The University of Colorado’s newly elected student leaders say they’d like to see Boulder’s fraternities re-establish ties with the university — an idea worth exploring.
The fraternities and CU severed their relationship in 2005 when the Greek organizations refused to accept new university rules after the drinking death of Lynn “Gordie” Bailey.
Talking about a renewed alliance is a healthy step. But there is a long way to go before trust can be restored between the parties, and student safety must be paramount in any such process.
The tragedy at the heart of the schism between CU and its fraternity chapters was the death of Bailey, an 18-year-old freshman pledge at Chi Psi fraternity.
Bailey had been on campus just three weeks when he and 26 other pledges were taken blindfolded into the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest, where they were told to drink an excessive amount of whiskey and wine.
The group returned to the Chi Psi house, where Bailey was left on a couch to “sleep it off.” Ten hours later, he was found dead.
Marc Stine, CU Greek advocate, says much has changed in the fraternity community during the four years the fraternities have not been officially associated with CU.
Stine says the 15 fraternities have established relationships with the Boulder police and fire departments and have come up with many safety-oriented policies. Those include hiring third-party security to do age checks at the doors during parties, and having designated “safety brothers” at events to offer rides or other help to party-goers.
The university believes the fraternities have made progress, but CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard says there still have been too many alcohol-related incidents connected to fraternities.
The university, obviously, is best-positioned to determine whether fraternities have reformed enough to merit recognition as registered student organizations.
Hilliard said CU isn’t trying to punish the groups, but everyone in the university community has to be responsible for Bailey’s death.
“We all are responsible for all time for what happened,” Hilliard said.
There is little doubt that re-establishing ties would benefit both sides. It would enable fraternities to use campus facilities at little or no cost. And it would benefit CU to establish closer connections with fraternity members, who often hold leadership positions on campus and perform valuable community service.
After Bailey’s death, CU told fraternities they must adhere to a new list of conditions, which included moving their recruiting period to spring instead of fall. And the chapters needed to have live-in advisers.
The fraternities rejected those conditions. Spring rush would mean a half-year loss of membership revenue, and it offended their notions of their right to freely associate. A live-in adviser was an added expense as well. CU maintains these conditions still are the best way to ensure student safety.
Both CU and Boulder’s 15 fraternities have something to gain in mending their relationship. But the safety and well-being of students has to be the overriding concern in any such negotiation.
