U of Arkansas: Phi Delta Theta Suspended Pending Investigation
 

See:
http://www.katv.com/news/stories/1109/680089.html

Phi Delta Theta HQ has suspended operations of the U of Arkansas chapter pending the outcome of an investigation of allegations of alcohol violations and possible hazing. The school is also investigating.

Phi Delta Theta's statement is on its HQ site:

http://www.phideltatheta.org/index.p...d=923&Itemid=9

See also
http://www.nwanews.com/news/2009/nov...-hazing-probe/

Damn not another one. You'd think with Drake just getting the axe from the same exact thing, the other chapters would be toeing the line more. Apparently not.

Very nice house....

They just added onto it, this is their first semester in it as a renovated in a bit.. It use to be a shithole (as in week old puke on the floor). Up until last year, you could even smoke inside the house.

I didn't read the links or not, but when he was brought to the hospital he was at .68. They found him foaming at the mouth near his dorm. It was big brother night.

As the links may or may not have said, I don't believe they have permission to drink inside the house because of Phi Delt national rules. However, they were known as the biggest partiers of anyone on campus.

I'll be interested to see if their charter gets pulled by nationals or by the University.

I doubt it, they have some fairly famous alumni (one of the Tysons). But it's possible. It's a pretty new house, relatively.

From what I understand, Phi Delt Nationals doesn't screw around with their alcohol policy. I wouldn't be surprised to see the charter get yanked.

People on the Arkansas campus find it hilarious when hearing that they're nationally dry. And yes, Phi Delt nationals don't screw around. I don't think that the UofA will pull their charter. Arkansas just doesn't really do that, no matter what all goes down. But their nationals might.

My understanding of the policy is that its not a "dry" house per se, but that alcohol isn't allowed in the physical structure. They can still drink at events I believe, using a 3rd party vendor or BYOB (no collection for alcohol allowed).

What doesn't make sense to me about this and the Drake case is:

1. How the hell do you get that much alcohol into you? I thought pass-out range was like .4 for even the biggest people.

2. If they *really* want to drink, why not do what we used to do in high school? Go out in the woods, have a bonfire/campout and drink to your heart's content. Not that I'm condoning what happened in either case but seriously if you want to get trashed be smart about it.

You are correct. The chapter property (i.e. physical house) must be dry, but the chapter can host events that include alcohol as long as they are following policy.

You pass out around .40, but the majority of alcohol is absorbed in the small intestine, only a small amount is absorbed through the stomach itself. So, you could be fairly drunk, guzzle a fifth of whatever right before passing out, and your BAC will go up about 20-30 minutes later (time not exact) when that fifth hits your small intestine. Which is exactly why you cut people off well before they are staggering, puking, or passing out. You don't really know how much alcohol they have in their stomach waiting to hit that small intestine. That's how people are OK when they are put to bed, and dead the next morning.

PsychTau

While true, this was at their house. and always has been. they don't put their parties anywhere else.

Update November 21 '09: U of Arkansas Bans All Fraternities' Social Activities Until Spring Semester

Although spring semester isn't too far away, it seems to me that this decision will be disappointing to people who were looking forward to some parties around the holiday season.

http://www.nwanews.com/news/2009/nov...vities-halted/

Excerpts:
Saturday, November 21, 2009
FAYETTEVILLE — The University of Arkansas’ Office of Greek Life . . . has banned the school’s fraternities from all social activities until the spring semester.

Greek Life Director Parice Bowser said the decision was prompted by recent rape and hazing allegations made separately involving activities at two university fraternities houses.

“Our office decided to send a strong message to students that we are taking these matters ... seriously,” Bowser said. “We also want to be proactive whereas situations, such as what we’re dealing with now, will not occur again.”

Bob Biggs, executive vice president of the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity, said members of the Arkansas Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta came under fire earlier this week when 18-year-old Nicholas Brown, a potential new member of the fraternity, was transported to the Washington Regional Medical Center and treated for severe alcohol poisoning. Biggs said the incident occurred after a Nov. 12 “Big Brother, Little Brother” fraternity function, which took place at the Phi Delta Theta House . . . . Brown was transported to the hospital from his Humphrey’s Hall residence about 12:30 a.m. Nov. 13. Upon arrival, he had a blood alcohol content of .68, according to University of Arkansas police records. . . .

