University of Washington – Office of News and Information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 1993
Greek System Task Force Recommends Tighter Controls
A Task Force appointed by UW President William P. Gerberding to review the relationship between the University and fraternities and sororities has recommended a series of steps designed to impose tighter controls on the Greek system and foster increased accountability on the part of Greek chapters for their actions.
The broadly representative 19-member Task Force, chaired by Vice President for Student Affairs Ernest R. Morris, has recommended that all fraternities and sororities sign "Recognition Agreements," or contracts with the University. In these agreements, the Greek chapters would agree to abide by strong, new requirements and expectations governing their behavior. Violations of these requirements would bring sanctions ranging from warnings and reprimands to withdrawal of University recognition for a minimum of four years.
Among the Task Force's many recommendations is a series of provisions to address a range of concerns for chapter activities, including parties. One such recommendation is that fraternities and sororities will be required to register their parties one week in advance, obtain and abide by the terms of Washington State Liquor Control Board banquet permits, and provide security to regulate access to the events.
"I am pleased with the results of Task Force's work," commented Gerberding. "The members have developed an approach to exerting considerably more University influence over the activities of the Greek system. They have identified the problems and come up with a workable set of solutions. I have asked Vice President Morris to begin implementing the recommendations immediately."
1993 Greek Task Force Report
January 13, 1993
President William P. Gerberding
Dear President Gerberding:
In a letter dated October
2, 1992, you stated that "the University has worked closely and on a continuing
basis (over the years) with the student and alumni leadership of the fraternities
and sororities (associated with this campus) to address a variety of problems
growing out of the use and abuse of alcohol, including unacceptable and
even dangerous behavior." Taking note of a tragedy that occurred on "Greek
Row" the preceding weekend, you further observed that "we must seriously
and thoroughly examine what more might be done to address these matters."
Accordingly, you appointed this task force and asked us "to review these
issues and to make recommendations to (you) on what additional steps the
University should take." You also asked us to "consider what the relationship
between the University and the independent fraternity and sorority houses
should be and what sanctions might be appropriately imposed on off-campus
groups and individuals who violate University standards of conduct."
In carrying out our charge,
we met 12 times over a period of 14 weeks, typically for two-hour sessions.
Our work was divided into four phases: 1) a review of current University
policies and practices with respect to the Greek system, and the rationale
therefor, 2) an identification of problem areas and consideration of the
reasons for them, 3) proposed solutions to the problems and the "testing"
of them against the various perspectives represented on the task force,
and 4) the development of the recommendations presented later in this document.
Although the group was rather large--with a broadly representative membership
of 19 people--we made a concerted and successful effort to function by
consensus, ensuring that all points of view were heard and taken into account
in our deliberations.
Current Policies and Practices
The University does not control
the affairs of fraternity and sorority chapters, which is consistent with
the fact that those facilities are located off campus and privately owned
and operated. Similarly, the University does not attempt to regulate the
lives of any of its students, either in terms of group or individual behaviors,
in situations away from the campus. This position is rooted in the fundamental
proposition that the institution has no legal authority over privately
owned and operated property and facilities, or student conduct beyond the
boundaries of the campus. Indeed, as defined in state statute, the Board
of Regents is specifically granted control of University programs and properties.
The Office of the Vice President
for Student Affairs, however, has sought to influence developments within
the system through close and ongoing interactions with its student and
alumni leadership. Those efforts assumed many forms over the years, including
periodic group meetings with fraternity and sorority alumni advisers and
other leaders, as well as students, and meetings with the student and alumni
leadership of individual chapters around particular issues and concerns.
As a result of the latter activities, a variety of issues and concerns
have been resolved in a timely manner and to the satisfaction of all interested
parties.
