As Kappa Sigma attempts to appeal its national leaders’ decision to revoke its charter, the circumstances surrounding the fraternity’s trouble remain shrouded in mystery. Rumors abound in classroom discussions and message board rants, but all the confusion could be alleviated if one source would step forward and present all the facts—the University itself.
Whenever controversy befalls fraternities or sororities, University administrators choose to dole out punishment in private, preventing the media—and by extension, the student body—from knowing the details of an organization’s conduct infractions. Such a policy benefits no one. The Crimson White is not chomping at the bit to publish the names of perpetrators and victims. We simply want to explain in an open and transparent way events that were serious enough to lead to a greek organization being removed from campus. However, University administrators and staff refused multiple requests for further details on Kappa Sigma’s violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
By revealing this information, the University would benefit the UA community as whole. They would be showing greek organizations and other student groups that the University does not stand for the type of misconduct that puts people’s lives in danger. Instead of scrambling to quiet such a story, the University should be forthright in explaining what happened and proactive in offering solutions so that such an event won’t happen again.
Moreover, a more transparent policy would better convey to students the dangers associated with large-scale parties. Students, particularly freshmen, need to be aware of hazards such as roofies and alcohol poisoning. No amount of AlcoholEdu training can be as sobering as learning from real campus situations.
Despite the need for frankness, the University chooses to protect its image first and foremost. Instead of providing the facts to help students make informed decisions, the University constantly attempts to shape an idyllic view of campus life, which is not always reflected in the headlines that stream across these very pages. And when the full truth of a controversial situation is revealed, as is almost inevitable in this digital age, the University looks all the worse for attempting to hide it.
The University has seen two fraternities lose their charter in less than two years. SigEp was removed from campus in 2008 due to issues regarding hazing. Today the University is repeating its mistake of not being forthcoming about the facts. The time has come to stop protecting institutions that act irresponsibly and instead offer transparency, leadership and solutions.
Image isn’t everything, UA. The students are.
Our View is the consensus of the CW editorial board.
In short: The University should be more forthright about campus incidents so that the student body as a whole can learn from certain groups’ mistakes
