Alpha Tau Omega

Utah State University will be welcoming a new fraternity to its campus in January.  Alpha Tau Omega took interest a few months ago, and starting in January the fraternity will be officially recognized as a chapter.

“Colonizing and getting student’s interest is the first step to becoming a chapter,” said Greek Advisor Alanna Hill. “Once they colonize, they will become an official chapter at Utah State.”

The announcement was made to the USU Greek community on Monday.

“I’m interested in seeing what kind of people ATO is going to attract,” Sigma Phi Epsilon Derek Kent said. “The houses we have on campus right now all have their stereotypes, so I hope they get some good guys.”

ATO was founded at Virginia Military Institute in 1865, and was originally founded on Christian, not Greek, principles. ATO was the first fraternity founded after the Civil War. Striving to heal the wounds created by the devastating war, ATO wanted to help reunite the North and South, according to the fraternity’s website.

One of ATO’s main standards is that of leadership. The fraternity developed The LeaderShape Institute in 1986. LeaderShape is considered to be one of the highest quality leadership training programs in the United States, according to the Institute’s website.

"I think with Alpha Tau being such a leadership-based fraternity that they will get a lot of quality people,” Kent said. “A few student government kids are planning on joining.”

The students that are currently interested in ATO will soon be assigned roles in the fraternity, so they can begin full force in January.

With the addition of ATO, the USU Greek community will have eight active Greek houses. The ATO interest group holds weekly meetings in the library and treat nights for potential members to attend.

Hazing

Hazing can be used as a way of initiating someone into a group, such as gangs, clubs, sports teams and military units. Hollywood films and television shows portray hazing as something that normally happens within Greek communities.

The truth behind this is that all Greek organizations have an anti-hazing policy. Each one is different, but the members are required to abide by such rules and policies. In addition to the individual organization’s policies, each university has a hazing policy as well.

Utah State University has revised its hazing and alcohol policies after freshman Sigma Nu pledge Michael Starks died in 2008 from an alcohol and hazing related incident. Since then, the university hasn’t had any Greek-related hazing incidents according to Greek Advisor Alanna Hill, and the community has improved greatly.

I personally have been hazed more on the USU soccer team than I ever have been in Alpha Chi Omega,” Brittany Boyack said. “I actually can’t think of any times I have been hazed while being Greek, but many come to my head when I think of my sports teams,” Boyack said.

According to a study by Alfred University and the NCAA, more hazing occurs on sports team than it does in Greek organizations and 80 percent of college athletes had been subjected to some form of hazing. Half were required to participate in drinking contests or alcohol related initiations while two thirds were subjected to humiliating hazing, the study said.

 “Delta Sigma Phi’s hazing policy states that ‘each chapter shall not conduct in hazing activities,’” Conor Reese said. “I’m proud to say that my fraternity has never hazed me. It’s not something our fraternity was founded on and it won’t be part of the experience.”

Ritual vs. ritual

A ritual is something one does every day, from the order of shower activities to brushing ones teeth. But to Greeks it’s something much more than that. To Greek students, Ritual is a way of life and an initiation, but to non-Greek students, these mysteries will always remain so.

“We vow to never tell anyone anything about our Ritual. A major part of it is that it’s secret,” Max Gonzalez, Sigma Phi Epsilon member, said.

“There is a difference between capital R Ritual and lowercase R ritual,” Kevin Webb said. Webb is Utah State University’s program director and Pi Kappa Alpha alumni. “Lowercase R ritual is something that you go through every day, while capital R Ritual offers up value that we as Greeks are supposed to live by,” Webb said.

According to Mari Ann Callais of Louisiana State University, a Ritual ceremony was written by the founders or the early members of the organization. The ceremony would most likely include ritual equipment that is comprised of items that have some significance or meaning for the sorority or fraternity.

A lot of misconceptions about fraternities and sororities, though, come from Ritual. Gonzalez said he believes media has a huge part in that. “People outside the Greek community only have the option of getting their info from what they see in movies and television shows. People sometimes associate that with cults and groups that do random or crazy things,” Gonzalez said. “In the Greek community, the word ‘ritual’ has a completely and separate meaning.”

“When I think of frat initiations all I think of is beatings, lashings and streaking,” freshman Gregory Sullivan said. “All of those things are shown in movies.”

Fraternity and sorority Ritual’s are an allegory for what the organization cares about and values the most. It teaches the members the meaning behind the organization, where it came from and what it truly means to be a member. 

