Permanent closing due to hazing...
 

When well we ever learn?

The Associated Press
January 10, 2003

SLU kicks out fraternity

HAMMOND, La. (AP) -- Southeastern Louisiana University has
permanently kicked its oldest fraternity off campus because of a
hazing incident that put a pledge in a hospital.

Thursday's action was taken against Kappa Delta Tau, which told a
group of pledges to swim in a cold pond, university spokesman Rene
Abadie said. One of the pledges was hospitalized with hypothermia.

"It's a permanent loss of privileges," Abadie said. "They're out of here."

The action came as a result of an incident in which new fraternity
members were told to swim in a pond on a cold day in late November.
Later, one of the students passed out near a campfire and was
hospitalized in intensive care and diagnosed with hypothermia.

The 19-year-old student was released from the hospital the following
day. The incident occurred off campus at a site near Hammond Airport,
Abadie said.

Earlier this week, the fraternity admitted to the university's
judicial officer that it had violated the school's anti-hazing
policies.

Kappa Delta Tau was SLU's oldest fraternity, having been formed on
campus in 1931.

In the last major disciplinary incident involving an SLU fraternity,
Kappa Sigma's Mu Omega chapter in October 2000 was ordered suspended
for three years.

The fraternity accepted the suspension after an investigation of
drinking by underage students. The investigation began after an
18-year-old student fell from a balcony of the SLU Student Union.

Copyright 2003 Associated Press.

Delt,
Are these "locals?" Neither organization mentioned rings any bells with me....

Sad. Poor judgement = loss of 70 years of heritage.

I suspect they're locals. I don't recognize them either.

I get disturbed that instances of hazing keep following patterns -- swimming in the dark and cold, underage drinking, etc.

Ugh!

I don't recognize Kappa Delta Tau, but I read the other as the Mu Omega chapter of Kappa Sigma. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong...

I completely agree with you, DeltAlum -- swimming the the dark and cold, underage drinking.

~edited for spelling~

Nope, you're right. A little dyslexic in my old age.

You and me both, Delt....

Don't blame it on old age... just that English concentration I subjected myself to in college. lol

Does it make any difference whether a local or a International?

Stupidity by any other name is the same! AAARRRRGGGGGG! DA!

If this happened, then they should be punished!

I am in hopes that if enuff is posted, maybe it will filter out through the many many members of GC!

That's what I would like to know...what is the difference if it is a local or not?

Here's a website that lists all the fraternities at Southeastern Louisiana U.
It is: http://www.selu.edu/StudentAffairs/S...ternities.html

No difference whatsoever. We simply didn't recognize the letters -- partially out of not looking closely enough.

We get the blame, and insurance rates too
 

It doesn't matter, it seems, if it is a local fratenity or sorority, or a black fratenity using wood, or a city alumnae chapter (as in the recent California double drowning case), the media says XYZ fraternity at ABC College is in trouble again.

Occasionally, of course, we get a little good publicity when some honorary sorority or such buys gifts for orphans, but it takes about 100 good items to equal one drunken hazing hospitalization.

Or maybe it takes 1,000 good to equal one bad.

If it bleeds it leads...

If you have something negative you can always count on the media to air it out. That's what news is.

Preventative PR can only help you so much. Take an underager swimming, drunk in a cold pond and you can pretty much forget about any good you've ever done.

Re: We get the blame, and insurance rates too
 

That's true. But not just in Greek Life.

I have a nearly perfect driving record over nearly 40 years, but if I get drunk and kill somebody on the interstate on the way home this afternoon, that's the only thing I'll be remembered for. And, even with my driving record, my insurance keeps going up because of the other folks out on the roads who may not be as careful. And, we all know what happens to those rates when we get a ticket or are at fault in an accident.

I've said this so many times in these forums, but I have to say it again -- hiding behind the "big bad media is out to get us" is a copout. As KT pointed out above, "That's what news is."

One more time -- if you don't want to receive negative press, DON'T BREAK THE LAW!

Journalists didn't just wake up one morning and decide that the Greek System is bad. There are years and years of hazing, alcohol abuse, drugs and disturbances that created the reputation.

Guess what else? As much as I/we hate to admit it, a lot of that reputation may be deserved.

Uhm underage drinking?

Under drinking and no injuries = good time.

Under age drinking and an injury = hazing


If people are going to obsess about underage drinking . . . I suggest they get their fraternities to only accept 21 year old or older members.