Raids halt more Greek social plans

By Nikita Easley
Daily Staff Reporter

Two more fraternities have suspended social activities after Ann Arbor Police Department officials raided house and fraternity parties this past weekend, ticketing 75 students for underage drinking.

Dave Westol, international executive director of Theta Chi, said yesterday the fraternity has canceled all social activities until the closure of the investigation. Beta Theta Pi also has canceled social activities for this weekend, Interfraternity Council President Bradley Holcman said yesterday.

Additionally, the director of chapter development for Theta Chi will visit Ann Arbor tomorrow and attend a meeting with University officials and AAPD authorities.

Sigma Nu members, along with representatives from their International headquarters, mutually agreed Monday to cancel all social activities involving alcohol.

"This is, in fact, our expectation of them," said David Glassman, a representative from Sigma Nu's national organization.

Glassman said he hopes the fraternity will have its internal investigation wrapped up by the end of this week or early next week.

University spokesperson Julie Peterson said the University "has not changed its policies" and will not call the parents of the 75 underage students who received tickets for possession of alcohol.

Recent changes to the Family Education Rights to Privacy Act give the University permission to call the parents of minors who have been charged with alcohol or drug offenses.

To stabilize the relationship between the Greek community and the University, both groups met Tuesday night to clear up concerns and talk one on one with each other.

"We wanted to open lines of communication," said Maureen Hartford, vice president for student affairs.

Hartford added that speculation of the University's possible involvement in the raids was false and the University was unaware of the undercover operations.

Holcman said the meeting was the first of many the fraternity and sorority presidents will have with the University administrators.

"The past is the past, but now in the future we are going to work together," Holcman said.

Holcman added that the Greek Social Environment Task Force will present a report to the University and Greek community on Dec. 11. He said the report will focus on the role alcohol plays within the Greek community.

Holcman said the task force, which is comprised of 10 fraternity and sorority presidents and four alternates, hosts different themes each week. This semester the task force plans to talk with AAPD officers, University administrators and community members.

- Daily Staff Reporter Jewel Gopwani contributed to this report.

11-12-98