Penn State TKE's back to normal after last years incident
 

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive...03dnews-12.asp

Fraternity returning to normal one year after student's fall


By Jen Winberry
Collegian Staff Writer
More than a year after an intoxicated 20-year-old Penn State student fell out of her eighth-floor apartment window, life for the fraternity that provided the alcohol, Tau Kappa Epsilon, has almost returned to normal.

"Things are going really well for us now," said Matt Kondracki, Tau Kappa Epsilon president. "We are fully recognized by both the Interfraternity Council and the national chapter. We've self-imposed many new policies to make sure nothing like this ever happens again."

He said this semester's pledge class of 24 male students is one of the biggest Tau Kappa Epsilon, 346 E. Prospect Ave., has seen in the last decade.

In October 2002, Kevin Mayeux, chief executive of the national chapter, placed the fraternity under temporary suspension after he received the criminal complaint filed against the fraternity from the State College Police Department.

"I thought there was enough credible information," Mayeux said.

In February, Centre County Judge Thomas Kistler imposed a one-year probation on the fraternity, which pleaded no contest to a charge of selling or furnishing liquor or malt beverages to minors.

The fraternity had to pay a $2,500 fine plus court costs and fees, and members had to perform 500 hours of community service.

The fraternity's probation will automatically end in February, barring any unforeseen difficulties.

"Once their probation is over in February, nothing else will happen to them as far as the court is concerned," said Jeremy Packer, probation officer to Tau Kappa Epsilon. "We haven't had any problems with them so far."

Natalie Paglione, the woman who fell out her eighth-floor window at Beaver Terrace, 456 E. Beaver Ave., said she has recovered fully.

"I have no ill feelings towards the fraternity," Paglione said. "I didn't follow the story, so I don't really know what happened to them."

Paglione fell from the window during the early morning hours of Sept. 8, 2002. After investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, police said they had found the accident to be alcohol-related.

Her blood alcohol content was 0.135, exceeding the legal limit for intoxication, police said. Brad Nelson, then-president of Tau Kappa Epsilon, admitted to purchasing seven kegs of beer for the party, which was held at a fraternity member's house, police said.

The fraternity is current working on several policies to ensure that no similar alcohol-related incidents happen again.

"We are working with our alumni to help implement risk management procedures with alcohol," Kondracki said. "We no longer host the usual large parties like other frats."

It expects to have a new alcohol policy drafted by the end of the semester.

Associate director of greek life Scott Phelan said that since the incident, there is greater alumni involvement with the fraternity.

"I think they received sanctions that were justified for what happened," he said. "I think they've learned from the experience and will emerge a stronger fraternity."
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