2008 Woodie Awards
RSSFraternity social probation extended
By Maxie McCoy
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
Eight fraternities are currently on social probation through the end of the semester, said Tim Wilkinson, director of fraternity and sorority affairs.
The fraternities on social probation are: Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Sigma Kappa and Theta Xi.
Before this year, probation periods were shorter, and chapters on probation could not hold registered events, said Garrett Gray, '09, president of Theta Xi.
This year, the probation time period covers the entire semester and chapters may hold a few registered events if they conduct internal educational sessions, said David Cohen, president of the Interfraternity Council.
These sessions include risk management, safe social event planning and planning standards, Wilkinson said.
"It seems like the school is doing what they can to choke the party scene," Gray said. "You are more careful when you're on probation, but they are putting so many frats on probation it is just making the party scene much more muffled."
Some chapters dislike the longer probation periods because they leave a higher chance of getting a second offense, Cohen said.
He said there has been no change in the social policy for fraternities at Lehigh, only more enforcement of existing policies.
After recent events at Rider University, the IFC knew changes would be made to the social scene at Lehigh, Cohen said. Last year Rider University had a hazing-related death involving alcohol which resulted in the indictment of five people, including an administrator.
The incident at Rider may have heightened attention to social policy violations, but the Lehigh University Police Department is only enforcing policies that should have always been enforced, Cohen said.
Fraternities can get probation for a number of reasons, but it seems the main offense is drinking games, which are against Lehigh social policy and Pennsylvania law, Gray said.
The fraternities on social probation are: Alpha Tau Omega, Beta Theta Pi, Chi Phi, Delta Tau Delta, Kappa Alpha, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Sigma Kappa and Theta Xi.
Before this year, probation periods were shorter, and chapters on probation could not hold registered events, said Garrett Gray, '09, president of Theta Xi.
This year, the probation time period covers the entire semester and chapters may hold a few registered events if they conduct internal educational sessions, said David Cohen, president of the Interfraternity Council.
These sessions include risk management, safe social event planning and planning standards, Wilkinson said.
"It seems like the school is doing what they can to choke the party scene," Gray said. "You are more careful when you're on probation, but they are putting so many frats on probation it is just making the party scene much more muffled."
Some chapters dislike the longer probation periods because they leave a higher chance of getting a second offense, Cohen said.
He said there has been no change in the social policy for fraternities at Lehigh, only more enforcement of existing policies.
After recent events at Rider University, the IFC knew changes would be made to the social scene at Lehigh, Cohen said. Last year Rider University had a hazing-related death involving alcohol which resulted in the indictment of five people, including an administrator.
The incident at Rider may have heightened attention to social policy violations, but the Lehigh University Police Department is only enforcing policies that should have always been enforced, Cohen said.
Fraternities can get probation for a number of reasons, but it seems the main offense is drinking games, which are against Lehigh social policy and Pennsylvania law, Gray said.
