A proposal that would give IFC an active role in disciplining fraternities for minor infractions has been sent to Dean of Students Myrna Hernandez and is awaiting her approval, according to Interfraternity Council President Andrew St. John. St. John updated chapter presidents and representatives on the progress the council had made with the proposal at last Tuesday's IFC all-president's meeting.
IFC and the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life are continuing to build a committee to oversee reports of fraternities engaging in minor infractions, such as noise complaints or unregistered events, instead of the Community Standards committee.
Currently Public Safety can submit any suspected violations immediately to the Community Standards committee. A common sentiment expressed by the Greek representatives seemed to agree was that the community standards process takes too long.
With the proposed changes, a fraternity could then appeal to the whole council of chapter of IFC presidents if they disagree with the punishment. More major infractions would still be sent to Community Standards under this proposal.
“We are trying to kind of rebuild the system and move towards self-governance,” said St. John In an interview after the meeting. St. John says he is continuing to work with the office of Fraternity and Sorority Life as well as Myrna Hernandez and Vice President for Student Academic Life Alan Hill to make these changes.
IFC’s proposal has been approved by Aicha Konte from Community Standards three weeks ago. St. John said that more details on the proposal would be available after feedback is received from Dean of students, Myrna Hernandez.
Another of the possible changes would allow the council to pay for security for chapter events using money from dues paid to IFC. Chapter dues are based off of the size of their brotherhoods with larger chapters paying more than smaller chapters, according to Nick Baxter, IFC vice president of administration.
The Interfraternity Council is also working with Alcohol Initiatives to reevaluate some of the rules that fraternities have to follow for events. Representatives from all IFC chapters, including the prospective chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, are going to be a part of this subcommittee. Some IFC members have already begun thinking on rules that should be changed.
When Phi Gamma Delta President Da’jeal Willaby-Partee brought up the need to register fraternity Parents Weekend events on CampusLabs and hire security, the IFC meeting exploded in a cacophonous criticism of university policies.
“That is one of the policies we need to change,” said St. John in response.