Royal Purple

Issue date: 3/19/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Photo submitted Alpha Sigma members Stephanie Thuilliez, Nicole Maramonte, Amy Younk, Rachel Larsen and Lynsey Dorenbos pose with Willie Warhawk while volunteering with the athletic department on campus.

UW-Whitewater opened its doors in 1868 as the second state normal school. There were very few buildings, many of which don't exist or don't look the same as they did back then. There were 39 students and 9 faculty members, and it goes without saying there weren't many, if any, student organizations. However, there are a few organizations currently present on campus whose history is as great as the university's.

Greek organizations present on campus are some of the oldest institutions on campus. Although most of the UW-Whitewater chapters weren't locally founded until the 1960s and 70s, most were nationally founded around the time UW-Whitewater came to existence.

The university is currently home to 13 Greek chapters and, as of June 2007, those chapters contain 249 students.

Although they only comprise less than 5 percent of the total population of the campus, Greek chapters make a resounding impact on the university and surrounding community.

In recent years the Whitewater Greek community has gotten bad publicity because of the suspension of three fraternities and the probation of a fourth.

The Delta Chi fraternity was on probation for not meeting their national foundation's sanctions when they had a house party that was busted, ultimately landing them on suspension in fall 2004.

Alcohol issues, coupled with alleged mistreatment of members, were also the case for the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity when they were put on probation fall 2005.

The third fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa, was suspended January 2007 for not meeting specific requirements by their national foundation.

Delta Chi has since been approved for expansion, and Lambda Chi Alpha is the process of expansion. Both fraternities may be back at UW-Whitewater by fall 2008 with new members and a clean slate.

The fresh start is something that those involved should take advantage of so they may shed the negative reputation and build their own.

Associate Director of Leadership Development Jan Bilgen said these rebuilding fraternities have a great opportunity at their hands but also a great responsibility to maintain.

Continued...

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