Greek life organizations may be reinstated next week, Fraternity and Sorority Life director says

Director of Fraternity and Sorority LIfe. Photo by Cole Behrens.

The director of Sorority and Fraternity Life visited Student Senate on Wednesday to discuss the recently suspended fraternities and sororities at Ohio University, saying some may be reinstated as soon as next week.

Ariel Tarosky, who was appointed to the position three months ago, discussed with the body a variety of topics surrounding the suspensions, including the timetable for reinstatement and concerns surrounding the greek life culture on campus.

“It’s been a slow three months, not a lot has happened,” Tarosky joked. The newly hired director was greeted with laughter from the body.

Tarosky said it would be possible for individual greek life organizations that have not been issued a cease and desist order to achieve reinstatement within the next week.

Tarosky said she met with all 15 suspended Interfraternity Council (IFC) fraternities last week and asked each of them to compose plans for how the fraternity can improve and be better members of the Greek life community.

An idea Tarosky proposed, for example, was that a suspended organization could limit the amount of alcohol permitted unless they achieve a certain GPA requirement.

Tarosky will then take all of the proposed plans submitted by the fraternities and compile one master IFC guideline, which will then be returned to the fraternities to use as a means to obtain reinstatement.

She also expressed concern with what she perceives to be a Greek life culture of excess drinking and other substance abuse among Ohio U fraternities.

She asked Senate to list off what they believe Greek life's values are; one senator said brotherhood/sisterhood, another said community. 

“Do you really think that is what they’ve been valuing after the past two weeks?” Tarosky retorted.

One student said Ohio Greek life had a “party culture” that is exclusive and pushes others out.

Tarosky said Ohio U ultimately has several problems in its Greek life culture.

Tarosky also clarified that “due process” is still being observed, and no formal charges against any fraternity or sorority have been produced yet — only allegations of wrongdoing.

Ultimately, she expressed hope that Greek life will return under stronger and more direct leadership.

Jenny Hall-Jones, dean of students, said fraternities found to be in violation will receive sanctions with conditions and guidelines, individually tailored to each organization.

An example of how consequences will be meted out to organizations would be to require an advisor to sit in on initiations on top of probation issued to the group, Hall-Jones said.

Like Tarosky, Jayden McAdams, Student Senate treasurer and president of Phi Delta Theta, is optimistic the suspensions will prove to be an opportunity for members of Greek life at Ohio U to develop.

“It’s a whole new landscape that we will have to work closely with IFC and Sorority and Fraternity life to see changes, so I’m really excited to see how it goes,” McAdams said.

McAdams believes his fraternity will probably be removed from suspension next week, he said.

RaeAnn Ensworth, senator for sorority and fraternity life and member of the sorority Alpha Omicron Pi, said she was excited to see the dialogue unfold at the meeting.

“I thought it went really well — it was a good discussion,” Ensworth said. “I think discussions like this are important that we have with people who aren’t members of the sorority and fraternity life community, (the suspensions) impact you too, whether or not you are brothers and sisters.”

Editor’s Note: Ensworth previously worked at The New Political on the public relations team. A previous version of this article mischaracterized a quote from Tarosky. It has been updated.