The University of Mississippi has issued final sanctions to Sigma Chi for harassment allegations that arose in April following the fraternity’s annual Derby Days dance contest. The two emcees were both Sigma Chi members and asked several sexually insensitive questions to female contestants at the event. Many students felt uncomfortable. The sanctions, which include one semester on social probation and a strong focus on education and community service, were issued last month and are less severe than the May first ruling by the Judicial Council. These recommendations included a year of social probation, and prohibited the fraternity’s 2016 pledge class. This decision was upheld by the fraternity. The fraternity was allowed to appeal that decision. When the fraternity did so, the complainants were students who objected at Sigma Chi’s actions during a dance competition. They joined the fraternity in pushing sanctions that focused on education about sexual harassment on campus. This would have been more beneficial than simply punishment. The request of the complainants was a major part of the appellate process. They never requested anything punitive. They have reached out to the fraternity in order to create change,” stated Brandi Hephner LaBanc who was vice chancellor of student affairs and also served as a member of the Appellate Consideration board along with a student and faculty member. We tweaked some of the things to make it less punitive but added some educational elements – it’s going be investing them more. This is the intention. “The leadership of Sigma Chi has stepped in and they want to address the culture.” During the appeals process, the Appellate Consideration board added a second charge, hazing to the original sexual misconduct charge. “(We) all agreed that the fraternity was guilty of more than just offensive expression. Women were humiliated of a sexual nature in order to participate in the event. The Appellate Consideration board stated that women felt compelled by the gender-based humiliation they were subjected to in order to be part of the Sigma Chi Fraternity’s Derby Day culture. “The Board’s determination that Sexual Misconduct was made is inextricably linked with its view of the conduct as Hazing,” Clay Wooley, president of Sigma Chi, said he was pleased with the board’s decision and the emphasis on education. One sanction requires that they create a workshop on interpersonal violence and sexual misconduct with the university’s Title IX, which is a federal mandate that protects students from gender-based discrimination. Wooley stated that everything they plan to do will need to be run by more people. We have more checks and balanceds. “And it all will get us back on the right track and help lead the next pledge class in to the right direction.” The fraternity also issued its sanctions. It placed the two student emcees in “special alumni status,” which prohibits them from Sigma Chi house for their college years and for the two years after. Wooley said that additional penalties may be considered after the officers meet next week with the national chapter. Abby Bruce, a sophomore, was the first to bring attention to the harassment at the dance contest when her Facebook post about it went viral. She said that she was happy with the sanctions. I think they did their best to provide sanctions that would encourage further discussion and change. You won’t be able change the minds of anyone if you only punish them. Bruce stated that you lose the opportunity to have a discussion. Bruce stated that they lose the opportunity to have a discussion. Bruce claims that questions included “which Sigma Chi would be your favorite?” and “what kind of sausage would you choose: linked or Sigma Chi?” Bruce also said that she was curious about the location of two Sigma Chi members and why they weren’t trying to stop their brothers from doing some of the same things. Bruce wrote in a Facebook post that she didn’t understand why they weren’t the ones who had control over the microphones. As students and faculty gathered to discuss the Derby Days incident in the aftermath, Wooley and two students surprised everyone by sitting down with her. They created a “task force” to work together to change the campus climate for gender discrimination. Hepner LaBanc admits that not all students felt the punishment was severe enough. Some members of the Ole Miss community felt that the initial sanctions issued by the Judiciary Council in May were too harsh. They were treated incredibly lightly. Matthew Knight posted on Facebook that this is a one year-long slap on his wrist for a harmful culture that has festered at our campus for decades. Hephner laBanc stated that she hopes the sanctions will bring about a greater change in Greek life on campus. Indirectly, the university will host an Interfraternity Council Greek summit on August 12 to discuss changes in their social and philanthropic policies. “There was a tipping point with Derby Days. I think. We are not only going to the summit to discuss sexual misconduct and assault, but to also address problems that have plagued fraternities over many years. “We’re using this momentum to try to make some changes.” Derby Days is the first tradition to be changed. Sigma Chi must submit a revised version of the event for the duration of the week and remove the dance competition. Hephner LaBanc hopes that these changes will travel up the chain to influence the rules of the national organization about Derby Days.