AKA gets 5 years, SGRho, 7, for illegal intake, hazing activities
KAP here today, gone tomorrow
By: Danielle Moore
Issue date: 11/19/05 Section: News
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1
Barely three years after suspending two Greek organizations, Rust
College again recently stamped out the activities of two others on
campus.
Three, in fact, considering the back today, gone tomorrow misfortune
of another. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority campus chapters are now proscribed.
Both will not be allowed to carry out or engage in any functions on
campus pertaining to their organization. The AKA is suspended for five
years and the SGRho, seven years.
Dr. Eric Jackson, dean of student affairs at Rust College, said the
two organizations violated the college policy on hazing and new
membership intake. "They get kicked out
because they carried out illegal and unauthorized intake, and they
were hazing as well."
When asked to explain the different punishment meted out to each,
Jackson relates the difference to the severity of the
offense.
He said that the SGRhos were given lengthier suspension because there
was evidence of actual physical abuse, but there was no such report
regarding AKA.
Jackson said the AKAs however engaged in another form of hazing. "AKAs
didn't hit their
victims, but the Gamma Rhos did. They think they could beat anyone.
They physically beat
their victims. AKAs hazing is mental and verbal torture, including
extortion. Hazing in
whatever form is illegal at anytime,"
Jackson said.
"The AKAs forcibly require them to do certain things that are illegal.
They could not eat certain things, they are not supposed to talk to a
boy, they are supposed to dress in certain way, and they extortioned
money from them, including compelling the intakes to buy gifts for
members."
The sororities are barred from sporting their paraphernalia, chanting
their slogan, and hosting any event on campus. The decision to suspend
them and the length, Jackson said, was
made by the college president Dr. David L. Beckley.
"The president steps in and he wants to send a strong message that
here on this campus, we are not going to tolerate it. If you haze, you
are not going to have an organization." Jackson said that students
could get killed, injured, or maimed and the college could get sued.
"This is one measure to protect the college from that kind of
liability that can happen."
Asked if there was any reactions from the regional and national
chapters of each organization on the suspension, Jackson said that
they have been informed; however, there is not much they can do in
this situation.
He explained that any sorority or fraternity on any college campus
exists only because the college allows them. In addition, the schools
have the power to say that Greek life is not permitted at any time
deemed necessary.
"The regional and national chapters were informed on the situation,
but it's the school's ultimate decision to decide whether
or not a sorority or fraternity should be suspended from a college
campus during mishaps of this sort," he said.
Dean Jackson explains the zero tolerance anti-hazing policy. He said
no sorority or fraternity is allowed to physically abuse anyone during
the intake process, take any monies from anyone trying to join that
organization, except the intake fee, nor should any sorority or
fraternity begin an
intake process without the authorization authorization from the school
He said there is a memo that is circulated throughout the campus to
all students informing them of the designated intake process and time
period as approved by the school. The memo fully explains when the
intake process begins and ends, and what is permitted and not during
the intake process.
"They knew about the antihazing policy. They all have the document
that lay out the policy
on hazing and what they are not supposed to do. It's in the student
handbook and the brochure we distribute to everyone." He emphasized,
"Each sorority and fraternity is well aware of the information stated
in the memo."
Soror Keila Crenshaw, the immediate past president of the proscribed
AKA campus chapter, said that she was only "mildly
informed on what was going on," and that she had no idea or knowledge
of the hazing treatment to prospects. She said that she loves her
sisters and "it was quite upsetting" to hear that her sorors behaved
as alleged.
Crenshaw finds the punishment too severe, however. "The entire chapter
did not participate in the action, but the accusations
were brought up on everyone," she said.
Campus advisors to each organization refused to make any public
comments on the issue
when approached by The Rustorian.
In another development, it was a short-lived joy for members of the
Kappa Alpha Psi when the organization made a comeback
last spring after a three-year hiatus on campus.
Twelve new members were inducted including a new campus advisor. But,
this fall the organization got axed again for a repeat violation of
the anti-hazing policy.
This time the fraternity is slapped with a five-year suspension by the
college administration. According to one member, the
suspension is unfair. "What happened did not occur on Rust campus, and
the organization is not even directly involved."
Five years for intimidation?
Come on, that's ridiculous; the graduate chapters and student members in the area need to consider pursuing arbitration.
If the hazing allegations were as serious as meting five years, why not suspend individual members? Yes, the chapter as an entity is also responsible, but five years is nuts.
If five to seven years is going to be a standard term and they have repeat offenders, they should just dismantle the greek system at Rust. It will probably affect their enrollment, but they won't get sued for anything.
Five to seven years is pretty steep. I've heard of worse occuring on Morehouse's campus and the orgs getting maybe 1-2 or a slap on the wrist. I'm not necessarily saying I'm an advocate of hazing but Rust needs to lighten up a bit.
5 and 7 years
wow
but BEATING them?
that aint right
and mental and verbal abuse is JUST as bad if not worse
all this HAZING
when will u greeks learn that it's not necessary
5 and 7 years
wow
but BEATING them?
that aint right
and mental and verbal abuse is JUST as bad if not worse
all this HAZING
when will u greeks learn that it's not necessary
well at Tuskegee.. i think never.
they take turns getting kicked off.
maybe they do it because they like having Alabama State's frats/sorers come up to the school and show them up?
or maybe they like returning to cross these huge lines full of lame people who they take just to get numbers?
either way it doesn't make sense......but what do i know?... :???:
i guess some org's just dont learn. I dont know the details but right now on my yard some of the AKA's got suspended for hazing, Tau Beta Sigma got suspended right after their pro-show, and now even though some of them dont want to admit it the Kappa's are suspended for fighting the Alpha's. not to mention the SGRho's were supposed to be back on the yard last year and got caught trying to run an underground line, but they should be back this year... and the Zeta's got suspended supposedly for hazing. but i think that they are coming back this year...
So right now we have
Iota's
Sigma'
Alpha's
Delta's
some AKA's
KKPsi
and some other ones like Mu Phi Epsilon and Sigma Gamma Psi
willy
physical scars go away
mental scars stay a lot longer
"kicked off"
what the hell
smh
damn shame
If a pledge puts that much credence and self esteem in the comments of a nother human being, they should drop line and return the next year when they are mature enough to handle it.
