Silence is deafening
Issue date: 2/2/07 Section: Editorial
- Page 1 of 1
Intellectual engagement, unique opportunities, community engagement, supportive relationships - these are the pillars that are supposed to stand strong in upholding the learning environment and overall community at DePauw.
For the members of Delta Zeta sorority, these four pillars came crashing down on Dec. 2 when they learned the effects of an unethical membership review process. Delta Zeta national headquarters, who initially told the women of DZ that their continued involvement in the active chapter would be voluntary, reneged on their word and forced 23 members to move out of the house and take alumnae status.
Although the actions of DZ nationals contradict the premise of our community covenant, in the weeks following, the campus response in addressing the issue was lacking, to say the least.
Few greek organizations - including the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils - publicly issued any statement, reached out to any of the members or former members, or called for a public investigation into the actions of DZ nationals. Aside from Cindy Babbington, Dean of Students, and President Bottoms, the administration has remained silent as well. The only group to react in any organized manner was the faculty, who asked Bottoms to investigate the issue further. That is not to say that there was no conversation had among faculty, students and staff concerning DZ. But talk is cheap; the women who were affected by these changes, whether you agree with them or not, are active students in our campus community. And they deserve more than just talk. Doesn't the covenant demand it?
When the 23 women were forced to take alumnae status, the unique opportunities that once derived from the numerous chapter leadership positions which these women held were stripped away. The supportive relationships that, for many, were an integral part of sisterhood, were severed when the women were separated - some as actives, others as alumnae. With a majority of the women being asked to move out of the house, the community engagement that once was alive in campus-wide philanthropies such as Turtlepalooza and Turtle Trek was put to an end. And the timing of the DZ national's announcement added even more stress to the already stressful exam week last December, potentially influencing some women's ability to successfully fulfill the intellectual engagement principle that we, as a higher educational body, hold so dear.
The greek community and University are now at a crossroads, an intersection that will put to test the commitment of the administration, trustees, greek chapters, greek students, faculty and staff to truly improve our greek system. If nothing is done, then is this the kind of greek system that we want at DePauw? It is easy to find the link on the University Web site marked "Greek Progress," but that progress is a bit more difficult to see as major steps in the wrong direction are going unrecognized.
With the removal of 23 members of Delta Zeta sorority in December, we lost more than a valued sisterhood - we lost sight of the principles we claim to stand for, the principles that are meant to elevate us to a higher standard.
-Mike Morris and Robin Lamkin did not contribute to this editorial.
For the members of Delta Zeta sorority, these four pillars came crashing down on Dec. 2 when they learned the effects of an unethical membership review process. Delta Zeta national headquarters, who initially told the women of DZ that their continued involvement in the active chapter would be voluntary, reneged on their word and forced 23 members to move out of the house and take alumnae status.
Although the actions of DZ nationals contradict the premise of our community covenant, in the weeks following, the campus response in addressing the issue was lacking, to say the least.
Few greek organizations - including the Panhellenic and Interfraternity councils - publicly issued any statement, reached out to any of the members or former members, or called for a public investigation into the actions of DZ nationals. Aside from Cindy Babbington, Dean of Students, and President Bottoms, the administration has remained silent as well. The only group to react in any organized manner was the faculty, who asked Bottoms to investigate the issue further. That is not to say that there was no conversation had among faculty, students and staff concerning DZ. But talk is cheap; the women who were affected by these changes, whether you agree with them or not, are active students in our campus community. And they deserve more than just talk. Doesn't the covenant demand it?
When the 23 women were forced to take alumnae status, the unique opportunities that once derived from the numerous chapter leadership positions which these women held were stripped away. The supportive relationships that, for many, were an integral part of sisterhood, were severed when the women were separated - some as actives, others as alumnae. With a majority of the women being asked to move out of the house, the community engagement that once was alive in campus-wide philanthropies such as Turtlepalooza and Turtle Trek was put to an end. And the timing of the DZ national's announcement added even more stress to the already stressful exam week last December, potentially influencing some women's ability to successfully fulfill the intellectual engagement principle that we, as a higher educational body, hold so dear.
The greek community and University are now at a crossroads, an intersection that will put to test the commitment of the administration, trustees, greek chapters, greek students, faculty and staff to truly improve our greek system. If nothing is done, then is this the kind of greek system that we want at DePauw? It is easy to find the link on the University Web site marked "Greek Progress," but that progress is a bit more difficult to see as major steps in the wrong direction are going unrecognized.
With the removal of 23 members of Delta Zeta sorority in December, we lost more than a valued sisterhood - we lost sight of the principles we claim to stand for, the principles that are meant to elevate us to a higher standard.
-Mike Morris and Robin Lamkin did not contribute to this editorial.
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