RULES OF OPERATION OF THE GREEK
REVIEW BOARD
EASTERN
ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
This organization will be known
as the Greek Review Board (GRB) of Eastern Illinois University.
Through self-governance, accountability
and education, the GRB will enforce the policies set forth by these ÒRules of
OperationÓ; Interfraternity Council (IFC), National Panhellenic Council (PHC),National
Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Constitutions and Bylaws; the Alcohol Policy: "Guidelines for
Fraternity/Sorority Use of Alcohol;" EIU Hazing Policy for all Recognized
Student Organizations (RSOÕS); and, all other related documents and forms.
Section 1. The
GRB has authority in dealing with violations of any of the above stated
documents, unless their authority is superseded by a higher body (i.e. Student
Life, University Judicial Affairs Office, Vice President for Student Affairs).
Section 2. This
Board reserves the right to hold a chapter accountable for the actions of an
individual of that chapter.
Section 3. A. Any
individual or organization may file a complaint with GRB by filling out a
ÒComplaint Against an IFC Fraternity/PHC SororityÓ Form, or submitting either a
hand-written or typed letter as evidence of complaint. No anonymous complaints will be
accepted. However, a chapter
president or University staff member may serve as witness or informant for a
member who wishes to remain anonymous.
B.
Any
legitimate complaint is reviewed by the Vice Presidents of Standards and the
GRB advisor. If deemed necessary,
a review will be scheduled.
C.
Concerning
all violations of the above stated documents, a person(s) having reasonable
cause to believe a Greek organization or a member has violated the provisions must
notify the Office of Student life within a reasonable time (preferably within
three working days) after the incident occurred.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
The
Greek Review Board Advisor (GRB advisor) shall be the Director of Greek Life or
in their absence, a person appointed by the Director of Greek Life.
Section 2.
A.
The GRB will be presided over by
the IFC Vice President of Standards and the PHC Vice President of Standards. The two shall act in the capacity as mediators. These are elected executive positions
on both respective councils.
B.
If
the elected PHC or IFC vice president of standards has not been a member of
GRB, EasternÕs Judicial Board, or held positions relating to standards in their
chapter, they will, per a mutual agreement, understudy the current vice
president of standards for the respective council. The understudy period will
last from the IFC/PHC elections until the beginning of the spring semester.
Section 3. A. The
GRB will be comprised of one (1) member from each PHC sorority, one (1) member
from each IFC fraternity and one (1) member from an NPHC chapter. Three (3) to
five (5) members from each chapter are encouraged to apply for GRB, though only
one (1) applicant per chapter will ultimately be selected by the IFC/PHC vice
presidents of standards.
B. A super majority, or 75% of the
entire GRB must be in attendance for a review. The GRB member whose chapter the
review concerns will be excused from that review.
Section 4. A. An
audiotape recorder will be used to record the review proceedings. This
audiotape is confidential, and will remain in the chapterÕs closed GRB file.
The GRB files may only be accessed by the IFC/PHC Vice Presidents of Standards and
the Director of Greek Life.
B. The
audiotapes and the GRB files are maintained by the PHC/IFC Vice Presidents of Standards
in the IFC/PHC office for a period of three (3) years.
Section 5. Attendance
is required at all meetings, including training sessions. Two (2) excused
(prior approved) absences are allowed per justice. Exceeding the limit will be
grounds for dismissal from the GRB.
Section 6. Attire
for the hearing is casual business.
Section 7. The
GRB materials binder, which a member of the board receives, is property of the
Office of Student Life. The binder is on loan to the GRB member for the
duration of time they serve on the board. In the event the binder is lost,
destroyed or not returned, the GRB member will be charged for the cost of the
binder itself and the copying of its contents.
Section 1. The Board
A.
The
GRB members shall each have one (1) vote when hearing cases.
B.
Each
member is required to keep the content of the hearing confidential. Breaking
this confidence is grounds for immediate dismissal upon proof provided by the Vice
Presidents of Standards and confirmed in writing by the GRB advisor.
C.
In
case of a tie, the Vice President of Standards will have one vote. However,
members are encouraged to reach an amicable decision.
Section 2. Vice
President of Standards
A. Both
vice presidents shall be responsible for confirming arrangements of all
necessary meetings/reviews. They
are also responsible for notifying chapters that have violations, etc. via the
ÒNotice to AppearÓ form. Written and
oral communication of the review must be given to the board members,
respondents and the Office of Student Life.
B.
All
voting members must be initiated members of their chapter and their status must
remain "active" throughout their one-year term of office.
C.
Chapter
Presidents, IFC, PHC, NPHC, and LAD executive board members are excluded from applying. A GRB member who
receives an aforementioned position will be asked to resign immediately from
the GRB.
Section 3. Ex-Officio
Members
The ex-officio
or non-voting members may be, but are not limited to: 1) the GRB advisor; and,
2) graduate assistants of the Greek Life Office. All ex-officio members, with
the exception of the GRB advisor, wishing to attend a review must receive prior
permission from the GRB advisor or their designee.
