Greeks can slide through the cracks with a little loophole
‘The foreshadowing of Phi Detla Theta’s Luau event is clear to everyone but Phi Delta Theta, apparently.’
Phi Delta Theta is currently under investigation for hazing and sexual misconduct at their annual luau event.
Greek organizations serve a purpose. Students who commit to a fraternity or sorority spread philanthropy, build members as humanitarians, and promote a safe and friendly campus community.
These and other benefits are now lost in the shadows after one of Wichita State’s most-recognized fraternities, Phi Delta Theta, has been placed on suspension due to multiple allegations of misconduct, including a year-old case of sexual misconduct that is being investigated.
In all, members pledge for the Greek community to gain a sense of belonging, and have high-spirited fun with their sorority sisters or fraternity brothers. There’s no shame in young, college-aged students having a good time.
Phi Delta Theta is currently under investigation for hazing and sexual misconduct at their annual luau event.
Student Conduct and Community Standards is looking into a case multiple female Greeks described as “non-consensual sexual behavior during a Luau event hosted by Phi Delta Theta Fraternity in 2016.”
Phi Delt’s Luau, a Hawaiian-themed party, is annually held off-campus. In 2016, Phi Delts and their dates gathered at a Phi Delt alumni’s home. The party ends with attendees sleeping in tents on the property. Sorority guests invited as a date are allowed to share the tent of their inviter. Sorority members also had the option of sleeping in a tent designated for their sorority, witnesses said; and some elected to sleep in their car.
Let’s be real, if a fraternity member invites you to Luau, it’s implied that you will share a tent with your invitee.
And Phi Delta Theta members wonder why they’re facing suspension for sexual misconduct.
The foreshadowing of this event is clear to everyone but Phi Delta Theta, apparently.
This is similar to a mother telling her child not to play catch in the house with his brother. The kids know it’s a fun activity and assume a simple game of catch can’t possibly go awry, but the mother knows it’s only a short matter of time before the two shatter a vase.
WSU’s Office of Title IX is also investigating the Luau event for misconduct. Title IX forbids sexual harassment and sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funding. In this case, WSU is legally required to respond promptly to remedy hostile educational environments.
Fraternities slide through the rules through one loophole, hosting events outside the frat house, all the time. Sometimes it’s at a member’s parent’s house, other times they turn to alumni. Outside of the frat house, they’re able to load up on beer — not permitted inside the frat house — and bend other rules. If a crime happens outside of the frat house, it has a lesser chance, if any at all, of hurting the image fraternity’s image — that would be catastrophic.
Phi Delta Theta isn’t the only WSU Greek organization to host events off-campus.
Hosting off-campus is lesser of a liability. Liability isn’t the only reason, but it’s a strong one.
WSU’s Title IX office is supposed to respond to hostile environments, but a situation like this makes stepping in a challenge. Who’s to say covered up stuff doesn’t happen at off-campus events all the time?
Incidents similar to this one will likely continue to slide through the cracks, and there’s no remedy. WSU has a questionable involvement they’ll only struggle to step into.
Greek organizations at WSU should hold themselves to higher standards and rely less on the university to step in and reinforce policy.
There’s a lot going on that hasn’t been addressed at times when it should have been a priority. Phi Delta Theta’s Luau event and the banner incident from earlier this year could have been prevented.
I don’t clearly understand the Greek system at WSU, the university’s involvement and how the two relate, and I don’t think others see it either. Until anyone can offer some clear definition, incidents like this will sideline our university and Greek community.
Evan Pflugradt is the former sports editor of The Sunflower. Pflugradt past served as the publication's Editor in Chief, Opinion Editor and a reporter....
Brian is the photo editor at The Sunflower. Hayes is a junior majoring in mass communication with an emphasis in journalism. He is from Wichita. Hayes enjoys...
@TheYoung_Stag • Oct 30, 2017 at 4:39 pm
Why does the university govern where students can drink boos at? This is America, wake up you f#@×$.
