By Julie Depenbrock ‘13

The administration has brought the hammer down on the undergrounds, adopting a policy that prohibits students from joining unrecognized Greek organizations that operate on campus. As approved by the Board of Trustees last Saturday, the policy reads:

“No student may rush, pledge, join, recruit for, participate in, perpetuate, contribute funds to, or otherwise engage in activities as an actual or prospective member of an unrecognized Greek organization while on any property owned or under the control of the college.”

Though never stated explicitly in the 10-page document, the policy is a response to the actions of the underground Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, which held a recruiting event the morning of All College Day last May. Freshman Everett Glenn attended the event, at which alcohol was served, and was later found unresponsive in his Kirby House dorm room. According to the policy, “use of college-provided electronic mail, telephone service, servers, or other college-supplied technology, even when physically off of campus property” constitutes on-campus operation and is punishable by a “full range of disciplinary sanctions… including expulsion.”

Off -campus is a different story. “Although they are advised against doing so, Lafayette students are not prohibited from joining unrecognized Greek organizations whose activities take place entirely off the Lafayette Campus,” the policy reads.

Underground organizations are defined as those previously recognized by the college, possessing membership and purpose “identical to a fraternity or sorority that was previously recognized,” or alleging to be any “Greek organization not recognized by the college, regardless of whether it has a national affiliation,” according to the policy.

While KDR is directly affected by the policy, it is unclear which—if any—other groups are coming under fire. Chi Phi Rho, forced to vacate its 4 West Campus residence in 2005 after a keg was found, was not listed among Lafayette’s 10 recognized Greek organizations. But its members argue that it is recognized and actively recruiting. “This policy specifically identifies ‘unrecognized Greek organizations’ as those who have never been recognized by the college or have had their recognition withdrawn,” said Andrew Anastor ‘13, spokesman for the Rho Chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity. “Recognition of the Rho chapter has never been formally withdrawn by Lafayette College, a fact admitted in Northampton County Court during the ongoing legal debate over the right to occupy Vallamont [Chi Phi’s fraternity house],” Anastor continued. “Therefore, this policy is not applicable to the Rho Chapter and we intend to continue Chapter operations as such.”

Vice President for Campus Life Annette Diorio reaffirmed the college’s stance on the new policy in an email to the Lafayette community Wednesday. “In 2011, the college established the Implementation and Assessment Group on Greek Life which is midway through a three-year period designed to both strengthen and assess the Greek community,” she said. “The Board made a decision that during the three year implementation period no groups beyond the 10 currently active and recognized at the college would be granted recognition.”

In a phone interview, President Daniel H. Weiss said, “The reason for the policy was to address the perception by the Board that unrecognized Greek organizations were undermining the health and safety of our students. The experience with Everett Glenn on All College Day was related to that.”

KDR alumni and affiliates did not respond to requests for comment.

Some underclassmen were uncertain exactly who the policy impacts. “I think it’s a little harsh because some of the fraternities and sororities have good intentions,” Sam Isaacs ‘16 said, “but the college is shutting them down without knowing that what they’re doing is against College policy.” “It’s fair because it’s applied to all unrecognized organizations,” Jason Hill ‘16 said. “As long as it’s applied un-biasedly, it’s fair and it’s not like they’re preventing someone from joining one of these off -campus.”