Southern Illinois U. charges Pi Kappa Alpha amid drowning of pledge
 

From the Daily Egyptian:

Burke Wasson

Daily Egyptian (Southern Illinois U.)
04/12/2004

(U-WIRE) CARBONDALE, Ill. -- One day after Southern Illinois University-Carbondale freshman and Pi Kappa Alpha pledge Brent Johnson's body was found in Cedar Lake, University administrators revealed on Friday that they have charged the fraternity chapter with numerous alcohol and risk management violations tied to Johnson's drowning.

The fraternity chapter, also known as the Pikes, faces eight charges of alleged violations of the University's alcohol and risk management code.

According to SIUC Spokeswoman Sue Davis, University officials sent a letter to the fraternity chapter Wednesday notifying its members of the charges.

Katherine Sermersheim, director of SIUC Student Development, wrote the letter to the Pikes and scheduled a hearing to discuss the charges at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Illinois Room on the second floor of the SIUC Student Center.

Sermersheim will also conduct the hearing and decide what penalties to hand to the fraternity.

"We've already done some of the investigation, and the hearing is basically to outline the charges and get their reaction to that," said Larry Dietz, SIUC vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. "That's the purpose of it."

Dietz said the possible results of the hearing could range from the University taking no action against the Pikes to permanently banning the fraternity from SIUC.

The vice chancellor previously said if the Pikes' camping trip involved alcohol, the fraternity would be banned at the University.

According to University policy, the fraternity has the right to close the hearing to the public.

Dietz said the Pikes could also choose not to have a hearing and simply acknowledge the charges against them.

If that happens, the vice chancellor said the University would move quickly to decide penalties against the organization.

"If we don't have a hearing, we will go on the basis of the information that we have currently and make some decisions," Dietz said.

"This is an incident that resulted in the loss of life, and we owe it to the family, our University community and to the fraternity to move as quickly as possible to have the hearing and reach a conclusion."

As of Sunday afternoon, Dietz said the Pikes have not contacted University officials concerning how they wish to handle the hearing.

"We've not heard anything from the fraternity," Dietz said. "Technically, they have until Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Either way, we'd like to have a little advance notice so we can proper arrangements."

Dietz said if University officials decide to punish the organization, the Pikes would have a chance to appeal their decision to his office, the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

"I have an assistant who hears appeals both in student judicial cases and in cases such as this," Dietz said. "If they appeal at that level, the decision for the fraternity would be final."

The Pikes are already on an indefinite suspension from the University.

Eric Wulf, the executive director for the national Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, said the SIUC chapter chose to suspend itself from all University functions and events.

Johnson had been missing and presumed drowned since early April 4 after he and another fraternity pledge fell from a canoe in the lake.

Jackson County Sheriff Robert Burns said the deceased freshman was camping with 11 other Pike pledges and three Pike members in the Cove Hollow area on the Cedar Lake shore.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the rest of the fraternity pledges and members were asleep at the campsite and unaware that the canoe carrying Johnson and another pledge capsized.

Burns refused to comment on whether alcohol was involved in the camping trip but did say people who were at the campsite have been interviewed and would continue to be interviewed by police.

Besides conducting an investigation into the Pikes' tragic camping trip, University officials are also asking people to make memorial contributions to a scholarship fund set up by Johnson's family.

Anyone interested can send contributions to the following address: Scholarship Fund, c/o Busey Bank, 312 E. Main St., Mahomet, Ill., 61853.

A scapegoat?
 

While the pledge's death is tragic, it looks like the school is looking for a scapegoat, and they want one FAST.

The PiKA Headquarters has assisted the GA State (blackface) chapter with legal help, and I hope they will get their lawyers on this too.

Having a 'life or death' hearing with 24 hours notice is not exactly fair.

Re: A scapegoat?
 

My best friend from high school is a PiKA & he has told me in the past that the fraternity has a long history of hazing, not just within one chapter but nationally. This may be why they are so quick to judge...?

Re: Re: A scapegoat?
 

Uhh, no...the International Fraternity does not have a long history of hazing. In fact, Pi Kappa Alpha was the first fraternity to abolish hazing way back in like 1870 or something. Where was/is he a Pike at?

I hope there are more updates to come on this situation!

It is a tradgic situation by any means. But, what worried me in this is that it was it was X number of New Associates and 3 Actives. That brings to mind the wrong conotation and maybe hazing. If it wasnt, so be it.

But for any infractions of Hazing, The Schools are coming down very hard. When will they learn that what can and should be fun can turn disastorious!

If it is true, they should be delt with.

But it is still a sad situation and a tragic loss of life.:(


We as Greeks are under a Very Big MicroScope and any infraction reigns Fire upon all of us!

