NC State is planning a review of its Greek Life program, which will include an internal and external review. NC state administration will lead the internal review while a team outside of NC State will lead the external one.
However, Vice Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs Mike Mullen said the review is planned to begin in fall 2015, almost five months after the discovery of the little green book containing racist and sexist comments.
“The events of the past several months have really hit home with us,” Mullen said.
Fraternities across the nation have recently come under scrutiny for a variety of Title IX issues, and NC State’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi has been disbanded.
“I and other NC State leaders have made it clear that our university will absolutely not tolerate sexual assault, intolerance, substance abuse or other egregious misconduct,” said Chancellor Randy Woodson in a message to the NC State community.
The review is still in the planning stages, according to Mullen.
“This is not punitive,” Mullen said. “This is an opportunity to improve what we consider to be a strong program.”
For the review, Mullen and his staff will work with the Interfraternity Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Panhellenic Association and the Multicultural Greek Council. Students will be critical in the review, Mullen said.
Mullen plans to meet with the IFC Friday to discuss how they will begin the review.
“We encourage the review,” said John Stewart, president of IFC and a senior studying agricultural education. “We hope the administration can see all of the good things the Greek community does.”
The review will consist of an internal “self-study” that NC State administration will lead. Then, an external review will be conducted by a group unaffiliated with NC State. Those reviewers will then generate a report based on the self study, and their own findings.
The review will include interviews with appropriate groups on campus, according to Mullen.
“I’d rather the chancellor make decisions that benefit the community as a whole, instead of just Greek Life,” said Emily Johnson, a freshman studying psychology and Spanish and a sister in Delta Gamma sorority. “I’m glad the issue is getting noticed and hopefully will change for the better.”
Other students agree that the review is necessary.
“There’s good reason for a review, to seek out those organizations that don’t represent Greek life values,” said Isaac Loydpierson, a sophomore studying electrical engineering and a brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education issued guidelines that the “self-study” will be based upon, Mullen said.
“We’ll use their standards as a guideline for a self-study narrative of how we think we’re doing,” Mullen said.
The external aspect of the review will guarantee neutrality, according to Mullen.
“We all need to be on the same page in terms of where we are and where we’re going,” said Alex Starnes, a senior studying computer engineering and president of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. “There’s only so much administration can do. It really comes down to the organizations themselves and their desire for change For this to work, it’s going to take a lot of cooperation with students.”
