The Greek-Student Conduct code relationship has been a problem for some time.
While the fraternities haven’t caused any special trouble lately, they have come under fire for policies on drinking. And several questions have come to the fore:
* Should the houses be required to report decisions of their IFC-Panhellenic tribunals to the Conduct Committee?
* How much goes on that isn’t reported?
* Should the Student Court and Conduct Committee be in a position to reinforce rules of the Greek house?
* How much control does the conduct system really have over the Greeks when it comes down to prosecuting individual cases? And what would happen (or does happen) if the Greeks decide they don’t want the University to handle a case?
* And, most important, why should the University try to punish Greeks for offenses punishable by civil law?
With all these questions floating around, we suggest the Conduct Committee just drop the Greek system from its jurisdiction … closing hours, group offenses, drinking, and all.
This proposal, we are sure, will meet with strong disfavor, even among members of the fraternity system. Some will say the University would be shirking its responsibility … alas, its bounden duty … to ensure that the Greeks are living clean and lawful lives.
President Flemming may object on the grounds that he wants to keep some degree of control over the Greeks, in case of discrimination and since he is opposed to drinking.
And many sorority members would argue that they want the Conduct Committee behind them to enforce rules of conduct, just in case …
Our answers to all these objections would be: the fraternities have proven themselves fairly responsible in setting up and enforcing cases in their individual houses without even bothering, in many instances, to bring the conduct system into the matter. Sure there has been drinking in the houses. But the problem hasn’t been widespread or even more prevalent than it ever has … maybe even a little less than in the past, since students tend to be more academically oriented than those of our parents’ generation.
And in the area of discrimination: If there has clearly been a case of discrimination, let the Conduct Committee remove the house’s recognition, just as it would any other organization. This would prohibit the house from using any University property and would be a very adequate sanction.
Would removing Greeks from the Code really bring about mass lawlessness, alcoholism, and sin? Let’s be realistic. If the houses are allowed to set their own rules and run their own affairs … if they knew where they stood with the conduct system … they would have a chance to develop the maturity and responsibility that has been demonstrated by an increasing number of students living under the fraternity system.
Let’s give them a break whether all of them want it or not.