because of hazing, I think?
I have mixed feelings about this. I do think Greek life is a very positive experience for many kids. And I have always wondered if it would be better for colleges to keep the drinking on campus rather than pushing it off campus…
I think it was this… at UVa a week ago
I’ve heard some unconfirmed stories of what transpired between the school and the fraternities. But I’m hesitant to post it on here. But there was a boy that died at VCU from hazing awhile back. It sounds like UMD is trying to be proactive and prevent another tragedy. Hopefully, it will resolve soon. As a mom, I’m inclined to give the school the benefit of the doubt if its going to prevent another sad outcome.
I think it is great they took this approach, and hope more schools follow suit. Between the hazing and high incidents of rape, it really needs to be rebuilt from the ground up if it is going to continue to be allowed on college campuses.
I took this from a usa today article - might answer the because of, i think?
The college announced the suspension Friday in a letter saying it believes “multiple chapters within the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council (PHA) have been conducting activities that have threatened the safety and well-being of members of the University community.”
So many tragic incidents including the young man that died at Penn State a few years back. He lived one town over from us in NJ
Something needs to be done to overhaul the system. But, overhaul…not end. The Greek system is just a reflection of society… similar people band together in groups. Clubs can be enough for some people, but other people need purely social options.
I got a lot out of my fraternity maturity-wise and so did my son. He’s traveling right now with his college friends and fraternity brothers and has done this every year since graduating. It would have been hard at schools out in the sticks like ours (Bucknell, UConn) without some kind of organized social groups.
UPDATE
Several fraternities have sued UMD for violating their freedom of speech:
This is frightening:
*A coalition of fraternities is also accusing the school of illegally searching students’ phones—going through their texts—and not allowing students’ requests for lawyers to be present. *
“Pulling them into interrogations in which they’re intimidated or threatened if they don’t cooperate with handing over personal information on their personal devices,” said Wynn Smiley with Fraternity Forward. “I have never dealt with anything like this.”
I read on social media that the school had recieved hazing reports and had a meeting with the fraternities. The fraternities had denied the hazing reports but then the school had presented social media video of the hazing. If the hazing is video true, then that would be upsetting. Hopefully, the court will get to the truth and settle this matter.
Violating people’s security/privacy is not OK. But making people drink urine or some massive amount of alcohol is also not OK.
I’m sure there is somewhere that people signed off on some provision or code of conduct that will come into play
Seems like the court will only be acting on the charges of violation of freedom of speech/block the frats’ suspension. UMD is investigating the fraternity misconduct.
I’ve seen plenty of schools come up with their own independent systems. As fine as many, or even most, Greek organizations might be, the system itself institutionalizes bad behavior.