday. "I'm not looking forward to making a choice." At the Pref parties, the sisters described their houses in detail, attempting to persuade the rushee to chose their house. In earlier rounds, the rushee attempted to make a favorable impression with the sisters. When the Pref parties were finished, Leigh said she was happy with the way the two hour-long parties went. "I really enjoyed Pref," she said. "It was intense, and you got the feeling that they wanted you. Saturday was amazing." The completion of the parties on Saturday night marked the beginning of her final round of decisions. Following the Round Two parties, Leigh, along with the other rushees, narrowed her choices to the one or two houses she would Pref on Saturday. "I'm still not sure which one I like better," she said Friday evening. "In a lot of ways [the two houses] feel very different to me, but I love them both." Leigh, like most other rushees, did not "suicide" -- only attend the Pref party of one sorority. Rushees who "suicide" usually only want to pledge one sorority and are unwilling to join another. She noted that since most people enjoyed the Pref parties, choosing between houses was not easy. But on Friday, before Pref, she said: "Whichever house I rank first, if I get into the other one, I'll be just as happy." · Yesterday, Leigh described her first-choice house as "the one house where the people I met I would normally become friends with anyway. I was very excited to go back there Saturday night." At the beginning of rush, Leigh said she would visit each sorority with an open mind. However, she added she expected to feel more comfortable in four of the eight houses. Her final choice was among those four houses, yet she chose it because of what she had learned this week rather than her preconceptions about the chapter and its members. "I was pleasantly suprised" about the house, Leigh said earlier this week. After she decided which house she liked best, there was nothing for Leigh to do but wait. Leigh said she heard people who wouldn't receive bids would be called by noon yesterday. She said she sat by the phone for over an hour and that she jumped whenever it rang. "Yesterday morning was nerve-wracking," she said. The call Leigh was dreading never materialized, which meant that some house had given her a bid. Along with approximately 350 other women, Leigh picked up her bid at Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall early yesterday afternoon. "Bodek was crazy," Leigh said. "There were girls everywhere. People were excited. Some screamed. All this energy in one room." When she got her bid, she was too nervous to open it. "I tried to look through the envelope to see what it said," she said. She was thrilled when she realized that she was going to be a sister in the house where she wanted to be the most. · With the process complete and Leigh safely in a sorority, she had time to reflect yesterday on the system and the process, and acknowledged that there are pros and cons both to PanHel and to rush. "There's been a lot of talk comparing fraternity and sorority rush," she said. "I definitely couldn't handle five weeks." Leigh added that "the time factor [of sorority rush] makes it high-pressure." She also noted a rushee only meets a relatively small number of the sisters in the house she eventually pledges. "The few people you talk to [in each house] are going to make the decision," she said. "If you get cut, you didn't make the right impression in the short time you spent with one person. It's not as personal [as it could be]." "Houses that I wasn't asked back to, I don't know at all," she added. But even before she got her bid, Leigh said that rush was an experience to remember. With the process complete, she said the system works, on the whole. "Obviously I'm happy with the system because it worked for me," she said. · Now that she is in the sorority of her choice, Leigh is looking to the future. "I'm going to be at my house this afternoon . . . it sounds strange," she said yesterday. Leigh added that being in a sorority is a commitment that she is excited to make a part of her life. "Ten years fom now, when people ask me if I was in a sorority, I'll say I was an alumna of this house," she said. "It's just the beginning for me."
