Pi Beta Phi won this semester’s scholarship cup with a GPA of 3.523, contrary to the announcement at last week’s convocation. Sigma Chi also won with a GPA of 3.257, contrary to the announcement.
The problem arose from a miscommunication between administrative offices, said Registrar Douglas McArthur. At convocation, administrators announced Kappa Kappa Gamma was the winning house because of the error, as well as the wrong GPA for Sigma Chi. According to Registrar Douglas McArthur, his office received a call from the provost’s office for the GPAs of Hillsdale’s fraternities and sororities. McArthur said his office does not account for students who might have dropped from a particular Greek organization, and their list of Greek GPAs would not account for that. But because he did not personally receive the call for GPAs, he and the deans did not reconcile their lists of students involved in Greek life.
“The numbers were 100 percent correct,” he said, “but they were the right numbers at the wrong time.”
Junior Tess Skehan, president of Pi Beta Phi, said she was confused and disappointed when the incorrect information was announced at convocation. But she said Dean of Men Aaron Petersen and Associate Dean of Women Rebekah Dell were helpful in addressing the problem, and they let the women of Pi Beta Phi take pictures with the cup after convocation.
“Both the deans and the Kappas were very helpful and understanding,” Skehan said in a message. “While we were disappointed that our house was not publicly recognized for the award at convocation, I am overwhelmingly proud of the intelligence, work ethic, and scholarship of my sisters.”
Skehan noted that this was Pi Beta Phi’s 99th scholarship cup.
“We exceeded the all-women’s average and are focused on continuing this legacy in future semesters,” she said.
