We recently reported that Amherst College has banned fraternities and sororities on campus. Some students are unhappy about the situation and they’re letting the administration know it.

Matt Rocheleau of the Boston Globe reports.

Move to ban frats at Amherst College resisted

Many Amherst College undergraduates, the school’s student government, and some faculty and alumni are calling on administrators to overturn a new ban on underground fraternities.

While the prestigious liberal-arts college formally banned on-campus Greek organizations in 1984, the groups have continued to operate off campus. But earlier this month, the college declared it would no longer look the other way.

The crackdown comes amid heightened concerns about alcohol-fueled partying, hazing, and sexual violence at Amherst and campuses elsewhere.

Some students counter that Greek organizations offer invaluable positive experiences for members and the broader campus community and are no more susceptible to problems than other student groups. They also contend that the move signals an attack on student freedom that could set a dangerous precedent.

Fueling the outcry, critics say, is the fact that trustees passed the measure in early April but kept it quiet for a month, announcing it on the last day of classes before final exams, with almost no warning and little student input.

“It’s triggered the biggest conversation about social life at Amherst I’ve seen in my four years here,” said Jasjaap Sidhu, a senior and member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.

Last week, the student government drafted a referendum demanding that the college reverse its decision. On a campus of about 1,800 students, more than 1,000 cast ballots, with 70 percent voting to support the referendum, said organizers.

“Prohibiting student participation in off-campus organizations is an unprecedented incursion on the liberties of Amherst College students and . . . continues a disturbing trend of disregarding the key stakeholder on critical matters of Amherst College student life: students,” the referendum said.

Students also decried the new policy at campus-wide forums that administrators hosted after the announcement. Fraternity members and supporters staged a small protest on campus, and some alumni are petitioning the school to reconsider.