By: Melissa Boyd, Danielle Reid (Whetstone Staff Writers)

After the “kidnapping” hazing incident of Nov. 2, Student Affairs and Student Government Association decided it was time to put a leash on the Inter Greek Community.

The entire Inter Greek community is currently on temporary suspension. All members are not allowed to host meetings or events, receive funding from SGA or wear their letters.

SGA President Bryan Zarou was one of the students who supported the temporary suspension of IGC.

“This suspension insures that, while we are all meeting to develop rules and regulations, there can be a halt on all activities,” he said. “It gives all organizations time to recoup and meet for one common purpose and to come back stronger than they already were.”

However, he said, if any organizations in IGC fail to follow the suspension rules, there were will be a financial penalty with SGA.

“If all rules are followed,” he said, “the organizations will be up and active next semester.”

The only exception to the temporary suspension is Alpha Phi Omega (APO). Although they are still under current suspension, said Colleen DiRaddo, dean of students, they are still allowed to complete their community service projects.

“They are still a Greek organization,” she said. “My end result for every organization in IGC is that, within a year, headquarters will start saying ‘Go talk to Wesley. They’ve figured out how to do a Greek community well.’”

APO treasurer Shanna Bryant doesn’t like the suspension.

“I was pissed and frustrated,” she said. “We aren’t involved in anything hazing related. We’re not a social Greek club. It’s in our by-laws that we can’t haze or do anything like that and we abide by those rules.”

APO had been completely suspended, including community service projects, until member Keeyana Talley initiated a petition to end the suspension for community service projects and presented it to DiRaddo and Zarou. APO members and non-members signed the petition at an SGA meeting and around campus.

Signers of the petition pointed out that APO does not have the same rush week as social Greeks, are not at Meet the Greeks, doesn’t participate in Wish Fest, and is not an organization in IGC.

“They were hurting the community by suspending us,” she said. “We’re here to help the Dover population because we’re a community service fraternity. So by suspending us and our projects, it’s hindering us and the community.”

DiRaddo said APO still remains suspended, but community service projects are an exception to the rule.

“Our goal is to start next semester with a clean start and clear guidelines,” she said. “There didn’t seem to be a very clear policy or clear procedures.”

Each Greek organization had to contact their headquarters and two other liberal arts colleges recommended by their headquarters to understand what a healthy Greek community is.

Jenai Copeland, graduate assistant for fraternity & sorority life, said the goal is to have a united Greek council.

“We’re trying to have a foundation for all Greek life,” she said. “We’re in the process of creating accountability for all organizations by pulling leadership from all different Greek life groups.”

She said the idea is to develop and expand the potentials Greek life has.

“Administration is trying to better support and work with IGC,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to provide support among Greeks and a liaison to spread awareness and collaborate.”

More than a dozen social Greek members refused to comment on IGC suspension.