(01/23/92 10:00am)
Rush has reached a turning point for Leigh. With the Open House and First Round phases of sorority rush complete, both rushees and houses must now make decisions. "I feel good right now," Leigh said. "But I know it'll get harder. The competition will be stiff, and there will be cuts." She said rush almost totally comes down to pure feeling -- a sense of what is right. "I think if you're really going to dislike a house, you'll know it right away," she said. Despite the hard decisions ahead, Leigh said she still enjoys rush, but does not have a firm idea of which house she wants to join most. · On Tuesday night, following the last of the Round One parties, the rushees had to decide on their four favorite sororities. Leigh said the time spent in each house this week left her and most of her friends feeling more at ease with the rush process than they did after last Saturday's Open House. "We spent more time in each house, which was nice," she said. "It felt much more real." At the same time, however, Leigh finds it difficult to believe that she will be totally comfortable in a house by Sunday. "I'm still having trouble believing that I can feel like a house is mine by the end of the week," she said. "I don't feel like I know the sisters really well." But Leigh still has a ways to go. Today she finds out which sororities have asked her back and she will attend the Second Round parties at those houses this evening. The parties will be 45 minutes each and will be staggered throughout the night. Tomorrow, Leigh will again visit the "post office" to find out which houses will ask her to attend the preference, or final round on Saturday. She will then choose her top two. By Sunday, if all goes well, Leigh will be pledging the sorority of her choice. Tuesday night, Leigh looked to the coming days with apprehension, excitement and a twinge of fear. "Nothing's going on [Wednesday], and I'm glad, because I'm not so sure I want to know [where I got asked backed] yet," she said. · So far, Leigh has enjoyed rushing, although she said she is anxious for this week to end. Leigh described the Round One parties in much the same way as she did the Open House parties, but with smaller crowds and better conversation. She said she still did not meet many people in each house and spent most of her time making small talk with two or three sisters at a time. Leigh said it is often hard to remember everyone's name. She added that while she "can see when they glance at your nametag . . . [she] wasn't really offended." Some sororities showed slide shows, others performed short skits and still others gave individual tours of their houses. Leigh described one of the houses she visited, saying she included it on her list because she can picture herself as a sister there. "I liked it because the girls were outgoing. They're not drop dead gorgeous or intimidating. To a certain extent, it's just a sense of fitting," she said. · Although most of her friends were asked back to all eight houses for the First Round, Leigh herself did get cut from houses. While admitting the competition to get into her first choice house will probably be fierce, Leigh said she is happy with the way she has handled herself. "I feel very good about the impression I've made," she said. "I have no problems with the [sororities] that cut me. But I wonder what I did wrong. If they can cut me, so can a house that [I want to be in]." Leigh said she will be upset if she does not get into her first choice sorority, although she does not now know which house that will be. "If all of my friends get in [to a house I like] and I don't, it'll hurt a lot more," Leigh said. "But if we all get cut, we can all bitch about it together." "If it's really close [between my top two choices], hopefully I will be honest with myself," Leigh said. "Obviously I don't want to get cut [from a house I like], but in a strange way I do, because it'll make the decision easier." "I need a day where I don't have to think about it one way or another," Leigh said Tuesday night. "Like a day off." "I'm still really enjoying rush," she said. "But it's strange thinking that Sunday night it'll be done."
(01/22/92 10:00am)
Over 70 people attended a reception co-sponsored by the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and the Black Student League following a march in honor of Martin Luther King's birthday yesterday. At the reception -- featuring hot chocolate and doughnuts provided by the Gold Standard -- people mingled and discussed the day's events. Phi Sig president Dan Charney said the house sponsored the event to increase its community activities. "The house is really just looking to reach out to the Penn community and show the Greek system in a positive light," Charney said. The College junior added they chose to sponsor an event for Martin Luther King Day because they couldn't think of a better way to reach out than to honor "one of the greatest men in history." Wharton sophomore Robert Smith, who participated in the march, said he enjoyed the reception, and he was pleased by the number of people participating at the march. "It was a very captivating experience in that the numbers were there and the quality was there, which I was elated to see." But Engineering sophomore Malaney Hill said at the reception he hoped more people would have celebrated King's birthday. "Although there was a large turnout, I think that a larger segment of the Penn community should respond to honor such a great man," Hill said. "There's some apathy." BSL president Jessica Dixon and Alpha Phi Alpha President Garfield Johnson also helped organize the event, although neither Dixon nor Johnson attended the event because they dined with Yolanda King at president Sheldon Hackney's house.
(01/22/92 10:00am)
The InterFraternity Council last night elected Delta Kappa Epsilon brother Jeffrey Blount its new president. Blount defeated Zeta Beta Tau's Stuart Elkowitz and Sigma Alpha Epsilon's Brett Barth for the position, which was left open when president-elect Bruce Forman stepped down last month. Blount said his role as IFC president is to "represent the [fraternity] presidents." "I'm here to try and push their views," Blount added. When the meeting was complete, Pi Kappa Alpha president John Gamba cited Blount's speech as one of the reasons for his victory. "Jeff referred to a 'we,' team-oriented concept [for the IFC]," said the College senior. IFC past-president Jim Rettew presided over the meeting as his final act in office. When the gavel dropped to complete the session, Blount took over the presidency. Last night's election became necessary when Forman's Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity was suspended for a semester. Under the IFC constitution, the president must be a member of a recognized house. Forman said last night that Blount is an excellent choice to head the organization. "That's great," he said of the election results. "I know Jeff. I think it's great for the IFC, and I feel he's going to do a terrific job." "He's the right man to set the IFC on a new course," added the Wharton junior. Blount noted that when TEP returns to the IFC, Forman's input will definitely be welcome. The election process permitted each candidate a five-minute speech. While one was speaking, the two others waited in the lobby of Stiteler Hall. During this time, which was tinged with nervousness, the candidates, clad in dark grey suits and black shoes, discussed many things, from their speeches to this weekend's Super Bowl. "I'm ready for a vote," said Barth while he waited for the speeches to end. Barth assumed the leadership of the Greek Peer Judicial Board to which he was elected last semester. Following the speeches, the three candidates, all Wharton juniors, fielded questions from their IFC counterparts. The three then returned to the lobby so that members could hold a free discussion on the pros and cons of each candidate. The election went to a second vote between the two top vote-getters, as a clear majority was required. Each IFC fraternity was allowed two votes in the election, but as many as six houses went unrepresented at the meeting. Elkowitz, who assumes the vice-president position to which he was elected last semester, showed confidence in Blount. "We have a very qualified person in Jeff," he said. "I'm looking forward to a super year of hanging out." "None of us are losers," Elkowitz added. Phi Sigma Kappa president Daniel Charney, was happy with the results of the meeting. "I think it's great," said the College junior. "It went well. It's very fair." Rettew, who said he will bring Blount "up to speed," said leaving his office is "bittersweet," and added that he was going to be a DJ at Smokey Joe's Tavern last night. Blount said his first job would be to meet with the IFC officers to set a path for the future of the IFC.
