The Collegian

Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Andrew Dodson Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority was disciplined for dirty rushing, forcing them into social probation for the rest of the semester.

Busted for breaking recruitment rules, members from Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority learned Sunday they must deal with a semester of social probation.

A Panhellenic councilmember said members from Pi Beta Phi and Chi Omega sororities complained in January that members of Kappa Kappa Gamma allegedly sent text messages to potential members, promising bids into their house in exchange for listing Kappa Kappa Gamma as their first and only choice. The councilmember spoke on condition of anonymity.

Some of the women who complied were ultimately denied an offer because the sorority could not uphold their promise based on space limitations in their house.

Potential members who list only one house on their bid card, or "suicide bid," do so as a testament to their interest for one particular house.

The councilmember said several women who chose to suicide bid but weren't picked up approached Panhellenic Council complaining about the infractions, commonly termed "dirty rushing."

Members of Panhellenic Council refused to comment on the record.

Junior Sarah Holland, president of Kappa Kappa Gamma, declined comment per adherence to her sorority's national rules.

Mediated by Hillsdale College's Panhellenic Council, which supports and enforces national policies of sororities, the three campus sorority houses agreed to a set of disciplinary actions to address Kappa Kappa Gamma's infractions. The Collegian learned the sorority forfeited all social functions except for their spring formal.

In addition, Kappa Kappa Gamma issued letters of apology to Chi Omega and Pi Beta Phi Sunday and Monday evenings.

Joanna Wiseley, campus Panhellenic adviser, said Panhellenic Council members make confidentiality agreements before taking office. She became frustrated when she learned that one council member came to The Collegian with information regarding the disciplinary matters.

"The people involved with this situation behaved with utmost maturity, and they are being undermined by this in my opinion," Wiseley said. "Nobody should have known about the probation until Sunday."

Jessi Cole '06 joined Chi Omega after she transferred to Hillsdale from Michigan State University. Cole said she wasn't dirty rushed, but did witness dirty rushing during her college years.

She said it hurts women going through recruitment because they lose the perspective to see all three sororities equally. Cole said promising bids to women is deceptive.

"It can't always be honest because it's not up to one person to choose," she said. "One person doesn't make the decision on who the new initiates are going to be."

The last round of sorority pick-ups occurred in January. Kappa Kappa Gamma picked up 12 women, Chi Omega picked up nine and Pi Beta Phi picked up 11.

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