New Fraternity and Sorority Life Director takes office, Greek life recruitment halted until next semester

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The original decision to halt recruitment

“until further notice” was announced on Sept. 3 by Dean of Students Reuban Rodriguez, a week after the university’s student organization fair on campus.

Recruitment activities for Greek life organizations have been officially postponed until a projected start date in February 2022, according to Porter. The decision was announced to the Greek life community on Sept. 22.

“The first thing I want to do is work with the governing councils to create a recruitment process to happen in February 2022,” Wheeless stated. “Once I can see a recruitment cycle take place, I will want to work with the governing councils to identify opportunities for improvement for the next recruitment cycle.”

There is no official start date for recruitment for when it resumes in February, according to an email from university spokesperson Tom Gresham on Oct. 11.

Other recommendations are being referred to specific work groups, consisting of various university community members, including faculty, students and advisors, Porter stated in an email.

There are five work groups: Health and Safety; Recruitment, Intake & Member Education; Roles and Responsibilities and Purpose; Hazing Policy; and University & Community Relations, according to Porter. Each group has two heads, who are university faculty.

“The workgroups are comprised of individuals who bring particular expertise and experience to the subject matter and areas of evaluation,” Porter stated. “Each workgroup was provided the general recommendations and climate survey information generated during the external review completed by Dyad and the internal assessment.”

Any student who becomes aware of underground recruitment can report it to the university, according to the announcement from Rodriguez. The university is under obligation to investigate “all reports of unauthorized activity,” according to Porter.

“Findings that a chapter is responsible for unauthorized activity may result in disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct against the chapter, up to and including permanent loss of recognition,” Porter stated in an email.