(01/20/92 10:00am)
It was a blustery Saturday in West Philadelphia, but sorority rush continued through the bitter cold nonetheless. Both the PanHellenic Council houses and the rushees said that Saturday's Open House was a success for all. Jennifer Pollock, PanHel's vice-president for rush, said the students' enthusiasm made the weekend event a positive experience. "[The houses] seemed really excited about the girls, and the girls seemed really excited about the parties," the College senior said. "It went well." The day began at Bodek Lounge in Houston Hall, where the rushees waited outside until they were invited in. They then sat in Bodek, where PanHel President Maureen Hernandez delivered what one rushee called "a short good luck and relax speech." The rushees then divided into their rho chi -- rush counseling -- groups, and left together for the first of eight houses. "It's fun," said College freshman Stephanie Ghertner during her lunch break. "I'm meeting a lot of nice people." One rushee likened the actual rush party to an assembly line, as each sister connects with a rushee and begins talking with her. But others were more impressed. "[The sisters] do so much work, they're amazing," College freshman Elise Rosenberg said. Others seemed to agree with Rosenberg, citing "unbelievable" decorations in some of the houses, along with entertaining skits and songs. Rush, which ends Sunday with the distribution of bids, continues today with "post office," where the rushees find out which houses have asked them back for the first round of parties tonight and Tuesday night.
(01/20/92 10:00am)
Before the beginning of sorority rush on Saturday, the day's potential disasters outweighed the potential highlights in Leigh's mind. Worries about freezing weather and frosty conversations swept through Leigh's mind until the moment she attended her first Open House on Saturday. But she said she received a warm reception during her visits to the eight PanHellenic sorority houses and realized for the first time how much time and effort sororities put into the event. "It's been a long day," Leigh said Saturday night, "but I haven't spoken to anyone who didn't have a good time." · "I don't want to smile anymore," Leigh said Saturday night. "My face is gonna fall off." After nearly seven hours of quick entrances and exits, Leigh relaxed in a dormitory room and recounted the day's activities. By the end of the day, she said she could answer the sisters' first few questions before they asked them. "Where are you from?" "What are you taking?" "Do you like Penn?" But she added she was impressed by the effort put into rush by each house and commented that they did their best to make everyone comfortable. "They did everything they could to take the pressure off the rushees," Leigh said. Friday night, Leigh said, "We all pretty much have the same feeling. For better or for worse, we want it to be over with. But at the same time, there's nervous excitement." But Leigh, like most, has 20/20 vision in hindsight. Once the day was underway, Leigh quickly realized that "dreading" the experience was unnecessary. "It was fun. It was nice to be entertained for a day," she said. It took three hours to nine hours to decorate each house, she was told by various sisters. The decorations are "one of the things that makes you realize that this is important to them, too." Leigh described her day as "small talk, basically." "You'd be talking to a sister, who would say 'so and so, meet so and so; we were just discussing this,' and then you're talking to another sister," she said. "You start to wonder, are sorority women just outgoing or are they trained at this?" she asked. Once inside a house, Leigh said conversation can seem very natural or very forced. "When you first walk in, you realize that you're not going to have to find someone to talk to," she said. "With very few exceptions, they kept the conversation going." "Once you're in a house and talking, it was relaxed. By the last party I was laid back and chatting away." But the quick conversations had their down sides. "If something common comes up [in talking to a sister], that's great, but the most superficial thing was when there wasn't something in common," she added. "Then there are a bunch of questions they fire at you. That made me feel uncomfortable." Leigh said she found it strange that "if someone was going in [to the rush process] completely blind, having never heard anything about the houses, there's only small talk and instinct to go on." She also commented on the fact that someone in a bad mood is forced to fake it all day. But she said she felt more comfortable knowing the sisters had gone through the same process. "Everyone we talked to at rush has been through it themselves, and that makes it a little easier." · "I'm glad the day's over because I'm physically exhausted," Leigh said. "Right now I'm not really thinking about the next step." But at 7:30 last night, when the day's rush events were complete, the discussion of the activities really