Gage Johnson
Editor-in-Chief
gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
On Tuesday, Aug. 25, Murray State issued a letter to all sororities on campus suspending all sorority activities for violating the Racer Safe and Healthy Guidelines during recruitment.
Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, said because of these violations all chapters that participated in Bid Day activities were suspended indefinitely.
Robertson then explained how the situation will be addressed and how the violations has affected fraternity rush as a result.
“Per University disciplinary procedures, each sorority will meet with the office of student conduct to address these issues,” Robertson said. “Because of these actions, fraternity rush has transitioned from a hybrid program to being conducted entirely through virtual means.”
Jennifer Caldwell, coordinator of student conduct and special projects of Student Affairs, will be meeting with each sorority individually to determine what, if any, disciplinary action will be taken.
Red flags were raised when members of several sororities posted photos from Bid Day on their personal and sorority social media accounts showing groups of women not wearing masks and in close proximity of one another.
Recruitment was initially held virtually from Aug. 20 to Aug. 22, while preference day was allowed to be held in person on Sunday, Aug. 23, with some restrictions in place.
Preference day occurred in person with social distancing guidelines enforced, including allowing no more than 20 people in a sorority suite and spacing chairs six feet apart from one another. Masks were also required for everyone involved. The sororities had to provide a virtual option for those who did not feel comfortable attending in person.
Confusion among the sororities and its members seems to have arisen before Bid Day, which was held on Monday, Aug. 24.
As a University sponsored event, each sorority’s Bid Day celebration was allowed to have 50 people in person, according to the Greek Life update posted on Aug. 3. Members were required to take shifts in groups so that no more than 20 people were in the suites at a time.
However, sororities were notified the day of Bid Day that it was to be held virtually and once bids were accepted sororities were allowed to have their celebrations in person with their new members.
-The sororities were not the only campus organizations to come under fire for recent activities. , The Baptist Campus Ministry also hosted an event the first week of school that violated guidelines. Robertson said the Office of Student Affairs addressed the incident and appropriate actions have taken place.
Robertson said if students, faculty and staff are not more careful, the fall semester may not go according to plan.
“All members of the campus community must do our part in making good decisions and complying with our Racer Restart plan, Safe and Healthy Guidelines, as well as state, federal and CDC guidelines,” Robertson said. “If we do not each do our part, we will not have a successful fall semester. Per our Student Life Handbook and Student Life policies, the University will take disciplinary action up to and including suspension of any student in violation of health and safety guidelines.”
On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Board of Regents Chair Jerry Rhoads asked students, faculty and staff via email to wear a mask, practice social distancing, make good choices and to encourage safe practices and report unsafe practices.
Robertson also said guidelines must be followed in order to keep everyone on campus and in the community safe. He said if anyone sees an individual or group not complying with the guidelines they should report it. “To report any issues of non-compliance regarding our Racer Restart Plan, Racer Safe and Healthy Guidelines, concerns or violations of non-university events and activities, please email msu.racersafeandhealthy@murraystate.edu,” Robertson said. “All members of our campus community should follow and regularly visit the Racer Restart website at murraystate.edu/racerrestart for our Restart Plan, updates, resources, videos, Racer Safe and Healthy Guidelines, along with other important campus information. Let’s each do our part to make this a successful fall semester.”
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