Syracuse University has implemented several changes to its Greek life after a report published last January identified the strengths and weaknesses of SU’s Greek community.

The months-long external review was conducted in response to the Theta Tau videos controversy in April 2018. SU permanently expelled the professional engineering fraternity for participating in videos Chancellor Kent Syverud called “extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and hostile to people with disabilities.”

The report identified six main problems with SU’s Greek community, including risky behavior, insufficient funding within the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and lack of diversity and inclusion among members. It also included 33 suggestions to address these issues.

Pam Peter, assistant dean of FASA, said the office hired an associate director to help provide leadership support.

One of the report’s suggestions included increasing monetary resources for FASA. Additional funding was allocated to the office to hire additional staff and to support new programs, Peter said.

“We also expanded training opportunities, including training for event management, alcohol awareness, race and privilege, and leadership development,” Peter said.

Amanda Gregorio, president of SU’s Panhellenic Council, said chapter members and leaders have learned a lot from the trainings FASA has provided so far.

“I think that the new social event policies have been well received by the community,” Gregorio said. “I am aware that there are continued changes that are in process related to the review, and I am excited for the future.”

New communication enhancements have also been implemented, including monthly chapter advising meetings, regular updates to the FASA website and increased contact with chapter consultants through newsletters, phone calls and meetings, Peter said.

SU’s Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities hired an investigator to handle allegations of student and student organization misconduct, including hazing, Peter said. The office also held additional programming for Hazing Week, she said.

The report also suggested taking an aggressive stance on unrecognized Greek organizations.

When the review was released, SU had 11 unrecognized Greek Life organizations. Three SU fraternities have since been suspended and are no longer allowed to operate on campus.

SU’s chapter of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity was suspended in November after members shouted a racial slur at a black woman near College Place. The fraternity’s recognized status will be determined once the university completes its conduct process.

The university later suspended its chapter of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity after finding the fraternity violated the Student Code of Conduct. The university also placed its chapter of Zeta Beta Tau under disciplinary and social probation until Dec. 31, 2020.

The Department of Public Safety declined to comment on the effectiveness of the review in the past year.

“We are still in the process of implementing the recommendations and will assess our outcomes as implementation progresses,” said Peter.

Published on January 15, 2020 at 11:19 pm

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