Fall recruitment for Mercer’s fraternities and sororities is quickly approaching, and according to Fraternity and Sorority Program’s 2020-2021 review, most of the Greek Life organizations are currently in good standing. However, there are a few exceptions.
Alpha Kappa Alpha is suspended for the 2021-2022 academic year due to hazing, according to FSP. It is reported by FSP to be the only chapter at Mercer that will not be able to take in new members during the fall 2021 semester.
The Mercer Student Code of Conduct defines hazing as “any act or activity required for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization.” The code also specifies that “express or implied consent of the victim will not be a defense.”
Hazing is currently illegal in the state of Georgia under the Max Gruver Act. The act was signed into law in May 2021 and went into effect in July.
Alpha Kappa Alpha did not respond to The Cluster’s request for comment as of 6:15 p.m. Saturday.
Six additional chapters are either on probation for the fall 2021 semester.
The following chapters are on fall 2021 social probation:
For fraternities and sororities on social probation, sanctions have occurred after the student organization was found responsible for a Student Code of Conduct violation.
The following chapters are on academic probation for the fall 2021 semester:
A fraternity or sorority on academic probation did not meet academic expectations during the previous year.
“The conditions for each probation is dependent on their case, so there is no blanket statement that can be made about what events each chapter can attend or host,” Associate Director of Campus Life and Student Involvement Meredith Keating White said in an email to The Cluster. “Under social and academic probation, they are still active chapters on Mercer’s campus.”
Samantha Homcy ‘23 is a junior at Mercer majoring in journalism and criminal justice. She has been working at The Cluster since her freshman year and served as Social Media Co-Manager during the spring 2021 semester. She is currently a practicum intern with WMAZ-TV. In her free time she enjoys music, community service, watching TV and finding new ways to get involved on Mercer’s campus.
Mary Helene Hall ‘23 is a journalism and women’s and gender studies student who has worked for The Cluster throughout her time at Mercer. She has held internships at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and AL.com, where she covered a variety of topics including politics, crime and culture.
