"Illegal frats not the problem they once were, officials say"

UB officials say a campaign started last spring to quash illegal fraternities has been successful, resulting in minimal activity this semester from banned Greek organizations.

After what it perceived to be a spike in the number of illegal fraternities the last few years, UB made it a violation of the Student Code of Conduct last fall to affiliate with unrecognized groups, including those fraudulently portraying themselves as fraternities.

"They are misrepresenting themselves to students," said Pamela Stephens-Jackson, university liaison for Greek Affairs. "Most complaints regarding hazing or forced activities come from parents or students who affiliate themselves with these organizations."

In the spring, the Office of Greek Affairs focused its efforts to educate and warn students about illegal fraternities, namely Phi Delta Theta, Delta Sigma Phi, Zeta Beta Tau, Kappa Sigma, Alpha Tau Omega and Sigma Alpha Mu. Although they were once legal, these groups were in violation of university policy and as a result were removed from the organization and notified to cease and desist, all within the last ten years.

Now officials say the illegal Greek activity has been significantly halted.

"We do not condone membership in unrecognized groups and certainly discourage students for their own safety," said Elizabeth Lidano, director of judicial affairs.

Student Life has been the most active player in the recent movement against illegal fraternities. Stephens-Jackson said her office has taken many steps to minimize the influence of illegal fraternities, including contacting local vendors to explain the situation, advertising in on-campus publications, speaking to students at freshmen orientation, and even forwarding facebook.com information to the respective national fraternity headquarters.

"We are always worried about them because they are unmonitored, uninformed groups," Stephens-Jackson said.

Stephens-Jackson also said whenever there is a spike it illegal fraternities, it often corresponds with a rise in crime in the University Heights.

"They have not been responsible for everything but they have been found to be responsible more often than the recognized, legitimate fraternal organizations or other university-recognized student organizations," she said.

The largest outcry over illegal fraternities has come from students involved in legal ones.

"Fraternities who are not affiliated with school can and will give fraternities who are affiliated with the school a bad name," said Rob Alsheimer, a senior fine art major, who is a member of Alpha Sigma Phi. "There are some off-campus fraternities that are cool, they care about other people. But there are some who don't care about other people. They are the ones who destroy it for everyone."

"Sure we have good time," he added, "but not the type that hurts people."

Lidano said there is always the worry that such unaffiliated groups will bring a negative energy and reputation to UB.

"I worry that new students might get involved in banned organizations and that they might get engaged in dangerous behaviors," Lidano said.

Eillen Ann Fisher, a sophomore undecided major, said the problem mostly lies with freshmen who are attracted to the wild parties but don't know there aren't any school guidelines the frats have to follow.

"Their parties are often dangerous, more so than other parties, and it is at these events where girls get date raped, guys get into fights and the reputation of Greek life at UB gets ruined," Fisher said. "Their pledges are also subjected to extreme hazing."

Ben Hussong, a sophomore legal studies major, said he is glad UB finally took action concerning the illegal groups.

"I think it is very helpful for the university to differentiate between on- and off-campus fraternities because it gives students more information before they make a decision to join," he said.