Sunni Solomon, Binghamton University’s assistant director of Greek Life, will not have his contract renewed after it ends on March 1, 2013.

Solomon has held the position since March 2010. His duties include keeping an eye on underage drinking and hazing practices, promoting leadership skills, coordinating conferences and large-scale events, and expanding Greek Life at Binghamton University.

Solomon said he was shocked when he was informed of the University’s decision by way of a letter from Elizabeth Droz, former dean of students and current assistant vice president for student development.

“I asked for clarification, but of course I couldn’t get it from [Droz] because that letter was given to me on her last day,” Solomon said.

Droz did not respond to Pipe Dream’s interview requests by phone or email.

He tried to contact interim dean Lloyd Howe, who said he did not have much information on Solomon’s contract. He also contacted Brian Rose, vice president for student affairs, and University President Harvey Stenger, but still has not received an explanation.

Solomon said the news came with no forewarning.

“Until January of 2012, I did not have a performance evaluation,” Solomon said. “So there was no idea of how to gauge where I was.”

He also pointed out some of his notable achievements, including instituting the Greek fee, which charges Greek students $25 a semester.

“Through a series of town hall meetings and working with students, we hashed out a proposal to develop what we call the ‘Greek fee’, where students pay $25 a semester that are Greek into a programmatic fund that goes to a number of different categories,” Solomon said.

One of these categories allows Greek organizations to apply for grants for their chapter to host events like Greek God or the Step Show. In order to get the funds, the fraternity or sorority has to apply for the event in advance.

Solomon said he was one of the first to address underage drinking and hazing in BU’s Greek system.

“I think I’m the first person to really crack down on it, which is interesting,” Solomon said. “And there has been some pushback on that strangely enough, not from the students, but from the administration. That either I’m getting too tough, or going too far to enforce the rules, but we had issues. It’s no secret that we have issues.”

Aaron Ricks, who will serve as Student Association vice president for academic affairs next year, told Pipe Dream that Solomon’s reputation in the student body’s Greek community is largely negative, however.

“From what I understand, Sunni has been an unpopular, polarizing figure among student leaders in Greek Life organizations since he arrived here a few years ago,” said Ricks, a junior majoring in political science. “Either way, this is the University’s decision and I hope it’s for the best.”

Sam Alhante, a senior majoring in economics and a member of Alpha Xi Delta, a sorority that was dechartered last spring, spoke positively about her relationship with Sunni.

“Nobody wants Sunni’s job — you know, getting kids in trouble — but as a whole I really felt that Sunni had good motives,” Alhante said. “Did certain things get my chapter and Alpha Phi’s chapter removed? Yes, but he was just doing his job. The thing is that it’s not Sunni’s fault that our sorority got kicked off campus.”

University Spokeswoman Gail Glover did not comment on Solomon’s contract or whether the University will be looking to fill the position of assistant director of Greek Life.

“We will not discuss this particular issue as it is a personnel matter,” Glover said in an email to Pipe Dream.

Solomon is carefully considering his options for the future.

“I, of course, look to obtain another professional position, but I’m also playing with the idea of pursuing my Ph.D.,” Solomon said. “That is something that I want to definitely obtain, so also looking at those options. You know, I’m not being hasty about my next move.”