2008 Woodie Awards
RSSNew probation unwise
Editorial
By Edit Board
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Opinion
The school's probationary policies have changed. Now, when Greek organizations break social policies or are caught with alcohol violations, their probationary periods last much longer and with other changes.
The school has put a lot of thought into their new probationary policies, but these changes still fail to achieve their ultimate goal - to decrease unsafe drinking at Lehigh.
Social probation used to mean a fraternity could have no registered parties for a time ranging from a couple of weeks to a month. Now probations are lasting much longer - currently eight fraternities are on social probation until the end of the semester, even though their violations occurred at different times in the semester.
The new policy, however, has an intelligent improvement. Fraternities can now earn the right to hold up to three registered social events while on social probation if they go through risk management education.
This change is smart. It gives incentive for fraternity brothers to learn not only how to drink safely, but how to look out and take care of those who drink dangerously. Granting three registered social events gives good reason for fraternities not to break social probation rules outright.
But the policy fails in many ways. Most fraternities will probably use their registered social events for tailgates, a social event they must register. With their allotted registered events spoken for, it's unlikely students will stop drinking altogether - students will simply move unsafe drinking to other locations, either at unregistered fraternity parties or off campus.
The greatest failure of the policy, however, is that a fraternity's alcohol violation has no correspondence to its punishment. The message is clear: If you have a serious alcohol violation, you will be on social probation until the end of the semester, regardless of the severity or time of the violation. The stance is stubborn and brutish - it's like the school is trying to stop a speeding car with a concrete wall instead of speeding ticket.
The school has put a lot of thought into their new probationary policies, but these changes still fail to achieve their ultimate goal - to decrease unsafe drinking at Lehigh.
Social probation used to mean a fraternity could have no registered parties for a time ranging from a couple of weeks to a month. Now probations are lasting much longer - currently eight fraternities are on social probation until the end of the semester, even though their violations occurred at different times in the semester.
The new policy, however, has an intelligent improvement. Fraternities can now earn the right to hold up to three registered social events while on social probation if they go through risk management education.
This change is smart. It gives incentive for fraternity brothers to learn not only how to drink safely, but how to look out and take care of those who drink dangerously. Granting three registered social events gives good reason for fraternities not to break social probation rules outright.
But the policy fails in many ways. Most fraternities will probably use their registered social events for tailgates, a social event they must register. With their allotted registered events spoken for, it's unlikely students will stop drinking altogether - students will simply move unsafe drinking to other locations, either at unregistered fraternity parties or off campus.
The greatest failure of the policy, however, is that a fraternity's alcohol violation has no correspondence to its punishment. The message is clear: If you have a serious alcohol violation, you will be on social probation until the end of the semester, regardless of the severity or time of the violation. The stance is stubborn and brutish - it's like the school is trying to stop a speeding car with a concrete wall instead of speeding ticket.
