Aggie Greeks - Big Ideas. Big Results

The title is in direct reference to the Office of Greek Life's website, which has removed reference to the official Moratorium that is supposed to extend until the end of next week.

After a "town hall" Thursday, the Office of Greek Life officially lifted its moratorium and removed reference to the incident from their website, just in time for this weekend's football game. College Station plays host this weekend to the Nebraska Cornhuskers and news cameras alike. The message is crystal clear to undergraduate and alumni Greeks of Texas A&M University: bad ideas = bad results.

May we look toward the future of our wonderful community, an integral componant of Texas A&M tradition, and toward achieving big results from big ideas, as Aggies and as Greeks.

Update to Greek Life Office: "Values-Based Behaviors"

In reference to the Greek Life Office posting to this website, we need not respond to their general complaint of Aggie Greeks’ failure to deliver “values-based behaviors.”  We continue to receive a steady stream of information from undergraduate Greeks in College Station regarding their efforts in the community.  Over the past weekend, the men of the Interfraternity Council unintentionally delivered the response for us.  Without assistance or participation from any member of the Greek Life Office staff (despite invitations, we’re told), the Texas A&M IFC hosted a charity golf tournament which raised over $3,500.00 for a local philanthropy. 

As a sign of support for this and the many great works of Aggie Greek organizations, and as an example to the Greek Life Office of a creative way to support Aggie Greeks, a portion of the donations received on this site will be split for the benefit of the charity-of-choice of each of the four Greek councils impacted by the University’s Moratorium.  To all who have reached out to Aggie Greeks and wondered how to best stand in solidarity during this difficult time, please consider making your voice heard with a charitable donation.

University Defends Moratorium: A Fact Check

In response to the Open Letter published on this blog last Friday, a poster identifying himself as the “Assistant Director of the Office of Greek Life,” defended the absence of due process under which the University issued its blanket Moratorium on all Greek social and recruiting activities. The poster wrote, "[i]nstitutions such as Purdue University, Clemson University and Cornell have instituted moratoriums such as the one implemented by the Department of Greek Life.”

Though we categorically reject the premise that actions of sister institutions provide precedent for the University’s recent treatment of fellow Aggies, simple investigation reveals that at least two of the moratoriums cited as similar to the University’s Moratorium in fact came about under anything-but-similar circumstances.

A representative of the Greek Life Office at Cornell University revealed that its moratorium occurred at the peak of the H1N1 virus outbreak, which had already taken the life of a Cornell Greek student. Although the moratorium restricted Greeks from hosting social functions for one week, no moratorium was ever in effect for risk management or behavioral issues. Unlike Texas A&M University’s Moratorium, serious and specific health concerns drove the Cornell moratorium.

While risk management issues apparently did play a role in the Purdue University moratorium, the decision to issue Purdue’s moratorium came only after student-lead approval of the same. A representative of the Purdue University administration indicated that university staff requested all members of Greek Life to attend a meeting to discuss problems with unapproved parties and hard alcohol at chapter houses. After the meeting, the students — on their own accord — discussed the issue. After three hours of deliberation, the students decided to institute a moratorium. Nine days after implementing it, the same students then lifted the moratorium.**

The Texas A&M Greek Life Office’s failure to discuss the Moratorium with Greek students and former students disappoints us.

We hereby renew our call for the University to lift the Moratorium and request that the University explain the source of its authority to summarily issue the Moratorium without even the semblance of due process.

**Note: At the time of posting this update, the Clemson Greek Life Office had not responded to requests to discuss the circumstances surrounding its moratorium.

Greek Department Bans Fraternity Tailgating on Eve of Biggest Crowd in Kyle Field History

Texas A&M University’s Office of Greek Life notified Greek organizations that its Moratorium on all Greek social activities extends to tailgating events planned to be held at the Nebraska Football Game this Saturday, November 20.

The announcement came just after the Aggie football win over Baylor and as 19th-ranked Texas A&M prepares to take on 8th-ranked Nebraska this Saturday.

In a weekend announcement, the Office of Greek Life stated:

“Individual members who want to host tailgates and wish to include alcoholic beverages may do so but not under the name of their chapter. Alumnae who wish to hold a tailgate are certainly welcome to do so. However we encourage alumnae to take precautions such that it does not appear to be an undergraduate chapter event.”

Several fraternities and sororities on campus had reserved this weekend to host their respective alumni reunions, which collectively pump thousands of dollars into the Bryan-College Station economy each year.

Texas A&M University announced its official “12th Man Day” for the Nebraska Football game with an enthusiastic proclamation that 27,000 Aggie students will help set the record “for the largest student crowd in the history of college football” (per the University website). Greeks comprise over 12% of the total university population (per Greek Life Website) and, collectively, the largest student organization on Texas A&M’s campus.

