Chapter loses Charter
 

NEWS RELEASE
KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY
March 28, 2002

Mitchell B. Wilson
Executive Director
Kappa Sigma Fraternity
PO Box 5066
Charlottesville, VA 22905
434/295-3193

Charlottesville, Virginia - The Supreme Executive Committee of Kappa
Sigma Fraternity revoked the charter of the Epsilon-Iota Chapter at
San Diego State University on March 23, 2002 at the committee's
quarterly meeting in Macon, Georgia. The Fraternity's board took the
action to revoke the charter after it had been determined that the
chapter violated the Hazing Policy of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. The
violation of the Hazing Policy was the second violation within a
five-year period.

According to Executive Director Mitchell B. Wilson, the Fraternity
has taken a very strong position to eliminate all forms of hazing.
Kappa Sigma is actively engaged in educating chapters on the subject
of hazing and is also enforcing the policy by disciplining those
chapters which fail to eliminate hazing from their operations.

"Kappa Sigma Fraternity is a Fraternity that is 100% committed to a
hazing-free environment. We have spent thousands of dollars in our
resources educating chapters and undergraduate leaders on the subject
of hazing and how it conflicts with the values of our Fraternity,"
Wilson said. The Kappa Sigma Fraternity will plan to return to San
Diego State University after an absence of a minimum, of two years.
The Fraternity was founded on the San Diego State University campus
on December 9, 1947.

Kappa Sigma Fraternity is represented on 209 college and university
campuses throughout North America and has initiated over 213,000 men.
The Fraternity was founded on December 10, 1869 at the University of
Virginia.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


NEWS RELEASE
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
Office of Marketing and Communications

KAPPA SIGMA FRATERNITY EXPELLED FOR HAZING

CONTACT: Jack Beresford, (619) 594-2448, jack.beresford@sdsu.edu

Consistent with SDSU and national fraternity policies, Kappa Sigma
Fraternity's SDSU Chapter has had its charter revoked and the
fraternity has been expelled from campus.

"The university has made clear to the Greek community that hazing
incidents involving alcohol will be met with penalties consistent
with our zero-tolerance policy," said SDSU President Stephen L.
Weber. "San Diego State applauds Kappa Sigma's national organization
for its decisive action and cooperation on this matter."

The action by SDSU and Kappa Sigma follows a Jan. 16 incident during
which university police found several underage Kappa Sigma pledges
and at least one executive officer of the fraternity in a university
parking garage with large amounts of alcohol intended for a
pre-initiation party. The incident was Kappa Sigma's second hazing
incident in the past five years.

The earliest Kappa Sigma could be considered by the university for
recognition and re-colonization is the 2005-06 academic year.

In addition to the fraternity's expulsion, individual students
involved have been referred to SDSU's Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities for possible disciplinary action. Those found in
violation of the California code of regulations governing student
behavior may be expelled, suspended or placed on probation. It is
university policy that the names of students involved in judicial
procedures are not made public.

Similar to many of SDSU's Greek-letter fraternities, Kappa Sigma has
operated a local chapter on the SDSU campus since 1947 under the
direction of its national fraternity. Kappa Sigma Fraternity is
represented on 209 college and university campuses throughout North
America.

"San Diego State University takes the issue of alcohol abuse
seriously and has a comprehensive set of measures in place to address
underage drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol-related problems
among its campus population," said James Kitchen, vice president,
Division of Student Affairs. "These programs are working, as
evidenced by a 2001 study that showed the binge-drinking rate of SDSU
students is 43 percent below the national average. However, for
those individuals and student organizations found in violation of our
polices there will be clear consequences."

SDSU has received national recognition from the U.S. Department of
Education as a national leader for its alcohol education and
enforcement programs. The university supports these programs through
the SDSU Police, Student Health Services, Housing and Residential
Life, Counseling and Psychological Services and the Center for
Fraternity and Sorority Life.

I saw this on Fraternal News. I always hate to see any chapter closed because it weakens the system as a whole.

I hope they have good results in recolonization.

Delta alum

I was reading the press releases .. . does this seem like a strong enough reason to shut down a chapter?

