“University President Kirk Schulz stressed Monday night that the decision was made by the Greek councils themselves, not by the university administration.”
Really? Did the President not feel that it was warranted? No comment from him on the university investigating or considering action?
As much as Frats wish to distance themselves from the movie “Animal House”, they still have a long way to go when they still have events like this occurring.
Then again, maybe they do not want to. Maybe they like that image and are just looking to perpetuate it.
One hates to paint with a broad brush and tarnish all Greek houses but it is hard to ignore the string of news events that ring similar.
Personally, if my son(s) do not pledge Greek, I am fine with that!
That is not a ban on all activities, not even all social activities, just those on campus. Sororities do not host activities with drinking on their campuses or at their houses anyway.
Story from the Seattle Times, with a link to the letter drafted by the IFC/Panhellenic students. Greek life is centered in the neighborhood just north of campus. Many of the houses in that area are rented by fraternity brothers living out of the houses, so parties will continue unofficially.They are banning all sanctioned events that serve alcohol on or off campus until they come up with new, safer regulations.
My D is a junior at the Honors College and does not drink or go to fraternity parties, though is well-aware of the horror stories associated with Greek Row there. Kirk Schultz just started as President of WSU and, rightfully, supporting the effort without interfering (yet).
Magnetron, the situation is already out of control. Imho the president should not be “supporting the effort,” but leading it.
@2mrmagoo Out of control, how? Why would dictates from the president be a better format than reforms from the leaders within the organizations? I guess I don’t understand your point.
“a growing problem in regards to alcohol-related incidents in the Greek Community this semester” — including rapes, assaults and hospitalizations — due to “overuse of alcohol and/or drugs by Greek members.”
One death (underminded cause at this point) and three accusations of rape within one month seems pretty out of control to me.
My point is that it is not enought to let the greek system govern itself. Why? Because the leaders within the organizations are so deeply part of the problem. Not to mention potential liabilty and terrible publicity for the school. I would say if I had a kid there I would want to know that the administration was on top of it and not simply leaving it up to student leaders of the organziations that are the problem.
I kind of depends on the level of control the university has over the Greeks. If the houses are off campus and not owned by the university, there is less control. At CU, the fraternities are not recognized by the university as a student group, so the university has no control over them at all. It isn’t just the students who are in charge but their national organizations and local alum advisers. The sororities are also off campus and own their houses, but are recognized as a student organization so the university does set some rules.
Sororities don’t host parties with alcohol at their houses or on campuses.
twoinanddone, thanks for explaining. I didn’t realize the greek system may not be within college control. Clearly I wasn’t in the greek system in my day. Nor did I catch all my typos in my last post. X_X
WSU has many assets to recommend it to applicants, but the party school image has deep roots at the place. It didn’t get the the nickname “WAZZU” (think of '“ZooMass” for nothing. The place is in the middle of beanfields and wheatfields so young people at the campus find that they have excess idle time because of the lack of ‘urban stimulation.’ And Pullman, Washington is no South Bend, Indiana, Lincoln, Nebraska or Oxford, Mississippi.