Fraternities Given Yellow Light For Fall Rush Activities

Fraternities placed under a public microscope in the aftermath of a May riot on Pullman’s Greek Row will be allowed to conduct normal rush activities - at least for the time being.

Washington State University student-conduct officials investigating responsibility for the May 3 riot sent six fraternities a letter May 26 saying the chapters can proceed as usual with parties and other get-to-know-you sessions that typically precede formal summer rush for incoming freshmen.

But the letter reiterated earlier warnings that the fraternities might not be allowed to sign up new members.

Such a rush prohibition could be a serious blow to fraternities, which receive dues to run chapter houses from new recruits.

The May 26 letter was not a reversal of the May 7 announcement, said Barbara Petura, university spokeswoman.

It is still possible the six fraternities could be prohibited from rushing new members for the 1998-99 school year, she said. But that decision doesn’t need to be made until August when freshmen pledge in the week before school begins.

The May 26 letter simply clarified for fraternities that no sanctions were in place, pending completion of university investigations, Petura said. WSU did not want fraternities that might be cleared of involvement in the riot to be penalized.

National officers of some of the six fraternities named by WSU as suspected riot instigators reacted negatively to the May 7 announcement. The executive director of one of the fraternities said his organization might seek payment from WSU for damaging its reputation, if its Pullman members were proved innocent.