Basically it says that a group of pledges were found with an executive officer in a garage in the prescence of a large amount of alcohol. Given today's climate I am going to assume if they were intoxicated it would have mentioned it in the article.

So the chapter was suspended because they intended to have a party later where the pledges were invited and alcohol would be around.

I am not questioning the decisions of the National Officers, that is highly discouraged, but I was wondering if this seemed apropriate to you.

Rationalizations aside.

It also looks more like the National was acting in response to the fact the University is obviously cracking down on visible drinking.

When have you ever been one to not question?

James,

Truth is this did strike me as a bit premptive, especially since the alleged violation didn't even happen on fraternity property (at least that's my assumption from reading the two releases -- unless the garage is owned by the chapter). I agree that, had the officer or pledges been drinking, the story(ies) would probably have mentioned it.

I suppose it is technically illegal for an underage person to be in possession of alcohol. I wonder if any of the containers were open? There are a lot of questions left unanswered.

Actually, I find the releases a little confusing. One of them mentions hazing -- the other hazing with alcohol. I'm pretty unclear on exactly what the violation is/was.

Perhaps there are circumstances we don't know.

For instance, it says this is the second violation in the past five years. I wonder what the first violation was? In other words, is this one the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back after another more serious event? Has this chapter had a troublesome history? Risk Management problems?

I'd be interested in Brad's input on this one, but on the face of it, I agree with what I think you're saying -- it seems like a bit of a knee jerk to me.

Irony Noted
 

I remember a few years back that a guy from Kappa Sigma at SDSU came to Shippensburg University as part of the national IFC group (based out of Indianapolis) to tell all of the greeks there what they were doing "wrong" and how much he knew from his chapter and SDSU etc. Most of the time he was there was spent hanging out with the local KS brothers and talking them up.

I find it highly Ironic that the Chapter of Kappa Sigma was closed in 2000 at Shippensburg for a variety of nonsense and that this "consultant" of sorts own chapter bought it this year at SDSU-

This Irony is Duly noted

Jason Lenox

So, the previous closing may or may not have been justified. This one would appear to be -- "pending the outcome of an investigation." And this one really hurts since it is a big Delt chapter involved.

I'm going to be in Norman this weekend on a college hunting trip with my son. I was going to stop by the house. Now, I probably won't since they probably wouldn't be interested in chatting with a division officer.

Crap!

Another chapter banner to come off the wall at Karnea this summer.

The Associated Press
March 30, 2002

Officer injured, fraternity suspended after brawl at OU

NORMAN, Okla. -- A University of Oklahoma fraternity has been
suspended after a brawl that resulted in more than two dozen arrests,
police said.

"The Delta Tau Delta fraternity has been suspended pending the
outcome of an investigation," OU spokesman Jeff Hickman said Friday.
"Basically, they can live in the house, but that's it."

Hickman said no students have been suspended. The university will
investigate the incident, he said.

Police responded to a fight in the parking lot of the Sigma Phi
Epsilon fraternity house about 3:30 a.m. Friday morning.

According to police, several members of Delta Tau Delta fraternity
went to the Sigma Phi Epsilon house and a large fright broke out.
About 100 people were involved in the fight and several people were
injured, police said.

Joshua Patrick Miller, 20, was beaten several times with a club or a
bat, police said. Miller was transported to a Norman hospital, where
he was treated for a head injury and released, hospital officials
said.

Police said 25 people were cited or arrested for several offenses,
including public intoxication, disturbing the peace and destruction
of private property.

Eight police officers responded to the fight, said Norman police Lt.
Glenn Dobry.

"There were some problems with beer bottles being thrown at officers,
and some of them were spit on," Dobry said.

One police officer suffered minor injuries to his hands and arms
after being pushed down, he said.

I live about 45 minutes away from Norman and heard about all that. I'm sorry it happened. At OU lately charters have been getting yoinked left and right lately. The administration is on some kind of holy crusade against open parties and such. The old culture of fraternities is dying hard there.

