The new director of Greek life at West Virginia University said that the recent suspension of three fraternities isn't an indication that bad behavior has increased, but signals that the university is now holding fraternities to higher standards.
However he does say of the allegations that "some of which were serious." A WVU student told police that she was sexually assaulted at a party at Sigma Chi last weekend.
Tuesday, WVU announced that the national headquarters of Delta Tau Delta had suspended a colony - a probationary chapter - over a video posted on YouTube of a local member auditioning for a reality television program. The member was auditioning for MTV's "The Real World."
WVU's Interfraternity Council's Executive Council said in a statement that the video, "included a tour of the Delta Tau Delta chapter house while making inappropriate comments toward women, describing social functions that violate the conduct code of the IFC, and referencing activities that violated and are contradicting to the values of the national fraternity."
Wednesday, WVU announced that two fraternities were suspended "due to concerns about the local groups' efforts at complying with risk management policies and procedures."
The national office of Sigma Chi suspended the local chapter while the weekend party is investigated. The WVU Office of Student Conduct and WVU Interfraternity Council also issued their own suspensions.
WVU also announced on Wednesday that Sigma Nu's local chapter had been placed on social suspension, "after the chapter registered a planned social function that included violations of the Fraternity's risk management policies and procedures." In other words, "they registered a party they knew they probably shouldn't be having," according to Roy Baker, WVU director of Greek life and associate dean of students.
Baker explained what "risk management" means when it comes to fraternities.
"It's really about managing the party," he said. "When does it start? How is alcohol managed?... Do we have alternate beverages? Do we have food available? Who's going to run the show? Who's going to be monitoring the front door? Who's going to be monitoring the exit? Who's going to be monitoring the actual party, so people don't do inappropriate things at the party? That's risk management."
WVU has only recently started holding fraternities to stricter standards involving risk management. WVU announced its first ever moratorium on Greek life after the death of Nolan Burch, a freshman who died at the Kappa Sigma fraternity house, in November of 2014. University President E. Gordon Gee proposed major culture change shortly after the death.
"President Gee has said we're going to raise the bar and we're going to change the culture," Baker said. "Anytime you come to a new place like this where the frats have pretty much operated on their own, it's going to take awhile for them to understand these policies belong to their national headquarters and they should have already known them. We're just going to start enforcing these policies."
Baker wouldn't get into specifics about allegations made about the fraternities, although he did note that "some of which were serious."
But WVU Police Chief Bob Roberts confirmed that a sexual assault was reported at Sigma Chi last weekend, and that underage drinking also allegedly occurred at a party. The sexual assault allegedly happened at the party and was reported by the victim the next day.
Roberts said police have not interviewed the suspect, and no charges have been filed. He said he believes the victim is 18.
James Goins, Title IX coordinator for WVU, wouldn't confirm the report, citing student privacy.
In response to a voicemail left at Sigma Chi national headquarters, Michael Church, executive director of the national fraternity, emailed a statement, which confirmed that Sigma Chi was investigating and had suspended the local chapter, but provided no details on the allegations. He didn't respond to an email asking for more information.
Members of the local chapter did not respond to requests for comment sent through Facebook and Twitter.
Baker said he understands changing the culture of Greek life will take time.
"It's just really hard to get 18-22 year old students to realize risk must be managed," he said. "They believe this will never happen. We'll never have a problem, then the onion starts to peel when you start asking the right questions."
He isn't overwhelmed by the task. Baker, who previously served as director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at Pennsylvania State University, gets excited when he talks about students he's met who also want to improve Greek life on campus, and a recent Greek Day of Service.
"I love what I do every day," he said. "I get up; I drink my Kool-Aid. My Kool-Aid is my Greek Kool-Aid."
Reach Erin Beck at erin.beck@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-5163, Facebook.com/erinbeckwv, or follow @erinbeckwv on Twitter.