The Theta Xi fraternity chapter at Lehigh University was placed on disciplinary probation on Tuesday, March 28, and will remain on probation until December 31, 2018.
Theta Xi was put on probation for a couple of reasons, the most recent of which being an incident in which a member of the Theta Xi fraternity sent an ‘inappropriate’ text message to students of the university regarding a March 8 party.
The Lehigh Greek website said that Theta Xi violated three parts of the Lehigh Code of Conduct: respect for community (encouraging others), respect for others and respect for community (failure to comply).
The fraternity took full responsibility for all three of the charges.
Theta Xi’s social and recruitment chairs must with Lehigh’s department of communications before May 1, with the purpose of having fraternity members take the information they learn and share it in the workshop.
Furthermore, an additional member of the fraternity must meet with the Interfraternity Council to discuss the fraternity’s timeline, recruitment process and recruitment expectations for the upcoming academic year.
The official disciplinary notice sent to Theta Xi, via Lehigh Greeks:
You are placed on Disciplinary Probation effective March 28, 2017 through December 31, 2018.
Disciplinary Probation is defined as the imposition of a trial period in which students must show that they are willing to live up to the expectations in this Code of Conduct. This trial period may not exceed four semesters. This status implies that further violations of this code may result in disciplinary suspension or expulsion. Other sanctions may be imposed, and additional requirements may be imposed as conditions for reinstatement in good standing.
The following educational sanction is being imposed. Host a workshop for fraternity men about the “rush text” culture, appropriate communication, the messages that you want to send to future brothers, and using social media. This workshop should be hosted during the fall 2017 semester, prior to October 6, 2017. Prior to this workshop, two (2) members from Theta Xi (the social and recruitment chairs) should meet with staff from the Department of Communications to learn about appropriately using social media and communications. This meeting should take place prior to May 1, 2017. After this meeting it’s expected that these brothers bring back what they’ve learned to the rest of the brotherhood during the next chapter meeting. Additionally, representation from the chapter should meet with the IFC recruitment chair to discuss timeline/process/expectations for recruitment for the upcoming academic year. Subsequently, the chapter will use all of this information to create a workshop to be presented to social and recruitment chairs and other fraternity men on campus during the fall 2017 semester. It is to be completed by October 6, 2017. For further information please contact Holly A. Taylor
The rationale is as follows: Theta Xi pled responsible to all three charges: encouraging others (the text encouraged underage students to attend a pregame party), respect for others (the text that was sent was highly disrespectful to several different demographics), and failure to comply (the chapter failed to comply with the guidelines for new members by allowing several students to act as ghost pledges).
