Bottoms releases letter to DZ nationals; chapter reorganization moves forward
By: Andy Bruner
Issue date: 2/20/07 Section: News
DZ nationals Executive Director Cindy Menges said the chapter will continue with reorganization plans nonetheless.
"We're going to continue with three or none or 30," she said. "I don't know that you can say that you're off-track in a situation like this."
Menges confirmed, however, that she approached Babington about closing down the chapter temporarily if the University could assure DZ it could re-colonize.
"Under the circumstances we are not prepared to make such a guarantee," Bottoms' letter says.
The reorganization began last September when the University informed DZ nationals that the same request could not be granted, per University policy.
A freshman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had originally accepted a bid to DZ, but the controversy surrounding the chapter influenced her decision not to pledge.
During rush, she said, "they had girls from other schools, and they tried to make it sound like the typical perfect sorority, but you knew it wasn't going to be like that."
The freshman said she asked DZ members during recruitment about the women who took alumnae status and the chapter's future plans.
"They never got specific. They just said they were trying to reform things," she said. "Every time I tried to ask them a question, they didn't really have an answer."
Though Menges said the reorganization was necessary because of a negative perception of the chapter on campus, the freshman said she and her friends who received bids from DZ decided not to pledge specifically because of the chapter's new image.
"We all got together and talked about it and tried to have an open mind," she said. "But all of us were really against what they did, and we didn't want to be associated with it."
Letter announces new greek housing policy
In addition to expressing the University's concerns with Delta Zeta nationals' actions, President Robert G. Bottoms' letter to DZ National President Deborah Raziano announced a new requirement for University living standards aimed to prevent a similar controversy at other greek chapters.
"We're going to continue with three or none or 30," she said. "I don't know that you can say that you're off-track in a situation like this."
Menges confirmed, however, that she approached Babington about closing down the chapter temporarily if the University could assure DZ it could re-colonize.
"Under the circumstances we are not prepared to make such a guarantee," Bottoms' letter says.
The reorganization began last September when the University informed DZ nationals that the same request could not be granted, per University policy.
A freshman, who asked to remain anonymous, said she had originally accepted a bid to DZ, but the controversy surrounding the chapter influenced her decision not to pledge.
During rush, she said, "they had girls from other schools, and they tried to make it sound like the typical perfect sorority, but you knew it wasn't going to be like that."
The freshman said she asked DZ members during recruitment about the women who took alumnae status and the chapter's future plans.
"They never got specific. They just said they were trying to reform things," she said. "Every time I tried to ask them a question, they didn't really have an answer."
Though Menges said the reorganization was necessary because of a negative perception of the chapter on campus, the freshman said she and her friends who received bids from DZ decided not to pledge specifically because of the chapter's new image.
"We all got together and talked about it and tried to have an open mind," she said. "But all of us were really against what they did, and we didn't want to be associated with it."
Letter announces new greek housing policy
In addition to expressing the University's concerns with Delta Zeta nationals' actions, President Robert G. Bottoms' letter to DZ National President Deborah Raziano announced a new requirement for University living standards aimed to prevent a similar controversy at other greek chapters.
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