The University of Idaho Dean of Students Office announced Oct. 2 that the Delta Tau Delta slip and slide, an annual tradition on campus for more than 80 years, has been discontinued due to safety reasons.
Traditionally, every fall semester during Rush – the week fraternities recruit new members – the men of Delta Tau Delta host a slip and slide that runs down the hill behind their house. Participants land in a pile of mattresses at the bottom of the hill.
The Dean of Students Office communicated safety concerns with fraternity leadership, who agreed to cancel the slip and slide, according to a statement from the office.
Assistant Greek Life Adviser Leyalle Harris said the decision was made last semester and was in effect in time for this year”s fraternity recruitment. The statement was released in response to other news media outlets picking up the story recently, she said.
Laurien Mavey, of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, was the Delta Tau Delta “Tzena” last year, meaning she was considered an honorary sister of the fraternity. She said when the men of the fraternity found out the slip and slide was canceled, they were upset.
“Why take it away?” Mavey said. “”¦ It”s such an old tradition. And for people who aren”t in Delta Tau Delta, we don”t know why – we never got an explanation.”
Mavey said she loved the tradition because it was one fraternity event that sorority women could participate in, too.
“It was one thing I always looked forward to every year,” Mavey said. “When I look back, it”ll probably be my most fun memory – it was like the epitome of college.”
In a way, Mavey said she”s not surprised. She said the last two years have brought more restrictions to many Greek traditions.
Mavey said for every event a house plans to host, they have to submit an event form to the Office of Greek Life detailing the location of the event, beverages and food that will be served and what kind of supervision or security will be present.
Because the Delt hill is so steep, Mavey said she can see why it would be a liability issue. She said she still hopes Delta Tau Delta can work something out with the university in the future.
“Girls in my house had said they”d be willing to sign a waiver,” Mavey said. “We know we”re jumping off a hill, and that it”s not the safest thing in the world.”
Delta Tau Delta alumni Kirk Trigsted said he”s sure he would have been upset if UI discontinued the slip and slide tradition when he was in school.
Like many other members of the fraternity, Trigsted, a UI professor of mathematics, said he has fond memories of sliding down the hill on his feet – and wiping out every time.
“Someone was always getting hurt,” he said. “Chipped teeth. Sprained ankles. Never anything too serious though.”
He said the tradition is one of the house”s biggest events – and certainly one of their most popular.
Trigsted said since a woman fell out of a fraternity fire escape while he was in school, he”s seen the university crack down more and more on safety issues.
“Things aren”t as loose as they were 30 years ago,” Trigsted said.
That said, Trigsted doesn”t believe the end of the slip and slide tradition is either good or bad.
“It”s sad to see traditions go away, but safety has to be the No. 1 priority for the university,” Trigsted said. “That chapter has finally ended, and it maybe is time to start another tradition.”
Trigsted said he wouldn”t be surprised if students eventually come to terms with the decision.
“Perspectives do change,” Trigsted said. “Students who are upset about it now might change their minds once their children are going off to college.”
Hannah Shirley can be reached at a[email protected] or on Twitter @itshannah7