By Julie Depenbrock ’13

The Board of Trustees has asked the administration to draft a policy that prohibits students from joining underground organizations.

This request comes in the wake President Daniel H. Weiss’s recent announcement that the defunct Kappa Delta Rho fraternity violated campus policies on All College Day. College officials believe KDR held an unauthorized recruiting event that was attended by freshman Everett Glenn, who died of alcohol poisoning later that day.

The administration, together with Student Government and the Faculty Governance Committee, is meeting to outline a proposal for the Board.

“The process we’re in is one of review and discussion,” Weiss said.

In a “Request for Significant Advice” addressed to the Faculty Governance Committee, Weiss wrote, “The Board will consider and conditionally approve a policy change which would prohibit students from forming, joining, supporting, participating in, or otherwise affiliating with any ‘underground’ Greek or Greek-like organizations.”

The proposed policy change forbids students from rushing, pledging, joining, recruiting for, or participating in organizations that are not recognized by the college.

Any students who violates the policy is subject to “a full range of disciplinary sanctions,” including suspension or expulsion. In addition, the unrecognized organization itself could face legal action, civil or criminal penalties.

“The college retains full and final authority to determine whether a particular organization is operating as an unrecognized selective membership organization,” reads the proposal.

“Students are free to organize and join associations to promote their common interests, so long as such interests are not inconsistent with the policies, purposes, function, and mission of the college,” it continues. “Such associations and student organizations may be accorded use of college facilities and resources when available.”

Weiss maintained that the proposal is a work in progress.

He, along with the Faculty Governance Committee, is planning an open meeting with students before finalizing the proposal and presenting it to the Board.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for the weekend of February 1.