[Vision2020] UI alcohol policy

[Art Deco]

Rose,

Thank you for the amount of time and effort that you have taken on this
matter.  It's a serious matter not only at UI but at WSU as well.

It's revealingly ironic that UI/WSU would consider the last place to look
for guidance/solutions for this problem would be peer reviewed academic
journals.  The arrogance and isolation of university administration from
the real world is mind boggling, and explains in part their misguided,
counterproductive, and poor public policy reluctance to share public
records.

But as long as only 2 or three deaths or serious maimings occur per year,
the UI/WSU nonchalance, ignorance, and arrogance is likely to continue.
Students are expendables except in large quantities.

w.


On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 7:53 PM, Rosemary Huskey <donaldrose at cpcinternet.com
> wrote:

> For several months I have tried to find out more about the University of
> Idaho’s handling of alcohol offenses on campus.  Stonewalled is a gracious
> description for the response of UI Staff Counsel, Guilherme Costa, to my
> public records requests. To be absolutely fair, it is possible that he was
> just following orders. Perhaps he would have provided some information if I
> had been willing to part with the amount of money he quoted to find the
> information I requested - $1,500 initially and after I modified my request
>  for information (downloading a simple data base) $500.00.  I passed up
> both opportunities. Last week, I received the following note from Matthew
> Kurtz, UI Greek advisor.  It was my first communication from him.  A note I
> sent to UI Staff Counsel, Guilherme Costa, found its way to him.  I read it
> and my head exploded, (as it is occasionally wont to do ). I responded to
> him, President Nellis, Bruce Pitman, and the State Board of Education.
> None of them will give a hoot but something needs to be said.  From the
> silence of the community following the death of Joseph Widerrick to the
> inability of the University of Idaho to take meaningful action we should
> all be ashamed.   And yes, I know that no one was forcing Joseph Widerrick
> to drink so recklessly, but that is not my point.  The University failed
> him by allowing, indeed in my opinion encouraging, a dangerous attractive
> nuisance, the fraternity system, to thrive  unchecked, on campus.  The
> community failed him by their silence and by inaction when he desperately
> needed help as he wandered in a confused state on the coldest night of the
> year.  That young man could have been any of my sons during their goofy
> years, or my brothers when they were in fraternities.  I am betting they
> could have been your sons, daughters, sisters or brothers as well. Eighteen
> year old kids just do stupid things sometimes.  We must speak up even when
> we are ignored or treated as bitchy pests.  What happened to Joseph
> Widerrick was wrong on so many levels and cannot be ignored.****
>
> Rose Huskey****
>
> ** **
>
> *********
>
> Good Morning Matthew Kurtz****
>
> ** **
>
> Thank you for your prompt response to my recent note.  As you are aware I
> have profound concerns about the Greek system at the University of Idaho.
> The number of alcohol related injuries, near fatalities, and fatalities as
> a consequence of the unsupervised grouping of feral adolescent males is a
> recipe for continual damage to the wellbeing of students and the reputation
> of the University of Idaho.   Never has that tired old cliché ‘lay down
> with dogs come up with fleas’ been more relevant – and in the minds of many
> people, including alumni like me (undergraduate and graduate degrees) -
> been more aptly applied to describe the relationship between UI
> administration and fraternity members.  The University is correctly
> perceived, in my opinion, as weak and obsequious toward fraternity members’
> unabashed criminal behavior.  This curiously lop sided relationship is best
> described in your own words, “As for sanctions levied by the University
> against the fraternity, there are no policies currently in place where we
> would have the ability to sanction the chapter.” Help me to understand,
> Matthew Kurtz, what kind of mindset defends the notion that a privately
> owned home is permitted to be a public nuisance despite decades of underage
> drinking, drug use, sexual assaults, injury and alcohol related fatalities?
> ****
>
> ** **
>
> I read the list of alcohol educational programs that have recently been
> conducted at the University of Idaho. The time, energy, and money poured
> into these efforts  is clearly wasted.  The SAE house was supposed to be
> dry.  According to statements provided to Moscow Police Department, they
> were on probation for previous alcohol offenses.  (Apparently the probation
> came from their national organization.  Who do you suppose monitors that