LHT
Kevin
MT 5
University of Central Oklahoma

Now, I don't know these guys from Adam, but if you get in trouble once, keep your nose clean. They found them in a UNIVERSITY parking garage. SDSU says:

Possession or consumption of distilled liquor on University property is prohibited at all times. Possession, consumption, or sale of beer or wine is permitted at designated campus locations and events only with prior approval of the Vice President for Student Affairs.

So, apparently they had no permission to have alcohol, or it wouldn't have been a violation.

Secondly, both press releases were sent out by people who may not look so great if it were known that the new members were drunk. Kappa Sigma wants as little press as possible in that vein, as does SDSU.

Finally, you cannot possess alcohol as a minor, period! All of these underage guys were "in possession" as the press release states, and therefore, puts them in violation of the law.

Are the sanctions too tough? I don't know the first situation to say yes or no, but I know that Theta Chi at our campus was shut down after getting caught three times with kegs. National organizations aren't going to tolerate this stuff anymore, as we are all aware. But the national has stated they want to recolonize, and that seems to me like a positive step towards a better brotherhood if these guys can't stick with the rules.

Shadokat,

To me an important point, and one we all seem to overlook is your first -- to paraphrase, "If you screw up once, don't do it again."

I know that all of your points are technically correct, however a lot of these things are overlooked daily by many universities and police departments. Or at lease they don't cause such catistrophic results for chapters.

I guess SDSU is really serious about "Zero Tolerance."

I hope all of the other chapters on that campus take note.

How is this a second violation? Some members did something stupid 5 years ago when some of the current members were in 8th grade, so now the current members are called repeat offenders. If one of their alumni broke a rule 40 years ago would this be their third offence?

James...

On the Insurance/liability thread , you were the person that endorsed a zero tolerance policy when it comes to underage drinking and violations of the law. You wanted to expell members that drink underage and break the law. Now you are second guessing a national that has done just that.

Max,

Read it again.

It said the second violation "within a five year period." That could mean it was two years -- or four -- or one. It would very likely mean that there are still some members who were there for the first violation.

And, by the way, James certainly doesn't need me to defend his positions, but I believe you've taken his comments out of context. In the posting I read he clearly said he wasn't advocating automatic and immediate expulsion, while perhaps understanding (not putting words in his mouth, I hope) that the liability problem is so serious that it might be necessary for that to happen in the strictest interpretation of the law.

Well I guess it could have happend any time in the last 5 years. If the violation happened last year dont you think they would have said the second violation within the last year? Why would the writer even bring up 5 years?

Some of those guys could still be there though, maybe on the 5 or 6 year plan

State is super anal w/ their fraternities. There's is always some chapter getting suspended or charter pulled.

From The San Diego Union-Tribune
Saturday March 30, 2002
by Samuel Autman

For the third time in 15 months, San Diego State University has expelled a fraternity for alcohol use by underage pledges.

In a separate action, Kappa Delta, a university sorority, was suspended by its national office after an adult adviser found alcohol at a sorority-sponsored baseball game.

Both infractions were announced yesterday. Students who were caught could be suspended or expelled from the school. SDSU refused to release their names.

Kappa Sigma was expelled from the university and its charter was revoked by its national office after several underage pledges and at least one fraternity officer were caught with large amounts of beer and hard liquor at a university parking structure Jan. 16.

The alcohol was intended for an initiation ceremony. The fraternity had a similar incident five years ago. The expulsion means Kappa Sigma will be banned from all Interfraternity Council and social activities on the campus and can apply for reinstatement in the 2005-2006 school year.

Kappa Sigma's national headuarters, based in Charlottesville, VA, declined to comment. The telephone number listed in the campus directory for Kappa Sigma was disconnected yesterday.

In a written statement, James Kitchen, SDSU's vice president of student affairs, said students and organizations who break the policies will face consequences.

"San Diego State University takes the issue of alcohol abuse seriously and has a comprehensive set of measures in place to address underage drinking, binge drinking and other alcohol related problems among its campus population," according to the statement.

The sorority, Kappa Delta, was placed on indefinite suspension by the university and its national headquarters in Memphis, Tenn., after an adult adviser found members of fraternities drinking at a sorority sponsored baseball game on Feb. 24 in Ocean Beach.