Brown was given a citation alleging misdemeanor public intoxication. At the current time, police are not conducting any criminal investigation related to Brown’s underage status. It’s illegal to provide alcohol to anyone younger than 21.

“We’re continuing our investigation and hope to conclude it soon,” Biggs said. “We plan to develop a course of action by Monday afternoon.”
Biggs said the outcome of the national organization’s investigation could result in both individual and group consequences, including the fraternity’s closing.

Bowser said rape allegations made against two Razorback basketball players and one former player at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity on Aug. 27 also played a role in her decision to stop all remaining fraternity events for 2009.
Charges against the three were not pursued after Washington County Prosecutor John Threet determined that there wasn’t enough evidence. The case has since been forwarded to a special prosecutor after questions arose over Threet’s relationship with Frank Broyles, the former UA athletic director and Kevin Trainor, a spokesman for the UA Athletic Department. Broyles is married to Threet’s mother-in-law. Trainor is his brother-in-law.

Since learning of the hazing allegations on Tuesday, Phi Delta Theta officials have been working with the UA and local alumni officers to conduct an investigation.

According to an incident report issued by University Police, officers responded to the seventh floor of Humphrey’s Hall to reports of an unconscious, intoxicated man. Police found Brown lying across the hallway with two women sitting beside him. One of the witnesses at the scene, 19-year-old Erika Akel, identified herself as Brown’s girlfriend. During an interview with police, Akel said she picked Brown up from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house and brought him to Humphrey’s Hall. They both got on the elevator and exited on the seventh floor. Akel said Brown lost his balance and fell forward, striking his face on the ground.

Bowser said the decision to cancel all sanctioned fraternity events came Thursday. Students were notified by e-mail that all fraternity activities, including coke dates, parties, formals, hall parties and co-sposored events with sororities, had been postponed until Spring, 2010.

“We’ve canceled individual events before, but we’ve never had to cancel all fraternity activities,” she said. . . .

Were the basketball players Fijis or did they just show up and possibly commit a crime there?

A BAC of .68 is incredibly. I work in Drug and Alcohol counseling and the highest I've heard of is .628. And that was by a 30 year old pretty serious alcoholic. I can't imagine how fast or how much this young man must have drank to get that high and how nobody noticed it.

I have seen on my campus that Phi Delta Theta Nationals do not mess around. Our chapter was shut down after two incidents which, compared to how much trouble other fraternities that are still around have gotten into. Was pretty shocking.

They were not Fiji's (fraternities at Arkansas don't take too well to athletes, especially basketball). Fiji had a bid day party for the AOPi's and essentially kept the door open so that any AOPi can get in and not have to knock. Bball players came in.

It wasn't even rape to begin with.

It's a pretty big deal on the campus, because we have three bball players out because of it (I think so, at least)) and a fourth because he made fun of it on his twitter.

And Phi Delt is gone.

Don't have a link, I'm sure there will be one forthcoming. Pulled by nationals, people think.

Wow, were they are big chapter? I know at Ole Miss they are a big chapter and have a long history on campus.

They're no Ole Miss Phi Delt, but they were still prominent.

They had a few big time alumnis, but really were a pretty new fraternity, 1948 I think.

The thing was they had just remodeled their house. But they were 1. b in terms of tiers for example

1.a Kappa Sig
2.a. SAE
3.a. Sigma Chi
1.b Phi Delt.


So they were doing well.

EW, do you think they will rent/lease out the house to another group? or will Sigma Nu buy it and turn it into a gameroom? :D

They likely will but I'm not ACTUALLY sure who owns the house.

The thing is, with the new UofA plans....the University maaaaay own the house or have some sort of power over it. They had an RD living in the house for sure and may have financed some of the remodeling.

Either way, someone will move back in. If Phi Delt has real control over the house...the move-inner would be retarded to actually move in. That's what happened to Sig Ep some time ago. LXA got kicked off and Sig Ep rented from them. But once LXA came back on, Sig Ep was homeless. Phi Delt will be back on, I can certainly count on that. It's sad stuff. Phi Delt was one of the houses I hung out with alot.

