Following the arrest of a University of Memphis sorority treasurer who is charged with stealing a large sum of money from the group, the former senior coordinator for sororities at the U of M advises that Greek organization members review how their due’s money is being spent.
The advice from Emilie Dye comes after a former member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority was charged with theft and forgery last summer. Brittaney Hicks is accused of stealing approximately $30,000. Though Hicks was arrested on June 23, 2015, campus police reports state the crime took place between July 15, 2013, and Jan. 12, 2014.
“I would recommend that anyone who is a member of a sorority review the budget — which actually should happen every year anyway. The budget should be reviewed by the chapter to see how their money is being spent,” Dye said.
Hicks, 23, was the vice president of finance for the Pi Beta Phi chapter at the University at the time of the theft. She was charged with one felony count of theft of property valued between $10,000 and $60,000 and one felony count of forgery.
The Shelby County Criminal Court reported that she posted a $3,000 bond on June 30 and was released. She waived her right to a preliminary hearing on both charges on July 21, and the case is still pending. No court date has been set for Hicks.
Hicks was unavailable for comment, but according to a U of M police services report, they responded over the summer to a call from a member of the chapter who reported the incident.
Dye said the incident is not affecting recruitment for the fall semester. She said the numbers of women registered for formal recruitment is the same as a year ago.
“These [events and statistics] are way better indicators of the success of our community than an individual incident that happened over two years ago,” she said.
The theft charge comes on the heels of a similar incident at the University of Alabama this summer. The Huntsville Times reported in June the theft and money laundering of $400,000 from the Gamma Phi Beta sorority house on campus. An Alabama graduate was charged with wire fraud, band fraud and money laundering.
Dye said all Greek organizations have different processes as far as choosing a member to be over finance, but most include some sort of selection process that includes an interview and election followed by officer training as the individual adjusts to the new role.
“Most organizations use an online payment and banking system to balance their budget, and other members of the executive board and alumni volunteers are able to see that budget, too,” she said.
Despite the recent event, many members of Greek organizations say that joining a sorority or fraternity is a very positive step.
Ashley Courtney, a member of the U of M’s Greek community, said joining her sorority was one of the best decisions she has made in college thus far.
“I’m happy I went Greek because I found my home away from home and the best support system I could ever find,” she said. “It’s given me my forever friends and my bridesmaids.”
