As on-campus fraternities face their third year of competition from two organized off-campus fraternities during rush, greek administration is working to reinforce the on-campus network.
The Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council announced a resolution Jan. 10 refusing to recognize non-IFC fraternities. The resolution also prohibits member chapters of Panhel and IFC from associating with these groups--a move that members of off-campus fraternities Eta Prime and Delta Phi Alpha say was unnecessary, as existing regulations from national chapter have prevented many greek organizations from associating with unofficially recognized fraternities for the past several years.
'The collective chapters felt it necessary to take this action for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, risk management, national policies and a desire to define and strengthen our affiliated fraternity and sorority community,' IFC president Will Connolly said.
Leaders in off-campus fraternities found the amendment to be anti-competitive but expected it to have little impact.
'It is understandable that they would pass such a policy, especially when Eta Prime and Delta Phi Alpha are competitive; it does help out their rush pool just because it might help to scare a couple kids away from ours,' sophomore Ben Rubinfeld, rush chair for Eta Prime, which was Kappa Sigma before the fraternity left campus in Fall 2002.
Larry Moneta, vice president for student affairs, said he was proud of IFC and Panhel leadership--a sentiment echoed by Brian Vetter, president of Sigma Phi Epsilon. 'The amendment is a definite step in the right direction,' Vetter said. 'The attitudes and behaviors exhibited by these groups are not ones that reflect well on the Duke greek community, so divorcing ourselves from them in the public eye should have a positive impact on recruitment.'
Rush for off-campus fraternities will mirror IFC rush, said Ryan Turner, vice president of Delta Phi Alpha, which was Sigma Alpha Epsilon until it disaffiliated from the University in Spring 2002.
Turner also noted that he has had conversations with University officials to let them know that his group is amenable to a closer relationship with the administration and will continue to follow the same anti-hazing measures that everyone adheres to.
'We"ve dealt with that kind of antagonistic move before.... It"s the University"s prerogative to do what they want, and we simply think its unfortunate that they"ve chosen to try and marginalize the members of our group,' Turner said. 'It"s not about on-campus or off-campus for us, its about the guys you want to hang out with for four years.'
Despite the sororities" reiterated ban on mixing with off-campus fraternities, Turner and Rubinfeld both said their fraternities will continue to mix with sororities as they have in the past.
Nonetheless, some members of sororities expressed concern with the new penalties the policy requires. Any allegations of association with off-campus fraternities will result in an investigation by the Greek Judicial Board and interim suspension until the allegations are resolved.
'Basically, I don't think there will be a noticeable difference in the sorority social scene, aside from an absence of the few events that we would normally have with these off-campus fraternities,' said junior Dana Edelstein, social chair of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Edelstein noted that her sorority has become more aware and cautious of Panhel rules. 'I wish that this wasn"t the case, but it seems that both the Duke and greek administrations are forever trying to restrict the freedom of Duke social life,' Edelstein said.
Some sorority members expressed concern at the amendment. 'It"s just completely unfair that they are telling us who we can or cannot hang out with,' said Eliza Howard, a senior in Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Connolly said he believes freshmen will ultimately choose to pledge an IFC fraternity because of opportunities such as section housing and access to University space.
The University, as it has in the past, also issued a letter to families of first-year students over winter break informing them about the situation of non-IFC fraternities.
'The letter covered many things about rush,' Moneta said. 'The commentary about the two unrecognized groups was simply to provide useful information and to encourage parents to have conversations with their kids.'
Turner and Rubinfeld said off-campus groups will give potential rushees a letter, which they can forward to their parents.
In the minds many freshmen, the IFC amendment has no major consequence. 'It has no deterrence on what fraternity I"m going to rush,' said freshman David Bieber, who is rushing both on- and off-campus fraternities. 'I"m going to join the one I like the best through the rushing process.'
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