Alpha Phi suspended for hazing, alcohol violations
Freshman alleges misconduct during sorority's new-member process
Madeline Garber and Giovanni Russonello
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: News
Tufts' Alpha Phi sorority has been suspended and placed on social probation for violating hazing and alcohol policies during its new-member process, the Fraternity and Sorority Life Judiciary announced yesterday.
The sorority will be barred until next year's spring semester from enlisting or recruiting new members or participating in organized social events, although it will retain its house on Sawyer Avenue.
The sorority will also be required to seek special approval from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs for any other type of event it wishes to hold - including charity gatherings - and must arrange to bring a speaker to campus to lead an anti-hazing event.
The issue of misconduct came to the judiciary's attention after a freshman participating in the sorority's new-member, or pledging, activities brought allegations of harassment, alcohol abuse and hazing to Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Patrick Romero-Aldaz.
University authorities have refused to release specific information about Alpha Phi's misconduct and have prohibited those involved from doing so.
Romero-Aldaz said the punishment was a serious one and that he hopes it will give Alpha Phi a better understanding of the environment that a sorority should foster.
"The chapter's day to day activities will be indeed impacted as suspension and social probation do include a significant loss of privileges enjoyed by other chapters," he said in an e-mail. "It will not be 'business as usual' for ... Alpha Phi, but the panel, and our office, hopes they can use this time to reflect, learn, and grow stronger as a sisterhood steeped in the values of the international organization."
Alpha Phi may appeal the punishment, sorority President Harmony Teitsworth said. "There's still time for [an] appeal. As a house, we're looking into that," she said. "It's a definite option we're considering."
Alpha Phi would have to file an appeal within the next 10 days, according to a statement from the judiciary.
The sorority will be barred until next year's spring semester from enlisting or recruiting new members or participating in organized social events, although it will retain its house on Sawyer Avenue.
The sorority will also be required to seek special approval from the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs for any other type of event it wishes to hold - including charity gatherings - and must arrange to bring a speaker to campus to lead an anti-hazing event.
The issue of misconduct came to the judiciary's attention after a freshman participating in the sorority's new-member, or pledging, activities brought allegations of harassment, alcohol abuse and hazing to Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Patrick Romero-Aldaz.
University authorities have refused to release specific information about Alpha Phi's misconduct and have prohibited those involved from doing so.
Romero-Aldaz said the punishment was a serious one and that he hopes it will give Alpha Phi a better understanding of the environment that a sorority should foster.
"The chapter's day to day activities will be indeed impacted as suspension and social probation do include a significant loss of privileges enjoyed by other chapters," he said in an e-mail. "It will not be 'business as usual' for ... Alpha Phi, but the panel, and our office, hopes they can use this time to reflect, learn, and grow stronger as a sisterhood steeped in the values of the international organization."
Alpha Phi may appeal the punishment, sorority President Harmony Teitsworth said. "There's still time for [an] appeal. As a house, we're looking into that," she said. "It's a definite option we're considering."
Alpha Phi would have to file an appeal within the next 10 days, according to a statement from the judiciary.
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