www.insidevandy.com FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009 THE VOICE OF VANDERBILT SINCE 1888 121ST YEAR, NO. 19 SPORTS: Women’s basketball prepares for 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament. SEE PAGE 6 OPINION: Poythress continues his series of advice on social graces, off ering a guide to Rand. SEE PAGE 4 Raising Passing of the torch ags CHRIS PHARE/ The Vanderbilt Hustler The Vanderbilt Student Government presidency was turned over to junior Wyatt Smith Wednesday night. At the dinner, Smith, Joseph Williams and Chancellor Zeppos re ected on the past year’s successes. Check InsideVandy.com for the whole story. Student housing Lambda’s PRIDE week inspires support, ambivalence on campus. costs to increase by MADELEINE ENGLIS for next year News Reporter O t h e r s t u d e n t s , by LAUREN KOENIG burden on students. More Greek houses voted to y rainbow ags for though, do not Senior Reporter According to VSG President Lambda’s PRIDE Week than ever before, a fact seen by agree that ying Wyatt Smith, rising water rates some students as a re ection of strengthening support for a rainbow ag is a Signi cant increases in and coal costs can be reduced the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Inter- political statement. housing expenses are anticipated by cutting other aspects of the sex community here on campus. “I think it’s just a way to show for the 2009 to 2010 academic budget, increasing revenues and “ e number of Greek chapters hanging ags and support for a di erent group on year, according to Associate conserving energy. contributing otherwise to PRIDE Week has been campus — just like supporting the Provost and Dean of Students “As far as energy usage is unprecedented, and it is obvious that this campus is baseball or the basketball team,” Mark Bandas. concerned, students can be a part becoming a progressive beacon for the rest of Nashville said junior Jessica Walder, member While the exact increase in of the process in lowering these and Tennessee to follow,” said senior Klint Peebles, of a sorority. cost to students is still unknown, costs,” Smith said. “If we could president of Lambda. However, making an executive these increases in expenses are reduce energy consumption by Nevertheless, some members of the Greek community decision on an issue that some likely to a ect the cost of housing even 10 percent by turning o on campus worry that although they agree with Lambda’s consider political and others view as a symbol of support for students. lights from rooms not in use, agenda, it is unfair to ask houses to y a ag supporting and solidarity has caused disagreement and discomfort “ e O ce of Housing and unplugging appliances when what some see as a political cause. within some of the chapters. Residential Education is funded not in use and not leaving water “It was expressed in our chapter that Greek “In the end, exec made the call and decided to y the ag. solely and completely by income running in sinks and showers, we organizations shouldn’t have to make political I’m proud of that decision, but it was de nitely tough for generated from housing fees,” could account for any potential statements, and it’s unfair that if we choose not to y some people to deal with,” Axelrod said. Bandas said. “ at means that all increase in housing costs and the ag, we are seen as bigots,” said senior A.J. Axelrod, “ ere are several hundred people in one organization, OHARE costs must be covered by potentially even see them go a fraternity member. “I don’t really buy that, but it was so it’s hard to have one cohesive viewpoint,” said junior income from housing students.” down.” a concern expressed in our house.” Kelly Hibbard, member of a sorority. e rise in housing expenses is Smith also noted that the “I think that if you put it up you support gay rights, Despite the di ering views on what the ag may represent, expected to be above Consumer increased cost of housing will but if you don’t, it doesn’t mean you don’t,” said junior the fact remains that the majority of sororities and eight Price Index prices, the measure cover future residential projects. Edward Bryan in response to the idea that chapters fraternities are ying it. of the average costs for urban “Carmichael Towers is going to will be seen as “bigots” if they do not hang the ag. Please see LGBTQI, page 3 households. Bandas said while require central air conditioning OHARE typically does not to raise upgrades in the next ve to 10 prices over the CPI, the index “is years, a major capital-intensive not an accurate indicator of the project that we need to begin costs faced by the housing o ce.” building a reserve to cover,” he Sigma Phi Epsilon suspended for semester e expected increase is said. largely due to an increase in Bandas said students are by HANNAH TWILLMAN Passarella said all of the members