Confusion about a policy banning freshman CHANCE students from participating in greek activities is on the part of students not the program, Special Projects Director Tendaji Ganges said.

The policy includes little sister programs and sweetheart courts, as well as membership, until they have successfully completed 30 semester hours of studies.

However, NIU Provost Kendall Baker said he allowed several female CHANCE students to participate in the annual Kappa Alpha Psi Sweetheart Ball Feb. 13 because of some “apparent confusion” with the policy.

Kappa Alpha Psi member Shawn Tate said seven or eight of the 13 members on the sweetheart court were CHANCE students.

Tate said he and other fraternity members met with Baker to ask whether the students could be involved in the sweetheart ball since they had participated in fraternity activities prior to when the policy was made clear to them.

Ganges said CHANCE Director Leroy Mitchell sent letters to all CHANCE freshmen Nov. 10 clarifying the policy. Ganges also said there was a mass meeting of all CHANCE students and a meeting of their parents clarifying the policy and reason for it prior to Nov. 10.

Tanya Ramsey, a CHANCE student and sweetheart court member, said she could understand the reasoning behind the policy but believed it was unfair. “I can see not being able to be a member of a fraternity or a sorority but not sweetheart courts,” she said.

Michele Perkins, a CHANCE student and member of the sweetheart court, said she received the letter but “didn’t think it was right.”

Ganges said, “Dr. Baker included me in all of his decisions. He made a decision in how he preferred to handle the issue.”

Baker said the decision is not a precedent, and he will study the policy this semester.

Ganges said the policy “is clear and is in place” to the special projects office. “I can’t say the policy will be changed,” he said.

The “entire existence” of the CHANCE program is to ensure access to minority students whose academic work is below NIU requirements, he said.

“We have nothing against greek organizations or any organizations” unless CHANCE students’ participation in them interferes with “our mission,” Ganges said.