2008 Woodie Awards
Gamma Phi Beta put on probation
Theresa Rerick
Issue date: 4/29/08 Section: News
A party held by the UND chapter of Gamma Phi Beta sorority caused students, faculty and community members to voice their distress when pictures of the party were put online showing members dressed as Native Americans. The sorority was punished with a twelve-month conduct probation by the Dean of Students Office and the Gamma Phi Beta International has also put the sorority under some scrutiny.
Bob Boyd, vice president of Student and Outreach Services, explained the typical process that an offense like this has to go through. "If a complaint is received by the Dean of Students office, someone in the office is assigned that particular complaint and an investigation is held. In a situation like this, a hearing was held after the investigation that was conducted by Dr. Cara Goodin," he said.
During the hearing, conversations were heard from both parties involved. Boyd said Gamma Phi Beta International also enacted sanctions to the sorority. "Sorority or fraternity headquarters can independently do their own investigation and determine what sanctions they are going to award," he said.
Cara Goodin, Associate Dean of Students, said the conduct probation means that the chapter house has to be completely free of alcohol including in private rooms and the chapter cannot host or co-host events involving alcohol whether on or off campus during the course of the twelve month probationary period.
In addition to Gamma Phi Beta International's sanction and the university's conduct probation enactment, the sorority is also mandated to create a diversity education program for its members.
Goodin said their program must be approved by the Dean of Students office. "They are required to develop an education plan that covers multicultural issues. In doing so, they are required to work with our office to make sure that they're doing that in a way that is consistent with our expectations," she said.
Goodin added that they have not had their first meeting yet to determine the program's course. "The expectation is that they will work with all sorts of resources on campus including the American Indian group, Multicultural Student Services, the International Center, and faculty that have certain expertise for multicultural awareness education," she said.
Bob Boyd, vice president of Student and Outreach Services, explained the typical process that an offense like this has to go through. "If a complaint is received by the Dean of Students office, someone in the office is assigned that particular complaint and an investigation is held. In a situation like this, a hearing was held after the investigation that was conducted by Dr. Cara Goodin," he said.
During the hearing, conversations were heard from both parties involved. Boyd said Gamma Phi Beta International also enacted sanctions to the sorority. "Sorority or fraternity headquarters can independently do their own investigation and determine what sanctions they are going to award," he said.
Cara Goodin, Associate Dean of Students, said the conduct probation means that the chapter house has to be completely free of alcohol including in private rooms and the chapter cannot host or co-host events involving alcohol whether on or off campus during the course of the twelve month probationary period.
In addition to Gamma Phi Beta International's sanction and the university's conduct probation enactment, the sorority is also mandated to create a diversity education program for its members.
Goodin said their program must be approved by the Dean of Students office. "They are required to develop an education plan that covers multicultural issues. In doing so, they are required to work with our office to make sure that they're doing that in a way that is consistent with our expectations," she said.
Goodin added that they have not had their first meeting yet to determine the program's course. "The expectation is that they will work with all sorts of resources on campus including the American Indian group, Multicultural Student Services, the International Center, and faculty that have certain expertise for multicultural awareness education," she said.
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