At Greek Leadership Weekend held in October, Webb asked participants about other organization’s Rituals. “I’ve never talked to Markus Schuette before, but I know the Sigma Chi Ritual by the way he acts and the way he treats others,” Michael Brice, Psi Sigma Phi member, said. “I know that his fraternity stands for and values all the things he shows every day.”

Webb went on to tell the GLW attendees that even though they may not know the direct words of another organization’s Ritual, they should still know it by the way the person acts. “If you’re really living your Ritual every day, people will know it. They just will,” Webb said.

                                                                                                                                                 

For most Greeks, Ritual is their favorite part of being in a fraternity or sorority. “I absolutely love my Ritual,” Alpha Chi Omega member Kacie de Jong said. “It’s definitely something I always think about and it can help me better myself,” de Jong said. Gonzalez agrees. “Ritual is my favorite part of being in a fraternity. It was literally a life changing experience. It means that a group of guys or girls trust you enough to let you into the deepest most meaningful parts of who they are.

According to Callais, if Greeks didn’t have ritual, they wouldn’t keep ongoing relationships with members because there would be no continuity or anything to pass down. Members can only pass friendships so far, but Ritual is that something that Greeks were founded on and that is what makes the difference.

Letters Today Leaders Tomorrow- Greeks on Campus

While only 1.9 percent of the Utah State University population belongs to a fraternity or sorority, 21.7 percent of the Associated Students of Utah State University are Greek. ASUSU is Utah State’s student government. ASUSU consists of an executive board, student senate and student traditions and activities board.

Erik Mikkelsen is president of both ASUSU and Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity. Hannah Blackburn, ASUSU’s public relations chair is also a member of Kappa Delta Sorority. Zach Larsen, programming chair is a Sigma Chi.

Blackburn says that has helped her with being on ASUSU. “I have the best people serve as my volunteers,” Blackburn said. “I can count on my Greek sisters to do what they say they will do. It’s helpful to have people I know will be there.”

Blackburn also said that Greeks are good ASUSU candidates because they have experience in leadership and programming through Greek life. Many Greeks volunteer at ASUSU events and hold some sort of position on an ASUSU committee, such as president, or an event volunteer.

“When it comes time for ASUSU elections, the Greek candidate has the most experience and knowledge of the position he or she is running for,” Blackburn said.

Blackburn said holding an elected or appointed position is a sort of internship. “Any skills, technical and leadership, can be directly applied into another leadership position on campus or my future career,” Blackburn said.

According to Michigan State's Collegiate Employment Research Institute, employers look for career-related work experiences, leadership experiences, and problem-solving skills rather than memorization of coursework.

Being a member of the Greek community can help build résumé’s by giving members experience in all of those things.

“Being Greek definitely helped get me to where I am,” Kylie Martinez said. Martinez is the Alpha Chi Omega president and ASUSU tradition’s director. “I’ve gained so much event planning experience and people skills being Greek and all of that helps me with my ASUSU position,” Martinez said.

Being involved on campus also helps Greeks give back to the campus that gave so much to them. “It’s motivated me to better myself in classes, and given me motivation for everything I do. It makes me want to be an active student rather than a passive student,” said Delta Sigma Phi member Conor Reese.

North vs. South

South vs. North: the never ending debate

The North vs. South debate has been ongoing since before the Civil War. With blazers and 5 inch inseam shorts in the south, and coats and jeans in the north, fraternities vary greatly between the two.

Two of the major differences are in how members act and how they dress. Southern fraternity members are typically seen wearing khaki shorts, a polo and a blazer, complete with RayBan sunglasses. Northern fraternity members typically sport more everyday clothes, such as jeans and a T-shirt, according to Katie Haberstock, a North Carolina native now living in Utah.

“Apart from dressing the part, manners play a role in the Southern fraternity gent way of life. You might think it would have to do with Southern hospitality but I think it goes deeper than that,” said a Phi Gamma Delta from Memphis, Ten. “I think it has to do with how a person is raised by their family. Older generations are the ones that teach children how to act and behave.”

Travis Chambers, a Pi Kappa Alpha from North Carolina believes the difference between Northern and Southern Greek life can be characterized more by the way America perceives a citizen of the south and the citizen of the north, rather than being Greek or not.

“When you perceive southern people you usually think of Southern hospitality, strong religious values and very family oriented,” Chambers said. “The North can be characterized as however you would characterize the North. I believe many of the differences are based off the individual that is born in the North or the South, but not on whether Greek life is different in those places.”

