Bottoms delays DZ statement; chapter moves forward with reorganization
By: Andy Bruner
Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: News
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Editor's note: An updated version of this article will appear in the Feb. 20 issue of The DePauw.
After planning to release a statement on the controversy surrounding Delta Zeta sorority Friday, President Robert G. Bottoms has decided to release the statement Monday.
In December, DZ nationals asked 23 members of DePauw's Delta chapter to take alumnae status in an effort to reorganize the chapter. Many of the women now on alumnae status have expressed discontent with DZ nationals' actions, sparking a campus-wide debate on the issue.
DePauw administrators have remained largely silent on the question of whether or not DZ nationals' actions were fair to the women involved.
"It's a difficult time for all the students on both sides, and all along we've been trying to support the women who remain with the chapter and those who have left," said Tom Hansen, director of fraternity and sorority affairs.
Dean of Students Cindy Babington invited active DZ members and alumnae to dinner Thursday to discuss ways to move the situation forward. She said that in her talks with the students, she has developed concerns with the way DZ nationals conducted the membership review process by which the organization chose who would remain active and who would be asked to leave the chapter.
"Membership reviews do happen on our campus, but the way they normally happen is you're looking to put on alumni status members who have behavior issues or are creating disruptions … That just wasn't the situation with this one," Babington said.
Babington also echoed concerns expressed by DZ student alumnae who contend that they were told they would have a choice to stay or leave the chapter, but were then forced out.
"I have a couple of big concerns: What criteria was used to place these women on alumnae status?" Babington said. "Maybe the bigger point of contention that I have is that the women … have all reported to me that they were told it would be their choice whether to continue or not. … I just don't think that's what happened."
After planning to release a statement on the controversy surrounding Delta Zeta sorority Friday, President Robert G. Bottoms has decided to release the statement Monday.
In December, DZ nationals asked 23 members of DePauw's Delta chapter to take alumnae status in an effort to reorganize the chapter. Many of the women now on alumnae status have expressed discontent with DZ nationals' actions, sparking a campus-wide debate on the issue.
DePauw administrators have remained largely silent on the question of whether or not DZ nationals' actions were fair to the women involved.
"It's a difficult time for all the students on both sides, and all along we've been trying to support the women who remain with the chapter and those who have left," said Tom Hansen, director of fraternity and sorority affairs.
Dean of Students Cindy Babington invited active DZ members and alumnae to dinner Thursday to discuss ways to move the situation forward. She said that in her talks with the students, she has developed concerns with the way DZ nationals conducted the membership review process by which the organization chose who would remain active and who would be asked to leave the chapter.
"Membership reviews do happen on our campus, but the way they normally happen is you're looking to put on alumni status members who have behavior issues or are creating disruptions … That just wasn't the situation with this one," Babington said.
Babington also echoed concerns expressed by DZ student alumnae who contend that they were told they would have a choice to stay or leave the chapter, but were then forced out.
"I have a couple of big concerns: What criteria was used to place these women on alumnae status?" Babington said. "Maybe the bigger point of contention that I have is that the women … have all reported to me that they were told it would be their choice whether to continue or not. … I just don't think that's what happened."
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