Lehigh University says fraternities and sororities can resume activities; Greek life was paused after hazing and drinking concerns

Lehigh University has lifted a monthlong pause on Greek life activities after student leaders submitted a satisfactory plan to safely resume, a university administrator said Thursday.

“We have been pleased with the progress students have made in working collaboratively toward a positive resolution and fostering long-term enhancements to the culture of the fraternity and sorority community at Lehigh,” Chloe Abshire, assistant dean and director of fraternity and sorority affairs, said in an email to current and prospective fraternity and sorority members.

The university last month halted all Greek life activities on campus that were not business-related amid renewed concerns about excessive drinking, hazing, and drug use — despite a 10-point plan for improvement instituted by Lehigh last year. That meant no parties or purely social activities. All new member activities also were suspended, and houses were ordered to remain alcohol-free.

» READ MORE: Lehigh University pauses most Greek life activities amid concerns over hazing, drinking

Membership has been falling in fraternities and sororities at the Bethlehem campus, long known for its vibrant Greek life and large fraternity houses on a hill. The pause heightened concerns of a further decline. The pause was initiated just as fraternities were about to send out bids for new members. In spring 2015, fraternities had 983 members — roughly 37% of the male student body. By last spring, membership had fallen to just shy of 660. Sorority membership fell, too, from 1,009, or 46% of the female student body, to 834.

But Abshire said fraternity bids went out Wednesday and it appears that there are at least as many new prospective members this year as last year.

She said student Greek life leaders came up with plans to offer more non-alcohol-related events for prospective members who want that opportunity and to take a more active role in holding their chapters and members responsible for following the rules. That way, the students can prevent bad behavior from escalating, she said.

The immediate priority is to stop any hazing and find ways to hold safe social events, she said.

“They were looking at really getting a hold on how groups recruit,” she said, and making sure that prospective member recruitment doesn’t rely fully on the party scene.

» READ MORE: Greek life is at a crossroads on some campuses, with fraternity and sorority membership decreasing

Social events, including parties, can resume, Abshire said.

But Lehigh officials have made it clear to student leaders that “just because you can doesn’t mean you have to.” The focus should be on how to safely and properly bring on new members, she said.

Abshire said the four-week pause was “very productive" and gave students new clarity on what needs to change and how to change it. Some changes still need to be voted on by the student groups, she said.

Although the university had stopped certain Greek activities in the past, last month’s action marked the first time such a widespread “pause” had been instituted.