Virginia Tech’s chapter of Delta Zeta is no longer recognized as a student organization by the university and will lose its housing in Oak Lane at the end of the school year.
Byron Hughes, Tech’s assistant director of student conduct, said Delta Zeta has lost recognition for the next two years because of multiple alcohol violations, the most recent of which occurred in January.
A statement from Hughes to the Collegiate Times said the chapter was disciplined because it had multiple offenses in the past three years, a standard that is similar to the individual policies of the Office of Student Conduct.
“For the Delta Zeta chapter, there was a history of risk management related infractions stemming back to 2006, and the latest violation in January 2010 involving the consumption of alcohol by of-age students in their chapter house was considered a violation of both University and national policies for the organization,” Hughes’ statement said.
Delta Zeta is not the only organization to be sanctioned by the university this year.
Hughes listed six organizations that had been stripped of university recognition since the beginning of the fall semester. Five were fraternities or sororities, and the men’s club rugby team was also sanctioned. He said all offenses were alcohol related.
According to the Office of Student Conduct policy, the “loss of recognition” sanction “means that the organization must cease all operations and activities in the Organization’s name including but not limited to, any recruitment of members, any social activities, correspondence or communication, and any financial transactions. We expect that the organization will follow the letter and spirit of this sanction. Thus, alter-egos of a similar name and function of the organization are prohibited.”
Of the organizations stripped of recognition, only Alpha Epsilon Phi was leasing housing from the university. Hughes said the sorority did not move out. Its recognition was stripped for only one year. Because of this, the group was able to negotiate with the housing department to remain in the house.
Delta Zeta will lose its housing at the end of the school year.
Adam Cantley, Tech’s assistant director of fraternity and sorority life, said some members would not be punished by the national organizations.
“Individual members were allowed to keep their membership, but this is at the discretion of the national organization,” Cantley said.
He also said the university worked with the national organization, and the decision to strip the chapter of its recognition was a joint decision.
Delta Zeta’s national organization did not return calls from the CT.
Hughes’ statement said the school never wants students to feel alcohol consumption is a required activity of a student organization.
“Virginia Tech is committed to student learning and academic success and we have created a conduct system, which allows us to address activities by individual students and registered student organizations who engage in activities that are counter to this learning experience,” Hughes said.
“Of particular concern for registered student organizations is the use of alcohol and its relation to high-risk behavior, as well as situations that would cause a new member to believe that participation in these activities is necessary for membership.”
In addition to Delta Zeta and Alpha Epsilon Phi, Delta Kappa Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon, Pi Kappa Psi and Alpha Tau Omega have been sanctioned in some way during the current academic year.
A version of this article appeared in the Apr 7 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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FACT CHECK: alpha epsilon pi and phi kappa psi
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It would seem that students in the greek community just are not getting the message. I would have thought that with the first organization losing recognition due to alcohol violations that the others might get the message, and definitely after the 2nd and 3rd....apparently they aren't getting the message. That is sad given the quality of education that they receive. I would have hoped these organization would have elected better leaders who are capable of actually curbing their members activities and behaviors. Apparently not.
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It would seem that the administration and politicians just are not getting the message. I would have thought that with every college student ever drinking alcohol and maybe even *gasp* smoking a little dope and most of them getting out just fine that they might get the message, and definitely after every other college student ever... apparently they aren't getting the message. This is sad because they are failing to represent the people's real interests. I would have hoped that the people would elect more sensible leaders capable of making policies that are attuned with reality and prevent us from taking truly risky behaviors, not having a good time. Apparently not.
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If you are honestly saying that alcohol and drugs do not increase risk-taking behavior enough to be of concern, then you should do some research. Just because "most of them get out just fine" does not mean that a great number of people haven't been adversely affected by the stupidity of young people who are "having a good time."
Also, college students are not the center of the universe. They are not the only people with interests that politicians must represent. Furthermore, college administrators have a right to set rules for the people that represent their institutions, and if that doesn't work for someone, nobody will hold a gun to his/her head and make him/her go to college.
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Let's see if VT's sports programs are suspended or dropped when members drink alcohol or violate other rules.
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actually, they are, read the news, players who violate rules are treated HARSHER
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As a side note, since Virginia Tech has almost made it impossible for a sorority or fraternity to exist (without it being modeled after the Brady Bunch), I don't think it is a wise investment to expand the Oak Lane community. I would rather see no Greek organizations than a bunch of fake scripted clubs. I think its sad when the ABC Family version of a Greek system wouldn't survive at Virginia Tech for a day.
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fact! well put
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Wow - this is worse than when Eric Norman was around!
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I don't get why people think this is the University being draconian about its alcohol policy. It is the national orginization for Delta Zeta that required this sorority to be dry. There are wet fraternities in Oak Lane so it isn't Tech barring alochol.
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If it were just the National organization requiring the chapter to be dry, DZ would still be around. Panhellenic votes on whether or not they want sorority houses to be dry or not. And in case you all are wondering, the issue is not of underage drinking...the sanctions were brought on because of age girls were drinking in the house...
