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.