Sorority suspended at UM-Flint for hazing incidents -- designated drivers and scrapbooking
by Beata Mostafavi | The Flint Journal
Thursday April 16, 2009, 7:29 AM



FLINT, Michigan -- The University of Michigan-Flint suspended the Beta Sigma Phi sorority for hazing, but not the beer-guzzling, toilet-scrubing, head-shaving type of torture most might imagine.

The list of controversial pledge tasks included driving around drunk people, wearing gaudy name tags, taking tests, riding in cars blindfolded and being forced to scrapbook.

Some sorority members say much of the pledging process was rooted in tradition, a rite of passage in initiating new sisters into their Greek family.

But others call it hazing.

"The university has a zero tolerance policy towards any type of hazing," said UM-Flint Spokeswoman Jennifer Hogan, who would not disclose details of the suspension. "It's something we are always going to stand very firmly on and we want to send the message that any type of hazing behavior will not be accepted."

It's an issue the university probably will be tackling more as its Greek life becomes more vibrant. Members have doubled in some organizations and new groups have formed since student housing opened in August.

It's a fine balance. Secretive Greek rituals are defended as strengthening bonds and upholding traditions. But some practices clearly rub people the wrong way, making them feel uncomfortable, embarrassed and harassed.

Beta Sigma Phi has been suspended until fall and will be on probation for two semesters. The group also was blocked from participating in Greek Week, which is like the Superbowl of the Greek world.

And it will always be branded as the sorority that got suspended for hazing.

"I got on Google and typed in hazing and the things these organizations were being accused of were really serious things," said Beta Sigma Phi President Shawntae Harris. "Not to downplay the girls' discomfort, but we got in trouble for designated driving and pledge pins."

National hazing incidents have led to alcohol poisoning and even death.

Harris said most of the allegations were from before her time as president.

She said pledge requirements make joining Greek life different from signing up for a student club because it's a greater commitment.

At Beta Sigma Phi, it apparently started with an alleged pledge book.

The book included a list of pledge rules, such as throwing the older sisters a party but not being allowed to drink. Pledges were then supposed to be designated drivers at the end of the night.

There also were memorization tests on members' phone numbers, names and pledge classes.

They had to wear wooden name tags -- and if they forgot, apparently would have to wear a bigger one.

And they were made to scrapbook.

For every broken rule, pledges supposedly gained "points." Too many points could lead to being de-pledged and losing paid pledge fees.

During initiation, pledges also were sometimes blindfolded while being driven around.

Former member Candace Sharon, 23, said the practices were enough to make her quit.

"It's supposed to be intimidating. It's supposed to be uncomfortable. I had a feeling like 'this isn't a real sisterhood,'" said Sharon, who shared her experiences at a recent university hearing on the matter and has since started a new sorority on campus.

As Greek life grows at the once commuter-only UM-Flint, similar issues are bound to surface. The university should probably design a judicial process specifically for this expanding membership and come up with its own rule book.

Just don't make sorority members scrapbook it.


My opinion...this is so ridiculous. Being PC has reached new lows. I'll tell you what is shameful! Even the proofreader missed the misspelled word. There are 2 "b's" in scrubbing. Aren't they supposed to at least get the grammar and spelling right?!?