Please see the message below that was shared with Greek Leaders on Friday September 1.
Fraternity and Sorority Leaders,
This is a message that I ask that you forward to the members of your respective chapters and/or discuss openly as we enter the weekend
I've not had the opportunity to meet many of you, but will attend the opening of the Base Camp retreat next Friday. In the meantime, I wanted to briefly share some initial observations.
Based on the increased number (versus last fall semester) of police reports, citations, and arrests, as well as alcohol-related hospitalizations, it's clear that fall semester has gotten off to a fast start. To be clear, all of the incidents - mostly off campus - that have occurred during the past 7-10 days have not been Greek-related, but several of them have been.
As a direct result of recent incidents (i.e. off-campus parties), no less that two fraternity chapters face the very real possibility of suspension. This is surprising (to me, at least) considering an IFC chapter was suspended just weeks ago.
It is well within your individual and collective power to either live up to the high ideals upon which our fraternities and sororities were founded, or live down to the often negative stereotypes that dominate the local and national perceptions of fraternities and sororities. As a fraternity man, I know that you are/we are much better than the negative stereotypes. I am, though, genuinely concerned that the recent pattern of fraternity/sorority involvement in alcohol-related incidents will erode any goodwill and benefit of the doubt that your chapters have earned via true Greek Life efforts (leadership, scholarship, service).
While I cannot, and would not, expect that you and the members of your organizations refrain from enjoying yourselves this or any other weekend, I do remind you that your chapters are all expected to comply with the the student code of conduct and Bethlehem laws. I also ask that while socializing/partying, you and the members of your chapters simply use the same sound judgement and good sense that you demonstrate at all other times. We will, I'm sure, talk more on this and other topics during Base Camp.
I look forward to meeting you in the weeks and months to come.
Sincerely,
Ric Hall