> requirement?  Do you think for a nanosecond that they self-report
> infractions?)  The probation is meaningless.  Drinking and “family nights”
> - an extremely offensive term when used to describe alcohol related event
> with sororities  - were mentioned in some of the police statements.  So
> were the terms “just social drinking” and “casual drinking” as routine
> occurrences.  ****
>
> ** **
>
> You bring fresh meaning to the word *chutzpah*, Matthew Kurtz.  You claim
> – apparently in connection to alcohol education efforts - that “Though this
> method has shown a reduction in risky behavior with our Greeks there is
> still work to be done.” Indeed, your office has work to be done starting
> with *not* tolerating frat parties that lead to a young man freezing to
> death under a bridge on the coldest night of the year.  It is a mercy that
> his companion, Joe Stellers, didn’t freeze to death as well.  He was so
> inebriated that when he left the SAE house that night he wandered over
> fields two miles south of Moscow before finally turning back toward Moscow
> and making it to his dorm.  In your role as Greek Advisor, do you ever drop
> by fraternity houses uninvited and unexpectedly on a Friday or Saturday
> night to observe firsthand what those self-entitled little gits are up
> to?   What do you mean by the phrase “our Greeks”? Who is your allegiance
> to, the University of Idaho, the citizens of Idaho who provide you with a
> salary and benefits, or the boys who are causing so many problems and so
> much pain?  ****
>
> ** **
>
> The alcohol programs instituted at the University of Idaho and their
> look-a-like clones have been studied extensively.  Research demonstrates
> that they are what we used to call “busy work” offering the appearance of
> learning/teaching but generally pointless in effect. The following journal
> articles may provide you with additional background on the topic.  As a
> professional you must be aware that ****
>
> peer reviewed journal articles on the topic of substance abuse uniformly
> stress that members of Greek houses have a much higher rate of alcohol
> abuse than other students. Young men, specifically, those who pledge Greek
> houses generally bring with them to college a long history of alcohol and
> drug abuse.  They *seek* the Greek living experience to enjoy the
> convenience of easy access to alcohol, and encouragement of all that it
> entails****
>
> ** **
>
> http://education.stateuniversity.com/pages/1923/Drug-Alcohol-Abuse.html. *
> ***
>
> ** **
> “Findings:
> Active members of fraternities and sororities had higher levels of heavy
> episodic drinking, annual marijuana use and current cigarette smoking than
> non-members at all three waves. Although members of fraternities reported
> higher levels than non-members of annual illicit drug use other than
> marijuana, no such differences existed between sorority members and
> non-members. Heavy episodic drinking and annual marijuana use increased
> significantly with age among members of fraternities or sororities relative
> to non-members, but there were no such differential changes for current
> cigarette use or annual illicit drug use other than marijuana.
> Conclusions:
> The present study provides strong evidence that higher rates of substance
> use among US college students who join fraternities and sororities predate
> their college attendance, and that membership in a fraternity or sorority
> is associated with considerably greater than average increases in heavy
> episodic drinking and annual marijuana use during college. These findings
> have important implications for prevention and intervention efforts aimed
> toward college students, especially members of fraternities and sororities.”
> ****Selection and socialization effects of fraternities and sororities on
> US college student substance use: a multi-cohort national longitudinal
> study. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15784066> McCabe SE<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=McCabe%20SE%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=15784066>,
> Schulenberg JE<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Schulenberg%20JE%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=15784066>,
> Johnston LD<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Johnston%20LD%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=15784066>,
> O'Malley PM<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=O%27Malley%20PM%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=15784066>,
> Bachman JG<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Bachman%20JG%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=15784066>,
> Kloska DD<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Kloska%20DD%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=15784066>
> .****
>
> ** **
>
> The following abstract – the entire article is well worth reading -
