www.insidevandy.com FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2009 THE VOICE OF VANDERBILT SINCE 1888 121ST YEAR, NO. 23 OPINION: Hanson disses Bill O’Reilly and laments MSNBC’s ‘liberal slump.’ SEE PAGE 4 SPORTS: Sophomore Casey Hayward is ready to step into D.J. Moore’s shoes at cornerback. SEE PAGE 8 Bridging the gap Delta Force proposes change for IFC by HANNAH TWILLMAN the semester-long informal News Editor recruitment system. “ e whole purpose of the For a group of organizations Delta Force is to rope in the guys centered on tradition, change that we were losing because they could be coming. only saw the social aspect by e Delta Force, a task force highlighting the philanthropic of 10 Interfraternity Council and brotherhood aspects of men, presented a proposal to rush,” said IFC Recruitment the IFC presidents Sunday night Chair Patrick Seamens, a after more than a month of sophomore. research and preparation. eir Currently, men who wish mission was to address aspects to join an IFC organization of the recruitment process that participate in a deferred joining have come under increased system. During the fall semester scrutiny, most notably the of their rst year, potential strong presence of alcohol new members participate in and the current practices of Please see DELTA FORCE, page 4 The Delta Force’s proposal suggests changes to the IFC recruitment process including: JUSTIN MENESTRINA / The Vanderbilt Hustler • GPA recruitment requirement would increase from 2.3 to 2.5. First-year students will be o cially crossing the bridge from Peabody to main campus next year as they make way for the second class of The Commons Experience. • IFC recruitment registration fair on The Commons. • “Open Dores on Greek Row” — Afternoon on Greek Row for rst-year students to Students assess the Booth said that fourth meal, which is said. learn about opportunities for Greek life in alcohol-free setting. currently unique to the Class of 2012, is “I know who my Head of House is, but • Creation of a Greek Legacy Fund that would reduce nancial burden and make success of the first year a time when rst-years can interact with that’s about it,” Haltiwanger said. participation more accessible. other students in their class. While a community may have been of The Commons. • There would be a $5 increase in IFC semester dues for each active Greek man to Relationships among faculty, resident forged at e Commons, some rst-years help fund the Greek Legacy Fund. advisers, Heads of Houses and students said they feel cut o from main campus. by MADELEINE ENGLIS were a key focus of the program when it ”I de nitely see a disjoint between • Formal recruitment process lasting four days following Winter Break to “level the playing eld” by allowing for a multiple bid process. News Reporter was rst announced. While some rst- Peabody and main campus. We don’t years say they have found an increased know anything about main campus events • Recruitment Chairs submit a “no bid” list prior to the beginning of this process, As the inaugural year of e Commons opportunity to interact with faculty, others that are going on (around) campus,” indicating potential new members not under consideration for membership. This comes to a close, many rst-year students have not taken advantage of the option. Emanuelson said. list is not to exceed 20 percent of the total number of registered potential new say they feel the mission statement of the “Our Head of House knows all of us, he “If I weren’t in a fraternity, I wouldn’t members. program has been ful lled. knows our interests and what we’re like, have any association with the rest of • Each fraternity must engage in a minimum of three community service events in “I de nitely think e Commons he sometimes throws a baseball around campus,” Booth said. the fall semester (with at least six brothers in attendance) that potential members achieved its mission,” said rst-year student with us,” said rst-year student Hillis “I think the administration should hold are invited to and encouraged to attend. Alex Booth. “It’s really a community.” Emanuelson. more student group fairs in e Commons • Institute a two event or three service hour minimum requirement with an IFC e Class of 2012 has been the rst “I had dinner with the Dean of e — it would be helpful to get the word out,” chapter for a potential new members to be eligible to participate in formal rush class to ever experience e Commons, Commons and he recognizes me from Emanuelson said. and receive a bid. a community of rst-year students, that dinner, which is pretty cool,” Booth Not all students feel the separation, • No potential