USC updates Greek life info after cutting ties with fraternity houses

Disaffiliated fraternities are now considered regular, private student housing; therefore, the university can no longer oversee or regulate its activities and rush process, according to an update from USC Student Affairs.

In a new FAQ page, the university explained that, following the disaffiliation of several fraternities, it no longer has the ability to enforce event safety measures and training, oversee the recruitment process and timeline or access and verify organization rosters at unaffiliated organizations.

This also means that the university can no longer suspend chapters from activity if they are found to significantly violate conduct and event planning rules.

“We no longer have access to these houses, we don’t know who lives there, nor do we know how the leaders are handling issues of training and whether they are meeting the requirements set forth by their national governing bodies,” a representative of Student Affairs said.

Despite not being able to directly regulate events, USC still instructed that students reporting misconduct, including sexual assault, should notify the university through its reporting systems.

Student Affairs also discouraged students from joining the disaffiliated groups.

“Because the eight disaffiliated organizations have decided to leave [the USC Interfraternity Council], they are choosing not to abide by university rules and regulations established over many years to support members and protect their safety, health, well-being, and academic success. For that reason, we strongly recommend that students do not join or attend unregulated parties hosted by these groups,” the FAQ page stated.

The page also reports that following the disaffiliation of eight fraternities, USC IFC membership in affiliated organizations dropped from 1,100 to 500 students this fall. The university recognized that its decisions regarding recruitment processes and timelines were a significant factor in organizations deciding to leave USC IFC.

In 2017, USC banned freshmen fall rush, with the requirement of completing at least 12 units with a GPA of 2.5 before being able to join a fraternity or sorority. This requirement came after reports of hazing in fraternities, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Currently, disaffiliated fraternities are able to recruit students at any time during the academic year.

“We believe all students—current and future—should have the opportunity to join any organization at the time that they feel is best for them,” the University Park Interfraternity Council, a coalition of the organizations that disaffiliated from USC, said in the announcement of its establishment.

One point of confusion within the new page regards dual affiliation. Currently, Phi Delta Theta and Phi Sigma Kappa are posted on the websites of both the UPIFC and USC IFC, which list chapters still affiliated with the university. When asked for clarification, a USC spokesperson cited the Student Affairs FAQ page, which states these fraternities still fall under IFC regulations.

Members of Phi Delta Theta and Phi Sigma Kappa both declined to comment on dual affiliation.

According to the new page, there is no dual affiliation. Despite that, these fraternities continue to be listed under both sites. They will have to follow USC IFC requirements and Fraternity and Sorority Leadership Development guidelines, but it is not clear how their inclusion under both councils will affect members moving forward.

As in previous statements, USC reiterated that it discourages students from joining unaffiliated fraternities or attending their parties but included that members as individuals “will always receive…full support and access to university resources.”