began. Even with the longest day of rush in the past, the process has remained nearly all-encompassing. "Everyone's discussing who they liked and why," Leigh said. "I was pleasantly surprised, I think we all were. But I don't want to do it again right away." "It's all were talking about," she added. Leigh noted that most of the rushees seemed to be keeping an open mind about the chapters. "Very few people are saying they have to be in such or such a house or they don't want to be in a house at all," she said. Late last week, Leigh met with her rho chi group, where they went over "a lot of stuff." She said the meeting was "totally laid back and relaxed." The rho chi is very helpful, Leigh said, and seems like she genuinely wants to help us. "I met a lot of great people in my rush group. I feel like I've made some good friends," she said. "I expected some feelings of competition within the rush group, but there weren't any." But before Saturday arrived, many other concerns ran through Leigh's mind. High on her list was the freezing cold. "I'm worried about the weather," she admitted late last week, "and I'm hoping that it doesn't rain or snow or anything awful like that," she admitted. And though there was no rain or snow, there was plenty of cold, with the temperature hovering around twenty degrees, even lower with the wind-chill factor. "The cold stands out in my mind," Leigh said when the day was complete. Leigh said she spent her time carefully preparing for Saturday by making sure she was well-rested and awake for Open House. None of the rushees she knew rushing drank Friday night. Just as the sorority rush manual suggested, Leigh dressed "comfortably" in slacks and a sweater -- "casual but nice," she said. She decided on what to wear after discussing the question with friends over Winter Break. "This is something that has been on people's minds for four months," she explained. Although the process has domimated Leigh's thoughts over the past few days, she said she is ready to move past the first stages of rush. First round parties will take place tonight and tomorrow, giving Leigh the opportunity to get to know each house better. She added she was pleased PanHel would require her to return to all the houses who gave her an invitation. [It] is good, as it forces you to take a second look," she said.
(01/20/92 10:00am)
The newly recolonized Delta Tau Delta fraternity attracted 80 interested students to its first spring rush yesterday, attempting to add to the small chapter that reformed last fall. The 49 Delt members welcomed the prospective members in the rooftop lounge of High Rise South for pizza, soda and conversation in the early afternoon. "The Delts are a brand-new fraternity, and we have the opportunity to start something completely new," said Jeffrey Skolnik, who is rushing the house. "I feel comfortable with the guys," the College freshman added. According to College junior Rick Greenberg, the Delts are "basically hoping to expand the roster by [around 20 to 25 people, adding] a group of pledges who will contribute to the house." Greenberg, who was appointed colony chairperson by the national consultants involved in refounding of the chapter, said the Delts have a house for next year, but would not reveal its location. One of the most frequently asked questions by the rushes yesterday was Delt's policy regarding alcohol and parties. Rush chairperson Amir Gold said the fraternity's parties would serve alcohol, but not through the BYOB policy common at the University's fraternities. Instead, they will be providing alcohol through outside vendors. The Wharton sophomore also said that the house is "trying to attract diversity, a lot of different people." College junior Gregg Donshik was another rush enjoying the event yesterday. "A few of my friends are in the fraternity, and I thought I'd come by and check it out," he said. Donshik, who is older than the average rush, added that it wasn't awkward at all. "I love it," he said. The room was overwhelmingly enthusiastic, filled mostly with people who went through regular rush in the fall but did not join a house. Jeffrey Lowe, Delt's InterFraternity Council representative, said "We're looking for people who want to make a difference on this campus. Because we don't have a reputation yet, there's no stereotype for people to place on us." "We're looking for campus leaders," the College freshman added. "I love this place, I love the guys, and I love what Delt stands for," said Jon Cho, a College sophomore. "Delt stands for diversity and having fun with a great bunch of guys. Greenberg said that they were expecting close to 200 people at yesterday's event, but that he was not really disappointed by the turnout. Greenberg added that they expect higher attendance at Wings Night on Thursday. He said that the length of rush, which cannot exceed the IFC maximum of five weeks, will depend on how long it takes for the Delts to find the people they're looking for. "How long [rush] runs is completely up in the air," Greenberg said.
