Students resist fraternity fundraiser
Whitney A. Stewart
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: News
But some students considered those reactions extreme and said Jail and Bail was harmless fun.
Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority paid to imprison the entire Sigma Chi house and have Assistant to the President and Sigma Chi adviser Michael Harner post bail for them.
"At its best, Jail and Bail is a good-natured, light-hearted way to raise money with some excitement and fun," Murnen said. "That's what we mean it to be."
For sophomore Melissa Gordon, it was just that: fun.
When fraternity members climbed through a window into McIntyre Hall - the doors were locked - and tried to take away the house mother, Teri Martin, Martin paid them to take Gordon in her place.
"She basically traded me," Gordon said. "I think it's a fun way, as long as they don't force people and as long as they handle it appropriately. It really wasn't bad. The guys weren't being jerks."
Freshman Aubrie Wagaman was disappointed when she didn't get captured.
"We all kind of hid, but if we got picked up, we were kind of excited too,"?she said.
In Eder's case, the lack of proof that someone had paid to imprison her made her think of "extortionism, blackmail," she said. She initially enjoyed the game, but grew upset and "animal fear" set in when, in the truck, "the demeanor of the guys was a little ominous."
Olds Residence House Mother Mary Cobb said the event was a fun way to raise money.
"Of course we wouldn't want the boys to be too aggressive. The girl they carried out was screaming, but you know she liked it."
Hillsdale Police Sergeant Scott Hephner said city police received a call but did not respond after Hillsdale College Security informed them of the fundraiser.
Security arrived at the fraternity house after the event finished, Harner said.
Reports of Eder's experience reached Harner the next day.
"I guess some things happened last night that weren't upright," he said. "At its core, it is good and well-meant, but in their zeal, [the Sigma Chis] probably crossed a line. Incidents like this undermine the effort. If there's one incident, that points to a problem."
Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority paid to imprison the entire Sigma Chi house and have Assistant to the President and Sigma Chi adviser Michael Harner post bail for them.
"At its best, Jail and Bail is a good-natured, light-hearted way to raise money with some excitement and fun," Murnen said. "That's what we mean it to be."
For sophomore Melissa Gordon, it was just that: fun.
When fraternity members climbed through a window into McIntyre Hall - the doors were locked - and tried to take away the house mother, Teri Martin, Martin paid them to take Gordon in her place.
"She basically traded me," Gordon said. "I think it's a fun way, as long as they don't force people and as long as they handle it appropriately. It really wasn't bad. The guys weren't being jerks."
Freshman Aubrie Wagaman was disappointed when she didn't get captured.
"We all kind of hid, but if we got picked up, we were kind of excited too,"?she said.
In Eder's case, the lack of proof that someone had paid to imprison her made her think of "extortionism, blackmail," she said. She initially enjoyed the game, but grew upset and "animal fear" set in when, in the truck, "the demeanor of the guys was a little ominous."
Olds Residence House Mother Mary Cobb said the event was a fun way to raise money.
"Of course we wouldn't want the boys to be too aggressive. The girl they carried out was screaming, but you know she liked it."
Hillsdale Police Sergeant Scott Hephner said city police received a call but did not respond after Hillsdale College Security informed them of the fundraiser.
Security arrived at the fraternity house after the event finished, Harner said.
Reports of Eder's experience reached Harner the next day.
"I guess some things happened last night that weren't upright," he said. "At its core, it is good and well-meant, but in their zeal, [the Sigma Chis] probably crossed a line. Incidents like this undermine the effort. If there's one incident, that points to a problem."
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