Beleive me, I get very angry when I see situations and none more so when My Fraternity is mentioned!:mad:

Re: Re: Re: A scapegoat?
 

He is now @ the University of Louisville.


On a side note, we all know that you can abolish hazing all you want but people still do it.

Never Had That Reputation
 

Pi Kappa Alpha has never had that reputation. Hazing has occurred, but we've never been a big hazing fraternity. We haven't eliminated it to the extent that Lambda Chi has, but hazing in IIKA is dealt with strongly and is rare.
This is a real tragedy; a terrible loss. However, I don't know that a group of pledges on a camping trip should be considered hazing.

Southern Illinois Bans Pi Kappa Alpha
 

Southern Illinois U. has banned Pi Kappa Alpha. The fraternity has several days to decide if it will appeal the decision. The Associated Press and the CBS station in Chicago have a story with some details --

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/lo...111173552.html

Re: Re: A scapegoat?
 

A lot of fraternitys have a reputation for hazing, earned or unearned...not sure its fair to single out Pike any more than anyone else...im sure they would have been this quick to judge on any fraternity-just the unfortunate reputation everyone seems to have

It's a horrible situation, but the fact is that Pike isnt the only Fraternity that has problems with these issues. We're not a large hazing fraternity at all.

I think it's funny how Lambda's keep posting subjects on how Pike chapters cause problems. Whats the deal guys?

I am not really sure that remark was called for! As you can see, I am a LXA and I did not back what was done to the PIKE Chapter there.

If it was a fun outing and some Guys went out and did there thing and a Tragic Death happened, then I do not think it was hazing?

While it is just my opinion, I do not know all of the situation, just what was reported. I was not there, were you?

But please dont preport that LXA is against PKE! That sounds stupid amd uncalled for! It was just reporting of a situation that happened. We as Greeks are All Saddened By It.

Dont just point a finger as the Rightious one of Your Fine Organization.

Yes We as individual Chapters have had problems and We are all sadden to find one that was ours who did it!:(

Then stop just commenting on the NEGATIVE news of my fraternity, we do a lot more GOOD than BAD. I dont need to hear about chapters mistakes everytime it happens....

I think if you check back on other posts around the boards, you will PKE are not the only Organization mentioned. LXA was taken off of ASU, other Fraternitys have been mentioned to numerous to list.

When something happens by a Greek Organization it affects all Greeks.

I think the situatuation SIU is tragic and did not sound like hazing at all. But Schools are coming down hard on anything that even remotely looks like hazing.

It's Earpspeak :p You'll become more accustomed to it the more you try to read it..heh

Oh, I am sorry that I did not just say Pi Kappa Alpha!:rolleyes:

Does it need to be spelled out each time!:eek: :rolleyes:

OKAY, There are a lot of P's in Greekdom! Da!:D

No Rio, not true earp speak yet!;)

yes, I did F Up!:o

Da Me!

Just was looking at something else and did a mind transfer! Hard whe you get old and hungry or early in the morning!:eek:

Something to look forward to!:mad:

Sorry Bobby!!!!:D

its ok Tom Earp. don't let it happen again or 1) i will send you to a home 2) i will pull the plug

Let me just say that no fraternity is above criticism on this site. My fraternity got kicked off campus and I had to see numerous posts by Hoosier so I don't think there is any malicious intent on the part of the LXA members on this site. I just don't think you guys are right in saying that PKA doesn't have a history of hazing. Every fraternity has a history of shitty hazing incidents. Must I remind you that PKA had a pledge drown at University of Nevada about a year and a half ago due to hazing. Every headquarters has to deal with numerous hazing allegations.

Bobby, Dude, your being to kind, but there are many here who would be first in line!:D

You are on the on deck circle!:)

phigamucsb, you could not have stated it any better.;)

There are not of us above reproach by any streatch of the imagination.:(

Remember folks, this is not posted all over the web world by hoosier or anyone else. It is posted to by at least the 3 that I get the information from and there are a lot more. It aint no damn secret.:o

Each of us cringe when our names are mention, not making fun of any at other Greeks. This means each time it happens, it hurts us all. Get it?

I am a LXA and damn proud just as each of you in your Greek Organizations should be!

But, We are as a Greek Organization as a whole and take the fall the same way, kind of if one does it, well, I guess in the peoples eye, We All Do IT!:(

The good is not news, the bad is! Just ask some of the lawyersw, media people, school people, National people on GC if I am wrong.

Oh yes by the by, all of the mentioned above are here!:D

All I'm saying is that it seems like some people like to post bad shit about Pikes more than any other org. I mean Damn, if it was KD being blasted all over GC you'd have a greek chat wild fire.