> emphasizes the same finding. The bibliography appears to be extensive and
> valuable.****
>
> ** **
>
> “Arguably, the Greek, or fraternity-sorority, system is the best
> environment on campus in which to examine the role of social influence
> processes on alcohol use and problems. Members of Greek organizations
> consistently demonstrate higher levels of alcohol use and problems than
> nonmembers (Lo & Globetti, 1995<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R37>;
> Sher, Bartholow, & Nanda, 2001<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R55>).
> Specifically, fraternity and sorority members and leaders exhibit high
> levels of use and approval of use (Cashin, Presley, & Meilman, 1998<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R18>).
> In fact, particular houses often have reputations based on their members’
> alcohol consumption (Larimer, Irvine, Kilmer, & Marlatt, 1997<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R35>).
> In a review of 2 decades of research on fraternity drinking, Borsari and
> Carey (1999) <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R13>identified five factors contributing to the heavy drinking consistently
> observed in fraternities: (a) a continuity of heavy alcohol use from high
> school to college; (b) self-selection into heavy drinking environments; (c)
> the central role that alcohol plays in fraternity socialization; (d)
> misperceptions of drinking norms; and (e) the enabling environment of the
> fraternity house. Thus, an individual’s decision to join the Greek system
> and the subsequent socialization that may occur in this environment provide
> an ideal context in which to study the influences of selection,
> socialization, and active and passive social influences on college student
> drinking.”****
>
> ** **
>
> “In a review of 2 decades of research on fraternity drinking, Borsari and
> Carey (1999) <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R13>identified five factors contributing to the heavy drinking consistently
> observed in fraternities: (a) a continuity of heavy alcohol use from high
> school to college; (b) self-selection into heavy drinking environments; (c)
> the central role that alcohol plays in fraternity socialization; (d)
> misperceptions of drinking norms; and (e) the enabling environment of the
> fraternity house. Thus, an individual’s decision to join the Greek system
> and the subsequent socialization that may occur in this environment provide
> an ideal context in which to study the influences of selection,
> socialization, and active and passive social influences on college student
> drinking.”****
>
> ** **
>
> And finally:****
>
> * *
>
> *Fraternity and Sorority Involvement, Social Influences, and Alcohol Use
> Among College Students<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2726649/#R37>
> *
>
> A Prospective Examination.  Christy Capone<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Capone%20C%5Bauth%5D>,
> Mark D. Wood<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Wood%20MD%5Bauth%5D>,
> Brian Borsari<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Borsari%20B%5Bauth%5D>,
> and Robert D. Laird<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Laird%20RD%5Bauth%5D>
> ****
>
> Psychol Addict Behav. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 August 13.*
> ***
>
> Published in final edited form as:****
>
> Psychol Addict Behav. 2007 September; 21(3): 316–327.
> <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/eutils/elink.fcgi?dbfrom=pubmed&retmode=ref&cmd=prlinks&id=17874882>
> ****
>
> *“*Abstract:****
>
> This study used latent growth curve modeling to investigate whether the
> effects of gender and Greek involvement on alcohol use and problems over
> the first 2 years of college are best characterized by selection,
> socialization, or reciprocal influence processes. Three social influences
> (alcohol offers, social modeling, and perceived norms) were examined as
> potential mediators of these effects. Undergraduate participants (N = 388)
> completed self-report measures prior to enrollment and in the spring of
> their freshmen and sophomore years. Male gender and involvement in the
> Greek system were associated with greater alcohol use and problems prior to
> college. Both gender and Greek involvement significantly predicted
> increases in alcohol use and problems over the first 2 years of college.
> Cross-domain analyses provided strong support for a mediational role of
> each of the social influence constructs on alcohol use and problems prior
> to matriculation, and prematriculation social modeling and alcohol offers
> mediated relations between Greek involvement and changes in alcohol use
> over time. Findings suggest that students, particularly men, who affiliate
> with Greek organizations constitute an at-risk group prior to entering