Over time, moreover, the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council (IFC), the student governing bodies of the sororities and fraternities, respectively, have adopted a number of policies to address areas of concern, encompassing such matters as dry rush, a ban on "open" parties (i.e., parties open to all comers without restriction), and liability management. Among other things, the IFC and Panhellenic Liability Management Policy, which imposes restrictions on, or bans outright, kegs or other bulk containers of alcohol within the facilities, requires each fraternity to sponsor one presentation each quarter, excluding summer, on responsible alcohol use, liability issues, date rape or other related topics. Another IFC policy mandates the sponsorship by each fraternity of one alcohol-free event with a sorority each quarter. The Panhellenic Association has adopted a similar policy, requiring each sorority to host two alcohol-free events with fraternities each quarter. These are only a few of the policies that have emerged from the ranks of the student leadership in recent years, all of which are to be applauded. As the following discussion makes clear, however, more is required.
The Problems
Despite the dedicated efforts of many--student leaders of the Panhellenic Association and the IFC, the elected student officers of individual chapters, the alumni of some chapters, and University personnel--the Greek system continues to be plagued by serious problems. The use and abuse of alcohol, both by persons of legal age and those not of age, and the unacceptable conduct growing out of such, are prominent elements of the situation. In fact, alcohol consumption has been identified as a central ingredient of many of the antisocial incidents that have occurred within the system, including fights, acquaintance rapes, resistance to the lawful actions of public safety personnel, destruction of property and a general disregard for the rights and privileges of others.
The limited capacity of the student leaders of IFC, the Panhellenic Association and individual chapters to enforce existing policies, however diligently and sincerely they have pursued doing so, is a critical source of difficulty. The lack of consistent, ongoing alumni involvement in the activities of some chapters (the alumni own the facilities) is also a major reason--some would argue, the principal reason--for the current situation. There is, in short, a leadership vacuum within the system--a lack of generally agreed upon standards of acceptable conduct and mechanisms to ensure that the groups and their individual members are held accountable for failing to abide by them.
The absence of an "institutional
memory" (i.e., the transmission from one class of students to another of
the acceptable behavioral standards to which they will be expected to adhere)
is another significant concern. This void almost assures that the problems
of the past will recur even though they might have been rectified in some
incremental fashion by prior student and other leaders of the system.
Possible Solutions to the Problems
Not surprisingly, this phase of the deliberations was characterized by lively and freewheeling debate, prompting the group to revisit several of the issues discussed earlier--particularly that pertaining to the legal authority of the University to impose sanctions on organizations or individuals for conduct that occurs beyond the boundaries of the campus. The discussion produced a wide range of suggested solutions to the problems, some of which were deemed feasible and others of which were not. When all was said and done, however, we arrived at the recommendations set forth below.
Recommendations
In spite of the constraints on the authority of the University to intercede in the affairs of fraternities and sororities, we recognized the necessity of identifying appropriate ways to bring the positive influence of the University to bear on Greek Row. As a result, we concluded that the University should focus its efforts on one of the core principles on which fraternities and sororities are organized and exist--the requirement in their respective national charters that they be recognized or otherwise accepted by their host institutions. Stated differently, a fraternity or sorority which is not so recognized is not properly chartered and is not authorized to function as a bona fide chapter of its national fraternity or sorority.
Over time, University "recognition" of fraternities and sororities has been implicit rather than explicit, and has been assumed to extend to the system as a whole rather than individual chapters. Additionally, the recognition has not involved precise criteria, including standards of acceptable conduct, on which decisions about the retention or loss of recognition would be based. In other words, fraternities and sororities have not been held to any institutional expectations as a condition of their being allowed to associate themselves with the University. It is our considered judgment that this state of affairs is intolerable and must change.
Effective as soon as possible, therefore, the University should enter into individual Recognition Agreements with all of the fraternities and sororities, setting forth its expectations with respect to the conduct of those groups and their members and the sanctions that will be imposed should they fail to satisfy them, including the withdrawal of institutional recognition. At a minimum, the agreements or contracts should contain the following provisions.
- 1. Chapters and their individual members will be expected to
comply with federal, state and local laws--with especial emphasis on those
regarding underage drinking and public and fire safety--and to cooperate
fully with the police, fire safety officials and representatives of the
Washington State Liquor Control Board as they carry out their responsibilities.