(01/17/92 10:00am)
InterFraternity Council members will elect a new president next week, replacing Tau Epsilon Phi early alumnus Bruce Forman who stepped down last month when his fraternity was suspended. Zeta Beta Tau member Stuart Elkowitz, Sigma Alpha Epsilon member Brett Barth and Delta Kappa Epsilon member Jeffrey Blount announced their candidacies for president this week, and are now readying for the Tuesday election. Current IFC president and SAE brother Jim Rettew will conduct the election as his last official act in office. The need for the new election arose last month, when president-elect Forman stepped down as a result of TEP's impending suspension. TEP has since been removed from its house for at least one semester. Rettew explained that TEP will not be participating in the elections, but that newly recogonized Delta Tau Delta is now a voting member of the IFC. Rettew, who is candidate Barth's fraternity brother, also said that all three of the candidates are currently officers-elect of the IFC. On Tuesday, one of their board positions will be left open. Although he is not sure what the IFC constitution requires, Rettew said that the person elected will probably appoint someone to the vacated position. He said the appointee will have to be confirmed by the IFC. Rettew added that he is "totally impartial on all the candidates." Each of the three candidates said they have a different agenda for the future of the IFC. "I am definitely running for president," Elkowitz said. The ZBT brother and Wharton junior is currently the IFC's vice president-elect, and will assume that position if he loses the election. He said that the IFC "discussed many options on how to handle the presidency," during the December meeting called by Forman which resulted in the Wharton junior's stepping down. Elkowitz declined to comment on the charges that resulted in Forman's leaving his post. Also running is Deke's Blount, who said he has looked at the past and the future of the IFC and feels he is qualified for the presidency. "In all honesty, I see the role of the president as the person who needs to bring the different ideas and views of the different fraternities into a [cohesive] plan," he said. The Wharton junior is currently the IFC treasurer-elect, and will become treasurer if he loses the election for president. SAE candidate Barth is the judicial administrator-elect. He said he did not run for president in the initial election because he "didn't see the need to run." The Wharton junior noted that he is the president of SAE, and that that experience will aid him as the IFC's leader. He also said that he thinks his friendship with fraternity brother Rettew will enhance his performance as IFC president. "I think it's helpful to know him and to talk to him about what the position entails," he said. "I have a lot of plans for the future." Stephen Rice, the ZBT brother and College junior who opposed Forman in the first election in November, was unavailable for comment this week.
(01/16/92 10:00am)
Good or bad, the upcoming week and a half will be one of the most memorable of Leigh's life. She, along with 621 other women, will participate in sorority rush, which began Tuesday night with an orientation session. And though her name is not real, Leigh's hopes, fears, experiences and apprehensions most certainly are. For Leigh and many others, the whirlwind series of parties and decisions will be both exhilirating and difficult. She begins the process feeling excitement tinged with skepticism -- a process that will be all-encompassing. · While sorority rushes seem to get labeled as a "typical rush" at certain sororities, Leigh could probably fit in comfortably at any of the eight PanHel houses. Sitting comfortably on a couch in a residential lounge, the dark-haired College freshman dressed in faded jeans and a yellow sweatshirt chatted freely for over an hour about both herself and the next week and a half. Hailing from the Midwest, Leigh said she looked forward to coming to the Northeast for four years. "I'm very happy I'm here," she said. She thinks she's going to be a sociology major. "I came in thinking law school," Leigh said, but she found that sociology struck her the right way. Leigh chose the University for two different reasons. When she entered what she was seeking in a college into her high school guidance counselor's computer, the University was at the top of the list. More importantly, her older sister is also here, and she happens to be in a sorority. Leigh spent time at the house before she became a student at the University, but said she and her sister have been careful to observe the rules of rush, which require that no female freshman enter a sorority house before rush begins. She has seen the lobby of her sister's house for "maybe 30 seconds" since September. Leigh described her relationship with her sister as close, and knows it would mean a lot if they were in the same sorority. Leigh insists her sister has placed no pressure on her whatsoever. Still, her sister's house is one of those Leigh favors coming into rush. She enjoyed the orientation meeting -- her first real taste of rush -- and said it was interesting to hear what her "rho chi," or rush counselor, had to say. Though her rho chi group as a whole didn't really talk on Tuesday, they're meeting Friday to get to know each other. Leigh described the group of "10 women, give or take," as "pretty random." "I liked the fact that as rho chis [the sisters] are not affiliated with their houses," she said. "It's nice to know they're not going to be part of the selection process." Talking about the orientation session itself, Leigh said Delta Delta Delta sister and PanHel rush vice-president Jennifer Pollock ran the meeting well. "She didn't say a lot," Leigh said of the College senior,"but she said what needed to be said." And nothing surprised Leigh about the meeting because she had no expectations of it. She wasn't nervous about rush until the women entered Bodek Lounge. However, when