Royal Purple

Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Alison Wisneski Sigma Sigma Sigma shows its support for the new fraternity, Delta Chi, by displaying a banner on their front porch?Tuesday. Delta Chi was suspended in 2004.

Two fraternities are looking to join the Greek community at UW-Whitewater.

The first, Delta Chi, has had a chapter on campus before. The fraternity was suspended in Dec. 2004 resulting from two offenses of serving alcohol to minors and three occasions of selling marijuana by two fraternity members from the chapter house.

The other fraternity seeking recognition, Sigma Tau Gamma, is opening its first chapter on the UW- Whitewater campus.

"I think that any time we have more student organization options, it's a good thing and it adds diversity and richness to the campus," said Mary Beth Mackin, assistant dean of Student Life.

One of the incidents involving underage drinking took place in December 2004, and resulted in probation of the chapter from the Whitewater campus. Upon a second offense by the chapter while they were still under probation, the fraternity was suspended from the campus for two years.

Both groups have undergone a rigorous process which first involves contacting the national organization of their fraternity.

Once they go through the steps within their organizations each must receive a two-thirds majority vote from the Inter Fraternity Council to be considered for what is known as expansion. Expansion regards fraternities that have previously had a chapter at UW-Whitewater.

"We're very supportive of the concept of our Greek community on our campus," said Dean of Students, Jeff Janz. "We are very happy that we have communities that are going through expansion."

Assuming a fraternity has received the two-thirds majority vote needed, they must then seek the recognition of the university. and be granted a probationary membership in the IFC.

The fraternity will need to recruit new members as well as including two members in the IFC. The university has strict guidelines that new fraternities must follow to be granted official status.

All new fraternities seeking university recognition must submit governing documents of their specific fraternity and of the national chapter. This includes the fraternity constitution, by-laws and any other rules enforced by the fraternity and its national organization.

The fraternity needs to have a UW-Whitewater employee endorsing the fraternity and serve as a chapter advisor.

Finally, the advisor and the fraternity president must sign an anti-hazing agreement. The president must also pass and complete an anti-hazing quiz from the university.

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