Northern fraternity men have a differing opinion on the biggest difference in Greek life as a whole.

“I personally think the biggest difference between Northern and Southern Greek life is that they haze a lot more down there. Some bigger fraternities have hell week, whereas we have initiation week,” Utah State University Delta Sigma Phi member Conor Reese said.

Hell week is the inaugural week of Greek organizations, particularly fraternities, in which pledges are abused and tortured as an endurance test, according to Urban Dictionary, an online user-powered slang dictionary. If the pledges make it through hell week, then they can become full-fledged fraternity members. 

“Down in the south, pledges have to do a lot of terrible things in order to be initiated. Here, we focus more on our ritual and brotherhood. I don’t know if that has to do with being raised in the North or South or just being Greek there or here, but that’s the biggest difference I see,” Reese said.

 “My boyfriend definitely went through hell week when he was pledging. He couldn’t tell me anything they were doing, but he came home with bruises and paint in his hair every day,” Kimberlie Peterson said. “I thought they only did that in the South but I guess it happens up here too.”

Reese believes that Greeks are more looked up to in the South and you’re nobody if you aren’t Greek. “If you’re Greek in the North, people just think you’re a hoodlum,” Reese said.

The difference between Northern and Southern Greek life comes either from the nature of being raised a certain way in a certain place, or from the nurture of being in a fraternity as a whole.

Greek Council Elections

Seven new students were elected to The Utah State University Greek Council Monday night.

The Greek Council is responsible for governing the Greek community. Their purpose is to promote good relationships among Greeks, sponsor philanthropic events, act as a judicial body and improve the relationship between the Greek community and the USU community.

Greek Council has seven positions including men’s and women’s president, men’s and women’s recruitment, judicial and finance, secretary and scholarship, and public relations and activities.

“I am super excited to start doing things for the community,” Tanner Hughes said. Hughes was elected to be men’s recruitment. “I plan on trying to unite the community more with recruitment. One of my big plans is to have guides that take the guys around to each house so they get to experience more than one house,” Hughes said. “I think that would make them find where they really belong.”

Hughes will be working closely with Women’s Recruitment Elizabeth Speckhard.  New Women’s President, Caitlin Rasmussen held the women’s recruitment position last year.

Sloan Bailey was elected to the public relations and marketing position. “The PR position entails that I am responsible for publicizing and promoting Greek council and the Greek community throughout the campus and even the community. I get the privilege of working with other student organizations to help foster involvement for the Greek students,” Bailey said.

Bailey said her plans are to create a stronger marketing campaign for fall recruitment. She also wants to utilize the USU Greeks Facebook and Twitter pages, to make it more beneficial for active Greeks and Greek alumni.

The men’s and women’s president positions are designed  to “provide guidance and oversee Greek Council officers and committees, while building positive working relationships between the Greek Council and chapter leaders,” according to the job description.

“I don’t know much about my position yet since I was just elected to it, but I can’t wait to get started,” new Men’s President Jake Giles said. “I see a lot of positive change coming to the Greek community.”

The other positions on Greek Council are judicial and finance, filled by Jordan Garner, and secretary and scholarship  filled by Shannon Peters. Both Garner and Peters are new to Greek Council.

(s. stephenson and k. warburton)

Order of Omega

Order of Omega is a leadership honor society for members of Greek organizations.

The Utah State University chapter of Order of Omega, Delta Phi, initiated 15 new members Monday.

In order to be eligible for Order of Omega, one must be a junior or senior, have at least a 3.0 grade point average and be in good standing with a Greek organization on campus.

According to the Order of Omega website, members are selected from the top three percent of students at each institution. To date, over 500 chapters have been chartered throughout North America, each sharing the common goal of recognizing the many outstanding leaders of the Greek community.

“We have 35 active members right now,” Taylor Jarvis said. Jarvis has been a member of Order of Omega since fall 2010.

Being a member of Order of Omega helps students with their academic and future careers.

“It helps for my future because even with a small alumni base, we have the networking for careers. Order of Omega means you know what you're doing, know what it takes to succeed and have the drive to do so. The alumni will see that,” Jarvis said.

“I’m really excited to be a member of Order of Omega,” Chelsea Dean said. “It makes me feel more secure in my future because it provides more networking.” Dean was initiated into Order of Omega on Monday.

The majority of Order of Omega member are involved elsewhere on campus.

Joe Watson, a senior at USU is a science senator, Dean works in the USU Student Involvement Office and Jarvis is the Vice President of the Residence Hall Association.