she first saw the actual number of women rushing, she looked around and realized that everyone there hoped to get a bid as well. She felt then that it was going to be a very trying week. Leigh wants to be in a house, to be part of what she called "a group of people with a common purpose," though she had trouble putting her finger on what that purpose is. When she went home for Winter Break, her friends who attend schools such as Illinois and Michigan didn't stop raving about their sororities, some of which start pledging before the fall semester begins. Leigh recognizes that the sorority systems at bigger schools can be very different from the one at the University, but that fact doesn't faze her. "A sorority can make Penn seem a lot smaller," she said, explaining that the size of the school can become overwhelming at times. The 19-year-old also said a sorority is a good way for her to meet older people. She said meeting men was not a high priority in choosing a house, although she's glad that they have mixers with fraternities. Rush really gets into full swing on Saturday, when all eight sororities host Open House parties, where every woman rushing must visit each house. Leigh is "really worried" about Saturday because "it's just so long." She fears that exhaustion will set in, not only with the rushes but with the sisters in each house. "I liken it to the college application process," Leigh said. "You're trying to make a memorable and positive impression in a short amount of time." She was quick to point out one major fault she saw in the system. "[The time factor] forces it to be superficial . . . it's almost all first and second impressions," she said, adding "my friends and I have all been stressing about what to wear." Another rule of PanHel rush requires that every house take the same number of people -- usually around 45. In past years, this requirement has caused embarrassment for some houses unable to meet the quota. The rushes know rumors about houses, and everybody knows that one never makes quota. Leigh noted that nobody she knows is even considering that house, but that some women must, because they get a class of pledges every year. Yet Leigh sees advantages and disadvantages in having a large number of sisters in a sorority. "In any house I end up in," she said, "there will be people I like." But there will also be people that she doesn't like or get along with, and that bothers her a little. Because she is almost assured a bid at her sister's house, she feels less pressure than her friends. Still, she is nervous. "I think I can get a bid if I want one," she said. "But if all of my friends end up in the house I want to be in, [and I don't], it'll hurt a lot more."
(01/15/92 10:00am)
Some were tall, and some were short. Some were blond, and some were not. And whether they donned blazers or shirts, slacks or skirts, they all had one thing in common: they were beginning sorority rush. At about 7 p.m. last night, 347 women waited to enter Bodek Lounge in a phrenetic line of nerves and well-dressed personalities. The freshmen and sophomore women, waiting to enter the PanHellenic Council's 1992 rush orientation, wore bright colors, presenting a stark contrast to the darkly paneled lobby of Houston Hall. The crowd of women expressed their anxiety with murmurs of "this is so intense" and "do you already know which house you want?," intermingling with assurances of "I'm just psyched." And rush hadn't even started. As the line moved, it became jumbled and loud, with people mostly talking to the same people they came to the event with. One woman just stood there with her hands in her pockets, staring at the ceiling as if seeking divine intervention. And, like her, many women's faces showed the strain of anxiety and confusion. Some rushes, however, displayed no signs of pressure or apprehension. "I'm really excited for rush," College freshman Jessica Kosow said excitedly as she readied to enter the session. "I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of new people." As each women slowly but surely filed into the auditorium, many commented on the rush books each woman received as she entered Bodek Lounge. The rushes described them as "helpful" and "interesting." "I'm more than happy with the way we got [the rushes] organized and settled," PanHel President and Chi Omega sister Maureen Hernandez said during a break in the program. "But it's been hectic, to say the least," added the College and Wharton senior. With all the seats filled and some women sitting on the floor, the meeting began. It opened with a few welcoming and instructional speeches, including one by Rush vice-president and Delta Delta Delta sister Jennifer Pollock. When the College senior finished, she asked the women to break up into their rho chi groups. With around 15 women each, these groups are headed by a rush counselor, appropriately dubbed a "rho chi," who will lead the small group through the entire rush process. According to the PanHel rush handbook, these rho chis are "temporarily disaffiliated with their respective houses so that they can be impartial guides and friends" to the rushes. The counselors are not even allowed to tell the rushes their last names or their houses. "Everybody's given a fair shot," Hernandez said. The women made a chaotic transition to the roving rho chi groups, and as the filled beyond capacity room became increasingly hot, some groups opted to meet in different locations at later times. Once the groups were settled, however, the tense looks melted away, and smiles abounded as the women began to mingle with the people they had just met. College freshman Heather Walleck said after the meeting that the orientation was "basically an overview of what to expect [from rush]." A smaller crowd is anticipated tonight, as the second and last of the orientations is held "to accomodate people," according to Hernandez. When the hour-plus event was completed, 347 of the 622 registered PanHel rushes walked away ready to rush into rush.
