Dean of Students Penny Rue and members of the fraternity working group she leads are heading to the University of Maryland today to check out its Greek system and gather ideas about how to improve the fraternity system at the University.
Rue and other representatives of the committee went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Washington & Lee University last month to see how the fraternity systems work at the University's peer institutions. A fourth trip to the University of Pennsylvania is planned for the beginning of December.
The trips enable the committee to "pick and choose good ideas" for possible changes to the University's Greek system, said Rue, who created the fraternity working group during last spring's heated debate over deferred rush.
She started the group to strengthen the fraternities without moving rush back to the fall. The committee is planning to eventually make a recommendation to the University's Board of Visitors.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway, who traveled to UNC and Washington & Lee, plans to attend the remaining two trips.
The group will "gain information, and with that new information, have discussions about the ways in which we might be able to address concerns about supporting and strengthening the Inter-Fraternity Council fraternities at the University," Laushway said.
Rue said they specifically will look at how other schools manage fraternity facilities, how they garner alumni involvement, how they enforce judiciary standards, how fraternity governance works and what the structures are for recognizing fraternity excellence.
Rue said she particularly was impressed with the "gorgeous" fraternity houses at Washington & Lee.
Washington & Lee leases the houses to the fraternities' alumni house corporations, which enables the school to provide daily custodial services and frequent inspections, said Buddy Atkins, Washington & Lee associate dean of students.
But the Washington & Lee administration has more control over their fraternities than the University has.
"They don't believe in student self-governance as much as we do," said Josh Johnson, committee member and IFC vice president for party patrol.
The University's Greek system is unique in that it is one of the few in the nation that does not have direct administrative oversight.
Instead, each fraternity has a Fraternal Organization Agreement which establishes formal relationship with the University.
Johnson said he could not predict if the University's Greek System is heading in the direction of Washington & Lee, but that the fraternity working group will use the information from the trips to determine what's best for the University.
Read More
Students have federal internship offers rescinded due to hiring freeze
By Nina Broderick | YesterdayUntil July 15, no presently vacant federal civilian positions may be filled, and no new positions may be created.
Man dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at the Rotunda
By Ford McCracken | YesterdayThe investigation is ongoing, and additional details are not available at this time.
Virginia primary elections feature contested race for Democratic Lt. Gov. candidate
By Nicolas Biernacki | YesterdayEligible voters can find more information about early voting by consulting the City Department of Voter Registration & Elections website or the County Department of Elections website.
