metro

Moving Forward

Legal Consequences from page 20

grade point averages and raised hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars for phil-
anthropic causes over the years.
The most recent estimate of the
damage was $430,000, according
to Treetops general manager Barry
Owens, who said the actual repair
costs were about $230,000, with an
additional $200,000 for lost business
and harm to the resort's reputation.
The students smashed furniture,
demolished ceiling tiles and light fix-
tures, tore cupboard doors from their
hinges and destroyed carpeting.
Contrary to a statement made by
Owens that the students were refus-
ing to pay for the damages, Greenberg
said the members are willing to make
restitution, and negotiations are under
way between the resort and a group of
attorneys representing the students.
The Sigma Delta Tau (SDT) soror-
ity, whose members also attended
the ski weekend at Treetops, received
a two-year disciplinary suspension
from the university, which prohibits
social events but allows the members
to continue philanthropic and service
activities.
When additional information
becomes available, U-M may take
further action against students found

to be in violation of the Statement of
Student Rights and Responsibilities.
After a February hearing before the
Greek Activities Review Panel, several
sanctions were issued to members of
SAM and SDT. These include making
full restitution to Treetops, community
service, education in drug and alcohol
abuse, bystander intervention train-
ing and sexual misconduct prevention
training.
"We will review the specifics as soon
as we can get the investigative report:'
said university spokesman Rick
Fitzgerald. "We have said all along that
we wanted individual accountability
and, if additional information became
available, we would consider initiating
complaints through the student judi-
ciary process:'
Fitzgerald said consequences could
range from a written reprimand all
the way up to suspension or expulsion,
depending on individual circum-
stances.
Greenberg said the members were
given several opportunities to pro-
vide information to the investigating
authorities but refused to do so.
"They were told if they 'circled the
wagons' they would not survive ...
now it's all down the drain."

Grassr000ts organization launches fundraising drive.

A

vibrant Jewish community center
in a thriving Jewish community"
That is the goal of the
Committee to Save the Oak Park JCC, the
grassroots organization that came together
spontaneously after the January announce-
ment that a budget deficit could lead to clos-
ing the Jewish Community Center's Jimmy
Prentis Morris Building later this year.
After almost two months of intense
activity in the wake of the March 3 and
4 votes of the JCC and Jewish Federation
boards to cease JCC operations at JPM by
Aug. 31, the committee's campaign is mov-
ing on to two new action stages.
A fundraising drive will be launched at
the committee's Monday, March 30, meet-
ing at JPM. The plan is to build up a schol-
arship fund to provide one-year member-
ships to students and young adults between
the ages of 18 and 29.
"Why would anyone donate to fund
scholarships to a facility about to be closed?"
That is just the point, according to Ronald
Aronson, co-chair of the committee.
"Federation is about to issue an RFP to find
an appropriate group to keep the facility
functioning. Minimal disruption of current

operations is our primary objective. If we add
to the current membership base, we will be
helping deserving young people, giving new
operators a reason to retain the full range of
activities and helping the community."
A survey of JPM members is also in
progress, with the aim of determining what
is most crucial to preserve of the many
events, activities, programs and other hap-
penings now anchored at the Oak Park
JCC. A second survey, designed to find out
what innovations and improvements will
attract new members, is in preparation.
Since the closure announcement was
made, the Oak Park JCC has not only kept
its membership numbers stable but, in fact,
has grown its membership.
The fundraiser is hosted by CrowdRise
and located at the crowdfunding website,
www.crowdrise.com/savetheoakparkjcc.
To donate and for further informa-
tion:, visit www.savetheoakparkjcc.com ;
or contact Ronald Aronson at (313) 590-
6267 or Ronald.Aronson@wayne.edu or
co-chair Aaron Tobin at (586) 770-3300 or
tobin292@gmail.com .

❑

For an editorial on the JCC, see page 38.

❑

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2015 The Kroger Co.

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March 26 • 2015

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