Betas at Colgate Being Disciplined for Alleged Hazing
 

Colgate Maroon-News
February 14, 2002

Disciplinary Action Taken Against Beta Theta Pi Fraternity

By Nathaniel Lewis Editor-in-Chief

The recent sanctions of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity (Beta), announced last Friday, have drawn strong reactions across campus during the past week. Although some students have viewed the sanctions with skepticism, many parties have issued a strong affirmation of the ruling.

The allegations against Beta involved the near-death of a student who became severely intoxicated and was hospitalized following a hazing incident at the Beta house. Following a hearing, an advisory board, comprising several deans as well as faculty and students from the University Student Disciplinary Board, recommended to Assistant Dean of the College Nöel Bisson that Beta be found responsible for hazing new members, serving alcohol to minors and for failing to comply with
University officials when the initial investigation ensued. Although
Bisson, who serves as the University's Disciplinary Officer, holds
the final decisionmaking power regarding penalties for group
violations of University policy, she felt that her decision should be
based on the collective advice of the board.

"We want consensus for these types of decisions, and the board showed an overwhelming affirmation on the board for the course of action that I chose to follow," Bisson said.

For the violation of University hazing and alcohol policies, Beta is
now suspended for three semesters and is prohibited from recruiting new members or holding social events during that time period. In addition, Beta has been placed on probationary recognition for a 10-year period. For failing to comply with University officials, Beta was suspended for two semesters and placed on 10- year probation.

While this final sanction will be logistically inconsequential due to
the three-semester suspensions already incurred for hazing and
alcohol violations, it is consistent with the University's recent
call for students to be honest and accountable for their actions.

"The administration gave members of Beta ample opportunity to explain what happened; and we were not satisfied that we were getting the truth," Bisson explained. "The fraternity as a whole is accountable because no individuals came forward," she added. "We follow the guidelines defining group accountability in the Relationship Statement and in our Handbook, and it is our responsibility to find the group responsible if policy has been violated. I don't believe for a minute that every member of the house was involved in the incident, but it becomes the group's responsibility to own up to the allegations." Many students have responded negatively to the sanctions, not just because they believe the sanctions to be too severe, but also because they feel the sanctions to be inappropriate, considering the new member's supposed history of alcohol abuse and
the house's to recently sanctioned houses, such as Delta Kappa
Epsilon and Alpha Tau Omega.

However, administrators maintain that decisions regarding group
violations must be based solely on the actions of the organization. "The disciplinary actions were in response to specific issues, and it was specific incidents that led to the sanctions," Associate Dean of the College Jim Terhune said. "Whatever the student's history, it has no bearing in the investigation," Bisson added. "Students are losing sight of the real problem here: the fact that a student almost died
as a result of something that happened while at Beta."

Students, however, responded to the University's ruling in a strong fashion, staging a protest in McGregory Hall last Friday when the sanctions were publicly announced via e-mail.

Although students initially planned to protest during a meeting
between administrators and Greek organization leaders in the Hall of Presidents, the group of about 200 marched up the hill to McGregory upon realizing that the meeting had been cancelled.

Recently resigned Inter Fraternity Council President junior Fritz
Franz, also a member of Beta, led the charge, claiming that students should act on the premise that laws and rulings must be protested in order to be re-evaluated. The protest lasted for about an hour, intermittently broken up due to fire hazard concerns, until Terhune addressed the students in the hall of McGregory, saying that open conversations about the sanctions would need to be postponed until after the appeals process was complete.

As the appeals process continues for Beta, students have voiced their feelings on the issue. During the protest, one representative of Kappa Alpha Theta claimed, "We're here to support our fellow Greeks, and we want Beta to receive the same type of fair treatment and due process that we would want for ourselves."

Beta President Asaf Nagler echoed this sentiment. "Especially at a time like this, it's really shocking that the administration is being
so unreceptive to students - and more than a Greek matter, this
really is a student matter," he said. However, administrators have reiterated that protest is not the best recourse in this particular case.

"Students need to understand that there is an official appeals
process with a final decision made by Dean Weinberg, and that lashing out will not have any effect on this," said Bisson.

