ZBT, Tri Delta sanctions draw mixed reactions
December 5, 2006
The sanctions imposed on Zeta Beta Tau fraternity and Delta Delta Delta sorority by the Board of Fraternity Affairs and the Board of Sorority Affairs have caused mixed reactions at the University.
The sanctions were imposed last week in response to an event during certain members of each organization called “Tacos and Tequila.” The event was hosted by Zeta Beta Tau on Oct. 5.
According to a letter from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the organizations violated the University’s Student Code and fraternity and sorority rules regarding alcohol.
The event caused many organizations to speak out and a protest was organized earlier this semester to make administrators take action.
Some feel the sanctions, which included social probation through the fall of 2007 and prohibition of new member recruitment during spring of 2007, were not enough.
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“I don’t think the sanctions are very fitting,” said Osvaldo Torres, sophomore in LAS and member of the Mexican Student Association.
“I think they should have been harsher. In terms of recruitment, they should have given probation for the fall as well because from my understanding the spring rush class is small,” he added.
Cassie Arner, the Tri Delta alumnae adviser, said the chapter had already agreed with some of the sanctions decided on by the advisory board.
“Many of these sanctions were ideas our chapter already planned on implementing,” Arner said. “We agree very much with the finding of the board regarding educational opportunities.”
The advisory board decided to implement education programs focusing on multiculturalism and diversity for each chapter.
Arner said that some of the sanctions are disappointing as their extended time period limits the ability of the chapter to “mobilize and further its growth.”
“The chapter does feel that it now stands with an opportunity to affect real change on this campus when it comes to racism and cultural insensitivity,” Arner said.
Zeta Beta Tau declined to comment.
A letter issued by the Office of the Dean of Students in October called the behavior unacceptable and “antithetical to the values of the University.”
It also said that the campus as a whole needs to gain understanding and appreciate the differences at the University.
“This problem is very institutional,” Torres said.
“We understand (members of the organizations) are in a hard position, but they have to understand our position. It’s nothing personal, it’s just that we’ve had enough and we are standing up and demanding the respect we deserve because we deserve just as much as everyone else on this campus does,” he added.