South Carolina Halts Rush For 13 Fraternities Due To Alcohol, Indirectly Tells Students “These Are The Cool Houses”

Alex Buscemi10 years ago

The University of South Carolina ordered 13 fraternities to cease all recruitment activity last night due to alcohol, recruitment and risk management violations.

In an email to Greek presidents and advisors, Vice President of Conduct Jonathan Withrow instructed 13 of the 27 fraternities at USC to cease all recruitment activity immediately, which includes contact with potential new members.

Before a fraternity can resume recruitment, the organization must sign up for a meeting time to discuss the allegations.

The letter says the fraternities disregarded warnings at an emergency meeting with Fraternity and Sorority Life Associate Director Jarod Holt on Aug. 27.

Sources at the university tell us that cops busted several rush events, and that some rushees “confused the names of which fraternity they were attending.” In other words, brothers told rushees to tell the cops they were at a different fraternity’s event if shit went south. Classic tactic.

Here’s the full letter:

Ugh. That entire letter just reeks to the core with snarky uptightness.

Lighten the fuck up, USC. Maybe if PNMs were found passed out on the lawn in front of mansions or strippers were being sexually harassed at events (which is what happened at USC’s rush in 2011) then there would be cause to shut things down. But that’s not the case here.

Holt, as associate director of Greek life, it’s time for you to sack up and do the right thing. I know the school is breathing down your neck to shut things down, but stand up for us, man. Enforcing a dry rush is downright unrealistic. You know that. Your superiors know that. All of you just want to cover your asses in wake of all the negative media attention that’s been plaguing Greek life lately — and it’s fucking up our beautiful process.

I ask you, Holt — conduct the meetings, state your warnings, do whatever you have to do to get your authoritarian rocks off and shake the rest of the admins off of Greek life’s backs. Then, let the fraternities resume their rush.

As for the rushees, now you know which fraternities throw down. You don’t want to waste your time joining a fraternity that’s not on this list, because they clearly play by the rules. The university told you in a roundabout way: these are the houses to consider. Some fraternities not on this list will say, “No, we’re just smarter about it.” Don’t believe them..