After a string of alcohol policy violations and pending recommitment from current members, Sigma Chi fraternity has been placed on social probation this semester, with limited social probation next semester, and the chance to petition the administration for social functions involving alcohol at the end of the year.
Underage drinking by Sigma Chi members at the beginning of the semester was the final straw for the administration, prompting Dean of Men Aaron Petersen to take action. The violations of the policy, set forth in conjunction with Petersen last academic year, led Petersen to call the fraternity’s regional headquarters. International Grand Consul Mike Greenberg came to campus last week to mediate discussions between the fraternity and the administration.
As a result, the fraternity cannot host any social events this semester, at the chapter house or at any off-campus locations, although it may continue with recruitment, philanthropy, ritual meetings, and brotherhood activities. Next semester, it may host several dry social events and petition the administration for social activities involving alcohol at the end of the semester. Also, members may choose to opt out of active status and adopt a special alumni status.
Sigma Chi President senior Gregg Coughlin, Petersen, and Greenberg all predicted most members will recommit, while a handful may choose to opt out to a special alumni status. Greenberg predicted as few as five percent may walk away.
“We have a process that allows members that don’t necessarily align with our philosophy to go off and be themselves and do their own thing, and it’s called special alumni status. Maybe five, 10 years from now they can get re-involved. We give them opportunities to not malign our reputation any further, while we go do what we believe our values to be,” he said.
Petersen said in addition to specific alcohol-related incidents, the general attitude of the Sigma Chis toward alcohol needs to change.
“Going dry is one thing, but I didn’t think it was enough to help them turn a corner,” Petersen said. “Obviously I didn’t want to dismiss them from their chapter house too soon, so I decided to call their national fraternity.”
Coughlin said that many of the changes the administration would like to see are steps the fraternity leadership had planned over Christmas break.
“I talked with the executive board, some older guys, and some younger guys over break on what we could do better, and what we could improve on, and we all wanted to do a better job of grades, and a better job with being extremely involved up the hill on campus. Our grades are not awful and our leadership isn’t, but it’s just not up to what we are capable of,” he said.
While Coughlin said he does not completely agree with the claim that the chapter’s social presence has increased in recent years, Coughlin also recognized the risks a chapter assumes when they host campus parties.
“Anytime we have opened our doors for all four years, we assume a lot of risk when anybody comes inside,” Coughlin said. “This year, we have done the best we’ve ever done to manage risk, but even when you have the best procedures, the best policies, you can’t control the amount of alcohol people have had before they enter.”
Petersen said that his experiences with other fraternities prompted him to take action sooner rather than later.
“I do know that alcohol has caused them problems this semester and for several years. I’m compelling them to go on a journey and take a serious look inward, and I wanted the national fraternity to help them,” Petersen said.
Greenberg said he was very impressed with the Sigma Chis at Hillsdale.
“If I could have Hillsdale’s chapter across the country, we would be at a different level, in a positive way. They are an outstanding group of young men. They just need some help and impetus to put them over the top. I think we’ll see incredible things coming from them,” he said.
Greenberg pointed out that Sigma Chi’s problems are small compared to other chapters he oversees. But, he said he realizes what the standards are at Hillsdale College, and that areas of the chapter can be improved.
Coughlin said the chapter has plans for multiple recruitment events beginning next week, a professor meet and greet with live music, and two philanthropic events. One will be the annual three-on-three basketball tournament, and the other is a new event, a “Fight Night,” where representatives from across campus will wrestle for charity on April 10 at the Roche Sports Complex.
Greenberg praised not only the Sigma Chis, but also Hillsdale’s administration as well.
“They are relevant, contemporary, and creative in their thinking to retrain and re-educate,” he said. “It was a breath of fresh air. Sometimes administrations can be so combative, but they were so supportive. They don’t want any student to fail there. They want the fraternities and sororities to thrive there.”
