Friday, June 5, 2015

Conduct Update: Theta Xi



Update: 06/05/2015
A disciplinary conference was held with Theta Xi Fraternity to adjudicate the charges below:
  1. Respect for Community (General)
  2.  Respect for Community A1 (False Information) 
  3. Respect for Self A1 (Unauthorized Consumption, Distribution, or Possession
  4.  Respect for Property A1A (Vandalism)


The incident these charges were related to is described below:
Theta Xi Fraternity hosted their formal at Bear Creek resort. They did so under the name "LU Men's Chior". They caused over $7000.00 in damage to the hotel.

After reviewing the information related to incident, the Hearing Officer made the following finding(s) regarding the violation(s) for which the chapter was charged:
  1. Respect for Community (General) -- Responsible
  2.  Respect for Community A1 (False Information) -- Not Responsible
  3.  Respect for Self A1 (Unauthorized Consumption, Distribution, or Possession) -- Responsible
  4.  Respect for Property A1A (Vandalism) -- Responsible

As a result of this behavior the following sanction(s) will be imposed:

The organization is placed on Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution from May 26, 2015 through May 31, 2016. During this period of time, the organization is on notice that any further violations of the Code of Conduct will result in the dissolution of the organization immediately without further review. Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution may not be imposed for longer than two regular semesters. If this sanction is imposed during a semester, it may be imposed for the remainder of that semester and two additional semesters.

Theta Xi Fraternity is placed on Disciplinary Probation effective May 31, 2016 through December 31, 2016. Disciplinary probation is the conditional continuation of a group or organization for a specified period of time not to exceed four semesters. This status implies that any further violation of this Code of Conduct may result in dissolution, termination, or other authorized sanctions. Other sanctions may be imposed, including limitations on social activities, and additional requirements may be imposed as conditions for reinstatement of recognition in good standing.

The Chapter is required to work with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations to set up a functioning standards board that holds members accountable in a timely manner. It is to be completed by November 30, 2015.

The Chapter is required to set up two workshops during the Fall 2015 semester in conjunction with the Office of Student Conduct and your Assistant Director from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. These workshops/conversations should focus on individual and group accountability and how individual actions reflect on the entire organization. One workshop should be for the executive board and one for the whole chapter. Both must be completed by September 30, 2015.

The chapter is required to write a letter of apology to Bear Creek Resort. This letter must be typed and no less than 250 words in length. This letter should reflect a keen understanding of the inappropriateness of the chapter’s actions and the impact that it had on the recipient.
Rationale for Finding:
Respect for the Community and Respect for Property: Theta Xi misrepresented themselves (and in turn LU) in a way that did not reflect favorably upon the university and compromises reputation of the university with Bear Creek Resort and jeopardizes other LU group's ability to use the facilities at Bear Creek in the future. Furthermore, based on photographic evidence and reports from Bear Creek, students from Theta Xi did not "serve as positive representatives of Lehigh" while they were at Bear Creek. They acted in ways that put Bear Creek staff, other guests of the hotel, etc. in bad positions.

Unauthorized Distribution of Alcohol: Theta Xi left significant alcohol out in common spaces including bottles of hard alcohol and a keg where they could be accessed by anyone attending the event which included many underage students. None of the alcohol was monitored. The Chapter admitted that at one point one of loft suites that was intended to have a max occupancy of 12 had upwards of 30-40 people in it for pre-party.

Rationale for Sanctions:

The sanctions imposed in this case represent the severity of the incident, and the potential impact that the actions of the members of the organization had on others. It is my hope that by focusing the educational sanctions on building structures to allow the chapter to hold its members accountable, Theta Xi will become a stronger organization in the future.