Members of Saint Louis University’s Greek community have witnessed new and tightened rules over the years. This has created a concern in students.

“We did notice a change in policies and with disciplinary actions. New penalties were set up that have never been seen before,” said Michael Zimmer, a 2007 alum and current law student.

Zimmer was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, more often known as the Pikes, when its charter was revoked in 2006 for violating probation.

Probation is categorized in two ways: disciplinary and social.

Disciplinary probation is a written warning that states you are not in good standing with Greek life and the University. Social is related to social events, where privileges are taken away.

Several SLU Greeks reported in off-the-record statements that a number of fraternities are currently on probation. Only Alpha Delta Gamma, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Phi Delta Theta and Beta Theta Pi confirmed that they are not on probation for this academic year.

Steve Fowler, campus minister for Greek organizations, declined to specify how many Greek organizations have been placed on probation in recent years. But he said there is no attempt to rid the campus of all Greek groups.

Zimmer thinks otherwise and believes stricter rules are the University’s attempt to eliminate Greek organizations.

“They might be trying to become like other [Catholic] colleges,” he said. “Boston College and Notre Dame don’t have fraternities.”

Kirstin Leih, coordinator of fraternities and sororities, agreed that new rules have been added and old rules enforced more strictly.

But it’s simply a sign that the general nature of higher education has changed, she said.

“The ideas of risk management and liability have become more serious. Parents are more involved now and they have more expectations,” Leih said.

Some of the new rules are enacted by Inter Fraternity Council and the Panhellenic Council, which are the governing councils for each chapter that work toward bylaws of the Greek constitution.

These include restrictions on rushing, discipline and the shortening of the philanthropy weeks.

The philanthropy weeks were once a week-long set of events created by each individual chapter designed to raise money for a charitable association.

ADG base its philanthropy week on Habitat for Humanity.

ADG President Max Rumbach explained that during their week they focused on repairing houses in the North Grand area.

Philanthropy weeks are now shortened to three days. Chris Fakoury, president of the IFC, explained that the decision was made to deal with time conflicts.

“Fraternity and sorority philanthropy weeks were stacked up on each other,” said Fakoury.

Greek organizations serve a vital and useful purpose, Leih said.

“It’s meant to be an educational and learning process. The Greek community is self-governing and they do great things,” she said.

The Greek community raises money for charitable causes, mentors secondary school students, travels to donate time and energy to the city, such as the Pike’s who assisted in cleaning North Grand and Interstate 64/Highway 40.