Greek Man • Oct 23, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Listen. No greek organization is going to host an event in their facility for a wide variety of reasons. But, they are not trying to seek a “loophole” when they have an event off their property. First, most greek facilities do not have the adequate space to host a “date event”. Furthermore, the event is made more special for a date event by choosing a venue. Third, greek organizations have restraints under their insurance policies as to what kind of activities can take place inside their facilities. When alcohol is being served, there are a lot of restrictions making it important to seek a venue that will better accommodate the event, such as security and bartending. It has long been known that the men’s groups are not as stringent as the women’s and the women usually have much more engaged advisors supervising their events and managing risk. But, to say that they are maliciously trying to get away with something by not hosting a date event on their property just highlights how little you understand about greek life, how a chapter operates, and the restrictions dictated by the national organizations. So, you can just step off and go do some actual RESEARCH as to how these things work inside an IFC or NPC greek group. Until then, just shut the hell up!
Enlighten Us • Oct 25, 2017 at 11:12 am
Please enlighten us some. What alum hosted this event at their house that was stated as Waterfront and 13th? I have an idea who that might be but don’t want to guess since you can tell us facts.
List the specific training that staff at WSU provide and what the requirements are. There is a powerpoint.
If the rules are the same for all Greek organizations, why are you telling us men’s groups are not as stringent?
Many know how the groups work but it would be great to learn more from an insider.
Fellow Greek • Oct 23, 2017 at 4:02 pm
“I don’t clearly understand Greek life “…so you proceed to write about and assume things about Greek Life? Can anyone write things on this “newspaper”? I’m more likely to cite Wikipedia over this crap.
Alcohol Poisoning • Oct 23, 2017 at 2:32 pm
Are you going to talk about the students who nearly died with the alcohol poisoning issues? Do you need a death to happen?
@TheYoung_Stag • Oct 30, 2017 at 4:37 pm
Is it the university’s job to control the level to which people drink? No. The University needs to mind its own business.
Greek life info • Oct 23, 2017 at 1:43 pm
I’m glad you asked! I have listed a few statistics below that highlight the benefits of greek life. If you have any other questions or doubts, I encourage you to contact the Greek student leaders for more information.
These statistics are from 2014 and the numbers have risen since.
Community service hours: 16,000+ per year
Dollars donated to charity: 130,000+ per year
All student gpa avg- 2.9, Greek avg- 3.05
As you can see, Greek life does provide an excellent atmosphere for our students to accel in their scholastic studies. Additionally, if you would like to fact check, the link to these stats, along with others, is posted below. Thanks for reading!
https://issuu.com/wsufraternitysororitylife/docs/parents_guide
GDI detector • Oct 23, 2017 at 2:22 pm
Poppa bless
GDI detector • Oct 23, 2017 at 1:32 pm
What is important to understand is that Greeks, in general, are under higher scrutiny than regular students when it comes to these scandals. When a fraternity or sorority messes up, we all get blamed but when we raise money for charities or have massive amounts of community service it’s not talked about. To have 3.0 GPA standards and mandatory community service, it’s crap when you only talk about actions of 8 people. When was the last time that a Greek student died at a party at WSU? When was the last time any student died at a party at WSU? Are we going to have theatre kids register parties or only Greek students? Should we have ALL parties be registered? I know it’s crap to say that you can’t understand Greek culture without being in it but to say we slip through the cracks is also crap. When another fraternity messes up across the country we also feel that wave. Look at LSU and Penn State. We do follow the rules of the university and our Bylaws but it’s just a few that ruin it for the rest of us.
8 People • Oct 23, 2017 at 2:33 pm
So you are saying 8 people are involved in the Phi Delt allegations? Do tell.
GDI detector • Oct 25, 2017 at 2:01 pm
No. I have no clue how many people did whatever they under investigation for. I’m just saying that it’s a small number or people that ruin it for the rest of us. I should’ve been more clear on that
Unofficial Houses • Oct 23, 2017 at 11:52 am
Nearly of all the Greek houses maintain an unofficial off campus house where the parties and alcohol are at. These are just places where members live and if a bunch of friends happen to get together, then it bypasses the rules. It has been this way for many years.
The great amounts of good that are listed are always fun to read. Is there a central list somewhere?
False • Oct 23, 2017 at 10:58 am
As a sorority member who actually attended this event, I felt nothing but safe and taken care of by Phi Delta Theta members at all times. It is NOT expected that a guest sleeps in the tent with the invitee. It is actually the complete opposite. If you’re going to write pieces, at least get your information correct. There’s what’s been nothing that has been found in the investigation to anyone’s knowledge. Stop hating on the Greek system when they do so much good for the community.