Published
on
May 9, 2023
| 330 views
| 1 follower
members are following updates on this item.
Six of the seven women suing their sorority for allegedly coercing its members into inducting a transgender person revealed their names in open court Thursday, reports Wyoming Public Radio, FOX News, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, and Cowboy State Daily. One woman has dropped out of the lawsuit. The six remaining plaintiffs are Jaylyn Westenbroek, Hannah Holtmeier, Allison Coghan, Grace Choate, Madeline Ramar, and Megan Kosar. As well as identifying the plaintiffs, the complaint now includes the name of the defendant, Artemis Langford. In addition to suing the sorority, the now-named students are also suing Langford, though they are only seeking that the court voids the transgender woman’s sorority membership, rather than seeking monetary damages.
The plaintiffs have made slight changes to the complaint, adding a paragraph requesting that the sorority housing contract be modified to let women terminate their contracts if Langford moves in. The suit is now in the hands of the judge to decide if the lawsuit will stand in federal district court. A week earlier the court denied, for a second time, the plaintiff’s request to proceed anonymously. The judge cited his reason for denying the request as the public’s right to know and said that the plaintiffs had until April 20 to decide if they’d like to proceed with the case and reveal their identities.
On April 7, Henry Benjamin Sedwick V broke into the Kappa Delta Sorority house at the University of Virginia (UVA) and committed acts of sexual battery against two of the women living there, according to WCAV-TV. Sedwick is an 18-year-old senior at Western Albemarle High School in Crozet, Va., and had reportedly been drinking that night, when he got into his car and drove to the UVA campus. Sedwick’s court date has been set for May 4, and his request for bail has been denied, reports The Roanoke Times. The judge involved in the case says that Sedwick’s actions have taken away a sense of safety for the young women on UVA’s campus, and that he could not grant bail because of this. His lawyer plans to appeal the court’s decision but, in the meantime, Sedwick will remain in jail.
Grand Convention is an incredibly important part of Kappa Alpha Theta; it is truly at the core of how Kappa Alpha Theta continues to exist.
Currently, Theta’s college chapters carry much of the monetary burden of delegate attendance, including alumnae chapter delegates. In fact, 72% of Grand Convention fees are provided by our college chapters. Our college members are under some of the highest stressors and pressure any collegian has potentially experienced, and we must relieve this burden from collegians. Due to these circumstances and others such as declining alumnae chapter membership, more Life Loyal members, and the ever-increasing expense of putting on an event like Grand Convention, there will be a new alumnae chapter Convention fee implemented beginning this year. Alumnae chapters will incur this new fee at an amount based on the chapter’s size.
Delegate attendance and participation at Grand Convention is crucial to the successful operations of the Fraternity and, in turn, the long-term success of Kappa Alpha Theta. This includes both college and alumnae chapter delegates. We are so grateful for your commitment to Theta and understanding the purpose of this fee change.
At their meeting on April 14, 2023, Grand Council voted to accept the chapter charter surrendered by Theta Lambda Chapter effective on the last day of classes. As of April 26, Theta Lambda Chapter is closed. Thank you to all volunteers who have supported Theta Lambda Chapter since its establishment in 2015.
The 2022 Constitution and Bylaws and Grand Council Bylaws have been rebranded and posted. The page numbers are different, but the content is the same.