2012: Worst Year Ever for Greek Organizations?

Was 2012 the worst year for fraternities and sororities? I had some time to reflect over the holidays and I couldn't help but think of all the negative press Greek organizations received in the past year. I asked myself, “is it just because the internet makes it easier to track these issues?” Then, I stopped myself and realized, “does that matter?”

In my time as a campus-based professional, I can’t remember a year that was worse for negative publicity centered on fraternities and sororities. Thus, I present 51 reasons why 2012 may have been the worst year ever for fraternities and sororities:

Hazing Beyond the Frat House: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/12/23/florida-am-death-illuminates-prevalence-non-greek-hazing

Hazing Alleged at Jacksonville State: http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/16927474/article-Hazing-alleged-at-Jacksonville-State-fraternity

3 Different Fraternities found Guilty at EKU for Hazing: http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Hazing_at_EKU_results_in_three_fraternity_suspensions_137309593.html

Texas State Fraternity Chapter loses Charter: http://star.txstate.edu/node/5103

TKE will lose Recognition After Reported Hospitalization: http://cornellsun.com/section/news/content/2012/01/19/tke-will-lose-recognition-after-reported-hospitalization

Cocaine, Drugs and Money seized at EWU frat brother’s off-campus party: http://www.kxly.com/news/30246102/detail.html

University Revokes Two Greek Charters over the Break: http://www.diamondbackonline.com/news/university-revokes-two-greek-charters-over-break-1.2749919

Student Accuses Frat of Hazing: http://thedartmouth.com/2012/01/25/news/hazing

SUU’s Sigma Nu Suspended After Hazing Incident: http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20120121/NEWS01/201210314/1002/rss

Delta Gamma Faces Investigation: http://www.cavalierdaily.com/2012/01/20/delta-gamma-faces-investigation/

Dartmouth SAE Accused of Hazing: http://thedartmouth.com/2012/01/25/news/hazing

UC-Berkeley Zeta Phi Beta Pledge Accuses Sorority of Hazing: http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2012/02/uc_berkeley_zeta_phi_beta.php

Univ. of Florida suspends Alpha Phi Alpha for “Serious Physical Hazing Incident”: http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/08/us/university-of-florida-hazing-suspension/index.html

Youngstown State U. suspends Kappa Alpha Psi, probes hazing: http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/feb/09/ysu-suspends-fraternity-and-probes-alleg/

3 Vanderbilt SAEs face charges in Sigma Nu theft: http://wkuherald.com/news/article_03272d98-537a-11e1-ab42-0019bb30f31a.html

UD Fraternity center of Hazing Investigation: http://www.wdtn.com/dpp/news/ud-fraternity-center-of-hazing-investigation

Colorado State’s KKG sorority suspended for hazing: http://www.collegian.com/index.php/article/2012/02/colorado_state039s_kappa_kappa_gamma_sorority_suspended_for_hazing

Three Arrested in MSU Kidnapping: http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=15912#ixzz1o4JzgJd8

Univ. of Florida Kappa Alpha Psi recruits hit with canes:
http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_dd502964-7244-11e1-8399-0019bb2963f4.html

Boston Univ. Sorority Suspended for Possible Hazing: http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/20/boston-university-sorority-suspended-for-possible-hazing/

Princeton Bans freshman participation in Greek activities: http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2012/03/26/30348/

Confessions of an Ivy League Frat Boy: Inside Dartmouth’s Hazing Abuses: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/confessions-of-an-ivy-league-frat-boy-inside-dartmouths-hazing-abuses-20120328

Sigma Chi’s Alpha Chapter at Miami U. Closed: http://news.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120409/NEWS/304090013/MU-frat-house-ordered-closed

Violent Hazing by fraternity sisters’ has former PSU student seeking justice: http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Violent-hazing-by-fraternity-sisters-has-former/klxKuF7PrkyL-plsfotnxA.cspx?rss=50

SDSU places Phi Kappa Theta on Interim Suspension while SAE President Death Investigated: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/25/fraternity-where-student-died-suspended/

Cornell suspends Fraternity over Racial Insults: http://www.ithacaindy.com/201205081144/Cornell/Cornell-Suspends-Fraternity-Over-Racial-Insults

