www.InsideVandy.com HUSTLER THETHURSDAY, NOVEMBER VANDERBIL 3, 2011 ★ 123RD YEAR, NO. 61 ★ THE VOICE OF VANDERBILT SINCE 1888 T VSG takes a stand On probation on sustainability KATIE KROG MORE FROM VSG STAFF REPORTER Inside the IFC judicial process BUDGET UPDATE Vanderbilt Student Govern- Rohan Batra, Vanderbilt ment Wednesday passed a Student Government treasurer, resolution to “actively support presented a monthly budget the highest level of sustainable update to VSG Wednesday building practices in all future night. building and renovation proj- According to Batra, VSG has ects it (VSG) has a voice in.” spent about $18,000 so far The resolution, presented by this fiscal year. VSG Environmental Affairs “This is in line with what Committee Chair Matt Bren- we’ve done in the past,” Batra nan, calls for a commitment to said. Silver LEED certification for all building projects costing over ANGEL TREE GIVES $5 million and to the highest BACK VSG announced Wednesday possible level of certification for that if you buy a present for all other projects. the VSG Angel Tree this De- In the Senate, the resolution cember, VUPD will forgive one passed unanimously without (and only one) of your campus debate. parking tickets. In the House, the resolution passed with an overwhelm- ing majority, with only three representatives voting against the resolution. Those opposed they have the highest possible to the resolution were Alumni level of certification. Area Representative David Di- According to Student Body panfilo, West House President President Adam Meyer, the Evan Werner and the proxy for Environmental Affairs Com- Alumni Lawn Area Represen- mittee consulted with several tative Kenny Tan. members of Vanderbilt admin- PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ZAC HARDY/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER “As a leading institution in istration, including Facilities the United States and around and Environment Deputy Vice the world, we should be set- Chancellor Judson Newbern ELISE DIRKES-JACKS He also said that the opportu- Hostek says that fraternities ting a good example in terms of and Plant Operations Assistant nities for biased decision-making most frequently accept responsi- ASST. NEWS EDITOR sustainability practices, and as Vice Chancellor Mark Petty, place too much power in the hands bility for their charges, sometimes one of the leading student orga- when writing the final draft of of students in the judicial process. bringing plans of action or sanc- nizations at such a university, the resolution. Of the 16 Interfraternity Coun- “Much like the U.S. legal sys- tion proposals to their conduct we should make our desire for Taylor Dickinson, co-chair cil fraternities on campus, every tem has minimum and maximum meeting, and it is rare that chap- this future sustainability made of the Environmental Affairs single one has been on proba- punishments for crimes, I think ters deny accusations. known to the university at Committee, said that it is cru- tion at least once. The IFC uses the IFC should institute some sort “Occasionally there is push- large and its administration,” cial for student support to be a student-led judicial process to of uniform guideline for punish- back, but more often than not it Brennan said. a leader in making sure that address all infractions, including ments for a given rule infraction,” is a conversation about how to According to the resolution, buildings become LEED certi- those that result in probations. he said. “This would limit the grow from an incident, not an similar commitments to sus- fied. While the Office of Greek Life and amount of favoritism.” argument about responsibility,” tainability are already in place “The intent of our resolution, the IFC stand behind the system, Office of Greek Life Director Hostek said. at Duke University, Rice Uni- in our eyes, was to have VSG some question its fairness and ef- Kristin Shorter said she believes Conversely, a fraternity presi- versity and Emory University. take a position, take a stand for fectiveness. in the process because it “supports dent who asked to remain anony- Brennan said that Vanderbilt this, and to help the university The IFC hands out points for self-governance and provides im- mous said that fraternities have currently has 11 LEED certi- know that this is something the minor infractions. A fraternity portant learning and life skills for little power to defend themselves fied buildings, four of which are student body wants,” Brennan can earn up to seven points be- both IFC executive board mem- against allegations, even though Gold certified, meaning that said. ★ fore having to face review by the bers and chapter leaders.” he feels the evidence presented IFC. The point system allows the However, she acknowledged against them is not as concrete as IFC to enforce its constitution that it can put IFC leaders in the it is taken to be. without having to take drastic difficult position of judging their The fraternity president made action against chapters