This year brings new leadership and with it new policies to greek chapters across campus. Under the direction of student affairs, Bradley University Fraternity and Sorority Life has proposed updates to its social event registration and housing release policies.
Assistant Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Nancy Schwartz said the social event registration revisions began over the summer and are meant to ensure the safety of all students by providing the administration with important information about social events.
“Our job is to keep you safe,” Schwartz, who joined campus in early June, said. “The more we know, the more we can keep you safe.”
There are three main proposed changes to the social event registration process.
The first update will require all greek chapters to register social events with the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life. Current policies require only fraternities that are part of Interfraternity Council (IFC) to register such events, so these changes will expand to include Panhellenic Council and National Panhellenic Council chapters as well.
The second update introduces the idea of sponsorships at social events. According to the policies, only Bradley students should be in attendance at mixers, exchanges, date parties, formals and open parties. Nonstudents in attendance will now require official sponsorship by a Bradley student who will claim responsibility for any of the guest’s actions.
The third and final update will extend the registration period for social events. With the revised policies, chapters will be required to register events at least four days in advance, which is different from the former deadline of 5 p.m. on the day before a party.
Each update encompasses additional minor changes that will be finalized throughout the semester based on student input, according to Schwartz.
“We decided to debut it so early because we wanted that opportunity for discussion and dialogue with our students,” Schwartz said.
She also encouraged students to set up meetings with her to discuss the policies.
“This is the best way we can see change in our community and make these changes go as smoothly as possible,” she said.
IFC President and Delta Upsilon member Travis Cazel said IFC will take the helm to start the student involvement.
“It’s going to be a process of us sitting down as an [executive] board and going through and looking at what is in the best interest of our greek life,” Cazel said.
After this, a committee of volunteer greek members will review the proposed policies and offer suggestions. Cazel said the goal is to have the committee be representative of the greek community with one or two members from each chapter.
Once finalized, the policy revisions will take effect for the spring 2015 semester, and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life will be responsible for enforcement of the policies.
Consequences for policy violations are based on a three-strike program.
For a first strike, organizations will be limited to four social events for the remainder of the semester or for the next ten weeks while school is in session, whichever is longer. A second offense will limit organizations to two events.
Third offenses will cause the organization to be considered “in poor standing” with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, which will prohibit the organization from hosting, sponsoring or co-sponsoring any social events for the aforementioned time period.
Each strike will result in a meeting between the person(s) responsible and the greek adviser to discuss the offense and plans for moving forward. To avoid the next level of consequences, first offenders must have 12 months free of any violations.
At a Joint Council meeting Sept. 21, Schwartz presented chapter officers with a reminder of current policies, the proposed changes and the reasoning behind the updates, which she summarized in terms of liability, safety and accountability.
“This social event registration process is here to protect you and help you avoid that [liability issue],” Schwartz said. “We want to give you the tools to register and give us all the information you need so that if something does go wrong, the right people will be held accountable.”
Cazel said what the policy revisions mean for students is better communication about chapter responsibilities and clearer rules for hosting events.
“It’s about closing loopholes, getting rid of gray areas and making sure that everyone knows exactly what is expected of them,” Cazel said.
Overall, Cazel said he has received positive reactions from members of the greek community.
“A lot of people want to know what to do and what’s expected, and a lot of the issues we’ve had have been because they don’t know,” Cazel said. “I think the fact we’re making these revisions will help make everything clearer and offer guidance in this area.”