on-campus house,” Baity said. the cost of utilities and plant always bene ting from fees past News Editor have had their memberships revoked, Baity and Passarella said the operations as well as student students have paid. e Kissam but will be re-instated after undergoing a administration is confident that nancial aid, provisions for renovations of the past summer The brothers of Sigma Phi Epsilon membership review and realigning with the colony will be able to overcome building replacement reserves were the result of such a reserve. colony now face an “unprecedented the ideals of the national fraternity. He these difficulties, both due to its past and debt service due to interest “Current students are situation,” according to Vice President of also added that none of the members performance and its current efforts to rate increases, according to paying their fair share of past Programming Ralph Passarella. will be able to live off campus, an issue fix many of the mistakes made. Having John McDaniels, associate vice construction, current operations After a situation involving an he thinks will be difficult to overcome. only been on campus for five years, the chancellor of academic a airs. and future repairs,” Bandas said. underground pledge in February, the “We’ve used an off-campus house in colony won Chapter of the Year for the “Utilities have increased Vanderbilt is not alone in Office of Academic Integrity and Student recent semesters to fulfill the fraternal Interfraternity Council last year, among signi cantly for the university experiencing a considerable Conduct brought several charges against and social needs that would be provided several other awards. — electricity 17 percent, water increase in the cost of utilities both the colony and individual members, for by a house on campus. The lack of “They really firmly believe that we can 6 percent and coal 25 percent,” due to economic circumstances. resulting in the decision to suspend the a common meeting place is definitely turn this around, that these problems said Mark Petty, assistant vice “While some increase colony. going to be an issue we have to address,” aren’t necessarily systematic. They’re chancellor for Plant Operations. in the housing rate may be According to Passarella, nine total he said. things that we were already phasing out,” “ e housing rate for the next unavoidable, I expect that it will charges were brought against the In a statement, Torrey said several he said. academic year may well re ect be at or below the increases that fraternity, including underground Greek organizations have been able Torrey said that the members’ honesty these increases,” Bandas said. many of our peer institutions are pledging, an off-campus party, to take part in the Greek community was appreciated and taken into account Typically, Vanderbilt’s considering,” Smith said. distribution to minors and hazing — a despite not having houses, also saying when deciding the consequences. housing charge does not change Housing costs as a whole record number. that no organization is permitted to have “It should be noted that the new signi cantly from year to year, continue to remain a factor in Passarella said the fraternity president, an off-campus house. members, brothers and officers of Sigma Bandas said. In recent years, the nancial aid evaluations and junior Chris Baity, pled guilty to all nine “Recognition from Vanderbilt Phi Epsilon were honest and forthright annual rise in housing charges packages. charges. University is not contingent upon having throughout the investigation and has been about 5 percent in “At all times, we strive to be Director of Greek Life Kristin Torrey a house,” she said. “Several chapters are hearing process. This resulted in a more order to consistently maintain prudent and frugal with the said the decision was made to suspend non-housed and are recognized members educational and rehabilitative sanction and even upgrade the level of money that students and their the colony will remain in effect until Aug. of the Vanderbilt Greek community.” than merely suspending the group for a services provided to students. families pay for housing,” said 1, after which time the former members “As a young IFC fraternity, it becomes longer period of time,” she said. OHARE is currently working Bandas. “ is e ort is even more will be eligible to undergo a membership difficult to compete (especially in Passarella said the officers and with Vanderbilt Student important in the unprecedented review. After meeting these requirements, recruitment) when you have a tiny members aren’t entirely sure how best Government to develop nancial situation that the colony could reorganize and would fraction of the resources of nearly every to move forward, but are definitely proposals to reduce housing Vanderbilt, the nation and the be on social probation for one year.