(s. stephenson and k. warburton)

Pi Kappa Alpha

The Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity at Utah State University had a judicial meeting on Nov. 4. The meeting was held to decide the fate of the USU Pikes. 

After the incident sending a 17-year-old female to the hospital, the chapter was immediately put on probation by USU. Their national headquarters also suspended their chapter.

Now, the situation is one step closer to a resolution. 

The Gamma Epsilon chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha is on a year-long suspension from the university. Their headquarters reinstated the chapter three weeks ago.

The national headquarters is part of the North-American Interfraternity Conference, a governing body responsible for 75 fraternities. The NIC, formerly known as the Interfraternity Conference, assists in situations like these and sets guidelines for the fraternities to follow.

Associate Director of Communication and Marketing at Pi Kappa Alpha, Justin True, said the headquarters waited to see what the university determined after the investigation to decide what would happen to the Gamma Epsilon chapter.

“We were fined five hundred dollars to IFC and we each have to do 30 hours of community service before next fall,” Pike member Ryan Smith said.

During the fraternity’s suspensions from headquarters and USU, they weren’t allowed to participate in any Greek events on the USU campus. “We were basically just guys living in a big house that has Pike on the front,” Smith said. “The morale in the house was really low because we weren’t allowed to have anyone over. All we did was watch movies.”

Pike wasn’t allowed to send pledges through initiation, or hold weekly meetings. Since their chapter was reinstated, they can operate within the fraternity and NIC, but will not be associated with USU until fall 2012. 

The Pikes are still planning on recruiting this spring. “It’s going to be hard to get guys without being associated with Utah State,” member Mark Loosli said.

(s. stephenson and k. warburton)

The freshmen perspective

It’s fall in Logan, Utah. The leaves are changing and the Utah State University campus is in a rush of freshmen anticipation.  With empty schedules, lanyards and school pride T-shirts, freshmen begin to take over campus and events.

After 3 weeks of classes, fraternity rush and sorority recruitment is in full swing, and soon some of these freshmen’s T-shirts and lanyards will change from Aggie Blue and Fighting White to Greek letters in fraternity and sorority colors. Their schedules will fill up with events to volunteer at rather than simply attending them.

A lot of college students have a negative perspective on Greek life, but a small percentage of freshmen decide that going Greek is a good choice for them.

“I went to recruitment and bid day was amazing. I got into Alpha Chi Omega and ever since then my college experience has been so much better,” said freshman Nikki Van Lith. 

However, not everyone agrees.  Scott Fox, USU sophomore, thinks fraternities are dumb and doesn’t understand the point behind them.

“Frat houses are nothing but a bunch of dirty obnoxious teenagers who like to drink a lot and act a fool. It’s a popularity contest on a larger scale,” Fox said. “Not to mention the drama between houses. It’s something I would never do. I like sororities though, unless they’re rude like in the movies.”

Victoria McMahon thinks it’s something she would never do. “I thought that the idea of fraternities was a good one but so corrupted by the media that the purpose and values of them were lost,” McMahon said. “Sure they were fun, but I think too many people together so often would just piss me off.”

Others hadn’t considered it, but had their opinion changed.

Charley Riddle, now a junior at USU, didn’t consider rushing until his sophomore year, despite the fact he was introduced to Greek life his first semester.

“When I came to college, I didn’t think I’d ever go Greek. But as I spent more time around it and gave it sincere though, I decided I really wanted to be Greek and then joined SigEp,” Riddle said. “I joined the spring of my sophomore year. I really wish I had joined earlier, but that’s a life lesson learned.”

Some freshmen go Greek because they want to be more involved on campus.

“When I first came to USU I had no friends and no idea how I was going to get connected to campus, but then DSP came along,” said Delta Sigma Phi member, Nate Trujillo. “I knew almost instantly that it was the right place to be.”


(d. quire)

11.25.11

Our dean put us on social probation, which means no mixers. We had a straight liquor party. TFM.

Parties.

Pledges taking up the whole sidewalk so a GDI is forced to walk on the grass. TFM.

Elitism.

Took the frathound hunting this weekend, so we tied a pledge to the front porch and made him bark at every GDI that walked by. TFM.

Hazing.

Total frat moves. According to TotalFratMove, these are the stereotypes of Greek student life.

These are the main reasons that universities shut down fraternity and sorority chapters and Greek communities as a whole. Several universities have even banned students from rushing their freshman year to try to cut out these things and encourage students to focus more on academics.