new members at winter semi-formal. residential faculty and professional sta , said. however. • Institute serious nancial penalties (minimum of $5,000 nes in addition to which Dean of the Commons Frank Wcislo Haltiwanger and rst-year student “I don’t feel like we’re really cut o from other sanctions mandated by the IFC Judicial Team or Formal Conduct Board) for calls “a crossroads where students meet, Alex Meryll said that although they had main campus at all,” Haltiwanger said. violations of IFC policy that threaten community. study, interact with faculty and sta , and the opportunity to meet their Heads of “I de nitely don’t think (the location of dine.” Houses, they have not taken up the o er. e Commons) is a bad thing,… but then “I think we’ve gotten to know each other “I’ve never been to any of the dinners again, I’m in Arts and Science, … so I see a lot better than other classes,” said rst- with faculty or with the dean. Our Head the signs all over main campus. ... I could year student Rachel Haltiwanger. “I mean, of House does hold weekly get-togethers, see how if you were a Peabody student we eat together all the time.” but he doesn’t really mentor me,” Meryll that would be di erent.” ■ Fashion for a Cause Phi Delta Theta colony closed by nationals due to hazing, alcohol by HANNAH TWILLMAN Phi Delta Theta fraternity has a strict source after the initial investigation. Once News Editor dry housing policy, so any presence this information was furnished to the of alcohol in the house would be a national organization, a representative Phi Delta Theta colony was closed by violation. came to the house Sunday night and made the national fraternity Sunday evening When the initial hazing investigation the announcement that the decision had after two investigations into charges of occurred, the members of the pledge class been made to close the colony. hazing and alcohol policy violations. decided as a group to deny the hazing “The final decision from our General e initial allegations were made during allegations, without the knowledge of the Council was to close Phi Delta Theta the colony’s initiation week, according to pledge educator or any of the brothers. colony at Vanderbilt (due to) repeated the colony’s president junior Yong Kim, Kim said he thinks the new members risk management violations,” said Dustin when an anonymous report of hazing was likely decided to lie in order to protect the Struble, director of expansion of Phi put in to the O ce of Greek Life. fraternity since the colony was supposed Delta Theta headquarters. “We were investigated for a hazing to be installed as an official chapter the Phi Delta Theta is the second Vanderbilt charge for lineups over a two-day period weekend of April 17-18. He also said the fraternity to face such disciplinary action as well as asking them to sleep at the new members reported never feeling this semester. Director of Greek Life house. Later on, there were additional like they were being hazed or put under Kristin Torrey said she is disappointed hazing charges that weren’t investigated undue emotional or physical stress. such a situation occurred, but she OLIVER WOLFE / The Vanderbilt Hustler by the national fraternity. There was also Kim said evidence of alcohol, as well hopes the rest of the community and the Students modeled in the Fashion for a Cause show Tuesday evidence of a few people drinking alcohol as of further hazing allegations, was members can learn from the events that night. This year’s profi ts went towards Nashville CARES. in the house,” Kim said. provided to nationals by an anonymous Please see PHI DELTA THETA, page 5 NEWS INSIDE: Class speaker Doris Kearns Goodwin incites controversy over past plagiarism accusations. SEE PAGE 5 2 Friday, April 3, 2009 The Vanderbilt Hustler www.insidevandy.com CALENDAR SNAPSHOTS compiled by CHELSEY FELDMAN WEATHER THIS WEEKEND WEATHER.COM CORRECTION FRIDAY, APRIL 3 TODAY In the April 1 edition of Versus wrote wrote that T.I. would be the • Don’t Hate, Appreciate Week keynote speaker Saturday night headliner of Rites of Spring. T.I. will actually headline Professor Griff will be speaking in Wilson Hall 103 at 4 p.m. about his experiences with the hip- Friday night. Versus regrets this error. hop group Public Enemy and the role of hip-hop in today’s world. • Not Just a F.A.D. art exhibit and fundraiser Hip-Hop Week will sponsor an Art Exhibit at B.B. King’s at 8 p.m. to raise money for the Hip-Hop FRIDAY SPICE Union Youth Scholarship Fund. The event will feature hip-hop-inspired artwork and models Domino’s dishes out 11,000 free showing a range of hip-hop looks through history.