ELYANA CROWDER DRIVER
Last month, nine Duke IFC fraternities disaffiliated from the University and formed the Durham IFC to avoid rules regulating housing and preventing spring rush.Īlthough Duke’s acknowledgement of the Durham IFC as a major driver of positive cases sparked resentment towards fraternities, it wasn’t until the University announced the stay-in-place order that some students rallied around their mutual indignation. In August, Duke’s Panhellenic Council voted to no longer allow sorority chapters to host parties with all-male organizations. The movement saw approximately 400 students disaffiliate from such organizations, the vast majority of whom were women leaving sororities, according to self-reported data. Last summer, a group of students called for the abolition of Duke Interfraternity Council fraternities and Panhellenic sororities, alleging the groups harbored a culture of racism and sexism. The statement promised new accountability measures to prevent future COVID-19 violations, including a reporting hotline and judicial board.įraternities have faced increased pressure over the last year. “But we made the decision that we needed to name it more clearly so students could make their own decisions from there.”ĭurham IFC released a statement March 15 that said the organization was “disappointed that some individuals within fraternities violated the expectations we established for virtual recruitment which may have contributed to an increase in cases of COVID-19 within the Duke student population.” “We had this idea that people would draw their own conclusions from the information,” she said. Mary Pat McMahon, vice provost and vice president of student affairs, said she realized the need to identify the Durham IFC’s responsibility for the increase in cases after having conversations with multiple students who expressed frustration that Duke hadn’t publicly connected the surge to fraternities. Admin callout prompts student actionĭuke didn’t single out members of the Durham Interfraternity Council until March 10, a few days before instituting the stay-in-place order. “This weekend, when we had the spike in COVID cases, it just kind of pushed me over into a lot of anger and a lot of resentment,” said Riddick. In graffiti and group messages, social media and online petitions, many students have expressed anger with fraternities and their members.įirst-year Elyana Riddick, who said she had been put off by fraternities when they disaffiliated, was among those students. That distinction was not missed by Duke students, many of whom were barred for a week from leaving their dorms except for essential activities. University administrators have repeatedly blamed the outbreak on recruitment events held by members of disaffiliated fraternities. 14 by a quartet of first-year students, stood plastered next to another painting-one as long and tall as a bus that shared the same message, but with the word “Frats” in place of “IFC.”īoth expressions appeared in the final hours before Duke implemented a stay-in-place order as COVID-19 cases among undergraduates soared. The phrase, scribbled at least three times on the night of Mar.