But even amidst disappointment and upheaval, Beta has opportunity to maintain its reputation and standing despite the sanctions.

According to Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Kelly
Opipari, her office will offer leadership development opportunities
and short- and long-term planning workshops. The chapter also plans to engage in Beta Theta Pi internationally sponsored leadership development opportunities that will impact the rebuilding of the chapter in a positive way.

"One of the most important things about being part of a fraternal
organization is that your actions reflect on that group no matter
where you are," Opipari said. "As Beta is not allowed to function as a chapter until 2004, they can still make significant contributions of themselves as individuals, and it will undoubtedly reflect positively on their fraternity and the overall Greek community.

(c) 2003 Colgate Maroon-News.

this is unfortunate. ive heard that they got the shaft big time and are gonna fight it to the end with the alums, gf getting involved. they are a very strong chapter and I wish I knew the whole story and not just the school's version which seems to be "this happend in beta so it must be hazing". I know a lot of guys who have gotten alcohol poisoning in fraternity houses and it had nothing to do with hazing. dammit

Alcohol poisoning is something that should NEVER occur in a fraternity house. When something like that happens it sets us all back, not just the individuals or the chapter involved. True, it may not have occured as a direct result of hazing but why should ANYONE be in an environment where such a thing could be allowed to happen? Especially to someone underage?

Those are extremely valid questions for the administration to be asking. You can take comfort in the fact that they haven't pulled the plug on the entire greek system as a result of this as has been done at other schools for much smaller reasons.

colgate cant afford to just "pull the plug" because greek alums there are very influential. furthermore, while I sort of agree with what you said, a lot of people drink to excess and get alcohol poisoning OF THEIR OWN ACCORD. could it have been hazing? possibly but I doubt there would be so much upheaval if it was downright hazing. obviously something doesnt fit. furthermore, the article even mentions this guy's supposed history of alcohol abuse. if this is true then this may have happend regardless of the fraternity or the culture. Ill be interested to see how the appeals process goes

So, it appears from the article that what we have is two parties, the university and the chapter, pointing fingers at each other and a split student body, some defending the chapter and others feeling they deserved their santions.

It's interesting that there is no coment from Beta Nationals.

Unfortunately, in most of the cases we read about here, the initial charges turn out to be proven in the long run.

If the university really, "can't afford to 'just pull the plug,'" because Beta is so strong and has such influential alumni, it would seem to me that they would be very careful, even reluctant to issue santions this strong.

Aditionally, a close reading of the article would seem to indicate that there were other instances of alleged hazing and providing alcohol to minors.

Finally, it appears that even the university is saying that the problem is not due to the entire chapter's actions, but since the group is not willing to come forward and name those involved, the entire group must suffer. I can't speak for this case, specifically, but sometimes it is necessary (no matter how distasteful) to rid a chapter of the "bad apples" in order to save the rest of the group.

The outcome of this one should be pretty interesting.

Re: Betas at Colgate Being Disciplined for Alleged Hazing
 

I'm a little new at this, so please excuse the stupid question :)
I wanted to know what exactly happens when a fraternity is suspended or put on probation? Is it a really big deal? Do you consider it to be a very strict punishment?

Thanks for the info! :)

It can be very sevre depending on the punishment!~ Like putting the Organization out of business on that campus!

No rushing, social functions, participating of any kind!

That is the kiss of death! Goodby Chapter!

no way. they are 70 strong without their pledges and they only are missing one big recruitment period. the colgate chapter is very strong and will get through this and be better off for it. stay strong boys!

But if the house is off campus, they can still have social functions, right? I mean, they just cannot do things on campus? Can't they have new people join even if the fraternity has been separated from the college?

Thanks for your help! :)

they havent been removed from campus. they have been essentially locked down through next winter. after which they will resume normal activities. they havent been kicked out or had their charter pulled. they are on "vacation time" for a bit. thats my understanding of it

I hope you're right, but I have to back Tom up on this.

As an alumni advisor, it is remarkable (actually scary sometimes) how one bad semester/quarter can begin a downhill spiral which is difficult to overcome.

I wish them the best.