^ ^
Last time I encountered that sort of thinking was in middle school.
^^ Sadly, I see it far too often manifested by adults at everywhere from work, at the gym, PTA meetings, etc. If you all live somewhere that people don’t judge others, consider yourselves fortunate.
I pop over to the UofM forum a couple times a year and inevitably the frat and/or sorority prestige ranking question comes up and sometimes the comments are very much like those that were linked to here. Agree that none of this lives only on the Penn State campus.
Funny, I assumed all those “dry” comments were planted by the frat to throw parents/authorities off the track.
@“Youdon’tsay” I doubt that those self ranking are going to say something that would be perceived as a weakness among their peers. With the candid nature of the comments that I saw, it appears that they don’t assume that any adults are reading those messages. Some are incredibly brutal! Not growing up as a product of the internet generation, the keyboard courage exhibited is shocking to me.
This is not the first generation that has actively hazed within Greek Life. It is also, unfortunately, unlikely that it will be the last. From what I have read, observed, and experienced, it seems like the reason this is all allowed to happen is due to a culture of plausible deniability that exists between students in Greek Life and the University/Law Enfrocement (18+ to party, 21+ to drink is not what actually happens, and we all know that). This is because there is little incentive to penalize fraternities with generous alumni unless and until an infamous incident like what happened at Penn State occurs. I think the 21 drinking age is stupid anyway, but that is another can of worms.
Drexel suspends frat for 5 years…
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/05/pa_university_suspends_frat_fo.html
now this changes things…
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/greek-ties-run-deep-on-psu-board-20170529.html
They make some very good points in that article. I think it’s a good thing to have balance on the board of non-Greeks and Greeks. Hopefully they will model some things that can translate to other campuses.
Hopefully the new task force will consider this perspective as well:
Wow.
Wow is right…it out of control…here is another one about the Penn State Secret Sorority…what does this stuff have to do with Higher Education? Looks like the students ask questions while the admin just let it flourish…more of Penn State looking the other as they have done in the past. Not an official program so there is nothing we can do…At some point, admin is going to need some gumption to stand up to thing that are just not right.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/05/secret_sorority_at_penn_state.html
From 2011…
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_593114bc-dd40-5fe1-aa3e-34d3f2e4254d.html
1996…University secret societies breed elitist students
http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_805559f0-a6b0-58ba-a0d1-744b92a06658.html
This is a must see video…unbelievable. They pull kids in from positions of leadership at the University…I had no idea…how are they allowed to be involved in “Thon”? Who allows this?..They were denied access to information IN OUR STATE FLAGSHIP…What?
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/penn-states-secret-societies
As long as “good party” means party with plenty of free alcohol available to underage partygoers, there will be an unofficial ranking of what fraternities host “good parties.”
@bester1 " Not an official program so there is nothing we can do…"
With true “secret societies” who don’t publish their member lists, there may be little the university could do. However, with the THON orgs who are permitted to recruit at the school’s Activities Fair, have social media profiles, use campus meeting rooms, etc the university has no excuse. They have a visible profile on campus. As a sanctioned campus organization, they should absolutely be held to the same scrutiny as IFC and Panhellenic organizations.
While I don’t want to deflect from the original topic of this thread which is alleged criminal behavior on behalf of fraternity members, the more I read the more I am certain nothing will change at this university.
So let me get this straight, they had a sorority that was disbanded because of hazing and other violations and now that same sorority has been activated again via some “secret society” named Trilogy? And everyone is aware of that fact but they have not shut them down?? Just ridiculous. This is a school severely lacking in leadership – scandal after scandal and they never learn.
Court rules against Penn State in two fraternity hazing lawsuits…
http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/30/us/penn-state-frat-hazing-rulings/
PSU frat alum welcomes fewer parties, but not delayed recruitment…
In scathing letter, parents of dead Penn State fraternity pledge blast university officials…
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/06/penn_state_fraternity_timothy.html
“You, the [Board of Trustees], have a significant obligation to do the right things, not the popular things to appease a small group of alumni who still do not get it, to make Greek Life and all life safer at Penn State,” James and Evelyn Piazza wrote in the letter, which is dated May 31.
“Penn State also has a long history of looking the other way at difficult situations,” the Piazzas wrote in their letter. “This must stop and all those who are part of turning a blind eye must be held accountable, just as the individuals who committed the crimes and recklessness should be held accountable.”
Same Board that elected Jay Paterno
Piazza parents tell PSU: Expel students, fire employees…
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/expel-students-fire-employees-responsible-for-frat-pledges-death-parents-tell-psu-board-20170602.html…
“I realize some of the students are children of alumni and prominent business figures in PA,” Jim Piazza wrote of students he holds responsible for his son’s death, “but they committed serious crimes … What are you waiting for? It’s time to act.”
Former Penn State President to be sentenced for ‘conspiracy of silence’ after Sandusky’s assault crimes…
http://abcnews.go.com/US/penn-state-president-sentenced-conspiracy-silence-sanduskys-assault/story?id=47771294
Ex-Penn State officials face sentencing in Sandusky scandal…
http://6abc.com/news/ex-penn-state-officials-face-sentencing-in-sandusky-case/2062024/
The Piazza’s full letter is shown here:
“Same Board that elected Jay Paterno”–I believe that Jay Paterno was elected to the Board by the Alumni. I don’t think the Board elected him to his post.
Wow. So number of parties with alcohol each chapter could host per semester was capped at 45??
Why have a cap at all, at that point?