Delta Delta Delta sorority announced it is separating itself from the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council yesterday -- potentially endangering the survival of the council as a governing body for Greek organizations on campus.
Following Tri-Delt's decision, some other organizations have also started seriously contemplating their current role in the CFSC -- and are discussing among their members the feasibility of secession from the council.
In a letter to the Dartmouth community -- which was largely vague and failed to give specific explanations for the sorority's momentous decision -- Tri-Delt argued that the national and local chapter's aims are not congruent with those of the current structure of the council.
"Unfortunately, at this time, our purposes and goals are not in accordance with those of the CFSC," the letter stated.
Despite repeated attempts by The Dartmouth to solicit her opinion, Cristina DeVito '01, president of Tri-Delt, refused to elaborate on the statement yesterday.
CFSC President Eric Etu '01 said last night he respected Tri-Delt's decision.
"They have every right to do what they are doing," Etu said. "I know they have discussed this at length and they are doing what's best for them."
Giving reasons for the decision, Tri-Delt's letter said many "activities tolerated, and hence condoned," by the council are in violation of Tri-Delt's national and chapter goals.
DeVito, however, declined to explain what exactly these activities are.
The letter also stated that a majority of the issues brought before the CFSC do not apply to Tri-Delt and that the council's programming activities are "ineffective" in relation to the house's goals and purposes.
Tri-Delt, however, did not rule out the possibility of rejoining the CFSC if it "develop[s] into an organization which will better meet our needs and represent our goals."
The sorority's letter to the community urges the CFSC to learn from the Tri-Delt decision to better cater to the needs of its members.
"It is our sincere hope that our departure will spur the CFSC to make a commitment to meeting the goals of its members and those of the Dartmouth community."
While the letter makes several references to "the goals and purposes" of Tri-Delt, it fails to explicitly define what these are and how the council is not satisfying them.
What remains to be seen now is how Tri-Delt's decision will impact other sororities' membership.
President of Epsilon Kappa Theta sorority, Laura Brockway '01 said her house has "just begun" discussing the possibility of seceding from the CFSC.
Lynne Grossman '01, president of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority, said her members are also having discussions about the issue but a decision whether or not to leave the CFSC has not been made yet.
Etu said he does not feel that Tri-Delt's decision will have a domino effect on the other sororities and that other organizations have shown a desire to work within the CFSC to improve it.
"The presidents in that room," Etu said of the council's meeting last night, "want to see the organization become a better organization than it is now."
Talking to The Dartmouth, Grossman did predict that the future role of the CFSC and the other Greek groups like the Interfraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council are likely to change as a result of Tri-Delt's decision.
"I definitely think that Panhell, IFC and CFSC will undergo a lot of structural changes in the future," Grossman said, adding that she feels Panhell is likely to become a much stronger organization.
At the CFSC meeting last night, the council decided to eliminate member dues -- currently set at five dollars per term per member for every Greek house -- temporarily -- reflective of the changes that the CFSC has signaled it may undergo in the next few months. Apart from membership dues, the CFSC, however, will still receive money from the College.
Explaining the decision, Etu said, "The execs have decided it would be in the best interest of the houses to be able to have greater decision-making."
Etu did admit that the temporary removal of member dues could have an adverse effect on smaller Greek houses that receive CFSC funding.
The suspension of dues won't take effect immediately as dues from Greek houses have already been collected for Spring term.
Administration's reaction
While Tri-Delt's decision could have significant consequences for the future of the CFSC, the College administration is expected to continue its support for all the Greek organizations that decide to secede from the council.
Although The Dartmouth spoke with Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman before the Tri-Delt decision was announced, he said the College is not personally involved in the decision-making process of any Greek house.
"These student groups are making their own decisions," Redman said before the statement was released. "The College is certainly going to support the group" even if they decide to separate from the Council.
Tri-Delt's decision to separate itself from the CFSC is not likely to change the behavioral procedures it has to follow.
Asserting that the CFSC's current policies are in accordance with those of the College, Redman said any house that separates itself from the Council will have to continue to comply with the same policies and rules as it does now.
Tri-Delt's secession, however, will have an impact on hearing procedures for the group.
Under the current set-up, if any house is charged with minor violations of College policies, the hearing -- which is referred to as level-one -- is conducted by the CFS Judicial Council, which is comprised of students. However, Redman hears all level-two hearings himself.
According to Redman, after the secession, even hearings for minor violations by the group will be conducted by either Assistant Dean of Residential Life Deborah Carney or Redman himself.
However, this outcome could be short-lived; eventually the CFS Judicial Council is likely to replaced by an overarching judicial body for all student groups -- something that the Trustees outlined in their Initiative announcement earlier this term.
Redman said he has recently met with several Greek organizations -- many of which are having "healthy conversations" within their membership and contemplating their current purpose within in the CFSC.
He said he is not making any decisions for them, instead his role is to "probe and ask questions and make [the houses] see the pros and cons of all their decisions."
Redman said, however, that he continues to see a need for some platform where all Greek organizations, including the ones that do secede, can come together from time to time.
"I believe there will be a need for these organizations to come together in areas of common interest," once in a while Redman said, giving the example of the planning events like Greek Week and the conducting of rush.
