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ijs Hill, N.C. 28754
Vol. LIL, No. 7, December 15, 1978
Greek Hearing: A Constructive Encounter
marathon hearing involving the appearance of the officers of all eight Greek
l|y^^*'lties and sororities on campus before President Bentley and his Administra-
Vth ® constructive encounter rather than the punitive clash
Ml
^3d been anticipated
®6ting in the President’s Dining Room from 2:00 until almost 9:00 p.m. on
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Nov. 7, the Administrative Team, composed of administrators on Dr.
C • conversed with leaders of the Greek organizations in a relaxed and
Hjj^^singly open discussion. Greek leaders were questioned on such things as
ivj(i ®®''ship, service projects, involvement with other Greek organizations and
tjj] ®ther groups within the college community, dues, role of the advisor, and so-
®ctivities.
iH-*'®Peatedly Dr. Bentley explained that the unique hearings grew out of his
’Ptin prevalance of alcoholic beverages at the junior-Senior Prom last
and the open disregard by certain of the Greek groups of college rules pro-
*bg the serving and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages at off-campus
I ®®'sponsored events. He explained that Mrs. Jane Holcombe had persuaded
'a turn his anger and frustrations to a constructive approach and that this
^hat he was hoping to achieve by the hearings and by his requiring each Greek
('Nation to engage in a self-study.
P lu 111 a acii-oiuuy.
i7®ah member of the Administrative Team was given a copy of each of the self-
® P^ior to the hearings, and almost everyone expressed a feeling of how
‘‘llQj, lu me iieciriiigSi aiiu aimuoi
S"'and helpful their reading of the self-studies prior to the hearings had
prop®*^ii
shed, “■’'if
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anges'"
addition to Dr. Bentley the Administrative Team includes Dr. Richard Hoff-
lettg’^aademic dean; Miss Frances Snelson, assistant to the president; Mrs. Vio-
^5lt ^^^'derson, business manager; Mrs. Holcombe; Robert Chapman, registrar;
i(it^|®*'.Smith, director of public information; Dr. David DeVries, coordinator of in-
'On systems; Jim Fish, director of the physical plant; Jim Cox, director of
(lit ^‘opment; and Dr. John Hough, dean for continuing education; all were pres-
participated in the discussions except Dr. Hough.
Sof 0 participating in the hearings was Wayne King, a senior who is chairper-
. Inter-Greek Council.
jallj^off campus was a major item of discussion; but destruction in the residence
in other campus buildings, whether or not there is a genuine sense of
7"'nity" among students, faculty, staff and administrators; and similar mat-
h ®''o discussed.
'oil 30 Albers, president of Sigma Kappa Lambda, reminded Dr. Bentley that the
T ’’ules against alcoholic beverages had not been enforced in recent years.
‘‘'On contributed to a feeling among members of his fraternity and perhaps
’’ho °*^®rs, he said, that “it was all right to have beer or other alcohol at fratern-
[)p*3l^events off campus.”
"fas expected the serving of alcoholic beverages at Greek-sponsored
iff itnrry nf io/'11 cc 1 nn• Viiit Hpctriirtinn in tVip rpsiHpnrp
Bentley acknowledged that the rule against alcohol at college-sponsored
still "ot been adequately enforced, but he assured each group that the rule
''aliti and will be enforced in the future.
He said he had been accused of trying to regulate the private lives of individ
uals, but he denied the accusation. Instead, he said, he was trying to uphold the
standards of the college and, at the same time, encourage students to accept re
sponsibly for their own conduct — both as individuals and as members of various
organizations. j u •
Several of the officers of the Greek organizations indicated they and/or their
members have found it difficult to distinguish between what constitutes a "col
lege-sponsored event” and what may merely be the private actions of individuals
and their friends. At least three students asked that a clear-cut statement be is-
sued by tbe administration which would help organizations such as the Greeks
make the distinction more easily; however, the Administrative Team declined the
request. r 11 r i. • .
Instead, explained Mrs. Holcombe, it would be preferable for the organizat-
tions concerned to accept their responsibility and to work through the Inter-Greek
Council to strengthen the various fraternities and sororities, to reduce weaknesses
in their programs and to “police” their own activities.