Princeton University implemented this, prohibiting freshman to affiliate with a Greek organization. The ban was the result of a recommendation by the Working Group on Campus Social and Residential Life.
The ban also “prohibits students in the other three classes from conducting or having responsibility on behalf of a Greek organization for any form of rush or solicitation in which freshmen are invited to participate,” said Princeton President Shirley Tilghman.

Colby College banned Greek life as a whole in 1984, saying it was “exclusionary by nature.”

Utah State University shut down two of its Greek organizations in 2008 due to a hazing incident. Sigma Nu Fraternity and Chi Omega Sorority are no longer part of the community at USU.

On Nov. 21, 2008 USU sophomore and Sigma Nu pledge Michael Starks died due to a hazing and alcohol related incident.  He was kidnapped by members of Sigma Nu and Chi Omega and was taken to a house off campus. While there, he was painted blue and forced to drink alcohol. He died shortly after of alcohol poisoning, police reports said.

Since then USU has developed a zero tolerance for hazing and alcohol policy violations.

Over USU’s homecoming weekend, a 17-year-old girl was taken to the hospital by Pi Kappa Alpha members after consuming enough alcohol to have a blood alcohol content of .340. Starks died at a blood alcohol content of .373.

Two weeks ago the Pike’s were placed on suspension and were disbanded from USU for alcohol policy violations.

Two members were arrested and charged with providing alcohol to a minor.

“There were a lot of incidents with Pike leading up to this,” USU Alcohol Specialist Ryan Barfuss said. “We had people get in trouble with housing who drank at Pike. That’s against their alcohol policy and Utah State’s.”

“I actually think that Pike was doing their best with the situation. It was a wrong place wrong time kind of thing,” sophomore Caitlyn Lewis said.

This is the first alcohol-related issue the USU Greek community has had in the three years since Starks’ death.

Non-Greeks are often derogatorily referred to as “god damn independents” or GDI’s by fraternity and sorority members. “Geed” is also commonly used, as a shorter, easier, pronunciation of GDI.

“I can see how it could be an elitist thing, but I’m good friends with a lot of the Greeks and it makes me feel welcome when they call me a geed. They call me Queen Geed, so it’s fine,” Tiffany Bushman, sophomore, said. “I feel like it’s a term out of love. If they called me a GDI, I would feel bad about it, and I would feel like they were looking down on me.”

“There definitely is a difference between calling someone a GDI and calling them a geed. A GDI is someone who openly bashes the Greek system, while a geed is just someone who isn’t Greek,” USU sophomore Kacie de Jong said.

The alcohol issues and the name calling that are apparent at USU’s campus don’t do anything to defy the negative stereotypes shown on TotalFratMove.

“As an Alpha Chi, I believe I believe that living our ritual will help us grow and become better leaders,” Lewis said. “That’s how we should be, even though TFM is harmless humor.”


(d. quire)

Spotlight on the Greek System

Joining a Greek organization can be one of the biggest choices of a college student’s life. Going Greek at Utah State University is something only 1.9% of campus population chooses to do, according Alanna Hill. Hill was a Sigma Kappa at Indiana State University. She is now the Fraternity and Sorority Advisor at USU.

Being Greek at USU is, in some ways, a lot different than being Greek at other schools. While most Greek communities are aiming for the same goals, there is something that sets USU’s Greeks apart.

“Utah has very few universities with Greek Life at their campus. Therefore less people understand the Greek System. With that being said, our organizations offer great leadership skills, academic opportunities and values congruency,” Hill said.

Value congruency happens when there is a match between member and organization value systems. This results in positive outcomes for the member and the organization as a whole.  “Most people don’t understand these values and fraternities and sororities are put in a very small stereotyped box,” Hill said.

“To me the best thing about being Greek is having a constant support system behind me. It has also gotten me to be a lot more involved on campus and given me amazing networking opportunities,” said Kappa Delta member, Brooke Lawely. “We have a lot of pride in our community and that shows to other people when we wear letters.”

USU’s Greeks wear pin attire, skirts and slacks, on Mondays, and their letters on Tuesdays. Greek communities across the United States have similar traditions.

“The awesome thing about the USU Greek community is how they try to live out their ritual. We have opportunities in which Greeks participate to get to understand what it means to be Greek as well as teach others. The community here also does not tolerate hazing and being purely social organizations.”