And other related sad news, an SAE died yesterday. Word is it was drug related, but I don't know if it was in house or out of house.

Update: Phi Delta Theta Suspends Charter of U of Arkansas Chapter

See official announcement on the fraternity’s IHQ site:
http://www.phideltatheta.org/index.p...d=941&Itemid=9

“After conducting an investigation in conjunction with the University of Arkansas and local alumni regarding the November 12 incident at the Arkansas Alpha Chapter facility, the General Council of Phi Delta Theta has voted to suspend the charter of Arkansas Alpha for violations of the Fraternity’s risk management policies including alcohol and hazing. This message was delivered to the members of the former undergraduate chapter Wednesday evening by Province President Joe Passanisse, Director of Chapter Services Jacob Kingdon, a group of chapter alumni and Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Danny Pugh at the Reynolds Center Auditorium on campus.

The action of the Phi Delta Theta General Council prohibits the undergraduate men that comprise the former Arkansas Alpha chapter from using the Fraternity name in association with any event or activity, from displaying the name or symbols of the Fraternity, and from continuing any operation, or any resemblance of operations as a Fraternity chapter. Additionally, members of the chapter that were directly involved with the November 12 incident are being considered for further disciplinary action.

“Phi Delta Theta is a values based organization and does not tolerate the illegal and inappropriate behavior demonstrated by these students. Throughout this process we have been encouraged by the support we have received from university officials and local alumni volunteers,” said Bob Biggs, Executive Vice President.

Representatives from Phi Delta Theta will remain on campus for the rest of the week to explore the option of a potential recolonization in the near future. . . . “


Local news coverage appears to be a slight rewrite of the official Phi Delta announcement; see:

http://www.4029tv.com/news/21798132/detail.html

Just wanted to add this, b/c I saw that a pledge almost died with a BAC of .68!!!!!!! REALLY!?!? How is that person still alive?!?

KHBS/KHOG-TV
Northwest Arkansas
December 3, 2009
http://www.4029tv. com/news/ 21798132/ detail.html

Phi Delta Theta Fraternity Dissolves UA Chapter

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity
announced that it is suspending the charter for the University of Arkansas
chapter of Phi Delta Theta.

Around 200 fraternity members were notified of the decision during a
meeting at the Reynolds Center Auditorium on campus Wednesday night.

After conducting an investigation in conjunction with the University of
Arkansas and local alumni regarding the Nov. 12 incident at the fraternity
house, the fraternity's governing body voted to suspend the UA chapter's
charter for "violations of the Fraternity's risk management policies
including alcohol and hazing."

A freshman pledge nearly died from a blood alcohol content of .68.

"Although the actions taken were the province of the fraternity's
international office, we respect both the decision and the decision-making
process," said university Chancellor David Gearhart.

No current member of the Arkansas Alpha chapter can use the fraternity's
name in association with any event or activity, display the name or symbols
of the fraternity, or continue an operation or semblance of operations as a
Phi Delta Theta chapter, fraternity officials said.

"Decisions such as this are not made easily or taken lightly. As a former
fraternity member myself, I recognize the considerable positive academic
and social impact that Greek organizations can have on the lives of young
men and women. However, we cannot stand idly by when an organization
creates an environment that puts those very lives at risk. Such
organizations must, at all times, exercise social responsibility and caring
for one another," Gearhart said.

While some believe the punishment is fitting, others believe it's too harsh.

"I mean, at every fraternity party, things happen. And they shouldn't kick
them off campus because of that," said UA freshman Alex Murphy.

"It's a really sad day. I mean, some things that occurred there at the
house was pretty bad," said UA fraternity member Hamilton Blocker.

For the 55 members who live at the fraternity house, senior associate dean
of students Ashley Tull said they will have to be out by Sunday, and will
be placed in university housing instead.

"We're working to reassign them to residence halls and we have available
space for them," said Tull.

Phi Delta Theta representatives will remain on campus for the rest of the
week to explore the option of starting over and forming a new chapter in
the near future.

Copyright 2009 4029tv.com All rights reserved.

Out of the house by Sunday? Ouch!!!

Yeah, that sucks especially since it's about to be finals week on Wednesday.

No good. I'll miss those guys.