6. The chapters must comply with the Panhellenic and IFC constitutions and bylaws. In addition, they must adhere to IFC and Panhellenic policies, including but not limited to:
- The IFC and Panhellenic Liability Management Policy, which includes an explicit prohibition against the possession, sale or use of illegal drugs or controlled substances, among other things
- Dry Rush Policy
- IFC Party Policy
- Human Dignity Statement
- Dry Event Policy
7. Chapter members must be students at the University.
- minimum of 25 people,
- the consumption of alcohol,
- the arranging, scheduling or announcing of the event
- organized charter activities, including "brotherhoods" or "sisterhoods", when alcohol is present.
- Register the parties with the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the IFC and the Panhellenic Association no later than 7 days in advance of each event.
- Obtain Banquet Permits through the Washington State Liquor Control Board, the conditions for receipt of which include the conspicuous posting of the permits in the areas of the events, the serving of alcohol only to members and invited guests who are 21 years of age or older,, and possible inspection of the events and premises by liquor control agents or other law enforcement officers. Cosponsors of parties also will be required to sign the permits.
- Maintain security to regulate access to parties.
- Warnings
- Reprimands
- Monetary Fines
- Restitution in instances of property damage
- Probation (with possible conditions, including denial of access to certain University services and facilities, requiring independent security services to regulate access to parties and the requirement that an adult house director be hired to reside in and oversee the activities of a chapter)
- Suspension of recognition for a minimum of one year Withdrawal of recognition for a minimum of four years before a chapter could be considered for reinstatement.
- 14. Fraternities and sororities must annually provide the Office of
the Vice President for Student Affairs with evidence of adequate property
and liability insurance coverage, in forms and amounts acceptable to the
University, and agree to protect and indemnify the University from any
liability for their programs and activities.
If this endeavor is to be successful, we believe that several other steps are necessary. They are enumerated below.
- 1. The Vice President for Student Affairs should issue an annual
report on actions taken under the contracts. The report should be made
available to the appropriate councils of the Faculty Senate, the University
District Community Council, law enforcement agencies and others
as requested.
3. Effective mechanisms must be developed and maintained for communications between and among the various interested entities--public safety, fraternity and sorority chapters, appropriate community organizations, national offices of the fraternities and sororities, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and local alumni. The essence of a plan to accomplish this has been developed.
There are admittedly no panaceas for the problems facing the Greek system. It is our view, however, that the recommendations presented in this report, if implemented, would make a major difference in the climate and health of a system which is "home" to some 4,000 students, holding individual fraternities and sororities and their members accountable for failing to "play by the rules"--for failing to conduct themselves in a fashion consistent with acceptable standards of behavior. We believe that, at their best, fraternities and sororities can contribute significantly and positively to the quality of the undergraduate experience, providing opportunities for the development of leadership skills, civic involvement, social growth and the forging of important lifelong relationships. It is these qualities that we wish to promote and preserve.
Respectfully submitted,
Ernest R. Morris
Vice President for Student Affairs
Chair
| Myron Apilado
Vice President for Minority Affairs |
Julie A. Freeman
President Panhellenic Association |
Gretchen Sorenson
Board Member University District Community Council |
| Steven C. Bailey
Assistant Chief Seattle Fire Department |
Kerry McMahan
Corporation Board Vice President and Alumni Adviser Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity |
Jeffrey M. Steiner
President Interfraternity Council |
| Michael Burke
Acting Assistant Chief of Enforcement Washington State Liquor Control Board |
Judith T. Nicastro
President Associated Students of the University of Washington (ASUW) |
Dorothy Strand-Gorman
Alumni Adviser Alpha Phi Sorority |
| Sheral Burkey
Associate Director Government Relations |
John R. Pettit
Assistant Vice President for Business and Personnel Services |
Margaret Thouless
Chair, Faculty Council on Student Affairs |
| James R. Collier
Vice President for University Relations |
Michael G. Shanahan
Chief University Police |
Karen A. Turner
President Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) |
| Captain Douglas Dills
Commander, North Precinct Seattle Police Department |
Donald K. Smith
Senior Associate Director Intercollegiate Athletics |
Miceal F. Vaughn
Chair, Faculty Senate |
| Legal Advisor
Carol S. Niccolls Assistant Attorney General |