Student Guilty of Assaulting Frat Brother: http://www.newtondailynews.com/2012/05/04/student-guilty-of-assaulting-frat-brother/act87zc/


Fraternity Pledges Sued Over Hazing Death: http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/09/46349.htm

BU students face fines, charges in court for AEPi hazing: http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/06/27/bu-students-face-fines-charges-in-court-for-aepi-hazing/

Hazing Investigation sparked from sorority discontinuations: http://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/hazing-investigation-sparked-from-sorority-discontinuations-1.2753060

Miami U. Fraternity Suspended for Use of Fireworks, Drugs: http://www.onntv.com/content/stories/2012/08/23/story-miami-frat-suspended.html

Students arrested at fraternity, house may face University penalties: http://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_20f45920-be37-5424-8812-1ec6edbbbaab.html

Fresno State student dies after night of drinking at Theta Chi house: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/02/2975530/fresno-state-student-dies-after.html

Fraternity suspensions overcrowd housing: http://www.miamistudent.net/news/fraternity-suspensions-overcrowd-housing-1.2896866

UNC: Bid day racism is not to be taken lightly: http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2012/09/bid-day-racism-is-not-to-be-taken-lightly

Ex-Clemson director stole $33K from Greek Life funds: http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/19546009/ex-director-clemson-greek-life-stole-33k-from

Fraternity system investigating 9 reports of hazing: http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2012/09/fraternity-system-investigating-9-reports-of-hazing

Fraternity can be sued in fatal Yale crash: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/09/19/court-fraternity-can-sued-fatal-yale-crash/VNHoL1QNFEOup5Q47DtdIK/story.html

Alleged alcohol abuse at UT Fraternity chapter nets citations, investigation: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/sep/26/alleged-alcohol-abuse-at-ut-fraternity-chapter/?partner=yahoo_feeds

ZTA apologizes for fiesta theme party at U. Texas: http://www.dailytexanonline.com/blogs/the-update/2012/09/25/sorority-issues-apology-for-fiesta-themed-party

U. Iowa SAE closed following history of hazing: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Suspended-Univ-of-Iowa-Fraternity-Had-Previous-Reports-of-Hazing-171260811.html

Former VSU student files hazing lawsuit against Phi Beta Sigma: http://progress-index.com/news/former-vsu-students-files-hazing-lawsuit-1.1381350

Mother of ECU Delta Sigma Theta member sues over death: http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/11612863/

Federal Lawsuit says Wesleyan Failed to Protect Woman from Assault at Beta House: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-wesleyan-rape-lawsuit-1006-20121005%2c0%2c3582503.story

U. Alabama’s Alleged Culture of Hazing: http://cw.ua.edu/2012/10/09/anonymous-letter-calls-for-overhaul-of-greek-life/

Grand Jury issues indictments in Jacksonville St. U Alpha Phi Alpha Hazing: http://www.jaxnews.com/view/full_story/20658910/article-Grand-jury-issues-indictments-in-JSU-hazing

Chico State suspends all fraternities and sororities: http://www.chicoer.com/rss/ci_22009331?source=rss

NIU PIKE pledge died after Fraternity Hazing Event: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/story/20162341/exclusive-investigation-niu-student-died-after-fraternity-hazing-event?clienttype=printable#ixzz2D5FAatC6

Trinity Forcing Fraternities, Sororities to go CoEd: http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-trinity-frats-coed-20121124%2c0%2c1787992.story

Penn State Chi Omega under investigation for inappropriate photo: http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2012/12/04/chi_omega_under_investigation_for_innapropriate_photo.aspx

U. Kansas Beta Theta Pi suspended after turkey allegedly abused, killed at party: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16023118-university-of-kansas-fraternity-suspended-after-turkey-allegedly-abused


What is alarming is that these are the articles I saved. I know there are more that I missed or didn't save simply because I didn't want to read any more negative news. Another alarming reality. I didn't post any negative pictures. Social media has really challenged our fraternal members to make good choices and unfortunately, some are not making the best decisions. So, as we begin 2013, let us remember that we have work to do. Let us also remember to learn from these mistakes.