Section 4. Presenter(s)
of Information
A.
The
presenter(s) of information regarding the violation will be the acting PHC/IFC Vice
Presidents, depending on which documents/policies have been violated. The
IFC/PHC Presidents reserve the right to attend reviews if they choose, but may
not be presenters of information. The presenters of information reserve the
express right to request the presence of witnesses, additional chapter member,
etc.
B. If
the presentersÕ chapter is scheduled for review, they will
defer
presentation to their counterpart.
Section 1.
The GRB
shall have authority to impose restrictions or limitations in all disciplinary
reviews involving the Greek community's adherence to those documents stated in
Article II.
A The
GRB will have power to impose limitations or restrictions on a chapter if it is
deemed necessary.
B. There
must be a super majority or 75% of GRB members to conduct official business and to impose restrictions or
limitations. Abstentions are not
allowed.
C. In
the event any active GRB member's chapter is involved in a violation, that
member will not be called to the review and may not serve as a witness. The GRB member has the option of sending a written statement
with the chapter representative to the review, if the information the GRB
members possesses is relevant.
D. The
GRB can request a chapter member to be present at a GRB review. Failure to appear may result in further
judicial action against the respondent.
Section 2. Notification
A. In
the case of a violation, a Vice President of Standards shall present written
notice to all parties at least seventy-two (72) hours or three (3) days prior
to the hearing.
B. The
ÒNotice to AppearÓ issued by a Vice President of Standards must include
the following:
1) Name
of complainant or complaining RSO.
2) Date,
place and nature of incident.
3) Document(s)
violated and specific violation(s).
4) Procedure
for hearing.
5) Date,
time and place of hearing.
6) Witnesses
for respondent.
7) Witnesses
for complainant, requested by GRB.
8) Statement
regarding the right of the respondent to review the file prior to the review.
C. Once
the ÒNotice to AppearÓ has been issued, the vice president will place it in a
sealed envelope labeled "confidential" in the chapter's SLO mailbox.
The Vice President will also call the responding chapter president to notify
them of its location.
Section 3. Review
Procedures
A.
Arbitration
of the incident will occur on the part of the Director of Greek Life, the Vice Presidents
of Standards, the chaptersÕ president and any other appropriate parties.
B.
At
this time, the Director of Greek Life and the Vice Presidents of Standards may
recommend restrictions or limitations to the chapter.
C.
The decisions by the parties involved during the arbitration will be
documented and signed, thereby becoming a binding agreement.
D. If
the chapter will not accept the measures suggested during the arbitration,
they reserve the right to request a review by their
peers (GRB).
E. A review will not be suspended due to the absence of a
respondent unless upon good cause shown.
F.
The GRB, by a majority vote of members
present may agree to
suspend or discontinue the review of a chapter.
G. The hearing and order of testimony shall follow "The Greek
Review Board Hearing Procedure" document.
H. Each party is limited to no more than
five (5) witnesses and no more
than two (2) non-speaking individuals per hearing.
I. Counsel
secured by the respondent may be present at the review. This individual may
counsel but not represent the chapter. Furthermore, counsel may speak only when
directly asked questions
by the justices or the presiding chief justice.
J. This
is a hearing of peers; and, therefore, legal counsel or representation is not
permitted for either the complainant or the respondent during the hearing,
whether oral or written.
K. One
conference session, lasting no more than ten (10) minutes each, will be allowed
for both the respondent and complainant.
Section 4. Discussion
A. The
GRB shall discuss the reviews proceedings in closed session with both voting
and non-voting (ex-officio) members present in order to impose restrictions or
limitations.
B. The
discussion session should proceed as follows:
1. Review
the facts;
2. Determine whether
respondent's conduct constitutes a violation of any relevant documents. This is done by a simple majority vote
of the GRB members present, in which abstentions are prohibited;
3.
Any restrictions or
limitations imposed against the
respondent that are in accordance with "The Greek Standards Board Code of EthicsÓ
document;
4. The GRB advisor has
advisory authority in all judicial
proceedings, but does not have
a vote;
5. Contact between any GRB member and
the respondent is
strictly prohibited. Violations thereof could
include immediate dismissal of any GRB member and/or
restrictions/ limitation levied against the
respondent.
6. The GRB
advisor and/or the Director of Greek Life shall be notified in writing of any
and all restrictions or limitations involving GRB; and,
7.
The
GRB advisor shall meet with the GRB when necessary to discuss any matter
pertaining to interpretation of any and all documents named in Article II.
8.
The
decision reached during the discussion session will be placed in the chaptersÕ
SLO mailbox within 5 (five) working days after the review concludes.
B. Appeals
can be made only if the respondent feels any or all of the conditions below
have been met:
1.
A substantial
procedural error that unreasonably
impaired either party.
2. An
unduly harsh recommendation for restrictions or limitations against the accused
chapter.
3. New
evidence of a substantive nature not available at the original review.
4.
Substantiated
bias on the part of any judicial board member
or administrative review officer.
Revised October 2006