We see it every day. In the news and on social media, the headline is inescapable: Greek Life as we know it is dying. This is not true. Greek Life is not dying of its own accord: Greek Life is being brutally murdered. And this week, we’re witnessing it firsthand at Murray State University .

This summer, an incident occurred at an unregistered fraternity party that led to the Lambda Eta chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha being put on probation by the University. This week, it came to light that this probation was actually “social suspension,” which is defined by the Greek Standards Board’s Bylaws below:

All social privileges for the individual or organization are revoked for a specific period of time (not to exceed one year). These privileges include, but are not limited to participating in, attending, hosting, or co/sponsoring social functions (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). Individuals who are placed on social suspension will be removed from the Greek Guest List and their name and picture shared with organizations hosting social events.

I’m a by-the-book kind of person. While I don’t always follow the rules, I like to know which ones I’m breaking. I familiarized myself with the Greek Standards Board’s Bylaws today, and many of them are being blatantly disregarded. Additionally, the definition of social suspension is subjective and interpretive, and I know for a fact that I would not interpret it the same way a University official would. I know this to be true because this week, University officials notified Lambda Chi Alpha, commonly known as Chop, that they would neither be able to host their last two philanthropy week events or participate in intramural sports until further notice.

Philanthropy events have been canceled. Not social events. Philanthropy events. Are the Mud Games fun? Hell yeah. I look forward to them all year, as do most sorority women at Murray State. But never once have I checked into the Mud Games with my ID as required at social events on our campus. Never once have I received a wristband to play in the mud. And why is that? Because it’s a philanthropy event, not a social event.

Here’s the logistical problem: We have a Greek Standards Board for a reason. As defined in their philosophy, the standards board has The responsibility of holding organizations accountable for their actions in selected cases has been given to the Greek Standards Board with the idea that self governance is the healthiest form of accountability.

Furthermore, in the “Rights of the Participants” section of the bylaws, it is stated:

An accused/organization will be presumed “Not Responsible” unless the facts presented at the hearing prove otherwise.

With the knowledge that Chop’s Greek Standards Board hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10 at 9 p.m., i.e. it hasn’t happened yet, I’m not sure how they are being held responsible, being punished and to be frank, being made an example of.

To add fuel to the already blazing fire, the cancelation of the Mud Games is ending a 42-year-old tradition loved by every sorority woman on this campus. As organizations, we pay $100 to participate in Watermelon Bust. Since the two events outside of the Mud Games and the volleyball tournament are a penny war and a canned food drive, we are essentially paying to participate in an event and then paying more to donate individually to the cause. While I have no doubt that each sorority on this campus would have donated the $100 to Lambda Chi Alpha’s national philanthropy, Feeding America, even with the prior knowledge that we wouldn’t be able to participate in the Mud Games and the volleyball tournament, it’s unfair for the University to pull the rug out from under us just four days before the event. Many of us have already bought costumes, practiced chants and made banners, spending valuable time and money that has all gone to waste.

On top of my frustration, anger and sadness, I was disappointed in how the situation was handled by the University as I sought information for a news article on the topic. I was unable to get a comment from any of the University officials involved in Greek Life and was refused my recorder in an interview with a faculty member within Student Affairs. As a journalist, I was not surprised. As a student at Murray State, I was. As the rumor mill turned over the past 24 hours, I sought facts in hopes of disseminating them to my peers but was met with cold shoulders or unreturned messages. Confidentiality is understandable, (and I guess I would be careful now too, if you kept up with "The Murray State News" over the spring semester) but to say that canceling Watermelon Bust doesn’t affect a large number of students is just ridiculous. We deserve to know why we are all being punished. According to the Greek Life website, approximately 12 percent of Murray State’s students are Greek. While some of those students may be other fraternity members unconcerned with Watermelon Bust, 50 percent of our fraternities are currently on social suspension and are unhappy with their unjust treatment.

I have never felt unsafe at the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house, and not just because I call many of the brothers my friends. I, along with every other sorority woman at Murray State, feel safe there because I know that each brother is a gentleman instilled with the values of loyalty, respect, integrity and personal courage. I feel safe within their fences because I know every brother would do whatever it takes to protect me if I were in harm’s way – and I can say the same for all of the fraternities on our campus; five of which are on social suspension right now. To punish the brothers, sorority women and the hungry of Calloway County for an incident that occurred two months ago is nothing more than petty. Greeks at Murray State now feel the target on our backs, and we refuse to go down without a fight.

As upset as I am with having my senior year Mud Games stolen from me, I can’t even imagine how distraught each brother of Lambda Chi is. Bust is something special to all of them, and it’s not just because of the fun factor. Last year, the Lambda Eta chapter raised over 100,000 pounds of food for local families in need and was recognized as a top chapter in the nation for their efforts. The Mud Games are a competition, but more than that, they are a point of pride. After months of preparation and a week of hard work collecting money and cans for the hungry, the Greek men and women of Murray State deserve one simple thing: To play in the mud.