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I love those boys of Alpha Epsilon Phi
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Can we not call them "wet" fraternities. How about normal fraternities. And, we all know national HQ gets there information from Virginia Tech. Why can't we just let boys be boys (girls be girls), a little fun never hurt anyone. College will be some of the greatest years of your life; unless you are one of those people that enjoys their job, and in that case a little fun may hurt you. There seems to be a rule and regulation for everything these days. Speaking of that, it is a nice day outside...I think I will have a beer, enjoy the sun, and break some rules and regulations.
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So why do any Greeks want to sign on to Oak Lane? Isn't that like signing up to have your organization under the control of VT 24/7?
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For sororities to do recruitment at Tech they HAVE to be on campus. It has to do with PanHellenic regulations- prospective members must spend an equal amount of time during the first rounds of recruitment at each house. One sorority used to be off campus a few years back and it was just too much of a hassle, took too much time and too difficult to maintain the timing required.
The other thing is Tech doesnt just kick you off campus, there are many warnings and restrictions that are given before it goes to that extreme (i.e. loss of socials and participation in certain greek events).
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I don't why people act surprised and complain. YOU chose the organization and YOU chose to break the rules. Like orgs that haze and get caught and get mad when they get in trouble. Stop b!tching and use your heads next time. In the end I just hope it was worth it.
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Yeah, this is really going to make a difference. The drunken sorority girls will just join the herds of tech students seeking out off campus parties around Blacksburg... the same parties that tech continues to ignore as the primary contributor to the underage drinking problem. Steger, get a clue.
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There will always be underage people drinking at college. The 'drunken sorority girls' you speak of will just join the 'drunken everyone elses.'
And just so you know... Steger doesn't have anything to do with Panhellenic.
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It shocks me when people look down upon Greek Life, yet the majority of the student leaders on this campus are Greek...
How are people so naive to associate a few horrible Greek organizations with other Greek organizations who make a positive impact on Virginia Tech.
STOP GENERALIZING! and realize that there are Greek students who are not self centered, spoiled, and unintelligent.
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i agree. But with so much emphasis placed on 'tradition' by greeks themselves, its easy to see how you can generalize. The very idea of greekdom revolves around the traditions that sustain it, good and bad. Generalizing is wrong, but many greek organizations perpetuate the generalized perceptions that others have about them. its a sad and simple fact.
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we choose to avoid student leadership positions because we're well aware that the power and ability to change our situation in such positions is nominal. Also, how do you think people get to those positions? Greek life has a built in network of course. Take a look at the actual number of votes sometime and where they originate.
meanwhile, the rest of us will be busy in our internship/research positions, working towards real change.
I love Greek organizations because when I see someone wearing greek letters it immediately identifies a person who probably cannot hold honest discourse. Sorry to generalize, I know you hate it - but you realize those stereotypes exist and subscribe to them anyway. Why are almost all of you orange with bleached hair, carrying an l.l. bean tote bag, wearing a north face jacket, uggs in the winter...shall I continue?
I did date a member of a social fraternity once but he was an engineer and never wore letters.
Anyway, there are rules that you are given when you join these societies. I'm sorry you are incensed over the issue - even though you all are the ones who flagrantly disregarded them. If you want to drink and not be punished for it, then do it with your real friends instead of joining some Machiavellian organization. At least the ones who were behaving appropriately were not stripped of their membership.
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Sounds like someone is bitter from not getting a bid. I hear Chess Club will take anyone!
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"He also said the university worked with the national organization, and the decision to strip the chapter of its recognition was a joint decision."
Just to set the record straight, Delta Zeta's National organization had nothing to do with this decision. They were behind them 100% and were completely devastated when they heard of the sanctions.
What happened to responsible journalism?
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According to the information given to DZ Alumni - Nationals are the ones that made the decision to pull the charter. They were not behind you and are probably tired of being embarassed by your hazing and coke problems and drunken slutty pictures. DZ has been an embarassment to the Greek system for years...good riddance!
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I can verify that members of Delta Zeta, and a lot more than six, have done coke in that house several times. Furthermore, I know for a fact that they have used this as a recruitment strategy with new girls.
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Why are students being punished for things that happened in 2006? Half of that sorority was still in high school then. Tech needs to seriously rethink it's protocol.
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Unfortunately, DZ is closed because six women of legal age, drank alcohol on campus in the house, but yet, VT punishes an additional 150 women because of these 6 ladies. Hmmmm, so when are the sports teams going to be thrown off campus, or better yet, when are all the residence halls going to be closed because of all the UNDERAGE Drinking....please note....the ladies were of legal drinking age.
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@MBE, read the news before you spread libelous statements about Virginia Tech Athletics, we are treated harsher than non student-athletes
ironic: the CAPTCHA thing that prevents spamming made me type in "patsies notified" very fitting I think...
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This is not the first incident that this sorority has encountered and they knew they were on the radar far before this happened. All sororities know that they are being watched extremely closely, especially ones who have already been in trouble, i.e., with suspension of all social privileges. This is no surprise to members of the greek community, I am sure. And while it is unfortunate that a whole chapter had to suffer because of the poor judgement of a few girls that is how a sorority works. Everyone, even the bad apples, share the same letters. Some people just don't worry about the effects of their actions on other people.
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Delta Zeta has done some amazing things that people don't recognize. Virginia Tech's punishment was too harsh.
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TOGA! TOGA! TOGAAAAA!
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Wow, that will really put a stop to the off campus wild parties... NOT
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