The Week in Review

Monday, April 23, 2001

What Rules?

Dean Marty Redman has struck down Psi Upsilon's appeal of sanctions imposed against the house for remarks made to a female passerby. Redman initially placed the house on two terms of social probation, which prohibits alcohol at parties and all public spaces in the house. He remained adamant about the punishment despite a resolution passed 25-10 by the Student Assembly.

"[The involved brothers] took away, not a privilege, a right," he said. "I think the woman lost more than the men did."

Student Assembly President Jorge Miranda '01 disagreed with Redman. "I think a lot of people were opposed to what Psi U did, but I think the decision that Redman made alienated even those people.

Originally, the Judicial Committee recommended programming sanctions, not social probation. Redman claimed he considered SA's resolution when reviewing the appeal.

Explaining why he felt the need to impose harsher sanctions, Redman said, "The educational sanctions didn't seem to address the issues of harassment or victimization."

Psi Upsilon President Michael Holick '02 felt the punishment was overly harsh. "I'm fairly disappointed that [Redman] felt the need to continue to punish us in an overly severe manner for the actions of a few."

The disciplinary action is final and the College has made a victim of yet another Greek house.

Suburbia

College employees interested in purchasing a house in the Upper Valley will now have a wider assortment to choose from. Dartmouth is beginning the construction of 23 three to four bedroom homes at Camp Brook Common. Located approximately 2 miles away from the Green, Camp Brook Common is the second phase of the Grasse Road Housing Program. Each home will have its own space along with a common green that will be shared with other homes in the neighborhood. There will be four different models to choose from ranging from 1,440—2,200 sq. ft and priced from $199,500—$349,000. The homes will only be available to full-time employees who receive Dartflex benefits. All sales of homes in Camp Brook Common will be subject to a repurchase option that will allow Dartmouth to repurchase the home in the future, a protection, no doubt, against expatriate frats.

Phi Delt Redux

In a hazing incident involving the fraternity Phi Delta Theta at the University of Tampa, two pledges were shot with stun guns after refusing to cross the Hillsborough River blindfolded at 3 AM. The four fraternity brothers administering the hazing were also freshmen.

After being stunned, the pledges jumped crossed the river, cutting their feet on rocks.

University officials have decided to handle the case internally, rather than deliver the case to Tampa police. Grant Donaldson, the University's spokesman, called the pledges' hazing 'shocking' and said it was not something the university would tolerate. 'We hope it's a thing of the past, this kind of stuff,' he said. Donaldson said he was not sure if either student received any medical treatment. Stun guns deliver electrical volts, temporarily paralyzing muscles. University police confiscated the guns.

It has not been determined whether or not alcohol was involved. The four frat brothers have been suspended and await a hearing in regards to their possible expulsion, both from the fraternity and the university. The Phi Delta brothers have issued a statement and do not condone the actions of the brothers. Criminal charges have not been sought as of yet.

The incident potentially violates the University of Tampa's student conduct code in multiple ways—hazing, personal abuse, and possession of weapons.

Phi Delt has been plagued with problems such as hazing, both locally and nationwide. In 1998, a Tampa student drowned trying to cross the river in the same spot as the two freshmen. A drunken female student fell out of a window and died at the supposedly alcohol-free Phi Delt at the University of Michigan. Dartmouth's Phi Delt chapter was de-recognized in 1999 for the fraternity's pledge practices.

Slow News Day

Continuing a tradition of journalistic excellence only surpassed by the Free Press, the Daily Dartmouth published an article entitled 'Other College Greeks Offend Minorities' on April 16. The basis of this article, written by Maggie Shnayerson was a Lexis-Nexis search including the words 'Greek,' 'offensive,' and 'party.'

The article describes a 1998 Auburn Halloween party in which two brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha dressed as Ku Klux Klan members, and a University of Florida-Gainsville party with a 'Mekong Delta' theme. According to administrators, guests dressed as G.I.s and Vietnamese prostitutes, trivializing a traumatic historical period.

At least they didn't try to throw a Luau.

Redman Talks

The Review interviewed Dean of Residential Life Marty Redman during the protest outside Zeta Psi on April 18. Dean Redman was able to shed some light on the issue of 'The Zetemouth' and the state of the Greek system.

Redman opened by stating that the material in 'The Zetemouth' was, 'not attractive in an institutional sense.' He was disturbed that 'individuals were singled out in a sexual nature.'

'Men and women at Dartmouth have a right to be concerned that this is a larger issue within the institution rather than a single incident. They have a right to wonder whether or not misogyny exists within the system.'

On the matter of Zete, the administration 'is still in the investigation phase.' They are still considering the allegations, made by an individual who, according to Redman, is seeking specific sanctions against Zete. Redman and others are currently trying to determine the merit of the charges, and at this point, he freely admits that they might have been invented or exaggerated in order to slander Zete. Redman said, 'We have to find out if this is bullshit, or if it is true.'

Many have expressed the opinion that, should 'The Zetemouth' be found to be the work of a few individuals working without house support, these individuals should be punished rather than the house. Redman said that this matter of group or individual responsibility was less of an issue. 'It is College Policy that an organization may be held responsible for the individual actions of its members,' Redman said. However, the College is still looking for mitigating circumstances.

Redman feels that Zete 'crossed a line' in naming specific Dartmouth students and subjecting them to ridicule. But Redman also said that 'there are some things you would feel comfortable saying to your parents, and some things you would not. Some of these things you might say to your friends, though.' It appears that, while many claim that the Greek system promotes an atmosphere of misogyny, the administration is still exploring how different environments affect what is and is not said comfortably, and whether or not this mitigates offensive speech and imagery.

Responding to claims that 'The Zetemouth' was offensive humor, Redman advocated 'humor that pays attention to not creating victims.'

'This sort of behavior and offense is a societal issue. It is not necessarily a Greek thing, but for whatever reason, Greeks get a lot of press.'

Redman then painted the issue in broad, vague terms. 'Society changes; you can choose to adapt to these changes or stay behind and refuse to change. Some are on the forefront of this change, others lag behind. Dartmouth must balance these extremes, and allow the two to coexist peacefully.'

The Review inquired as to how this incident would affect future Greek expansion. Though Dean Redman acknowledges that hostility to expansion would exist in both the student body and the administration, he vehemently insists that it is possible. He said that the College does not have a plan to do away with the Greek system.

According to Redman, Beta Theta Pi will not return to Dartmouth in its former capacity, as its derecognition is permanent. He likened Beta to a student who has been expelled.

Phi Delt, however, will mostly likely return. With regards to Phi Delt, which may be reinstated so soon as the fall of 2002, Redman said, 'I put my reputation on the line that this is not a death sentence, but a two year sanction.' Should Phi Delt meet the College's requirements, Redman said he will fully support its return.

The Week in Review

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