A little bit of follow up on this story:

Nationals is moving into their house as well as the current pledges. They won't be able to become a full-blown chapter until their senior years.

Some may see this as a good thing. It is an absolutely terrible idea (as long as they are able to rent the house out to another fraternity...which I believe would be possible). The pledges will have no idea how to rush University of Arkansas fraternity men and the Phi Delt nationals will be a mess, as most nationals are. The reputation will go downhill, which is unfortunate for a fraternity who had a great deal of good reputation.

Elephant Walk:A little bit of follow up on this story:

Nationals is moving into their house as well as the current pledges. They won't be able to become a full-blown chapter until their senior years.

When you say National is moving into their house, do you mean someone from their National staff or a member(s) of the chapter's Alumni Board/ House Corp.?

Also, if current pledges, by their senior year (probably by 2012/2013) would be able to become a full-blown chapter, what status are they now... a colony working toward re-chartering?

From what I understand, it will be someone from their national staff. Or several people. I could be wrong on this, but that's my understanding. Now, I would much prefer the Alumni Board but I don't think that's the case.

That's my understanding as well, colony working towards recharter.

Elephant Walk:From what I understand, it will be someone from their national staff. Or several people. I could be wrong on this, but that's my understanding. Now, I would much prefer the Alumni Board but I don't think that's the case.

This could be a positive direction for them (current pledges). They will certainly receive the proper training and guidance needed by professional member(s) of their National to restore their chapter back to it's glory days at UA. I can remember my years serving as expansion/development consultant, I had a similar project to reviving a once large chapter with a long history tied to the University. All you would need is a core base group of talented, good quality men, what I call the "HEART" of the colony, dedicated Alumni, and the support from both the National Staff and Expansion Team, and even sometimes University Adminstrators/Officials, and everything will fall into place.

I wish them the best of luck!!!!!:)

ZBT:"Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Impacting the Future."

Their glory days were right before they got kicked off by Nationals.

I know your line of thinking and I understand it. But there's a combination of three things which make this not good for their recruitment and longstanding tradition of pledging some of the best the University has to offer.

a) The likelihood of the Nationals not being from an SEC school with no understanding of SEC rush and the typical guy the fraternities are looking for. Likewise, not being from the South which could be a shot across the bow to start with. Nationals likes to send their weirdest Yankees whenever they come around, I would be very surprised if they do anything but that.
b) The unfamiliarity with the Rush process on the part of the pledges and not have been completely ingrained in UA fraternity culture.
c) the lack of alcohol as a result of nationals coming. That alone will probably kill their rush of the guys that Phi Delt has been having for quite sometime.

Quoted because everyone needs to know this. Thanks.

LOL

I don't understand why Phi Delt Nationals would retain the pledges. Wouldn't you think they were recruited under the circumstances in point c and would only look to further that in the new colony? It would make more sense from their perspective to clean house completely so they can start from scratch without any memories of the old Phi Delt. Was their some stipulation that they had to retain some members to remain on campus as a colony? And if there was such a stipulation, why wouldn't they pick and choose from both current members and pledges after a series of interviews or something?

Elephant Walk:Their glory days were right before they got kicked off by Nationals.

I know your line of thinking and I understand it. But there's a combination of three things which make this not good for their recruitment and longstanding tradition of pledging some of the best the University has to offer.

a) The likelihood of the Nationals not being from an SEC school with no understanding of SEC rush and the typical guy the fraternities are looking for. Likewise, not being from the South which could be a shot across the bow to start with. Nationals likes to send their weirdest Yankees whenever they come around, I would be very surprised if they do anything but that.
b) The unfamiliarity with the Rush process on the part of the pledges and not have been completely ingrained in UA fraternity culture.
c) the lack of alcohol as a result of nationals coming. That alone will probably kill their rush of the guys that Phi Delt has been having for quite sometime.

Elephant Walk, I am enjoying our conversation!!!!!!:)

I see the picture now. Not having a consultant that is familar with a SEC University and the rush process, can hurt the stability and longevity of the future chapter. I am not familar how the Phi Delt National assigns the regions to their consultants, but I would think if they want to have a successful chapter at UA, they would assign a consultant preferably someone from the SEC to help with the re-colonization process. That would make sense. In my example, I should have been a little more specific as to the region I was referring too, which was the Northeast (and I attended a Northeast University) and the university itself, which was also in the Northeast (Big East Conference). That was why it was easy for me the establish a successful re-colonization.