Former students, who anxiously awaited the University's announcement, breathed a sigh of relief upon receiving the Greek Life Office's official permission to tailgate prior to Saturday's game. 

An Open Letter to Texas A&M University’s Department of Student Affairs and Greek Life Office

An Open Letter to Texas A&M University’s

Department of Student Affairs and Greek Life Office

It has come to the attention of former Aggie Greek students that on November 10, 2010, the Texas A&M Department of Greek Life (the “University”) issued a moratorium (the “Moratorium”) on all Greek social and recruiting activities.

While the University’s reasons for the Moratorium are not entirely clear, they appear to be based on a handful of allegations involving a small number of students as well as general complaints of poor attendance at University-sponsored initiatives.

While we recognize the University’s frustrations, we are deeply concerned that the blanket Moratorium is arbitrary in that it applies to all Greek students, taints the reputation of all Greek Life, and lowers the morale of all Greek members. The Moratorium discourages leadership within individual chapters and punishes those whose conduct had nothing to do with the University’s litany of grievances.

We hereby call on the University to lift the Moratorium.

We hereby request that University issue a report on the circumstances under which it made the decision to issue the Moratorium.

We hereby demand significant and meaningful Aggie Greek former student involvement in the development of the University’s proposed “Task Force Charge to Aggie Greek Standards”.

We know first hand the great promise of Greek Life - we have lived it and are more successful for it. Our common experience is one of friendship in its truest, lifelong form, and one of social, philanthropic, and leadership opportunities unparalleled in other student organizations at Texas A&M University. We are proud of our Aggie Greek background and have found it to be a basis of our success as we’ve experienced life beyond College Station. We trust that the University will join our efforts to ensure the unique Aggie Greek experience lives as a proud tradition for current and future generations of Aggies.

Sincerely,

Concerned Former Students

University's Disciplinary Reactions to Individual Students

Has Texas A&M University appropriately reacted to complaints on individual students?
What role should Greek Life Advisers play at the university?
Are Greek Life Advisers paid to discipline or champion the Greek community?


Ann Goodman
Director of Greek Life
ann-goodman@tamu.edu
Tel. 979.862.5636
Fax 979.862.1026

Nick Zuniga
Assistant Director of Greek Life
nickz@tamu.edu
Tel. 979.862.5636

Joe Weber
Vice President Student Affairs
vpsa@tamu.edu
Tel. (979) 845-4728

Dave Parrott
Associate VP Student Affairs
Tel. (979) 845-4728
davep@tamu.edu

Association of Former Students
Phone: (979) 845-7514
Fax: (979) 845-9263

Administration Shuts Down All Greek Organizations!

Actual "Moratorium Letter:"
Division of Student Affairs
Department of Greek Life
November 10, 2010

Dear Aggie Greek Chapter President:
This letter is written to inform you, as the president of your Aggie Greek fraternity or sorority, the University has initiated a moratorium on all Aggie fraternity and sorority social events. This action is being taken as the result of a number of reports involving hazing, alcohol abuse, assaults, dating violence, and overall complaints regarding the individual and collective behavior of members of Texas A&M University fraternities and sororities.

As of 12:00am on November 11, 2010, fraternity and sorority chapters that are members of the Interfraternity Council, Multicultural Greek Council, Collegiate Panhellenic Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council are not to proceed with any new member activities nor host or have any type of social event, house party, or informal gathering which could be perceived as being a chapter-related activity. This moratorium restricts the consumption of alcohol within individual chapter houses, chapter facilities, and prohibits all chapter functions from including alcohol regardless of location. This restriction will be in place until 12:00am midnight November 24, 2010. Philanthropic events, community service and/or educational programs that reflect and encourage high Greek standards may continue.

The Department of Greek Life will be hosting an All-Greek Town Hall Meeting at 7:00pm, November 18, 2010 in Rudder Auditorium at which 75% of each chapter’s membership is required to attend. At that time, Department of Greek Life officials will outline plans regarding the creation of a Aggie Greek Community Standards program to address issues associated with problematic chapter behaviors that include but are not limited to underage drinking, alcohol abuse and unsafe pledging or new member activities.

Given the potential for life-threatening accidents to occur if these expectations are not met, individual chapters that do not comply with the social moratorium will be placed on immediate Interim Suspension by the Director of Greek Life pending an investigation. Any chapter found to be in violation of this moratorium, via the University Greek Judicial Board adjudication process, will be immediately suspended through spring 2011.

Should you have any questions about this matter please feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,
Ann C. Goodman Director of Greek Life
cc: Inter/National Fraternity & Sorority Presidents
Inter/National Fraternity & Sorority Executive Directors
Faculty Advisors, Texas A&M University
Chapter & Alumnae Advisors Mr. C.J. Woods, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs