WHITMAN COLLEGE
CONSTITUTION OF THE INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL
Revised Fall, 1994
ARTICLE I--Name
Sec. 1
The name of this organization shall be the Interfraternity Council of Whitman College.
ARTICLE II--Purpose
Sec. 1
The purpose of this Executive Council shall be to regulate Rush and the fraternities, in addition to promoting the Greek system in the best interest of Whitman College.
ARTICLE III--Powers
Sec. 1
Legislative--The Council shall have the power to regulate all interfraternity matters.
Sec. 2
Disciplinary--The Council shall have the power to enforce its own rules and to exercise such authority as may be granted by the Dean of Students Office or otherwise delegated to it by the College.
ARTICLE IV--Membership & Composition
Sec. 1
Membership--The Council shall be composed of the following officers: President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Greek Events, Publications and Rush Coordinator. Applications for all positions shall be made available to the chapters. Candidates will interview with the outgoing I.F.C. officers and the Associate Dean of Students. Upon completing the interviews, the outgoing I.F.C. Officers and the Associate Dean of Students will compile a slate with one candidate in each position. This slate will then be presented to the chapters. Chapter presidents, on behalf of their chapter, may challenge the slate. However, only men who completed an application and interviewed for a position are eligible to be on the slate or added as a challenge to the slate. If a position is challenged, the chapters will elect one of the candidates and then vote to either approve or delete the remainder of the slate. Positions that are challenged as well as the entire slate must pass with a majority vote. In the case of a tie, the outgoing I.F.C. Officers will cast the deciding vote.
Sec. 2
If any of the members of I.F.C. do not return to their positions for any reason, the fraternity of which the representative was a member will have the opportunity of appointing a replacement.
Sec. 3
The following procedure shall be followed in cases of the chartering of new fraternity chapters:
A. The total membership of the petitioning group shall submit a petition for recognition by the Interfraternity Council.
B. The Executive Council of the Interfraternity Council shall carefully review the decisions of the Student Life Committee regarding the group and other information as available and as requested.
C. The Executive Council shall then make its recommendations for membership based upon its investigation.
D. An unanimous vote of the delegates shall be necessary to elect to membership the petitioning group.
E. Based upon the committee's investigation and the decision of the delegates, I.F.C. shall make its decision known to the Dean of Students.
F. The petitioning group will then be on a probationary status for one year. After completing the year of probation (in which they will be expected to comply with I.F.C. rules and regulations), the new group will become a full, active member of the Interfraternity Council.
ARTICLE V--Organization
Sec. 1
Officers--The officers of the Executive Council shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, Greek Events, Publications and Rush Coordinator
Sec. 2
Duties:
A. The President shall preside at all meetings. He shall act in an executive capacity in all matters affecting the Council as a whole. He shall serve as a liaison between chapter presidents and the I.F.C. Officers. He shall also work with the Panhellenic President on social issues.
B. The Vice-President shall serve as the liaison between faculty and staff and the Greek men. In addition, he shall preside at all meetings in the absence of the president.
C. The Secretary/Treasurer shall take minutes at all I.F.C. meetings and perform other duties as usually devolved upon the office of secretary. In addition, he shall keep records and be responsible for all financial matters involving I.F.C. and will serve as I.F.C.’s representative on the ASWC Congress.
D. The Greek Events Coordinator shall coordinate and supervise all Greek Week Events.
E. The Publications Coordinator shall be responsible for the production and distribution of a newsletter for faculty and staff as well as all other I.F.C. publications.
F. The Rush Coordinator shall organize and run matters dealing with Rush, afterward conducting an extensive evaluation of its effectiveness.
ARTICLE VI--Meetings
Sec. 1
Regular meetings shall be held as determined by the I.F.C. The precise scheduled time and place shall be decided by mutual consent of the officers. Delegates will meet whenever needed, and Executive Council members will meet weekly.
Sec. 2
Special meetings may be called by the President and shall be called by him upon request of any member fraternity.
ARTICLE VII--Voting
Sec. 1
Decisions regarding infractions of this constitution and by-laws shall be decided upon by a majority vote of the Executive Council. Penalties for infraction of this constitution and by-laws shall also be decided upon and imposed by a majority vote of the Executive Council.
Sec. 2
All decisions made by I.F.C. shall be imposed by a majority vote of the Executive Council except when voting on violations of the constitution and judicial matters (see section on Judicial Responsibilities).
Sec. 3
The President shall vote in the event of a tie.
ARTICLE VIII--Amendments
Sec. 1
Amendments to this constitution may be adopted by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the chapters.
BY-LAW I--Procedure
Sec. 1
Robert's Rules of Order may be followed at all meetings at the discretion of the president.
BY-LAW II--Quorum
Sec. 1
A quorum shall consist of one less than all voting fraternity delegates.
BY-LAW III--Finances
Sec. 1
I.F.C. shall collect from each fraternity $1.50 per member. This money shall be collected once each semester on the first meeting of the third week of February and on the first meeting of the third week of October.
Sec. 2
Expenses incurred by the Council, not covered by Council monies, shall be met by a special assessment of the member fraternities.
Sec. 3
A pledge fee of no more than $5.00 per pledge shall be collected by the Interfraternity Council from each fraternity. This money shall be collected for pledges from both the spring and fall semesters on the first meeting of the third week in October and on the first meeting of the third week in February.
BY-LAW IV--Social Policies
The following are policies for individual sorority and fraternity chapters. The Panhellenic and IFC Executive Councils will not actively enforce these policies but will deal with reported violations as prescribed under their constitutions.
A. Definition of a Function
A function will be defined to be any event sponsored by more than one Greek Group. This is also to include any of the following:
1) A multi-fraternity/sorority event such as a “quad.”
2) An event with an invite list.
3) A sorority or fraternity “date dance.”
B. Security:
Whitman College Security must be present at every function for the purposes of:
1) Preventing anyone who is uninvited from attending the function.
2) Preventing people from entering the function showing obvious signs of intoxication.
3). Preventing anyone from bringing alcohol into the function.
C. Presence of Alcohol:
1) No kegs or corporate purchasing permitted at functions.
2) No alcohol may be present in the public spaces of the function.
3) No alcohol may be brought into the function.
D. Structure of the Function:
1) No all-campuses sponsored by the sororities or fraternities, except during formal rush.
2) Any function co-sponsored by a sorority may not have a guest list and is limited to the sponsoring members only. Fraternities will be allowed to have guest lists if the function is sponsored by only male groups. Outside visitors to Whitman shall be the only exception to this rule (i.e. siblings, prospectives, etc.)
E. Risk Management:
Every chapter must be familiar with its own risk management policies and contingency plan for emergencies.
PREAMBLE
The Interfraternity Council is concerned with the frequency and seriousness of confrontations between the fraternities. It is not concerned solely with the damage to or theft of fraternity property that sometimes results from such confrontations. More importantly, it is concerned with the ill feelings and animosity that almost invariably develop between the members of the fraternities involved. The I.F.C. believes the negative feelings that result from such incidents, usually excused as conducted in the spirit of healthy interfraternity rivalry, are damaging to the entire fraternity system, to its image among members of the rest of the campus community, and damaging to the real spirit of healthy interfraternity rivalry which such incidents are claimed to be fostering.
The Interfraternity Council believes it has a real responsibility to assume a leadership role in fostering a sense of common purpose and brotherhood among all members of the fraternity system and to eliminate those practices which it believes are damaging to the fraternity system, however steeped in tradition such practices may be. To this end, the Executive Council will assume the responsibility for adjudicating those matters that come to its appropriate College regulations that occur between fraternities. The Council believes each fraternity has the inherent right to determine how members of other fraternities shall conduct themselves while on the property of each fraternity, and each fraternity has the right for redress of violations of its rights from a judicial body that is solely concerned with fraternity affairs and the welfare of the fraternity system as a whole. I.F.C. also assumes that the actions of an individual reflect upon the entire Greek system. Therefore, each fraternity will be held responsible for the discipline of its own members to the satisfaction of the Interfraternity Council.
Finally, the Interfraternity Council hopes to instill in each fraternity member an understanding of that sense of responsibility that the Council believes each fraternity member should feel towards all members of the system and that each member will come to respect the rights of his interfraternal brothers as much as he does the rights of his own chapter's membership.
A. GENERAL POLICIES
Sec. 1
Fraternities shall be held individually responsible for maintaining standards of group conduct that meet the requirements of decency, the behavior patterns of a democratic society, and the particular needs of this College community.
Sec. 2
Social Regulations of whatever origin should insure adequate consideration for the rights of individual dignity and comfort and an atmosphere consistent with and in furtherance of the basic educational purpose of the College.
B. INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL REGULATIONS
Sec. 1
Specifically, misconduct in any of the following areas shall be considered a violation of Interfraternity Council regulations. Cognizance shall also be taken of relevant College policies and regulations as listed in the Student Handbook. Fraternities will be held responsible by the I.F.C. for the actions of its individual members.
Sec. 2
Physical and/or mental abuse of any person on fraternity property or at fraternity-sponsored or supervised functions or conduct, which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person.
Sec. 3
Theft or damage of property of a fraternity or member of the fraternity or fraternity visitor.
Sec. 4
Unauthorized entry to or use of fraternity facilities by members of another fraternity.
Sec. 5
Disorderly conduct, or lewd, indecent, or obscene conduct or expression by members of one fraternity on the property of another fraternity.
Sec. 6
Violation of the I.F.C. Rush Regulations. These regulations shall be published annually in a separate document and made available to all fraternities and new students.
C. JUDICIAL PROCEDURES
Sec. 1
The Executive Council executes all judicial matters that would include any violation of the constitution and by-laws or Rush rules. The President shall serve as the chairmen at all judicial hearings except in instances where he is directly involved in the case at which point the council would agree on a chairman. At least one member of the Executive Council from each chapter represented must be present at the hearing. Votes are cast on a house-by-house basis with the president voting in the event of a tie.
Sec. 2
Each fraternity involved in a complaint shall have their I.F.C. delegate, President, and any individual member(s) involved present at the hearing. An adviser may be present at the fraternity's option. The adviser may not speak for the group; he/she is there only to advise the chapter representatives.
Sec. 3
The Dean of Students designee may be present at the Executive Council’s option, as a nonparticipating observer during hearings. This right shall not extend to cases in which he/she is a witness or complainant.
Sec. 4
The Executive Council shall, in considering all cases of infractions of fraternity regulations, safeguard the rights of an accused fraternity or fraternity member(s), establish the framework of facts, rule on responsibility or non-responsibility, and assign sanctions for proven misconduct. The accused shall be presumed to be not responsible until proven responsible.
Sec. 5
All infractions involving rush policy violations must be reported in writing to the Executive Council within ten class days of their occurrence. There is no time limit on the reporting of other infractions.
Sec. 6
The fraternity or fraternity member(s) shall be informed in writing of the nature of the charge(s) and shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours to prepare a defense.
Sec. 7
The Chairman will start the hearing by stating the charge(s) (violations of the I.F.C. Constitution), and he will summarize the nature of the complaint.
Sec. 8
The group bringing the complaint will then describe the incident. Witnesses will come before the group one at a time. They will be asked to present their information. Anyone can ask a question of the witness to gather more information or to clarify a point.
Sec. 9
The defending group describes the situation as they perceived it. They may also present witnesses according to the same format described in Section 8.
Sec. 10
The Chairman asks for closing remarks from each group. The group bringing the complaint goes first. Five minutes shall be allotted for each group.
Sec. 11
Decisions about responsibility are made in a closed meeting of the Executive Council. Chapter(s) involved will be informed in writing of the verdict within two (2) class days after the hearing.
E. PENALTIES
Sec. 1
The Executive Council shall have the authority to assign suitable penalties excluding the authority to suspend or expel students for just cause. This authority must be exercised in accordance with the rights and procedures referred to elsewhere in this document.
Sec. 2
The gravity of each violation of campus or fraternity regulations shall be judged separately and in its own context. Penalties for the same offense under College or fraternity regulations shall be as even and consistent as possible, except where previous violations and probationary status are relevant to the assignment of penalties.
Sec. 3
Penalties for infractions of the Constitution, By-laws, Rush rules, and other Council rulings shall be levied by fines or any other penalty established by the Executive Council and not in conflict with penalties reserved for imposition by other duly-constituted College judicial bodies.
Sec. 4Fines for infractions of any offense of the Constitution, By-laws, and other Executive Council rulings shall be up to one hundred dollars ($100) per house depending upon the seriousness of the infraction. Failure to pay the fine within thirty (30) days will result in an escalation of the fine by ten dollars ($10.00) per week and the suspension of voting privileges.
Sec. 5
For penalties applying to formal Rush, the Executive Council has the power to levy fines pertaining to infractions of the current Rush policy. Penalties for such infractions shall start at five-hundred dollars ($500) for the first infraction and will escalate to seven-hundred and fifty dollars ($750) for the second and one-thousand dollars ($1,000) for the third. A fourth infraction of the Rush policy will result in the suspension of the chapters social privileges for one semester. A fifth infraction will result in new pledges not being allowed to move into the chapter house for one semester. Failure to pay the fine within the time designated by the Executive Council may result in further sanctions as deemed appropriate by the Council, which may include accumulation of interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per week and suspension of voting privileges. The Executive Council also reserves the right to suspend Rush activities in addition to or in lieu of a fine for a chapter that has committed an infraction of the policy.
F. REVIEW AND APPEAL
Sec. 1The Council on Student Affairs shall review periodically all decisions made by the Executive Council for consistency with College regulations and for fairness.
Sec. 2
A fraternity or individual who wishes to appeal a decision made by the Executive Council may take their case to the Dean of Students, at their option. The Dean of Students and his/her designee reserve the right to impose further sanctions as they see fit.
Sec. 3
The Dean of Students or his designee will act to ensure that College rules and regulations are upheld and that the organizations are treated fairly, considering the Executive Council’s authority, procedure, and judicial process in the decision. The authority hearing the appeal may accept the Executive Council ruling, refer the case back to the Council for reconsideration, or, in extreme cases, reject the ruling entirely and dismiss the case.
Sec. 4
Sanctions imposed for infractions of I.F.C. Rush Rules will be considered special cases. Appeal of these decisions will be considered in writing by the Dean of the Students only.