I can also understand why (c) would be a problem as well.

ZBT:"Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present & Impacting the Future."

Speaking as a Yankee, we've had to put up with some weird Southerners too, like ones who didn't understand the concept of snow and rain, so right back at ya. ;)

Gusteau, I've never understood retaining the pledges in that type of situation either, but it might be like you said - if they get rid of everyone, they will lose their student org designation, rotation in chairs, etc etc. Although when you think of it that's a horrid thing to do to the pledges. Right away they pretty much have to choose between their loyalty to the men who recruited them and the national organization. Unless of course, they fake it big time and are just puppets for the kicked off guys who are still pulling all the strings in the background.

Years ago, I was reading a Leadership Consultant's (our traveling consultant term) report and at the end, it said "You should never send anybody to Michigan in January ever again because it's just too cold and snowy." Now we get the consultants up here who are used to our weather...lol. The poor consultant from North Dakota a few years back got sent to Ontario, the UP of Michigan, etc.

I love that our most tropical chapter (Hawaii) and some of our most distant and cold ones (Canada, Montana, Idaho) usually have the same LC. I think if you get Hawaii, you should get Montana and Calgary as they are quite the juxtaposition in climate and geography.

Now that is an interesting scenario - I wonder if any Phi Delt pledges are reading this, lol. The thing is as a pledge I don't think you really understand the scope of a national organization. I wouldn't begrudge someone for feeling more loyalty to the men who recruited them than to some "weird yankee" put in their house as a chaperon. Nationals will definitly be sending in their best consultants to try an win over the pledge class.

Point noted. Eccentricity is a characteristic of the south.

Part of the problem.

It may be just my chapter, but I don't believe so. Fraternities at Arkansas tend to distrust nationals (although, that may be a characteristic of southern fraternities in general). If they enamor themselves of nationals, they would be much different than the great majority of the fraternities on campus in many aspects by ending up similar to a certain fraternity who abides by the overly-nationals influenced acronymed BMP.

I just personally think this is not a good idea. But I could be wrong. All the power to them. I believe Phi Delt has a certain culture on campus. They've recruited similar guys ever since I've been on campus and before that. The alumni identify with this culture (like DKE use to be at LSU). The nationals will likely change this culture.

This was pretty well written for someone who drank waaay too much Woodford on a Sunday night.

I ran across this thread during a google search and decided to comment.

Do you think the Phi Delt national organization will be that involved in the rush process?

With regard to point "b" I'm guessing the pledges will get some rush help from some of the older members and in my experience, they can probably get around your point "c" if they decide to risk having off-campus rush parties with alcohol present.

I heard from an insider that the charter isn't suspended for any definite period of time but only until the colony is able to get it back. Can anyone confirm this?

I mean, they're living in the house. They won't allow alcohol in the house. They'll have a great deal of control.

I seriously doubt it on both counts. I don't know.

Well, I mean that's the definition of what colonies do. I'm told that it will be back once the pledges are now seniors.

I'd add that they're choosing between their loyalty to their plan to join an established organization with upperclassman mentors vs. the national organization. If I'm a freshman who joined a big, established fraternity, it's because I was looking for that experience. A colony, especially a three-year colony, is a whole different ball of wax, and probably not what I intended to join. EW, can you tell us whether the PDT pledges would get the time of day at other UA fraternities if they left right now, or whether the PDT colony is realistically their only fraternity option?
________
Nugetka

I mean, PDT pledges are in some degree of demand. They're generally Highland Park/Little Rock private school kids. Probably half would get into pretty good fraternities and probably half would get into slightly lesser fraternities right now if they chose to leave. Getting kicked off isn't stigmatic (word?), but not rushing is. When Sigma Nu got kicked off some years ago, alot of them went Pike when Pike was doing better so they'd have a home. It's quite possible they could quit altogether and acquiesce to another house. That's probably what I would do if I were in their place. They have options.

It wouldn't be an issue if they left now. To be honest, other fraternities that they might join if they leave will probably be more like the Phi Delt they joined then the Phi Delt that will become from the influx of nationals and other influences.