Neither Kappa Delta members nor the national office would comment.

In December 2000, Beta Theta Pi and Tau Kappa Epsilon were expelled after underage pledges were hospitalized for alcohol poisioning. In 1986, SDSU expelled Pi Kappa Alpha when an 18-year-old alleged she was raped. The District Attorney's Office found there was insufficient evidence to file charges, but the fraternity has not returned to SDSU.

I find it odd the KD gets nailed for alcohol at a softball game w/ no mention of any other chapters. Girls don't together to play softball by themselves w/ alcohol. In my opinion it was either a softball philanthropy or a game of Sloshball that got busted.

DA..

I did not take James comments out of context. His exact statement was, "Expell members that drink underage. Immediately."



PS.. According the the SD Tribune article(3-3--02) just posted by SoCalGirl, the previous incident happened 5 years ago, not 2.

Max,

In terms of context, see below. I copied this from James' original post. Read the last sentence:


"Expell members that drink underage. Immediately. They are in violation of the Law and are the single greatest threat to in terms of liability.

If they are drinking underage and get hurt the lawsuit is much more likely to come.

I am not advocating this personally, but this is certainly the where the context of many of our conversations are taking us."

I read SoCal's post. So now we have two quotes to deal with -- the one from the SD Newspaper and the one from the release from the school and/or fraternity. I don't know which is correct. Anyway, I would guess that their organization uses the 5 year period as some sort of benchmark. In any event, in these days it is more than possible that even if the two violations were at the extreme ends of five years, there were/are still members who cross both violations during their time in the chapter.

By the way, it doesn't matter whether James advocates automatic expulsion or not. I just got home from a lunch with a number of Delt alums and one of the other Division VP's, who is sitting on an Alumni Supervisory Committee at one of our chapters told us that liability insurance for Delt chapters will increase by 50% this year. That means that more than half of the chapter's budget will go to National Dues and insurance. How can we keep this up?

DA, etc.

Been out of the loop. Sorry gang. Our former chapter's previous infraction was three years ago, and there were definately some members remaining from that period.

My understanding is that the chapter leadership, to their credit, was EXTREMELY forthcoming in their responses to the investigations. They confirmed that the alcohol found was to be used at a function later that night with the pledges that was part of their brotherhood development program that was "traditionally" part of their Pre-Initation activites. This is patently forbidden in our Alcohol and Hazing policies. Being that it was their 2nd violation in 3 years, I think the decision was sound. Sad, but sound.

Brad

Thanks Brad,

The information was kind of confusing. It really saddens me when any chapter closes, but I wish you guys well when you recolonize in the future. Two serious violations in three years would seem to indicate substantial problems, and closure was probably justified.

It's understandable, but also unfortunate that these situations always turn into "us vs. them." I continue to hope that there is a revelation among our chapters and that we (really they) can get this situation under control.

I know it sounds like a broken record (well, some of us remember records) but we won't survive unless something drastic happens.

I agree with DeltAlum that chapters closing is very sad, but it's not so sad when chapters bring it on themselves. As KapSig1 said, the activities they were planning are explicitly outlawed in their policies, and every member of the organization has a responsibility to know the policies and follow them. I do think it's promising that Kappa Sigma wants to recolonize, and speaks volumes to their commitment to continue chapters on positive routes.

As a student at SDSU, and a member of a Fraternity I can tell you that it sucks to see a 3rd Fraternity kicked off in a 2 year period.... With that aside, I can tell you that the articles did not mention that Kappa Sig was in the middle of their I-Week, and that all the pledges were wearing the exact same thing, with the exact same alcohol, and marching in a straight line in the parking structure. If this does not show the school that someting involving hazing took place, then I don't know what would. As a member of the Greek system at SDSU I know how if you do even the slightest thing wrong and get caught, you sugar coat it so you will not get f***ed in the a**!

From Fraternal News Volume 180.

Question: With two suspensions in the past three years, four other GLO's kicked off local campuses and specific rules you've agreed to, how do you justify these actions?