(01/14/92 10:00am)
Delta Delta Delta President Nicole Giallonardo was not amused. Last Saturday, NBC's Saturday Night Live presented a skit that portrayed sorority girls in a, well, less than favorable manner. In fact, to some, like Giallonardo, it was downright offensive. Not only did the skit satirize sororities, it satirized her sorority. Giallonardo, a College senior, said the skit was "a stereotype that some might find funny," but added that she was not amused. "The skit certainly doesn't portray TriDelt on this campus," she said. The skit, which brought the studio audience to uproarious laughter, portrayed one stereotype of sorority girls after another. At one point, a sister giddily answered the phone, chirping "Delta Delta Delta, can I helpya, helpya, helpya?" while bobbing her big hair back and forth. She later ogled her friend's gaudy lettered jewelry, saying, "those earrings, like, make your whole head sparkle." The three girls sat wide-eyed when a Tau Kappa Epsilon brother sauntered in and invited them to "party 'til they puke," with one managing to stutter, "he is, like, so cute!" And the sisters, who were "like, SOOO hungry," whined about ordering pizza and failing grades. Local and national sorority leaders, who said this week they have not yet seen the skit but have heard many complaints, said the show is not a realistic picture of sororities today. University PanHellenic Council President and Chi Omega sister Maureen Hernandez said the show's treatment of sororities brings up some "timely issues." "This really ties into the issues of what a sorority is and what it is for," said the College senior. "Where do sororities fit in? How do people view what we do?" Hernandez also emphasized that PanHel is "trying to build a sense of system at Penn" that TriDelt's added publicity may disrupt this effort. TriDelt's national Executive Director Paula Turner said yesterday SNL used the sorority's letters without permission from the national office, but said she "would be way out of line to comment on [legal action] at this time." "[The skit is] a real slam to the entire Greek system," Turner added. However, SNL comedienne Beth Cahill, a co-writer and star of the skit, said they meant no harm and that she is surprised by the sorority's reaction. "Didn't they like it?" she asked. "People who are secure with themselves can laugh at themselves," said Melanie Hutsell, another co-writer and star. "Those girls should lighten up." Hutsell recognized that "not all sorority girls are like the characters we played. Our characters are very heightened and exaggerated." Cahill said the characters were based on those that she and Hutsell created in Chicago, in a scene called "The Miss Vagina Pageant: a feminist beauty contest." Cahill said when she and Hutsell arrived on the show this year, they brought the characters with them. "We got the [TriDelt] costumes from a catalogue, but we didn't wear the official pin or colors," Hutsell said. "We weren't trying to hurt anyone," Cahill added. The comediennes said the live studio audience roared with laughter during the four-minute skit, which also starred Siobhan Fallon.
(01/13/92 10:00am)
ineligible for position and STEPHEN GLASS InterFraternity Council president-elect Bruce Forman stepped down last month before he even stepped up. Forman's eligibility came into question last month when his fraternity, Tau Epsilon Phi, was suspended for hazing and alcohol violations making Forman an early alumnus. Forman and the presidents of IFC chapters agreed in December that Forman should not take office as IFC president. Instead, the organization will hold another election later this month. Current president Jim Rettew said last week that the IFC constitution, though vague, requires the president to be an active member of a recognized fraternity -- a requirement which TEP no longer fulfills. Forman called the December meeting when he learned the investigation into his fraternity might affect his position in the IFC. "When I was elected I had no idea this was going to happen," Forman said. "No one did. It was shocking to everyone considering what we did." Forman said this weekend he forfeited his position in "the best interests of the IFC." "It's the only thing we could have done, both ethically and constitutionally," College senior Rettew said. Wharton junior Forman stressed that he had called the meeting, dubbed by many the "constitutional convention," so the IFC could make an informed decison on who should be their next president. "It was my own intiative to call the meeting to elucidate the TEP situation and how that affected me as IFC president-elect," Forman said. "I felt a personal responsibility to my supporters and friends in the IFC to tell them what was going on." The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and TEP's national office released a joint statement last week detailing a suspension of at least one semester and at least one year of alcohol-free social probation. The fraternity had been found collectively responsible for three hazing violations last semester. But Forman and Jonathan Seidel, executive director of TEP's national office, declined to specify the nature of the infractions. TEP President Jeremy Sokolic did not return phone messages left at his home yesterday. Rettew said the new elections will be held before the end of the month, adding that "once the gavel drops" at that meeting, his term as president will be complete. Had Forman waited until second semester to step down, vice president-elect Stuart Elkowitz would have ascended to the presidency under the IFC's constitution, Rettew said. Since Forman withdrew in December and the presidents subsequently agreed at the meeting to hold new elections, Rettew remains president. Wharton junior Elkowitz was unavailable for comment yesterday. Forman added his "integrity was on the line" to call the meeting and allow all the fraternity presidents to discuss the entire situation. He said all of the representatives at the December meeting discussed his fraternity's predicament thoroughly. "I think the issues surrounding the TEP situation go beyond how it affects me as IFC president," Forman said. "It affects the important issue of how we got into trouble and the substance of our accusations -- we discussed strategies to prevent this from happening again." Forman said he does not hold a grudge against the IFC, rather he hopes that the organization grows stronger from the experience. "I am pleased that the decision was held in the best possible manner and was made by the brightest and best leaders of the IFC," Forman said. "I hope to leave behind a legacy of renewed activism and confidence."
