Melissa Holzberg, a sophomore majoring in political communication, is The Hatchet’s contributing opinions editor.
In case you missed it, here’s the best and worst news from around campus and the District this week.
Thumbs up:
Next semester, one Greek life chapter on campus will start the year with a blank slate.
Delta Sigma Phi fraternity will become GW’s 16th fraternity when it comes to campus for the first time this fall. Its arrival is part of a plan for students to find a fraternity that’s a better fit after half of the those who participated in last year’s formal rush did not join a chapter.
This new fraternity will give Greek leaders and the chapter’s members the chance to set a standard of behavior in the community, something that has been inconsistent over the last several years.
Alpha Epsilon Pi was kicked off campus in 2014 for hazing and drug violations, and Tau Kappa Epsilon was shut down after a GW investigation this past January. A sexual assault was reported at Phi Sigma Kappa in September. Eighteen Greek-letter organizations have been put on some sort of disciplinary probation by the University. Adding a new fraternity gives the Interfraternity Council another chance to set a high bar for how members should behave.
We know this is possible, because the Greek community has already been making strides. After the sexual assault at Phi Sigma Kappa was reported last fall, Greek leaders met with administrators and made it clear within their community that the behavior was unacceptable. A Greek life task force made up of officials and members of the Greek community last winter will continue to set standards for the community and focus on ways to improve, building off of University President Steven Knapp’s charge to make GW “the best Greek system in the country.” Over the last academic year, we’ve also seen Greek leaders work with officials to reform the disciplinary process.
As staff from Delta Sigma Phi’s national organization lay the groundwork for the chapter on campus this fall, they should also make clear disciplinary standards for members. This new fraternity is another chance for Greek leaders to show that they care about the reputation of their community – and they should not let that opportunity go to waste.
Thumbs down:
When making the decision between Baja Fresh and a metal detector, you’d be hard pressed to find someone picking the latter.
And people can apparently make that choice on their way to city government buildings at One Judiciary Square, where a report released this week found visitors skipping security and entering through the Mexican restaurant Baja Fresh.
The news, which comes after a false report of an active gunman last month at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and another at Navy Yard earlier this month, also found other issues like security guards without the training needed to use their weapons.
The Office of the Inspector General reported in 2010 that the security force wasn’t in compliance with more than half of the 24 recommendations in their annual report.
Safety for employees and visitors should be a top priority in all buildings across the city, not just buildings for government officials. It’s time to enforce the proper safety procedures, and save your taco for later.
