The administration has placed a moratorium, effective immediately, on all events held by Inter-Fraternity Council (IFC) fraternities until a team comprised of administrative officials and IFC members completes a plan to ensure safety at future fraternity events.
This action follows a vote by the IFC on Monday to ban open parties at fraternity houses for the rest of the semester and to impose more sober monitors at events. After Martinez called on fraternity members to take action in light of an alleged sexual assault at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) house on Sunday, the IFC instituted a ban that would have allowed mixers, date parties and formals to continue. The moratorium will not permit any social events at fraternity houses until further action is taken.
“Dean [of Student Life Terry] Martinez will convene an implementation team together with the IFC to address these outstanding issues and put the proposed measures in place,” Vice Provost for Student Affairs Kevin G. Shollenberger wrote in an email to The News-Letter. “Until an implementation plan is in place, there will [be] no social events at fraternities.”
“Until the implementation plan is complete, the University believes we are not ready to proceed with these new measures,” Martinez wrote in an email to IFC members Thursday that was obtained by The News-Letter.
This is a departure from Martinez’s position earlier in the week, when she praised the IFC’s decision as a sound step.
“The IFC was willing to say no fraternities will have open events, and then at the last minute, the administration kind of reversed course… [Martinez] initially agreed to the policy that the IFC made, and then the administration changed its mind,” IFC President Tom Laughlin said.
Martinez wrote that this reversal came after consulting with other Hopkins officials.
“I have discussed your proposal with colleagues in the University administration, who are also appreciative of your efforts. The conclusion that emerged from those discussions, however, was that we will need some time to work with you on the details of an implementation plan,” wrote in her email to the IFC.
On Wednesday, Martinez wrote in an email to The News-Letter that the University will make further decisions following a report from the Alcohol Strategy Group after this semester.
“There will be an opportunity for us to engage in fuller conversations with students about safety once the Alcohol Strategy Group finishes its work and makes its recommendations,” Martinez wrote. “I expect to have those by the end of the semester. I welcome student ideas.”
The administration did not communicate with the Student Government Association (SGA) about the moratorium.
“SGA had no role in the decision whatsoever,” SGA President Janice Bonsu said. “We’re concerned that decisions are being made without SGA input.”
Last spring, the University came under fire for their response to allegations of a gang rape at the Pi Kappa Alpha (PIKE) fraternity. The University failed to notify the community of the incident in a timely manner and is currently under investigation by the Department of Education for its response to alleged incidents of sexual assault and for a possible violation of the Clery Act.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story that will be updated as more information is available. Check back for updates.