[Vision2020] FW: Alcohol Abuse in Greek houses

[Rosemary Huskey]

Once again, the academic year at the University of Idaho opens with a near
death episode on Greek row.  Rest assured, I am aware of the willingness of
the underage Greek members to enjoy the party atmosphere in their new homes.
I do believe that personal responsibility is a significant  factor in these
messes.  But, I am also clear that young people, often on their own for the
first time in their lives, are eager to please their new "friends" and want
to belong. Despite hypocritical platitudes
<http://alphaphiidaho.com/programs/>  evident on the Alpha Phi website
(scroll down to the section entitled "Sisterhood/Watchcare), nobody
intervened in the clearly illegal activity. Someone needs to call bullshit
on the whole kit and caboodle.  I am more than happy to do so.  I plan to do
further research and publish on V2020 what happens to the miscreants who
provide the alcohol (Hint: virtually nothing) in court. 

Rose Huskey

From: Rosemary Huskey [mailto:donaldrose at cpcinternet.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2014 9:47 AM
To: 'president at uidaho.edu'
Cc: 'brittanyb at uidaho.edu'; 'counsel at uidaho.edu'
Subject: Alcohol Abuse in Greek houses

 

August 28, 2014

 

Dr. Chuck Staben, President, University of Idaho

Kent Nelson, General Counsel, University of Idaho 

Brittany Bowles, Greek Advisor, University of Idaho


Good Morning President Staben, Mr. Nelson, and Ms. Bowles,

 

The University of Idaho has long been identified as the premier party school
in the State of Idaho.  Consequently, I wasn't surprised, although deeply
disappointed, to learn (via a friend's police scanner) that an 18 year old
woman (probably a pledge) was picked up August 26, at 11:02 pm from the
Alpha Phi sorority house by the local ambulance service with acute alcohol
poisoning.  She was unconscious, in respiratory distress, and vomiting.
Were you notified of the event?  Have you directed a staff member (or, more
effectively, done it yourself), to interview members of the Alpha Phi
sorority to learn where the young woman was served alcohol?  I know that
over the past week sororities have been spending evenings with different
fraternities in get acquainted socials.  Ms. Bowles can undoubtedly inform
you of the Alpha Phi's evening schedule on August 26th.  Perhaps, she
attended some of the functions herself.  It would not be difficult to learn
what houses provided alcoholic beverages during these events.  Of course, if
the Alpha Phi women will not share that information, you will learn all you
need to know to institute immediate sanctions on the Alpha Phi house for
protecting and cooperating with illegal activities, i.e. providing or
encouraging the use of alcohol by underage Greek members. In doing so you
would be sending a strong message, a badly needed message, to members of the
Greek system.

 

Literally decades of an old boy  (I use the term pointedly and accurately)
network is a testimony (albeit an ugly one) to the wink and a nod
administrative attitude toward alcohol abuse on Greek Row.  Alcohol
poisoning, life changing injury, and death have not increased oversight or
accountability.  A young U of I freshman, Joseph Widerrick, froze to death
under a bridge northeast of Moscow on the coldest night of the year in
January 2013.  Earlier in the evening he attended a party at the SAE house
and purchased alcohol provided by house members.  At the time the house was
under national SAE "sanctions" because of alcohol infractions, and
supposedly was a "dry" house. Three months later, unfazed and certainly
unpunished by the University of Idaho, the SAE house was busy rushing
potential members.

 

The then UI Greek Advisor, Matthew Kurz, explained to me in an email dated
April 9, 2013  "as for sanctions levied by the University against the
fraternity, there are no policies currently in place where we would have the
ability to sanction the chapter" (SAE). Of course, that is simply not true.
The University is under no obligation, and indeed becomes the silent
partner/enabler in the behavior if administrators knowingly allow illegal
activity to take place on land leased to fraternal organizations.  What do
you think should be the University of Idaho response for illegal activity on
campus that leads to the death of a student?   

 

I understand that following Joseph Wiederrick's death a task force was
formed to deal with (primarily) Greek alcohol abuse.  Among the
recommendations were changes in the Student Code of Conduct, a component
that I believe Mr. Nelson authored.

 

"The expansion of the jurisdiction of the Student Code of Conduct provides
that disciplinary action may be taken when a student's behavior (1) violates
local ordinances or state/federal law; (2) on campus conduct that violates
the Student Code of Conduct; and (3) off campus conduct that violates the
Student Code of Conduct and that adversely affects the university community
or the pursuit of the university's educational mission, process, or
function, as determined by the Dean of Students.  A determination of whether
or not behavior adversely affects the university community or pursuit of the
university's mission will be done on a case-by-case basis and will include
considerations such as context of the behavior, proximity to campus,
severity of the behavior, and the impact on the safety of the campus
community."

 

http://www.uidaho.edu/DOS/judicialaffairs/studentcodeofconduct/Code-of-Condu
ct-Changes

 

Why is the University of Idaho continuing the failed policies of old?  What
is fresh or meaningful in this weakly worded claptrap?  Is the word "may"
deliberately chosen to provide cover or wiggle room for the Dean of Student
to overlook illegal behavior and continue business as usual?  Enough! More
than enough!!

 

Why won't the University of Idaho adopt standards that offer a clear and
certain response for every alcohol infraction?  For example: a single case
of underage drinking in any sorority or fraternity will result is a no rush
policy twelve months from the date of the incident.  A second illegal
alcohol offense in any Greek house will result in the publication of an
official University of Idaho statement placed in the major newspapers in
Idaho and Washington that X fraternal organization is not recognized by the
University of Idaho in the year of 20__ because of continued alcohol
infractions.  If there is a third infraction the University of Idaho will
declare the chapter closed and unaffiliated with the University of Idaho
because of the risk members pose to other UI students.  

 

Try to imagine a University known primarily for its academic accomplishments
and service to the state of Idaho - not for its continued protection of
self-entitled little gits who wallow not only in alcohol but unearned
privilege and entitlement. The competition between colleges and universities
for student enrollment in this state is acute.  You have an opportunity, Dr.
Staben, to change the direction of the flagship university in the state, or,
continue to watch it wreck on the shoals of alcohol abuse, student injury,
and needless death.  Past presidents have allowed the metaphorical bodies of
students whose lives have been lost or destroyed by Greek sponsored alcohol
abuse to pile up by their office doors. Do you intend to follow the well
established pattern of administrators who turn a blind eye to alcohol abuse,
waste tax payers dollars on worthless alcohol awareness programs, establish
one pointless task force after another,  fail to administer swift and
certain consequences for alcohol offenses and, most shameful of all,
continue to genuflect at the muddled alcohol and hazing infused memories of
wealthy Greek alumni whose financial donations are apparently more important
to the university than the lives of their children and grandchildren?  

 

Sincerely,

Rose Huskey

1738 Genesee Troy Road

Moscow, Idaho 83843

 

 

 

 

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