The Greek community at USU only has 7 organizations right now, but since the 1920’s there has been over 15. (c. Dean)

Events

Greek Week

Fall semester at Utah State University means a lot to the Greek community. It means rush week, philanthropy events, formals, and leadership retreats. One of the biggest fall events for the Greeks is Greek Week.

Held annually, this event’s purpose is to “let the USU community know who we are and why we’re here,” said Sigma Chi member Jake Giles. Greek Week also helps to uphold the 4 Pillars of Greek life. “Brotherhood and sisterhood, scholarship, leadership and service are the standards and expectations that USU Greeks must abide by,” said senior Amber Konakis, Alpha Chi Omega’s 4 Pillars Chair.

Justin Zizumbo, Greek Council’s Public Relations and Activities Chair, planned Greek Week this year. “We have a lot of fun events planned and we’re hoping to get a good turn out,” Zizumbo said.

Greek Week kicks off Monday Nov. 7 this year, with the first Stuff-A-Bus Blitz Night of the season. There are four Blitz Nights throughout November. Stuff-A-Bus is an event held every year at USU. Volunteers meet at the north end of Romney Stadium, then go to neighborhoods in Logan asking people to donate non-perishable canned food. The purpose is to fill a bus with the cans, then all the food goes to Cache Community Food Pantry.

Tuesday is Minute to Win It, a game based on the popular television show. Students can attend and compete in various challenged lasting one minute. Most challenges involve common household items such as dice, plates, and cookies. Minute to Win It will be held in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom from 9-10 p.m.

Wednesday is Greek Sing, also held in the TSC Ballroom. Greek houses were put into teams at the beginning of the week. The teams will compete with a lip sync and a parody of a popular song, usually specific to the USU Greek community. Anyone can attend this event, but only Greeks can participate.

There are two events on Thursday Nov. 10. From 11:45-12:15p.m., Greeks will be giving hugs on The Quad in honor of Free Hug Day. Free Hug Day was started as a social movement, with the theory that a hug can turn someone’s day around and start a chain reaction of random acts of kindness.

At 4pm U,      SU Student Involvement and Leadership is putting on a life-size Angry Birds obstacle course. Students can participate in the course while using water balloons and Angry Bird stuffed animals to knock down cardboard boxes.

To end the week, there is a progressive dinner down Greek row. Students start at the Kappa Delta and Alpha Chi Omega sorority houses for appetizers, then continue to Sigma Chi and Sigma Phi Epsilon for the main course, and end at Delta Sigma Phi for dessert.

“Greek Week really helps us to be better known on campus, and shows people part of what we do,” Giles said. Greek Week highlights the pride, traditions, and friendships that are prevalent in the Greek community.

(b. fonda)

Dirty Laundry

Kristina Blesch

JCOM 1130
Underage Drinking

Underage drinking is an ongoing issue in Greek systems in the United States. At Utah State University, drinking is used as a party tool and weekend event. However, at other universities it used more as a tradition.

It is typical for other organizations, such as sports teams, affiliated with USU to participate in drinking as well. But with the reputation that comes with joining a Greek organization, there’s more of a focus on drinking in the Greek community.

Housing and Residence Life at USU has often caught people drinking at Greek houses and then coming back on campus, usually to their dorm. This is both against the USU Student Code and the Housing Contract.

Timothy Ledna, head of the Living Learning Community on campus, said that there were 9 alcohol-related incidents within the LLC the first weekend of school.

Three years ago, USU sophomore and Sigma Nu fraternity pledge Michael Starks died in an alcohol and hazing related incident. He was kidnapped by members of Chi Omega and Sigma Nu and was taken to a house off campus. While there, he was painted blue and forced to drink alcohol. He died shortly after of alcohol poisoning.

USU has revised the alcohol policy, making it stricter since this incident.

Ryan Barfuss, USU Wellness Center’s alcohol specialist, is required to speak to all the Greek houses. He helps people know how much alcohol is in a standard drink, how many drinks keep you at a low-risk level and what to do if something goes wrong.

Because of Barfuss’ speech, and recent incidents in the Greek system, students are becoming smarter about drinking and their choices relating to alcohol.

“I personally have been more aware and informed about what I’m drinking and how I drink it. It never occurred to me that I could be drinking more than one standard drink per red cup,” said sophomore Kacie de Jong. “I think it’s a really good thing they are doing policy revisions. It's made people more aware.”

(b.fonda and c.dean)

Post 1

Greek life is something most people don't know a lot about. I am here to bring the truth about Greeks, both good and bad sides.