More than 200 students signed a petition to get a recent decision of the CHANCE office reversed.

The students want CHANCE Director Leroy Mitchell to lift a ban against female freshman CHANCE students participating in fraternity activities.

Mitchell sent a letter Nov. 10 to CHANCE freshmen stating they are not allowed to participate in any greek activities, including little sisters and sweetheart courts, until they complete their first 30 semester hours of studies.

The CHANCE program helps students, primarily minorities, gain admission to NIU if their academic work is below the requirements. CHANCE students sign an agreement to attend counseling sessions and to not pledge fraternities or sororities.

Mitchell said his major concern is the students’ academic success—students must focus entirely on academic work, he said. If students join greek organizations, Mitchell said he will not allow the students to return to the university.

Shawn Tate, a black fraternity member and a leader of the protest group, said Mitchell is targeting greek organizations, especially sweetheart courts.

“Sweetheart courts are not little sister organizations. There is no pledging and no set meeting time each week. Groups of women are affiliated with a fraternity and do civic projects, attend social events and have library-study hours,” Tate said. He said if Mitchell is concerned with academic success he should put a ban on all organizations, such as the Black Student Choir and OLAS, which take more time and involvement.

“Mitchell is singling the greeks out. I’m the vice president of the Black Student Choir—our practices sometimes last three hours and most concerts are on the weekends. That takes more time than sweetheart courts,” Tate said.

Kappa Alpha Psi member Kevin McWoodson said sweetheart courts are “easy entry, easy exit. Members aren’t required to spend a specific amount of time with us. We help the ladies with studying—we don’t want to jeopardize students academically.”

Mitchell said he has studies which show the relationship between extra-curricular involvement and grade patterns. He said there is a difference between students who participate in greek organizations and those who join other organizations. He said he will not allow freshmen to participate in any greek activities, except parties.

Tate said it is not right for Mitchell to say freshman students should devote all their time to studying. “Studies have been done showing students who are bored will drop out. Sweetheart courts keep students socially and academically alive.”

Phi Beta Sigma member Tony Keller said sweetheart courts help the community with service projects. “We set up tables to collect money for the March of Dimes and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. We also have a Thanksgiving food drive.”

McWoodson said they are trying to serve the community but are being penalized. “We help the CHANCE program. The fraternities house future students when they visit campus for a weekend, and we give them tours. Why are we being penalized now?”