“Greeks Gone Wild” could be its own television show if it were centered here in Ohio.
It seems as if putting on a suit and tie or a dress and heels, and proceeding to vomit, urinate and vandalize property has become the new norm for greek students throughout Ohio.
Greek life members are supposed to be the future leaders of America. If they can’t be held to the highest moral standards, there’s simply no reason to keep them around.
That’s exactly what three Ohio universities are doing: getting rid of them.
There have been four high-profile and embarrassing incidents in the last three months alone. The most widely talked about incident occurred when a letter surfaced from Lake Lyndsay Lodge, the location of the sorority formal for Miami University’s chapter of Pi Beta Phi.
The letter stated that students were heavily intoxicated, several students were vomiting and urinating throughout the facility, two couples were caught having sex and property was vandalized.
In response to the letter, Pi Beta Phi has been suspended through May 31, 2011. If re-instated, Pi Beta Phi will be on disciplinary probation for two semesters.
Translation: no social events with alcohol.
As a member of greek life at Ohio State, I can say that recruiting new members to a sorority that can’t drink is not going to be easy.
I’m sure some of those women joined for the sisterhood and the leadership opportunities, but joining a sorority often means parties and alcohol.
Most Panhellenic sororities on OSU’s campus participate in social events involving alcohol.
Essentially, Pi Beta Phi at Miami University is ruined. Rebuilding the tradition that had been established throughout the years is going to be nearly impossible.
Membership is the foundation of any organization. New members are going to spend the next two years on probation. And if you’re unfamiliar with the greek system, once you’re initiated, you are a member for life.
You’ve also screwed the alumnae. Many Pi Beta Phi alumnae make lofty donations and are probably disgusted with what their sorority has become.
The president, who was heavily intoxicated, according to the letter, will likely have this on her record for life. Someone has to assume responsibility, and who better to point the finger at than the one who’s supposed to be in charge?
I understand that some people make mistakes and get too intoxicated, but this wasn’t the time to risk it.
Miami University made headlines again when its chapter of Alpha Xi Delta was suspended through Aug. 20, 2012.
The formal was held at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, where infractions included intoxication, public urination, disrespect toward staff and damage to property.
Rumors have surfaced that the staff found a male student attempting to urinate on a slave pen exhibit.
There’s no excuse for that.
Another Miami University sorority down the drain.
However, I again do not place all the blame on each sorority.
I think it’s only appropriate to point the finger at the dates these women invited.
I’ve been to greek formals and date parties of both my own sorority and of other fraternities.
Not once has my date or I been out of control. However, that’s not to say that I haven’t been witness to such behavior.
OSU doesn’t have a spotless record. It has had greek organizations removed from its campus in the past; some have since been re-instated and some haven’t been seen since. Nonetheless, OSU isn’t involved in the newest round of sorority suspensions in Ohio.
If we’re spreading the blame around, perhaps Pi Beta Phi and Alpha Xi Delta were trying to follow in the footsteps of Miami University sorority Delta Delta Delta.
Delta Delta Delta earned a two-year suspension in January 2009, not for a wild formal, but for hazing new members.
Maybe getting kicked off campus is the cool thing to do at Miami University.
I’d love to hear from parents who are sending their daughters to Miami University in the fall, with hopes of joining a sorority. Better yet, I’d love to see the reactions of parents when their daughters’ beloved sororities are kicked off campus.
The most recent Ohio sorority to be put on a one-year suspension was the University of Dayton chapter of Alpha Phi. Alpha Phi was caught having the same type of rowdy event in a downtown Dayton banquet facility.
Chris Taylor, associate director of ethics and student conflict resolution at Miami University, seems to think the positives of greek life outweigh the negatives, the Miami Student reported.
Well Miami, you better start publishing the positives because no one is buying that.
University President David Hodge said he did not believe it was an accurate representation of greek life at Miami, according to the Miami Student.
Seeing as it has been discovered on more than one occasion and likely happens more than it is reported, it seems as if it is a pretty accurate portrait of greek life.
But it is the Ohio University chapter of Pi Beta Phi that takes the cake.
Their formal was held at the Parkersburg Art Center in West Virginia, and an attorney representing the gallery estimates the gallery sustained $46,555 in damages.
According to the national office of Pi Beta Phi, the accusations were “grossly exaggerated.”
I have to ask what is grossly exaggerated about two couples having sex under a table?
The national office of Pi Beta Phi owned up and punished the Miami chapter, and I presume it’s only a matter of time until the Ohio University chapter is punished as well.
These travesties are creating a poor reputation for sorority members nationwide. Universities are fully within their rights to remove such chapters from their campuses.
And national headquarters for sororities should be taking appropriate action to suspend chapters that are not living up to their standards of excellence. Weed out the bad right now, and focus on strengthening the chapters that excel.
