ZOO Faces Second Year on Provisional Status

Author: Joshua Carson

The Community Council has completed its annual social house review and sent its recommendations to President John McCardell. The Council recommended that all social houses continue this year without stipulations, except for Zeta Theta Phi (ZOO).
"Most of the houses had very good reviews," said Dean of Student Affairs and Community Council Co-chair Ann Hanson. She stated, however, that "Zeta Theta Phi was continued with stipulations and therefore is on provisional status. Zeta Theta Phi needs to improve its respect for its facilitates, its facilities staff and the leadership of the house."
Each year, the Council is charged with reviewing the status of each social house. This review provides guidance and direction to the houses and ensures that houses are respecting College policy. The Council then sends its recommendations to President McCardell, who confirms or rejects them.
While McCardell has yet to make a decision regarding this year's recommendation, he said, "Whenever students show disrespect for other students, for property or for staff, disciplinary action is appropriate."
Last year, ZOO and Alpha Delta Phi (ADP) were placed on provisional status when they failed to meet stipulations established in the Council's previous review. Both houses made concerted efforts this year to meet all conditions.
ZOO met every requirement of the Community Council this year except a mandated decrease in dorm damage to below $2,000. During a presentation three weeks ago to the Community Council, ZOO leadership addressed this problem. They acknowledged the need to improve respect for house and the facilities staff.
The ZOO members noted, however, that much of the damage occurs during parties open to the entire campus. Said ZOO President Michael Velez '03, "The house has continued to reduce the amount of dorm damage in each semester, and we are focusing on taking more responsibility for our guests when they enter our house for parties, along with a 'treat this house as if it was your house at home' mentality."
In a proposal presented to the Community Council, the ZOO membership addressed many of the issues and offered suggestions "to correct many of the wrongdoings that have plagued the house in the recent past." These suggestions included a letter of apology to the facilities staff, establishing formal guidelines to remove disruptive guests and increasing the membership's awareness of their actions.
The ZOO leadership believes that many of the problems also stem from miscommunication between members living in the house and the facilities staff that cleans it.
"Members don't want to make things difficult for facilities," Velez said. They simply "did not realize how disrespectful they were being." The house leadership believes that simple changes like inviting the facilities staff to a house meeting and installing white boards in the bathrooms "will be useful in enhancing communication for any needs or request from the facilities staff to the residents and from the house residents to the facilities staff as well," Velez continued.
If McCardell accepts the recommendations from the Community Council, ZOO will remain on provisional status for at least another semester.
Nevertheless, Velez promises the house will "face [the stipulations] head on and they will be addressed in a manner so that our house can move forward and become a stronger organization on campus, with even more to offer Middlebury College and the Middlebury community than before."
ADP was placed on provisional status last year. The Community Council required the house to increase respect for house property, comply with the College's hazing policy, establish an internal review board to discipline members with inappropriate behavior and to meet with the Council during the fall to discuss the house's progress.
Placing ADP on provisional status has greatly affected the way the house is run. "We've completely restructured the house," said ADP President Dan Visel '03. "This didn't really happen overnight and it will continue to be a process, coming from the top down. We're very proud of what we have been able to accomplish."
Previous ADP President, Bob Wainwright '03 stated "this year, while ADP was on probation, our house leadership focused on reducing dorm damage and improving our membership's general respect for the house. The results of our probation have all been positive. Dorm damage has been greatly reduced and the general upkeep of the house has been excellent."
The Council had threatened to recommend the house be discontinued if all of the stipulations were not met.
This year, however, the Council recommended continuing ADP.
"The key for us is to continue to work towards the ideals that the social house system puts forth," Wainwright said. "I think that safe on-campus social events are an important element of the social house system and an important part of the College's social life."