Are the adminstrations "out to get" fraternities? Maybe/maybe not. Are the rules too strict? Could be. Are groups being targeted? Possible.

So, was it worth the alcohol violations, pledging the extra men without the minimum GPA?

Bottom line? It dosen't matter. The charters are gone.

Live with the rules or get them changed or be prepared to close the doors.


San Diego Union-Tribune
April 19, 2002

USD suspends fraternity over hazing, alcohol

By Samuel Autman
STAFF WRITER

The University of San Diego chapter of Phi Kappa Theta fraternity has
been suspended indefinitely for hazing and alcohol-related violations.

In the last three years, the university placed the fraternity on
probation twice. After repeat violations, the university and national
fraternity agreed last weekend that it was time to take action
against the group.

This is the fifth San Diego-area fraternity to be suspended or
expelled for hazing or alcohol violations in the last two years.

It also highlights how universities are responding with increased enforcement.

Thomas Cosgrove, USD's dean of students, said Phi Kappa Theta was
suspended because of an accumulation of violations over the years.
Some of the episodes involved hazing, which he did not elaborate on,
and providing alcohol to minors. Cosgrove said any hazing violates
campus and national fraternity guidelines and is illegal in
California.

He said the fraternity had agreed to clean up its act. The university
ordered the fraternity to limit the number of pledges to 15 this
year. And all new members needed at least a 3.0 grade point average.
But the fraternity broke the agreement by admitting 24 people,
Cosgrove said. Only six had a qualifying GPA.

"We describe ourselves as a value-based university," said Cosgrove.
"We are serious about standards and holding people to them. We gave
them the opportunity to make changes and they simply have not."

USD is a Catholic university with about 6,900 students enrolled in
some 50 graduate and undergraduate programs.

Efforts to reach fraternity members were unsuccessful.

The group had 45 members. It will now be barred from campus and
conducting any business in the name of the fraternity. It had no
house on campus, nor do the remaining four fraternities and five
sororities at USD.

Craig Melancon, executive director of Phi Kappa Theta's national
office in Indianapolis, said that because the fraternity had agreed
it would accept only 15 members with a certain GPA, the 18 pledges
who did not meet the criteria would not have been covered by the
fraternity's insurance.

"As 18-to 22-year-olds, you think you are bulletproof," Melancon
said. "You don't realize their parents' homeowners policies could
have been in jeopardy and that it could affect their parents' lives."

The fraternity had been on USD's campus for nearly 40 years. Melancon
said members were a vital part of student life at USD.

He said that while colleges and universities across the nation are
coming down hard on Greeks, as fraternity members are called, Greeks
are not the only ones who drink.

Citing statistics from the North American Interfraternity Conference,
Greeks have a higher graduation rate, contribute millions of dollars
to charities and give participants a healthy way to socialize while
on campus, he said.

In October, the San Diego State University chapter of Phi Kappa Theta
was placed on probation after Melancon's office expelled 16 members
for violating that school's alcohol and drug policy.

SDSU has expelled or suspended more fraternities than any other local
university in recent years. Last month, SDSU expelled Kappa Sigma
fraternity for providing alcohol to minors.

On the same day, SDSU announced that the national office of the Kappa
Delta sorority suspended the SDSU chapter after an adult adviser
found alcohol at a sorority-sponsored baseball game.

And in December 2000, SDSU expelled Beta Theta Pi and Tau Kappa
Epsilon fraternities after underage pledges were hospitalized for
alcohol poisoning.

Last April, Point Loma Nazarene University expelled Psi Omega Theta
fraternity for hazing that left pledges needing medical attention.

Marian Novak, coordinator of SDSU's Community Collegiate Alcohol
Prevention Partnership, which works with all local universities on
alcohol prevention, said campuses nationwide are responding in the
same way to drinking.

"Youth today are not drinking more," she said. "It's enforcement and
awareness that has changed. The college campuses are becoming
proactive and fighting against these issues."

(c) 2002 Union-Tribune Publishing Company

Can some one post the link to Fraternal News, I had it but it some how got lost. Thanks a gain