Sorority behavior causes flap

A "tasteless" poster advertising a sorority party and an incident of beer-throwing at the event have resulted in Alpha Chi Omega (AXΩ) sorority being put on probation.

The controversy began when AXΩ billed an August 2 dance as "Live AID ... A Tribute to Rock Hudson." It was a play on the recent Live Aid concert to raise money for African famine victims and the fact that actor Rock Hudson was known to be suffering from AIDS, a disease often associated with homosexual men. As a protest against the poster's theme, several members of the Gay Students Association attended the party. While some of the GSA members were dancing together, they said they were subjected to verbal harrassment and had beer thrown at them.

The Dean's Office investigated the incident and consulted on it with the Interfraternity Council Judiciary Committee and the Office of Residential Life. As a result, AXΩ has been placed on general probation with some social restrictions for violating Minimum Standards. Dean Edward Shanahan noted that all fraternities and sororities are responsible for the events they sponsor and for the well-being of their guests.

The sorority wrote a letter of apology in The Dartmouth on August 9. They said the poster had been intended as "merely a tasteless play on words" and that they had "quickly and willingly attempted to remove all our posters the minute we realized that some people had taken offense." On August 15, the house sponsored a talk by the director of the New York Veterans Administration AIDS Program. The terms of their probation include a program to promote tolerance on campus and a temporary prohibition on serving alcohol. Discipline of individuals involved in the matter is being conducted in closed hearings before the Committee on Standards, as is the case with all student disciplinary actions.