that have peers. the argument that oftentimes only committed minor violations. “Making decisions about policy the school takes the word of However, fraternities can also enforcement can be challenging someone who was intoxicated at Students protest manipulate the system by purpose- as student leaders struggle to bal- the time of the reported incident, fully acquiring sixth or seventh ance friendships and accountabil- which should call into question points during times of low social ity,” Shorter said. the validity of the accusation, as activity, such as midterms or final Many of the reports that result students may receive alcohol at Occupy Nashville exams. Because the seven points in probation for fraternities are more than one house, but only re- LIZ FURLOW are dropped after being reviewed alcohol-related incidents. When port one of them. NEWS EDITOR by the IFC, this allows fraternities students make these reports, they “The evidence the school pres- to rid themselves of points when it follow the general guidelines for ents would be questionable in Vanderbilt College Republi- will be of little social consequence all students on campus, which many courts of law,” he said. “It cans Thursday will stage the and avoid future possible proba- means reporting the incident to often seems that the verdict and first counter-protest against the tion for real infractions. the Office of Student Conduct. The punishment of a case are decided Occupy Nashville movement in A fraternity president who has Office of Student Conduct then ahead of (the) judicial board meet- Legislative Plaza at 7:15 p.m. asked to remain anonymous said compiles information for a report ing, despite the evidence a frater- The counter-protest follows a that although he supports the con- on the incident. nity may present.” decision by a federal judge to al- cept of the points system in gen- According to IFC President While discrepancies are hard to low the Occupy Nashville move- eral, he sees clear opportunities John Hostek, the student filing avoid in a system where students ment to continue protesting. for objectivity. the report attests to its authen- play a large role in the judicial VCR President Stephen Siao “It is convenient for these mem- ticity and IFC assumes the state- process, Hostek says that the IFC said, “We’ll have signs and flags bers (IFC Executive members) to ments to be true. focuses less on simple social pro- and whatnot, but our main mes- simply turn a blind eye or quickly “The only potential problem bation and more on improvements sage is you may want the govern- fix problems when they notice stemming from this process is dis- for each chapter, for instance ment to do more, but it’s going to these minor infractions at their honesty, which we do not always mandating a party management be at our generation’s expense. own fraternities, rather than giv- have the ability to sift through,” seminar for a fraternity charged We already have $40,000 of debt ing their own fraternity points,” Hostek said. “If there is a clear with poor party management. on our hands as it is. Making he said. “It may also be advanta- reason to not believe what is in Shorter agreed and held that the these demands is a generational geous for them to give ‘rival’ fra- the reports we get, we confer fur- Office of Greek Life “will continue theft.” ternities points as to place them ther with the Office of Student to work with the IFC community MURPHY BYRNE/ THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER Both VCR and Occupy Nash- on probation, generating larger Conduct. This has happened this to create a system that is fair and ville will be able to protest in the numbers for their own parties year, and in that case more infor- holds chapters accountable to poli- plaza, the result of a temporary C itizens downtown at Liber- and helping in the recruitment mation was produced to help our cies and the values that they es- restraining order filed against ty Plaza last Thursday night process.” judicial team make a decision.” pouse as fraternity men.” ★ see OCCUPY page 2 for Occupy Nashville. NOV. DRUMLINEDRUMLINE NashvilleSymphony.org $10 tickets for students 615.687.6400 8 Visit NashvilleSymphony.org/soundcheck for info LIVE ★ ★ ★ 2 THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011 THE VANDERBILT HUSTLER WWW.INSIDEVANDY.COM GO ING GREEK BY liZ FURLOW ZETA PHI BETA MINI-WEEK Deltas dance for A dream may be a wish your birth defects, premature birth heart makes, but this weekend and infant mortality. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority will help Events include cupcakes on Children’s Hospital make those dreams become a Rand Wall, a Pilates workout reality. class, a discussion on the health Nov. 4-6, Zeta will be host- of minority women in relation to ing a Disney-themed mini-week fertility and reproduction, a slow of service events to raise money grind, a Rake-A-Thon and a Greek for the March of Dimes Foun- only celebration at the Black Cul- dation, a non-profit organiza- tural Center.