(01/13/92 10:00am)
and STEPHEN GLASS The Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity has moved out of its Walnut Street house after its national office agreed to a one semester suspension for unspecified violations of hazing and alcohol codes. The agreement also stipulates at least one year of alcohol-free social probation on and off campus and requires a live-in advisor in the chapter house should the chapter return to campus. The December settlement, negotiated between the University and TEP's national office, requires all fraternity members who were brothers at the time of the spring 1991 incident -- current juniors and seniors -- to be given early alumni status. A joint statement released Friday by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the TEP national office did not detail the charges levied against the University chapter. The release states the University's chapter accepts responsibility for its members who "knowingly tolerated" violations of the University and National Fraternity's Code of Conduct, Alcohol and Hazing policies. The agreement required all TEP members to vacate their house at 3805 Walnut Street by the end of fall semester. The Judicial Inquiry Office concluded in November that TEP was collectively responsible for three hazing incidents that occured in the Spring 1991 semester. A finding of collective responsibility means the entire house can be held liable for the charges and punishments can range from probation to revokation of charter, according to University policies. Jonathan Seidel, executive director of TEP's national office, said Friday the fraternity can "take action against individual members" following incidents of hazing. He did not say whether individuals in the chapter had been or will be punished beyond placing them on early alumni status. He also declined to specify what hazing violations ocurred. Early alumni will not be able to "practice and program" with the chapter if the house returns from suspension, Seidel said. TEP president Jeremy Sokolic did not return phone messages placed at his house yesterday. Several brothers removed final remnants of the fraternity's belongings from the house on Friday but declined to comment on their suspension. The front room was in disarray and windows were left wide open overnight Friday. According to now-TEP early alumnus Bruce Forman, brothers who lived in the house are now "going to an array of places, mostly off campus." During the suspension, TEP members can only meet to prepare an application for readmission. If the University approves the application, the fraternity will remain on general probationary status for at least two years, which carries a host of stipulations. When the chapter house reopens, TEP has agreed to have a live-in advisor -- a practice uncommon among InterFraternity Council houses. The settlement also mandates that each member of the chapter serve a minimum of 25 hours community service per semester, and the chapter itself must participate in at least one community service project each semester. The statement also stipulates the chapter maintain an Alumni Advisory Board consisting of at least three people. This board's responsibilities include attending major chapter functions, including initiation, and attending Greek Alumni Council meetings. The fraternity must also implement an education program designed for brothers that will be open to representatives of OFSA, in order to comply with general probation requirements. TEP must host annual workshops for brother and pledges on topics including "gender issues" and alcohol abuse, the release added. The Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board will review the chapter's progress each spring throughout the chapter's probation. "We're commited to the chapter's success -- bouncing back from this, the chapter being strong again," Seidel added. "We are confident of it being successful."
(01/13/92 10:00am)
Acacia has agreed to a two-year probation with a host of social restrictions -- including a no-alcohol social policy until June -- for its involvement in a nude photo incident last year. The agreement, released by OFSA and Acacia's alumni corporation last week, detailed an agreement reached December 1 that stipulates that the fraternity cannot hold any social function with alcohol before June. Between June and January 1993 the chapter must obtain written consent from OFSA and its alumni corporation before holding an event with alcohol. Acacia must submit to the University a detailed outline of the chapter's party plans and submit to OFSA its plans for rush. Until January 1993, the chapter must not advertise parties, but may extend invitations to individuals on a guest list. The official sanctions announced last week are the same as ones complainant Judy Schlossberg outlined last month. College junior Schlossberg filed a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Office last April, charging Acacia brothers with stealing a nude photograph of herself that had been stored in her boyfriend's room, and then distributing it. "It would be premature to make any comments [on the agreement] at this time," said Acacia president and College junior Christopher Gidden. He added he was unable to contact OFSA or his alumni representitive and had not seen the release, although he knew "certain aspects" of the agreement. Schlossberg, however, likened the punishment to a slap on the wrist. "Basically, people look at these sanctions and laugh," she said. The statement says that if a review by the Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board in a year determines all terms have been met, then "probationary status may be reduced to administrative warning." The agreement requires Acacia to hold a member education program on hazing before February 1. It also requires annual workshops for brothers and pledges on topics including alcohol abuse and interpersonal relationships. The statement describes other sanctions, including requiring a review of a detailed rush plan by OFSA, the establishment of an Alumni Advisory Board, and the implementation or participation "in at least one community service project per semester during the term of probation." Schlossberg said she is not satisfied with the sanctions. "If they honestly showed some remorse, then probation would be great, but nobody has apologized to me," Schlossberg said. Schlossberg said that she doubts that any of the sanctions will make a real difference. "No amount of workshops is going to change this unless they want it to change," she said.
