PURPOSE: We demand that North Carolina State University mandate that Fall 2020 recruitment for the Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council be moved entirely online to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We also demand that the University outline clear and appropriate regulations for Greek life events with transparent follow-through in the event those regulations are broken.

This Labor Day weekend, hundreds of students will gather to rush Greek life at NC State, hoping to become members of the Panhellenic Association or Interfraternity Council. While State has set many regulations for students and staff to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the coming semester, information on how Greek life will operate is sparse.

The Current Plan:

The Panhellenic Association has been relatively upfront about their recruitment plan. They’ve outlined three potential plans for the fall and will choose according to CDC and University guidelines. At the time of this petition, they are currently set for “Plan A.”

Plan A: Round 1 in person at the McKimmon conference center, rounds 2 and 3 over Zoom, round 4 in person at the McKimmon conference center.
Plan B: Rounds 1, 2 and 3 take place over Zoom, round 4 in person at the McKimmon conference center.
Plan C: All rounds taking place over Zoom.

The Interfraternity Council has been less open regarding their plans, but have said “Recruitment will be a hybrid model of in-person and virtual experiences this year, consistent with current guidelines for gathering. Students may opt for a fully virtual process and can indicate that preference on their application.” One can assume their current plan is similar to “Plan A.” 

This is not safe. There is a long-standing joke among sororities that girls always get sick during rush. During Round 1 of recruitment, potential members speak to hundreds of people a day. 

Our Demands: 

I. We demand that the University require the NC State Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council to use Plan C, for an entirely virtual recruitment process.

II. We demand transparency from North Carolina State University surrounding Greek life activities in the fall. 

III. We demand that the Panhellenic Association, the Interfraternity Council, their chapters, and their members, outline clear policies that include a one year ban on in-person recruitment as well as other large social gatherings to prevent community spread.

1. This includes date functions, parties/“darties” (either on-campus or at satellite houses), and mixers. Such gatherings are not capable of ensuring social distancing and are likely to disregard the current NC mask mandate that will remain in effect indefinitely. 

IV. We demand the University proactively prevent these gatherings and conduct transparent investigations into any gathering that puts public health at risk. 

V. We demand that the University outline clear punishments for any organization(s) or person(s) that host or attend such events. These punishments should include, but not be limited to: 

1. The disbandment and dissolution of any organization whose members are found in violation of amended University policy related to organizing or attending gatherings.
2. The administration of a Student Conduct Referral for any individual found in violation of amended University policy related to organizing or attending gatherings.

VI. We demand that any and all events, Greek life or otherwise, indoor or outdoor, University-sanctioned or unaffiliated, of which NC State students attend, adhere to strict safety regulations.

While it is obvious that Greek life will not be the sole spreader of COVID-19 through dangerous mass-gatherings this fall, it has unfortunately become clear that these organizations and their members are already making plans that will put lives at risk. The semester has not yet begun and through social media we have observed large, unmasked gatherings at NCSU fraternity houses. We believe that, as a primary source of social life on campus, regulations related to Greek life gatherings would greatly assist the prevention of community spread. Furthermore, any regulations placed upon Greek life should apply to all University organizations and events. 

We ask that North Carolina State University, as well as the Board of Governors and leaders of the Panhellenic Association and Interfraternity Council take our demands seriously and respond no later than Monday, August 10th, 2020.