Off-campus groups have an effect on a variety of people in a number of different ways. The Rotunda staff sat down with five people who were involved with several different aspects that were discussed in the Alpha Beta Psi (ABY) article last week. "These women are wonderful women. We are not saying these women are bad people at all. It's just the concept that they are members of a local organization and Longwood does not recognize local organizations," said Director of the Student Union & Activities Susan Sullivan. She, along with four others, focused on four of the discussion points in last week's paper.
The Letter
The Office of Honor and Judicial Programs does send out a letter to any student pledging an off-campus unrecognized organization, but Director Dr. Richard Chassey explained this is a protocol that has been in place for more than ten years.
"Any student who is becoming a member of [an off-campus] group gets a letter from the Office of Honor and Judicial [Programs] just basically stating that Longwood doesn't support those kinds of organizations," explained Sullivan. She added that no specific group is targeted with the letter, and that all off-campus organization members receive the letter upon joining.
Chassey explained he receives names from a lot of different people on campus about who might be involved in off-campus organizations, and a letter is sent to the student and the parent[s]. "I get a couple of calls from parents who say, 'Thank you very much I didn't realize what was going on.' I get calls from parents saying, 'How dare you.' but the vast majority of them support the Student Affairs division stance on this," he said.
He explained that the letter includes information about previous hazing instances that have involved unrecognized organizations, and it addresses concerns about the lack of insurance and advisors with these organizations.
"It's informative. We are not making stuff up. It's very factual," said Associate Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life Kate Planow.
Concerns about Hazing
A concern often linked with off-campus organizations is issues of hazing. Any group suspected of making their members engage in these activities can be charged with hazing. "I think their definition of hazing is not our definition of hazing ... Hazing does not depend on whether or not they willingly participate," said Chassey.
According to the Student Handbook, The Longwood Anti-Hazing Policy is as follows:
Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created intentionally, whether on or off Longwood property, by either fraternity/sorority organizations, student clubs/organizations, athletic teams, individual students or student groups, to produce mental or physical discomfort, endangerment of life, embarrassment, harassment, intimidation, or ridicule. Willingness to engage in any hazing activity does not render the Anti-Hazing Policy unenforceable.
"We could not charge them as a group for hazing because they are not a group. Members would get charged individually when those reports have support to them," explained Planow. Sullivan said it is their protocol to turn reports with evidence over to campus police for investigation, and Planow added that the situation has been handed over to campus police before.
Getting On-Campus as a Sorority
"They did contact people in the summer and they had a response back saying all the requirements to be under the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPC) umbrella ... We sent them all of the requirements of what they needed to be in existence under this umbrella, but there was not [a] response back to that," explained College Pan-Hellenic Council (CPC) President Lauren Smiley.
Sullivan, Smiley, and Planow all touched on the fact that Alpha Beta Psi does not currently meet the requirements set forth by NPC. "They had expressed an interest in potentially at some point being the fifth Alpha chapter nationally founded here. When they expressed that, we contacted the NPC and asked what are the requirements for a national organization and the key word there is national, not local, to fall under the umbrella," said Planow.
Smiley relayed that the NPC College Pan-Hellenic Committee Chairman stated that with one local chapter at this time, Alpha Beta Psi does not meet the requirements for membership within NPC for Associate Member Status.
Smiley explained that under the NPC guidelines, a Greek organization must have been in existence in its national character for at least nine years and have a minimum of at least 12 well-established chapters. All chapters must be established at senior colleges and universities that are authorized to confirm bachelor's degrees and have satisfactory regional accreditation ratings.
Approval/endorsement of administrative authorities on all campuses where they have chapters is required and they must conform to all the regulations set forth for the cooperation of NPC active members. "It's out of our hands. We have to follow the rules and regulations of NPC. That's where we have to stop. If NPC is not going to allow us to have this new sorority there is nothing we can do," said Smiley. She added, "SGA will support a recognized organization, but they cannot call themselves a social Greek sorority."
Getting On-Campus as a Club
Sullivan explained that at Longwood they only recognize nationally affiliated organizations as social Greek organizations, but turned it over to Student Government Association (SGA) President Ben Brittain to talk about the process of becoming a club. Brittain explained that all a student has to do is find four other students interested in the same topic, secure an adviser, and write a constitution.
Once you submit it to the SGA, they work to make sure the group meets all of the requirements and if it does, it's good to go. "When it starts looking like a sorority or fraternity, then it gets turned over to the Greek Life office and unfortunately, that's where it would stop or it would have conversations with those two offices," explained Sullivan.
Brittain stated that although he has had a conversation with one member about coming on-campus, the group has never come and filed a formal request. "Having multiple sisters would not prevent you from becoming an organization. If SGA said 'no' because of that, it would be against our constitution," explained Brittain.
Sullivan explained some of the privileges of being an on-campus organization, including using Longwood's name and facilities, publicizing on campus, and having booths at Oktoberfest and Spring Weekend. She said that if the girls do want to come on campus, then they might have to be willing to negotiate. "They maybe have to be willing to change some of the things they do in order to be recognized on campus," she said. This could be anything from not using or wearing Greek letters to not having a new member period.
"I have no problem with the fact that they want to have an organization that shares their values, their beliefs, and their ideals. I think it's wonderful they took the initiative to start something and to try and see it through," said Brittain. He added that they might have to go about it a different way and they need to be willing to follow both the SGA and the school rules.
