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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 1998)
Sorority hazing ritual divides house The DePauw DePauw University GREENCASTLE, Ind. (U-Wire) - Three Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority members whom the univer sity found guilty of branding pledges with cigarettes face a semesterlong suspension and other sanctions after winning an appeal last month. Their original punishment was expulsion. The three women, sophomores Amanda Heldt, Sarah McKinney and Jennifer. Miller, appealed their expul sion on the grounds the punishment was too harsh. Within the week, a three-member appeals board met and reduced their sentence to a semester’s suspension and various community service and probation requirements. Eight other Kappa members who participated in a pre-initiation hazing ritual are on social probation, and two have received formal warnings. According to Theresa Bryant, vice president of public affairs, an administrative board heard the soror ity’s case and punished Kappa with social probation until June 2000. Members of Kappa’s national sorori ty will have to live in the house until the probation ends. During rush in the fall of 1998, Kappa must say it hazed its pledges. Kappa will be limited to a pledge class of 10 in 1998 and 15 in 1999. Kappa is appealing the punishment. The university had some trouble deciding how to try the cases against the students and the sorority last month. In the absence of a greek judi cial board, the cases against the indi viduals and the sorority should have gone before the Student Conduct Board. Alan Hill, dean of students, said he chose not to convene the Student Conduct Board to hear the cases. He said the timing was bad because it was so near the end of the semester. But he said the biggest problem was finding student representatives who did not have relationships with peo ple in Kappa. So instead of convening the Student Conduct Board, Hill brought the cases before what he called the Administrative Hearing Board - a group that looks like the Student a-— When they voted those girls back in the house, I knew I could never wear the letters. I could never be proud of the house. ...” « • • • - . • Julie Egner former Kappa Kappa Gamma member Conduct Board minus one student and one administrator. The Student Handbook, which contains students’ rights and disciplinary procedures, never mentions this board by name. Julie Egner, a freshman who depledged Kappa, disagreed with the sentence reduction the appeals board gave. “I don’t think those three should be allowed back on campus,” she said. “I don’t understand why (the university) backed down on this. While they’re not condoning it, they’re saying it’s not that bad.” Egner said she decided to depledge when Kappa voted not. to kick the members out of the house. “When they voted those girls back in the house, I knew I could never wear the letters,” she said. “I could never be proud of the house because they condoned (the hazing).” Egner acknowledged that many Kappas did vote to expel the mem bers. The social probation also applies to the pledges over the winter term. For the pledges, that means no official functions. No more than 20 Kappas are supposed to gather at any one function. House meetings are the only activity allowed. A Kappa pledge who wished to remain unnamed said she thinks the heavy sanctions against Kappa will cause more members to depledge as they realize what the sanctions will result in. “I would imagine that there’s going to be a mass exodus as it gets - i V " • r closer to initiation,” she said. The Administrative Hearing Board began hearing the cases on December 12.The Appeals Board consisted of three trained members as well. Twelve members pleaded “not responsible,” similar to a not guilty plea in a criminal court. The Administrative Hearing Board found all of them to be responsible for the charges of hazing and contributing to the illegal use of alcohol by minors. One Kappa member had her case heard by an administrator in the Student Affairs office because she pleaded guilty to the charges, Hill said. The administrator suspended her for a semester. The Appeals Board reduced the suspension to social pro bation. v*. Many of the great things at the University - new computers, new buildings, and numerous scholarships are a reality because of financial support provided by loyal alumni. The " ^ University of Nebraska Foundation raises that money, and currently, we have positions available for students who want to help by phoning those alumni. • New Tuition Assistance Program • 3 nights per week minimum required. Occasional weekend hours. • Must be a current UNL student r / • 5 minutes from campus * / • Casual attire • Relaxed atmosphere V — ——aBBaM——^ [" Women's Center and' -p--^-^1" j UHC Counseling and Psychological j (SJ(?(f>®(gT |! Stress Management & Biofeedback Clinic Call for an appointment, 472-7450 Relaxation Hour Thursdays, Jan. 15-May 7, 12:10-12:45 p.m. Health Center, Rm. 43 | Lesbian Bisexual Questioning Discussion Group | Thursdays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. | NU 338, Call 472-2597 for more info. Sexual Assault Support for Victims Mondays, 4:00-5:00 p.m. beginning Jan. 19 NU 340, Call 472-2597 for more info. | Sister Circle | (African American Women's Discussion Group) | Mondays, 6:00-7:00 p.m. > | NU 340, Call 472-2597 for more info. i : Gay Men's Discussion Group * Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Call 472-7450 for more info. Students With Children Support Group j Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 13, 12:00-1:00 p.m., ECU 318 Eating Disorders Support Group Thursdays, 6:00-7:00 p.m. NU 338, Call 472-9428 for more info. Graduate Womens Support Group Thursdays, beginning Jan. 22 12:30-1:30 p.m. Culture Center Conference Room I Call 472-9428 for more info. Overcoming Procrastination March 5, 1998 ' ’11:30-1:00p.m. | Registration not required unless noted. .^u^C^^ion ■ Counseling and Psychological Services University Health Center 15th & U Streets L — — — — — — — -■ -■ — m—— Ctip-n-Save — ‘ v - ..'T? Convocation honors King contributions KING from page 1 “All the lessons in physics and in math and in advanced sciences and all the other subjects and disci plines ... will be of naught if they fail to learn the lessons of brother hood taught by Dr. King,” Shanks said. fsfos Myles’ voice, loud and -assertive, boomed through the audi torium as he represented King, illu minating what he felt King would say if he were alive today. Myles, who resembled the slain civil rights leader, spoke about the work that remained in the fight for social justice. “You have fo pick up the weapons of love, you have to pick up the weapons of truth. You have to pick up the weapons of humanity,” he said. The convocation focused on King’s dneam to work toward social jjustie^l&y encouraging audience members to pledge time to the com munity. They were asked to fill out cards provided in their programs and drop the cards into red boxes labeled with different Lincoln orga u You have to pick up the weapons of humanity” Jessie Myles speaker . / ..qfiusc ii jjsoJ JO y.,. nizations which needed volunteers. Chancellor James Moeser pre sented a new award, the Chancellor’s Fulfilling the Dream Award, to Keith Parker, sociology professor and director of the African American and African Studies program. The award will be given annual ly to a member of the university community who has helped contin ue King’s dream. Twice during the convocation, the audience stoocfand sang with the Voices of Destiny. Moeser accompanied the audi ence on the piano for the final song, “We Shall Overcome,” where many in the audience and on stage stood and held hands. : ' < „ - T O • Ci ['^LUBE^ ! ! 17th &‘N’ ! 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