Dr. Bentley agreed, saying he felt that such an approach would contribute
more to the “maturing” of students than if the administration set itself up to pass
judgment on the plans and programs of each student organization.
Two of the groups, SKL and Pi Kappa Phi, were asked to prepare additional
written documents concerning their plans for the future; and the Inter-Greek Coun
cil was directed to review the performances of these two fraternities again toward
the end of the current school year.
Delta Omicron and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, which identified themselves as
professional music fraternities, were the last two groups to be interviewed. They
were questioned about their apparent isolation from the other Greek organiza
tions. Both Julie Lackey, president of Delta Omicron, and Jimmy Joyce, presi
dent of the Sinfonia, explained that the heavy demands of the music curriculum,
practice and rehearsal schedules and involvement of their members in a variety
of musical organizations — band, choir, ensembles, etc. — tend to limit the amount
of time they have for “interacion” with other student groups outside the Music
Department. , , , .
The self-studies of several of the Greek groups included an impressive array
of service projects and other activities in which members have engaged in recent
months. The officers were encouraged to give greater publicity to such activities
through the Hilltop and by other means in order that other students and faculty
and staff members might have a better understanding of the things the fraternities
and sororities do. u » j *
Although there had been a high degree of apprehension among the student
leaders of the Greeks concerning the lengthy hearing, the discussions were carried
out in a calm and cordial atmosphere. There was no evidence of hostility, and
Dr. Bentley continually sought to make everyone feel at ease. Over and over
again he emphasized his desire to keep the discussions as constructive as possible,
and when it was over, everyone could agree that the encounter had been sur-
nrisingly helpful.
ew Housing Director Talks To The
By David Bowerman
you ever wondered what went on upstairs in the Wren College Union?
other things, this is where you will find the Housing Office, and with it,
». Tln:.-.r I-Trkticinn
V lii^'J^ovidson, Director of Housing. » . xt
Sc Davidson, a friendly, mustached man, speaks with a slight upstate New
%g®''cent. He told me a little of his background: was on Housing staff at a junior
8 western New York, he is married, has an undergraduate degree in Bus-
a Masters in Counseling. Since this is his first year at Mars Hill, I ask
's 'vhat kind of challenges he has found since he came here. He mentioned
program of having full-time, non-student R.D.’s and cutting back on
t,?"'ber of R A’s. This, he said, was not going as smoothly as expected, and
„ Would be back to the “full staff shortly.” - there will be more R.A. s.
X®Was the high damage rate and abuse of the fire-safety eqmpment. For a
we were going through two and three fire extinguishers a week,
assessment, or charging the residents for damages on was
Well to curb this. He said that he didn’t like it, but it works He added
; aelnnri j iniiinn rnot which he savs is high enough. When they
to hold down tuition cost, which he says is high enough,
if they break things, they have to pay for h-ff'eyJ;\,Bud- ^Peer pressure
' bu’jat if they break things, they have to pay tor it they ii quii. I'eer p.
factor here, too, because no one likes to pay for somebody else. He went
student won’t abide by the rules, but they should be aware of them.
About recent room checks, Davidson said that he was surprised that the stu
dents were getting upset, that power is given to the staff in the Student Handbook,
and it is up to their discretion to exercise it.
He says, “I don’t agree with all of the rules, but I will enforce them.” He
went on to say that if students don’t like the rules, they should work at changing
them, or live with them, instead of complaining about Housing.
I asked him about the accusation that some R.D.’s and R.A.’s “don’t give a
rip.” He answered, “I don’t believe that, but if I find out, they’ll be fired.”
About goals for the future, he noted renovation of the residence halls. “65% of
a student’s life is in the residence halls, they should be better. We are working at
it.” But part of the problem is students taking responsibility. He feels that “90%
of the students are responsible, good people. The other 10% are the trouble mak
ers.” If the 907o would confront the ten, “then my job would be easier. The 10% are
running the 907o’s lives.” He said that he could accept some damage, that is
not avoidable, but if students would be “man enough to face up for what they did,”
that would be different.
Concerning the question of drinking on campus, he said, “there is definitely
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