Six Interfraternity council fraternities were notified last Thursday that they were placed on probation through the fall 2012 semester for alcohol-related violations.

Delta Chi, Omega Delta, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Delta, Sigma Phi Epsilon and Triangle fraternities were named as the organizations on probation, according to director of university communication Kate Venne.

“The fraternities violated their own organizational policies as well as those of the university and the Interfraternity council,” Venne said in an emailed statement. “Marquette University takes any allegation of misconduct seriously and expects our students to uphold Marquette’s values by maintaining a high standard of conduct.”

Venne said probation is a formal notice to a student organization that its behavior is unacceptable. It serves as a notice that if the behavior continues or other inappropriate behavior occurs, more severe action may be taken by the university.

“The organizations have not been suspended and have the right to appeal,” Venne said. “These decisions are the result of an outcome from a student conduct hearing.”

The Marquette student organization handbook’s fraternity and sorority information, under the heading “Peer Review Board,” reads, “These boards, comprised of Marquette University students in IFC and Panhellenic organizations, adjudicate disciplinary matters associated with fraternity and sorority chapters. The Greek community recognizes that Marquette University has the authority to intercede in disciplinary matters if it is deemed necessary by university administration.”

A member of a fraternity involved, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said his fraternity has been placed on social suspension until May 20 and probation until January 2013.

“Social suspension means that we can have no social events that involve alcohol,” the fraternity member said.  “After May 20, we can have events, but of course the semester (will be) over. We’ll be under a more watchful eye.”

The fraternity member said there is a double standard between the way the university handles Greek events and events put on by non-Greek organizations.

“If a frat holds an event and there is drinking involved, we have to let OSD know,” he said. “If a regular organization like club sports gets together and wants to drink, they don’t have to register.”

He said because Greek organizations are more coordinated with the university than other organizations, they can be placed under more scrutiny.

According to Marquette’s Greek Life risk management policy, all house parties must be registered with the Interfraternity council judicial vice presidents when a number of conditions are present, including if two or more chapters host or sponsor the event, or if alcohol is present and information about the event was distributed through any chapter communication methods.

The fraternity member said he believes the university  is operating based on stereotypes of Greek life.

“Everyone recognizes what we did was a mistake, but Greek life isn’t all bad,” he said. “There’s more to it than drinking.”

Venne said specific incidents and violations are not made public because student conduct hearings are confidential.

Other Greek organization members were contacted but declined comment because their organizations’ bylaws prohibit making statements to the press.