DePauw Drama
Received a "Breaking News" email this morning from my alma mater, DePauw University. Don't know if any of you have been following the story about the Delta Zeta chapter at DPU, but it's caused a good amount of controversy and mention on national news outlets. That's a big deal for the small little college in the cornfield of Indiana. Although it was interesting to see DPU on the Today Show and CNN recently (not to mention the NYT article that blew this thing up), I was the most excited to see DPU and the DZ's on VH1's Best Week Ever. That was a surprise.
Anyway, just got this email - I think I agree with it, and I think it was the appropriate thing to do.
If you want background on the story, here's a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/education/25sorority.html?ex=1330059600&en=586cb157d02771f3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Because you are a DePauw graduate, I want you to have this information
immediately and from me directly. Today I communicated with Delta Zeta national
president Deborah Raziano and severed the University's relationship with the
sorority. A letter describing the reasons for my action and a copy of my letter
to Delta Zeta follows.
As you may know, I have heard from many members of the DePauw family and
appreciate all of the suggestions, advice and support received. For the good of
the University this was our most appropriate response.
Robert G. Bottoms
President
Dear Alumni of DePauw:
As most members of the DePauw family know, the New York Times article of
February 25 about the Delta Zeta chapter on campus has resulted in significant
media attention. Many of you have written or e-mailed me sharing your views,
and many of you have taken the time to share your personal experiences with our
Greek system. Nearly all of the responses from alumni have been supportive of
the University and our early steps to intervene on behalf of our students.
I have spent significant time gathering facts and information over the past two
months. As a result, it has become clear that the values of DePauw University
and those of the Delta Zeta National Sorority are incompatible. Therefore,
effective immediately, I have severed future ties with the Delta Zeta national,
and I am including here my letter of notification to them. I wish to emphasize
that our problem is with Delta Zeta national, not its local members, who have
handled themselves with extraordinary poise and maturity in difficult
circumstances, nor our Delta Zeta alumnae, many of whom have expressed dismay
about their national's behavior and support for DePauw. We will continue to
work closely with these students and alumnae as we go forward.
We must view the Delta Zeta situation as an opportunity to face some of the
problems inherent in DePauw's Greek system. If our system is to rise above the
negative stereotyping so many of you have written about, modern recruitment
processes must be developed. Also, to prevent a sorority or fraternity from
reorganizing in the middle of the year and displacing student residents, new
housing standards must be developed.
As you know the Delta Zeta controversy arrived in the midst of the University's
major effort to improve the Greek System at DePauw. As an outgrowth of the
Greek Fact-Finding Commission, trustees, students, house corporation officers,
chapter advisers, faculty, alumni, and parents are working together to improve
the physical structures and health and safety standards of the Greek houses, to
examine new member recruitment and new member education, to refine the judicial
system at DePauw, to expand the staff support and other resources for
fraternities and sororities, and to curb high-risk drinking. We have been
heartened by our progress and the enthusiastic support and cooperation of all
our DePauw constituencies.
Our destination for this undertaking should result in a very public position
that there is a new Greek tradition evolving at DePauw-one that builds on our
system's strengths within our learning community-and one that might become a
national model for other colleges and universities around the country.
I thank you for your loyalty and support of DePauw.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Bottoms
President
RGB/mf
Attachment
March 9, 2007
Ms. Deborah A. Raziano
National President, Delta Zeta Sorority
c/o Alumni Affairs Office
Clarence James, Jr. Alumni House
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, LA 70310
Dear Ms. Raziano:
Over the past weeks, I have interviewed many DePauw students, including several
who were asked to take alumnae status in the sorority. I have also interviewed
the women who were chosen to remain active members in your organization. I have
talked with faculty, including the faculty Ms. Menges met on campus, and
needless to say I have heard from many loyal DePauw Delta Zetas.
What has become increasingly clear from these discussions is that we at DePauw
believe that the values of our University and those of the national Delta Zeta
Sorority are incompatible.
I remain concerned by the points I raised with you in my February 19 reprimand
of the sorority. Now, three weeks after my initial letter to you, my
dissatisfaction with your organization continues to grow. I am proud of our
DePauw students and the way they reacted to an unwarranted situation. Our
students have shown a maturity beyond what one might expect of undergraduates.
Yet postings on your Web site attempt to discredit any DePauw student critical
of your actions. Your Web site has also been critical of our faculty for their
willingness to openly discuss the way the membership review took place within
the Delta Zeta chapter.
In summary, we at DePauw do not like the way our students were treated. We also
disagree with your portrayal of the University in the media. We are opposed to
your media freeze. One of the foundations of a university is free and open
communication, which has been a hallmark of how we at DePauw have responded to
this situation. We also vehemently contest the assertion on your Web site that
"at all points in this process we (Delta Zeta) have worked with the University,
sought their advice and acted upon their advice in our reorganization efforts."
It is my decision to sever ties immediately with your national organization.