Truth is that it seems to me that the Tekes have really been taking it in the shorts recently. These things seem to run in cycles. There was a time a few months ago when there were two or three problems with Delt Chapters within a very short time.

There may be an exception or two -- who generally get "shouted down" -- who are particularly nasty to one group or another. For the most part, I think folks need to know about others mistakes to help them shape the future of their own organization.

DeltaAlum, maybe it is just The PiKas time in the barrel for being or doing stupid things.:(

I dont really know for sure, but I know that The Chapter at my Alma Mater is having problems just as LXA and SPE had problems. It was a choice, bet your S**T together or be gone via the SCHOOL AND INTERNATIONAL!

So for all Of You Pikes, dont get your underware in a bundle unless you just want to complain about reports of you Chapters that do screw up! You arent alone! Quit crying woe is me, pickinig on PKA!:(

Get off of your collective fingers and check all of the sites on GC!:rolleyes:

I would hope you are kidding...
 

Without "getting my underwear* in a bundle," I will address this issue. As of the time I am writing this post (nearly 7 a.m.), the first 4 threads listed under the hazing category are about Pike chapters. I think a little concern on the part of my brothers is more than necessary. Call it whining, but we refuse to allow our name to be dragged through the mud. You can rationalize the negative postings as "learning from others mistakes" and you can say "all of the greek community is affected and are sorry for what happened," but it really just appears that you are reveling in the downfall of other orgs/chapters. Whether or not that is the case:confused: I would hope not, but be aware that when someone continually posts negative reports about any org...it's members are rightfully going to go on the defensive. To my fellow Pikes, thanks for standing up for our organization, just as I would hope everyone else on here would do for their own.

No one's really picking on Pikes (trust me, i'm one of the last GCers to stick up for some of these other GCers).

Unfortunately, you guys have had several highly visible risk management issues in the past few months. When bad things happen, things get talked about.

TKE's have had spells like this (several bad things coming out at once), I think maybe LXA has as well.

It's one thing to defend your fraternity, but it's another to turn a blind eye to some of the things that have happened and just accuse everyone of "Pike hatin'" If your boys didn't do something wrong in the first place, it wouldn't be being talked about.

I'm not Pike hating. I know a lot of great Pikes, I dated one for awhile. But you guys are just having a PR nightmare right now. Please, for the sake of your fraternity, accept that it happened and deal with it like mature young men that your fraternity has raised you to be, instead of coming on here and getting irate about things.

ETA: i'm not saying all of you have been irate. Some of you have had great things to say.

I'm not irate, I just refuse to allow ill-informed comments to be made. For instance, one person alleged that PiKA has a national history of hazing. It's comments like those that I get defensive about because they're simply not true. Yes, chapters haze and have for a long time, but to say that our organization as a whole has a history of hazing paints a false image. You are right, certain Pike chapters are causing a PR nightmare for the fraternity, but why keep harping on the negative?:rolleyes:

It was simply a comment. Its the beauty of the internet. I can comment on what I understand to be true and you can comment w/ your rebuttal. And we can go back & forth all day if we want. Its a very simple concept.

I totally understand where you're coming from. For the record, you're not really one of the irate ones. Generalizations and false statements aren't right. You've made some great points in places. However, not everyone replying to the threads involved has been.

I really don't want to get involved with all this cr*p, but....yes it is the internet and you are obviously free to say what you please. That being said I would assume that as a member of the Greek community you would be interested in promoting Greek life, not contributing to the continuous negative stereotypes. By saying that a particular organization has a 'long history of hazing' is just 1) going to aggravate members of that organization (which is a valid response in my opinion); 2) make the discussion not about the particular incident but about the aggravation of the orgs members (and those who feel like fueling the fire) and 3) encourage the stereotypes that most of us are trying to overcome. Further, any random person can read this board and unless your opinion is on IM, e-mail, PM or something there are billions of people who can read your comment.
I think the response by the members of Pike is perfectly valid and they are just defending their org like any of us would do when such a overgeneralizing and irrelevant statement is made. Although I think we would all be better served if we all just think about what we say before we say it. Remember the Golden Rule? Yes, everything we need to know we learned in pre-school.

I am not picking on anyone Fraternity or Soroity when something is done wrong. For the point, I am saddened by it. I really do not feel anyone else is either.

It makes all Greeks look bad whether it be LXA, PKA, TKE, SPE or anyothers.

Yes, We have all had problems with our Chapters.

I get more upset when I find one of my own doing things that should be known better and not done!

The points of certain Greek Organizations are not "JUST" brought up on G C to make people upset, they are taken from other World Wide Web Sites, so our little world of G C is open to the rest of the world and people who live on it.

