Phi Beta Sigma hazers suspended at UT-Arl.
 

January 22, 2004

Greek Life
Group suspended in hazing case
Phi Beta Sigma has lost its campus privileges due to allegations made in the fall.

By Candace Sweat
Contributor to The Shorthorn

Phi Beta Sigma fraternity was suspended for two years starting last October over a hazing allegation lodged by a student. It was the third Greek organization to be suspended for hazing in the past three years.

Officials declined to characterize the incident or discuss details, but Elizabeth Massengale said an investigation determined that the fraternity violated Texas Education Code policies on hazing.

Massengale, who oversees Greek life as assistant Student Activities director, said the university followed the lead of the fraternity’s national office which determined the allegations warranted suspension.

The university maintains that federal student privacy law prohibits release of the members’ names.

She did not say if any members were individually disciplined. Dean of Students Austin Lane did not return phone calls.

Attempts to reach members of the fraternity were unsuccessful. Representatives of Phi Beta Sigma’s regional and national offices also did not respond to interview requests.

The chapter will not be recognized by the university as a campus organization or be allowed to participate in or organize campus events.

Phi Beta Sigma is the second fraternity under the National Panhellenic Council, made up of Greek organizations, to be suspended from campus in the last three years.

“NPHC should have been more responsible of overseeing the intake process on campus,” said Thomas Mayfield, Alpha Phi Alpha and NPHC member.

The university implemented a zero-tolerance policy in response to stricter state laws on hazing.

The Delta Sigma Theta sorority’s chapter here was suspended in 2002 for four years.

The campus chapter of Phi Delta Theta was suspended in the summer for two years for hazing a pledge last spring.

Rachel Proctor, the Panhellenic Council’s immediate past president, declined to comment.

Phi Beta Sigma’s suspension was the second in 2002.

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I want to how this affects orgs that no longer have recognition. So the school says you can't take part in campus events...so what does that mean? Can they enforce it? How involved were you in campus events to start with? Does it really matter?

-Rudey

Some good questions.

I suspect there are a couple of considerations. First, the "Town/Gown" relationship and whether local civic authorities will "help" the university enforce it's decisions. For instance using zoning rules to force chapters to move out of their houses. Or really strict enforcement of noise ordaninces, etc.

Second, whether university policy allows punitive measures to be talken against students and/or groups for things done off campus.

I have read of cases of schools holding chapters responsible, and punishing them for things that happen off campus -- but those were to accredited groups as I recall.

Usually this means that an organzation will no longer have access to use of campus facilities, or be able to host on-campus events, etc. On some campuses, if a student is caught affiliating with a non-recognized group, he/she could face disciplinary action from the school. I would say that losing recognition really does matter to many cultural/ethnic interest fraternities and sororities because most of us host numerous workshops and activities on campus throughout the year. Involvement, be it community service or academic, is the backbone of many of our organizations.

co-sign on LA's post.

If a chapter is not recognized, they can't do intake, but any individual members [assuming they are not facing additional punitive measures] can still wear their letters.

I don't think it matters that much. SAE is one of the bigger fraternities on campus and they haven't been recognized by the University since I believe 1991...

it does matter
 

For BGLO's if they are not recognized by a campus that usually also entails a national sanction against the chapter. Different campuses will allow varying degrees of participation for suspended organizations but in this case they cannot represent the national body or hold activities under the auspices of their chapter unless explicitly given permission. That means no intakes, fundraisers, parties etc in most cases.

Re: it does matter
 

Oh so it's different. I didn't know you couldn't take anyone in. There's no way people go around that crap?

-Rudey

Re: Re: it does matter
 

Sometimes organizations that are not recognized (not just NPHC, this can be anyone) still take in new members, but I would imagine that the majority of nationals won't recognize these people as official brothers or sisters. Plus, like I said before, some universities will take action against students who try to join unrecognized fraternities and sororities. This is why some schools send out notices to students and parents warning them ahead of time to make sure the organization they want to join is fully recognized.

Re: Re: it does matter
 

yeah it's a different situation, for BGLOs if you are suspended and bring in new members they will not be recognized by HQ and they run the risk of being barred from seeking membership at anytime (only a few i know of have been barred permanently but that happens as well). that's not to say people won't still attempt to join a suspended chapter but there's no way for them to fully active in the organization until they go through a recognized process. for example during the last year Alpha Kappa Alpha suspended intake for undergraduates everywhere, anyone that says they crossed after spring 2002 and before fall 2003 on the undergraduate level would be suspect.