Beginning in the fall of 2007, Delta Zeta will not be recognized by the
University. In the interim, I call upon you to allow Delta Zeta alumnae to
support the local chapter for the remainder of the spring semester rather than
your national organization.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Bottoms
President
RGB/mf
cc: Cynthia Winslow Menges
Anyway, just got this email - I think I agree with it, and I think it was the appropriate thing to do.
If you want background on the story, here's a link: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/education/25sorority.html?ex=1330059600&en=586cb157d02771f3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Because you are a DePauw graduate, I want you to have this information
immediately and from me directly. Today I communicated with Delta Zeta national
president Deborah Raziano and severed the University's relationship with the
sorority. A letter describing the reasons for my action and a copy of my letter
to Delta Zeta follows.
As you may know, I have heard from many members of the DePauw family and
appreciate all of the suggestions, advice and support received. For the good of
the University this was our most appropriate response.
Robert G. Bottoms
President
Dear Alumni of DePauw:
As most members of the DePauw family know, the New York Times article of
February 25 about the Delta Zeta chapter on campus has resulted in significant
media attention. Many of you have written or e-mailed me sharing your views,
and many of you have taken the time to share your personal experiences with our
Greek system. Nearly all of the responses from alumni have been supportive of
the University and our early steps to intervene on behalf of our students.
I have spent significant time gathering facts and information over the past two
months. As a result, it has become clear that the values of DePauw University
and those of the Delta Zeta National Sorority are incompatible. Therefore,
effective immediately, I have severed future ties with the Delta Zeta national,
and I am including here my letter of notification to them. I wish to emphasize
that our problem is with Delta Zeta national, not its local members, who have
handled themselves with extraordinary poise and maturity in difficult
circumstances, nor our Delta Zeta alumnae, many of whom have expressed dismay
about their national's behavior and support for DePauw. We will continue to
work closely with these students and alumnae as we go forward.
We must view the Delta Zeta situation as an opportunity to face some of the
problems inherent in DePauw's Greek system. If our system is to rise above the
negative stereotyping so many of you have written about, modern recruitment
processes must be developed. Also, to prevent a sorority or fraternity from
reorganizing in the middle of the year and displacing student residents, new
housing standards must be developed.
As you know the Delta Zeta controversy arrived in the midst of the University's
major effort to improve the Greek System at DePauw. As an outgrowth of the
Greek Fact-Finding Commission, trustees, students, house corporation officers,
chapter advisers, faculty, alumni, and parents are working together to improve
the physical structures and health and safety standards of the Greek houses, to
examine new member recruitment and new member education, to refine the judicial
system at DePauw, to expand the staff support and other resources for
fraternities and sororities, and to curb high-risk drinking. We have been
heartened by our progress and the enthusiastic support and cooperation of all
our DePauw constituencies.
Our destination for this undertaking should result in a very public position
that there is a new Greek tradition evolving at DePauw-one that builds on our
system's strengths within our learning community-and one that might become a
national model for other colleges and universities around the country.
I thank you for your loyalty and support of DePauw.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Bottoms
President
RGB/mf
Attachment
March 9, 2007
Ms. Deborah A. Raziano
National President, Delta Zeta Sorority
c/o Alumni Affairs Office
Clarence James, Jr. Alumni House
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, LA 70310
Dear Ms. Raziano:
Over the past weeks, I have interviewed many DePauw students, including several
who were asked to take alumnae status in the sorority. I have also interviewed
the women who were chosen to remain active members in your organization. I have
talked with faculty, including the faculty Ms. Menges met on campus, and
needless to say I have heard from many loyal DePauw Delta Zetas.
What has become increasingly clear from these discussions is that we at DePauw
believe that the values of our University and those of the national Delta Zeta
Sorority are incompatible.
I remain concerned by the points I raised with you in my February 19 reprimand
of the sorority. Now, three weeks after my initial letter to you, my
dissatisfaction with your organization continues to grow. I am proud of our
DePauw students and the way they reacted to an unwarranted situation. Our
students have shown a maturity beyond what one might expect of undergraduates.
Yet postings on your Web site attempt to discredit any DePauw student critical
of your actions. Your Web site has also been critical of our faculty for their
willingness to openly discuss the way the membership review took place within
the Delta Zeta chapter.
In summary, we at DePauw do not like the way our students were treated. We also
disagree with your portrayal of the University in the media. We are opposed to
your media freeze. One of the foundations of a university is free and open
communication, which has been a hallmark of how we at DePauw have responded to
this situation. We also vehemently contest the assertion on your Web site that
"at all points in this process we (Delta Zeta) have worked with the University,
sought their advice and acted upon their advice in our reorganization efforts."
It is my decision to sever ties immediately with your national organization.
Beginning in the fall of 2007, Delta Zeta will not be recognized by the
University. In the interim, I call upon you to allow Delta Zeta alumnae to
support the local chapter for the remainder of the spring semester rather than
your national organization.
Sincerely,
Robert G. Bottoms
President
RGB/mf
cc: Cynthia Winslow Menges