It is Great to stand by each of your Organizations, but if they do something that is not to standards, please admit it and dont just claim Oh, We are being picked on.!

well said OtterXO
 

ditto.

Hey now-this whole forum (Risk Management) is constantly posting about negative things involving Greek Life. As part of Greek Life I also want to know if there is any truth in what I hear, so I said something about what I've heard. The members of the organization can complain & rant all they want, but you'd think they would want to disprove any rumors that someone might've heard. How am I to ever promote a fraternity I've heard bad things about if someone doesn't clarify the rumors?

You shouldn't promote ignorance, that is just as bad you know!

crzychx,
I totally agree that this forum consists of a lot of negative things about Greek life. However, how exactly are the members of Pike supposed to clarify a rumor that you heard from a friend about the national orgs history of hazing? It wasn't a specific incident nor did you have any evidence to support that kind of claim. This isn't really the place to address a random rumor you may have heard. If you have a question about their policy on hazing maybe phone the national headquarters or look at the national website. My point only was that if the same thing had happened in reference to your organization I think you would have been just as irritated. (hence my reference to the wonderful Golden Rule).
It isn't ignorance to ask for respect for all Greek organizations, it is a courtesy that we should all give each other.

eta: this is why I hate getting involved in this stuff

Amen...
 

Just to reitterate (sp?), it's not that any org's members are denying that their chapters screw up and are simply "whining" about the incidents being made pubic, but as Greeks, we should have the common courtesy to not post RUMORS or 2nd hand info that put the integrity of an entire org. in jeopardy. This courtesy is especially important considering the number of potential GCers who are not yet members of the Greek community, or who may be the parents of an individual who desires to go Greek. Or more simply put by OtterXO, just stick to the golden rule!;)

HPU PIKE, no that really is not the problen! It has been stated and "sometimes" Proved by either the School or The National for what has happened and the Charter is taken.

It has been placed on many other web sites as fact. If it happened, it happened. Do we all suffer from it yes! Do we all take joy in another Greek Organization getting in trouble, NO!

Are they as any chapter going to whine, we are maligned, well of course. But if The Chapter is gone, where does that help your Fratenity or mine when they are gone?

Thank you for illustrating my point. My argument is simple. I refuse to allow people to post rumors or 2nd hand info without questioning not only their reasoning for the post, but whether or not they can back the rumors up. As far as how a chapter which is gone helping our fraternities, you're exactly right, they don't. So why allow others to post ridiculous assumptions (such as the afore mentioned in my previous posts) that only serve as a hinderance to the effort (hopefully) of all Greeks to dispell the myths about hazing and so forth. Tom, we might just have to agree to disagree:confused: on this issue.

Re: Re: A scapegoat?
 

Whoa whoa whoa-check this out:





I brought these particular posts back up because after KEPike originally stated that the rumor I heard wasn't true I haven't pushed the issue any further. I haven't accused him of lying, I haven't posted any more rumors, in fact-I've barely posted anything since (with the exception of responding to questions that I was asked in reference to the rumor I heard.) And its not like I've insisted what I heard was true, it was a rumor that I asked about & as soon as someone said it wasn't true I let it go.

If you don't want to have these kinds of conversations I'd suggest not visiting this particular forum that is riddled with hazing incidents/deaths/etc. This is where a lot of facts & rumors & lies & misunderstandings about organizations are posted.

As far as my organization goes, of course I'd want to help dispel any rumors people have heard, but if I don't know of the rumors I wouldn't know to make sure to tell them the truth. Its really best for people to post their misunderstandings so that hopefully someone will set them straight. God knows how many other people had heard the same rumor I did & because I'm not a wimp I went ahead & posted about it & now they, like me, understand that its not true.

Hey guys. Lets remember that this is a forum on Hazing. Its not meant to glorify any particular fraternity. Lambda Chi Alpha has been in its share of hot water too. Not very recently, but it has had its share in the past.

Also a reminder to the Pikes. We should all hate hazing incidents like this. I know if it happened to a chapter in my fraternity, appropriate actions need to be take. Its important to remember that not everyone lives your ritual and subscribes to anti-hazing rules as everyone else. They should never just be defended because they are in the same fraternity as you. It seems to me that most of the people on this site are outstanding members of their chapters. Don't automatically think all members are as good as you are.

SGill4613, I understand that not all members are as good as I am. However, SHOULDN'T I be the first one to stand up in their defense BECAUSE they are in the same fraternity as me? I mean, they are my Brothers after all and just because they may have screwed up doesn't lessen their status as a Brother. Not to say that people don't screw up, but there is a difference between having their f#ck up made public and turning their f#ck up into a broad generalization about the ENTIRE fraternity.

Re: Re: Re: A scapegoat?