> college, suggesting the need for selected interventions with this
> population, which should take place before or during the pledging process.
> (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)”
>
> Three members of the SAE house were cited for providing alcohol to minors
> following the investigation into the death of Joseph Weiderrick. They are:
> Dakota (Jake) Vegwert, Michael Bright, and Luke J. Torretta .  Luke has a
> history of this kind of alleged behavior<https://www.idcourts.us/repository/caseHistory.do?roaDetail=yes&schema=LATAH&partySequence=91839&county=Latah&displayName=Torretta%2C+Luke+J>.
> He was cited in March 2010 in a similar alcohol related offense.  After
> months of haggling and delays the prosecutor dropped the charge.  It was a
> misdemeanor offense and I suppose Bill Thompson (or his representative)
> felt he had wasted enough time on it.  Do you appreciate the *irony* of
> the SAE webpage that shows Luke Torretta as a house office and the Risk
> Manager?****
>
> ** **
>
> Have these miscreants, aside from the pledge Dakota Vegwert, been asked to
> leave the SAE house?  Why in the world would you trust the current house
> officers to take control of the situation when they are so deficient in
> leadership, they are part of the problem?  Do your support current SAE
> efforts to actively recruit new members?  I could hardly believe my eyes
> when I saw that the SAE house was rushing incoming students<http://www.uiweb.uidaho.edu/student_orgs/sae/>just last month.  These addled brain little jackasses chose the fraternity
> life so that they could party what few brains they have right out of their
> pointy little skulls.  And, the truth is that you can’t stop them,
> certainly Bruce Pitman (who, incidentally has failed to do so for thirty
> plus years), can’t and neither can the Idaho Board of Education.  As it
> stands now, I am certain that they laugh at the bunch of you, and why
> shouldn’t they? ****
>
> ** **
>
> It is my very strong sense that a single action could stop the whole
> mess.  Let’s call it the Chico State<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/cal-state-chico-greek-alcohol-death.html>solution.  It would take courage and character.  President Nellis, could
> make a decision to leave a meaningful and lifesaving legacy on this campus
> if he would suspend all fraternity and sorority recognition at the
> University of Idaho until each house individually presents to the incoming
> president and members of the State Board of Education a plan that calls for
> closely monitored supervision of each house, including unannounced
> inspections for alcohol and other drugs and a requirement for two live-in
> male adults (or house mothers in the case of sororities) to serve as round
> the clock monitors. The supervisors (aka wardens) can not be former
> fraternity members. Naturally, individual houses must pay the costs
> associated with the supervision.  You know, as does every sentient adult,
> the cheesy sentimentality of “brotherhood” would fall quickly by the
> wayside if actual elements of maturity and honor were involved and expected
> from the membership.  At this juncture and historically, what they have
> proven over and over again is this: they are incapable of self-regulation.
> One of the more disgusting elements I found when reading the police
> investigatory statements was the justification from an SAE member for
> purchasing alcohol underage members because  he “was just trying to help
> them out like his brothers did for him when he was underage.” ****
>
> ** **
>
> Until the University of Idaho becomes serious, and by that I mean *
> punitively* serious, about alcohol and other criminal activities in Greek
> houses, citizens of the state of Idaho will be plagued by the consequences
> of your seemingly unending tolerance.  At what point does injury, death,
> and the concurrent liability to the State of Idaho begin to rattle your
> conscience and bring about change?  How long will you, senior
> administrators on campus, and your aging, saggy-bellied, frat rat allies
> across the nation continue to uncritically celebrate and endorse the
> fraternity way of life on the University of Idaho campus?  ****
>
> ** **
>
> Sincerely,****
>
> Rosemary Huskey****
>
> ** **
>
> PS  I have a suggestion for you, one you might want to share with UI
> attorney, Guilherme Costa.  It is always a mistake to use an individual’s
> first name if you have not been invited to do so.  It establishes an
> unprofessional, patronizing tone to the exchange that is both presumptive
> and unwelcome.  ****
>
> ** **
>
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>
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-- 
Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
art.deco.studios at gmail.com
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