Bringing Down the House: Frats on Trial

By Scott Glabe | Monday, February 16, 2004

President Wright's best efforts through the Student Life Initiative notwithstanding, the Greek system "as we know it" still exists—sort of. Supervision of the Greeks, however, has increased dramatically since 1999, and punishments have risen sharply within the last year. When the Organizational Adjudication Committee (OAC) was established in 2000-2001, ten cases were brought against residential fraternities, resulting in five social probation sentences against three houses. Last year, six such houses received thirteen terms of probation in seventeen cases, with another two slapped with warnings.

Shockingly, seventeen cases have already come before the OAC or the Deans in 2003-2004—with half the year still remaining. Seven different fraternities have been sentenced to probation, one more than all of last year. Two fraternities are definitely under investigation, and a handful more face judicial hearings in the near future. Of Dartmouth's twelve residential fraternities recognized continuously since Fall 2001, nine have received twenty-five sentences of probation, two others have received only warnings, and one has been investigated and found not responsible. Virtually all social probation has been imposed for minor alcohol infractions (see chart).

Current Probations

Despite this hovering cloud of punishment , only two houses are currently on probation this Winter Carnival. Gamma Delta Chi is ineligible to hold social events "until the spring term new member recruitment period ends and all new members have completed an education program," according to the Undergraduate Judicial Affairs bulletin. This likely means an April end to a probation period that began January 20th. GDX must complete a fourteen-point program under penalty of derecognition according to fraternity member Jonathan Lazarow '05, who is also the current president of the Interfraternity Council.

Bones Gate fraternity will also see its probation expire in April. BG was found responsible for a number of charges last term and is currently serving out an eighteen-week sentence. President Austin Brey '05 and other fraternity officers are working closely with Residential Life to craft a new risk management plan. Bray admits to a "vulnerable" feeling among BG brothers, who fear that another charge in the near future may lead to derecognition.

Theta Delta Chi, which was serving four weeks for possessing an unregistered keg, is scheduled to proceed with its annual Thursday night Carnival party. Its probation ended earlier this week.

Explaining the Rise

Student Greek leaders have many theories to explain the recent spike in the number of cases brought before OAC and the Deans, as well as the stiffer penalties that accompany a "responsible" judgment. Former Sigma Nu Eminent Commander and IFC member Will Rack '04 blamed the cumulative nature of OAC adjudications. Fraternities previously warned for an offense are given probation the next time around, with many houses crossing this threshold simultaneously. Therefore, according to Rack, any "crackdown" is a year or more in the making. Consideration of past history is particularly detrimental to those frats with the most extensive history of violations. This accounts for the stiff penalties laid on GDX and BG. A first-time offender may have received probation of two weeks or less for possessing the same keg. Gamma Delt did, according to current Sig Nu Commander and IFC treasurer Mike Beilstein '05.

Student leaders also unanimously suggested the increase in charges is related to more aggressive practices by Safety and Security. While underage students picked up by S&S are not required to disclose where they received alcohol, officers actively seek this information. Moreover, many students believe officers induce detainees to co-operate with intimations of more lenient sentences.

Rack also theorized that the administration may simply be raising the bar on the Greeks. He said that the Greeks have moved "from dark frat basements into the light of the Dartmouth community"—most notably through increased community service. He wondered if the administration has raised expectations in order to maintain leverage.

Problems with Stricter Enforcement

Student Greek leaders pointed to a host of problems arising from the increasing strictness. Broadly, Lazarow worried that the "penalties seem merely punitive and not designed to build the organizations."

Rack found it particularly disturbing how many cases rely simply on the word of intoxicated freshmen. Such students are not only scared but also self-interested—they're looking to shift blame from themselves and their friends. Rack also believed that, while increased expectations are intended to produce positive results, they can often have a negative effect on new member recruitment. Though many are optimistic about spring rush, substantially fewer 06s than 05s chose to join a house. Rack blamed long probation terms for those houses that did particularly poorly this winter.

Beilstein viewed the current system of cumulative penalties as untenable. The more frats that aren't able to host social events, the more people cram into the ones that are, making the latter more likely to be punished, further increasing the pressure on those houses still open. As punishments increase substantially with each violation, the logical outcome of such a system entails almost all Greek houses on probation at the same time.

Theta Delt President Eric Erb '04 found the extensive reliance on prior record particularly troublesome. He claimed that, since OAC considers violations up to two years before the oldest member joined, the frat was penalized for a keg violation in the spring of 2001. Particularly objectionable is the inclusion of judgments of "not responsible" in a house's records. According to Beilstein, administrators often view such a verdicts as "guilty but unpunished" rather than "innocent." The mere existence of previous charges—substantiated or not—makes the OAC more likely to impose sanctions.

Looking Ahead

Echoing Beilstein, most Greek leaders recognize that the Greek system will have difficulty thriving while most houses are under investigation. The Interfraternity Council has recently considered a shutdown over Dimensions weekend this April. Erb views this proposal as a protective measure: Pre-matriculated high school students are even more of a liability than underage freshmen. Moreover, Erb felt the hosting of social events over that weekend is a voluntary service to the college that require reciprocation by the College.

The shut down plan has now been abandoned for two reasons. First, it did not gain unanimous support. Additionally, the administration has since shown a renewed willingness to discuss issues of Greek concern after realizing the depths of fraternity angst. At the top of the agenda for students is a proposal by the IFC to decrease the statute of limitations (i.e. the amount of time a past violation can be factored in to future judgments) on minor violations to between one term and one year. Numerous sources indicated that rush will likely be moved from sophomore winter to sophomore fall for the class of 2007.

This year marks the fifth Winter Carnival since the 1999 gala was cancelled in protest of the SLI. Lazarow does not see a crisis confronting the Greeks, but rather a careful balancing act. The IFC President conceded that "if we like the fraternity way of life, we have to be careful in the next five years." He urged houses to both maintain their identities and actively work with the administration.

For Erb, the potential conflict between these aims is all too real. While recognizing the longstanding Dartmouth tradition of leaving parties open to the whole campus, he explained that Theta Delt will keep a strict guest list this Winter Carnival.

No doubt, fraternities are under the gun these days. Whether it's shutting down for a weekend, or keeping invite lists, the open nature of Dartmouth's Greek system remains in a precarious position. With little else to do, most houses will hold their breath this weekend. Even if they survive, though, there's still next weekend, and the weekend after that, and the weekend after that.

Bringing Down the House: Frats on Trial

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