Good Samaritan calls, social probation, derecognized houses and the notion that "nobody rages anymore" were a few of the topics discussed Monday evening at the Coed, Fraternity and Sorority Administration panel discussion titled "It's all Greek to Me: Deciphering the Relationship Between Greeks and the Administration."
The panel, hosted at Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity, included Director of CFS Administration Deb Carney, Associate Director of Safety and Security Keiselim Montas, Safety and Security Officer Gregory Timmins, Assistant Director of Judicial Affairs Ceceilia Pearson and Associate Director of the Collis Center and Student Activities Eric Ramsey. Roughly 11 affiliated sophomores from seven sororities and fraternities attended the event.
"We offered this event as a sort of educational opportunity where students could talk to the administration and not feel as though the administration was out to get them," CFS intern Taylor Holt '09 said.
Compared to years past, Officer Timmins said that this summer seems to be pretty quiet on the party front.
"I don't think the parties are happening, especially ones taking place off campus," Timmins said. "It seems this year your class is being more studious," adding that the largest crowd he has seen this summer was at an a capella concert.
Timmins noted that there have been a total of three or four Good Sam calls made this summer and roughly 10 or 12 alcohol policy violations.
"For the most part we really haven't had much of anything this summer," Timmins said. Timmins, however, urged students to stop stealing from other houses, adding that theft of an organization's composite is considered a felony because of the cost of the composite.
"I've always thought that at the end of the term we should have an amnesty day where everything that's been acquired by different houses can be swapped back," Timmins said.
Administrators at the panel discussed the recent indictment of administrators at Rider University in New Jersey after the hazing of two fraternity pledges that resulted in the death of one of the students last March. Rider's dean of the students and director of Greek life, along with three other students, were accused of having "knowingly or recklessly organized, promoted, facilitated or engaged in conduct which resulted in serious bodily injury." This is the first time college officials have been indicted for hazing charges in this capacity.
"It'll be really significant to hear what happens with this case and any legal precedent it sets," Pearson said.
Administrators clarified the Good Sam policy, which allows an intoxicated student or concerned friend to call Safety and Security and be transported to Dick's House to receive medical attention without disciplinary ramifications from the College.
"In the Summer term we're between a rock and hard place because Dick's House is closed on the weekend," Timmins said.
If a student is not in very bad condition, he or she would be turned over to a sober student for the night. In cases when the student is not doing well, for example if the student is vomiting, the only option is to call an ambulance to take students to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Timmins said. As Hanover Police is notified of all ambulance dispatches, such a call results in the arrest of any underage, intoxicated student transported to DHMC.
Despite this caveat in Good Sam calls during the Summer term, Montas stressed that students think of their health first and do not allow the possibility of an arrest from stopping them from seeking help. According to Timmins and Montas, such an alcohol violation is a simple civil offense that can be erased from a criminal record after the first offense if a student goes through a weekend diversion program.
Administrators additionally discussed the protocol for social probation and the disciplinary process for Greek organizations. Students asked questions about the derecognition of Greek houses as well as the possibility for the addition of new houses to the Greek system.
CFS intern Nick Smith '09 said he was pleased with the event and thought the administrators gave honest answers to students' questions.
