MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Students at WVU return to the first day of spring classes with an ease in the moratorium on Greek life activities.
After a fall semester that included hazing accusations, reckless drinking, vandalism and the death of a freshman fraternity pledge in an alcohol related incident, WVU suspended all fraternity and sorority social activities until further notice.
Prior to the winter break, WVU hosted two national consultants who met with fraternity and sorority members and student organization leaders to discuss ways to change the culture on campus.
WVU Dean of Students Corey Farris said students fully participated in that session.
And, no problems with student organizations have been reported since then including over the holiday break and during this past weekend as students returned to campus.
The partial lift in the moratorium allows Greek organizations to complete new member education programs and the initiation process of new members that could begin this week or next week, according to Farris.
“They will be able to finish up whatever they were doing, initiate new members,” explained Farris. “But it does not allow any parties or celebration or anything like that of any new member activities that typically take place after they initiate new members.”
Farris indicated student groups are still closely being monitored.
“They know they are under the microscope. They fully participated when we brought the outside facilitators in. So, we’ll continue to move forward,” said Farris.
As long as compliance with rules and regulations continue, Farris said future action against Greek organizations would come on a fraternity or sorority basis as opposed to an overall punishment for Greek life.
“I think at this point, it’s likely that if we get that good information for a particular fraternity, we just go after that individual fraternity or sorority,” explained Farris.
Sometimes dramatic measures are required to make the University’s stance known, said Farris.
“I think they’re on very thin ice. I think they understand it. We’re not lifting the veil, so to speak, all at once on everything. We’re not restoring full benefits, if you want to call it that, right now.”