A July 31 report released by a university advisory board encouraged a program for self-reporting hazing in MU’s Greek life system, along with other structural changes.
The recommendations, written by MU’s Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisory Board, stem from a Nov. 2017 review on MU’s Greek system by outside consulting firm Dyad Strategies, according to FSLAB’s report.
##Self-reporting Program##
The self-reporting program would give chapter members uninvolved in hazing the chance to report it without violation charges, according to the report.
The introduction of the self-reporting program comes less than a year after three MU chapters, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and FarmHouse, were suspended by their national organizations for hazing violations.
However, Matt Oxendale, Vice President of Public Relations for the Interfraternity Council, said the suspensions did not affect the advisory board’s report.
“Those houses were removed by their national [organizations],” Oxendale said. “We did not have input on the matter.”
##Housing changes##
The report also recommends a three-tier system to regulate first-year students living in chapter houses, which can be allowed if the chapter meets certain academic and safety standards.
The first tier, where all chapters start, bars first-year students from moving into houses, while the second allows first-year students to move in during their spring semester, according to the report.
The report says the third tier allows first-year students to move into a chapter house during their fall semester if the chapter has gone 18 months without a hazing violation and 12 months without violations in alcohol or social event policies, along with other academic and safety requirements.
Oxendale said the system was created in order to keep first-year students’ safety a top priority.
“The three-tier accreditation system exists to help ensure that chapters’ new members have a safe environment to live in an are able to excel their first year on campus,” Oxendale said.
##Educational Tracks for Accreditation##
In order for chapters to retain their accreditation as a Greek organization, they must complete a program titled Educational Tracks for Accreditation. The ETA is divided into tracks that are both member and chapter specific.
According to a PowerPoint sent out to Greek life members via email, “Chapter specific tracks are a basic set of standards that include administrative tasks, academic success, and some community engagement” and “Member specific tracks are designed to educate and engage members of the Greek community through existing events and experiences on our campus.”
Chapters must have a 70 percent overall completion of the program by May 3 to receive accreditation.
There are a total of five tracks for chapters. They are academic achievement, leadership development, chapter management, campus & community relations and chapter conduct, respectively.
Similar to the chapter tracks, there are also five tracks for individual members required for ETA completion. Those tracks are health & safety, campus engagement, cultural competency, personal/professional development and community impact.
_Edited by Caitlyn Rosen | crosen@themaneater.com_
