KA-MO cannon blast: it's probation
 

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Cheers to the KA office for suporting common sense"

Harvey said Kappa Alpha did not consider revoking the charter of its MU chapter. "A bad decision-making on a couple of individuals should not penalize or affect the charter status of a chapter," he said.

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Frat punished in cannon blast
By NATE CARLISLE of the Tribune’s staff
Published Thursday, June 10, 2004

A University of Missouri-Columbia fraternity has been placed on probation and ordered to educate other students after a cannon explosion in its front yard.

The Kappa Alpha Order, however, did not lose its charter at MU.

The university and the Kappa Alpha national office confirmed this morning that the MU chapter is on social probation through the end of the 2004-05 academic year. Under MU’s definition, social probation means the fraternity cannot hold events that include alcohol.

Kappa Alpha also must lead a seminar for MU Greeks that discusses the cannon mishap. The national office is requiring its MU brothers to give a similar presentation for chapter presidents at other campuses.

"So basically, it’s an education session for the entire" Greek "system that basically sets up the scenario and points out the errors in the decision-making process, as it were, and will educate the other members of the Greek community on the consequences," said Stewart Harvey, a spokesman for the national office.

On April 29, a cannon exploded on Kappa Alpha’s lawn at College and University avenues. Police arrested three 21-year-olds, including the fraternity president and vice president.

Chapter President Seth R. Fagan, Vice President Daniel B. Dunn and member Nicholas A. Adkins were charged with reckless exploding and third-degree assault. Both violations are Class A misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. All three have pleaded not guilty in Boone County Circuit Court. Their cases are pending.

Kappa Alpha legend dates the cannon to the Civil War. A probable cause statement said Fagan admitted to police that he fired the cannon and that doing so was an annual tradition for the fraternity’s president.

Police said the fraternity members loaded fireworks in the cannon. The discharge sent black cast iron flying.

The assault charge is predicated on an 8-inch fragment crashing through the roof of the nearby five-story University Place Apartments, piercing the ceiling and floor of one level and landing on a table-tennis table during a game.

Neither Fagan, Dunn nor Adkins returned phone calls this morning.

Harvey said Kappa Alpha did not consider revoking the charter of its MU chapter. "A bad decision-making on a couple of individuals should not penalize or affect the charter status of a chapter," he said.

University Place Manager Doug Miller said this morning that the apartment building is in discussions with Kappa Alpha’s insurance company to pay for damages.

hoosier, thank you for posting this!

While stupidity may reign, so did a little common sense!

There was no reason in the world to yank a charter or kick them off of campus!

Justice and judgement Rules.:)

A good decision, I think.

Good to hear.

It is a stupid decision. They could have killed someone. National organizations are inconsistent.


A national will yank one chapter's charter because they had a party and one person was under the age of 21 but when another organization has a party and then blows up a cannon they get probation.

Why did they have a cannon in the first place? Aren't there risk management rules against firearms?

They had a cannon because I'm guessing it had something to do with their history. It dates back to the civil war and it was sort of a tradition for them to fire of the cannon every year...

It was an accident that could have been avoided easily by not doing it, but by no means were their intentions to hurt someone. I don't think they should have had their charter pulled for that, but they should be punished. Their nationals made a good decision.

-Matt

Like I said in the other thread on this topic (Yo, Hoosier, how about bumping it?) KAs in the south have a symbolic cannon at their house, just like DGs have an anchor.

My (and Mr A's) suggestion was that if a chapter wants a cannon as a decoration, they should be required to plug it with concrete and otherwise render it inoperative. From what we've heard recently, national is moving to make sure that happens. Fortunately, very few chapters actually have one of these antique cannons, and even fewer have modern ones.

Adrienne

Re: KA-MO cannon blast: it's probation
 

Beside KA's insurance company, shouldn't the perpetrators should also be responsible for the damages?

Yes, with one possible exception. On some campuses, cannons are used to celebrate home team scores at football games. Thankfully, those are generally operated by ROTC units and are more modern (and thus idiot-proof) -- and the crews are specially trained.

I generally agree, though, with the National decision in this case simply because it was not a part of any kind of chapter event, but rather a couple of idiots.

I suppose it could be argued that since the people involved were a "group" of KA's that it became a chapter event as is the case in some fraternities and sororities. Apparatnely that's not the case with KA, though.

If the university and local authorities don't take action, then it's up to the Nationals.

Re: KA-MO cannon blast: it's probation
 

On a side note - aside from whether or not this should have happened -- what I would have given to be there during a freaking ping-pong game when that thing landed - ROFLMAO!

So who got the point? :D

Re: Re: KA-MO cannon blast: it's probation
 

They already are.

The mental midgets who conducted this little stunt still have a court date and are looking at stiff fines and possible jail time.

The local authorities did NOT just pass this off to the fraternity. The kids are being sanctioned by KA national as well as the police. KA is not interfering with the legal proceedings - if anything they're helping them.

--add

A cannon mishap happened a few years back at my college. Some members of Kappa Alpha fired a cannon at their "Old South" party and the cannon exploded and sent pieces everywhere. No major damage, as far as I know. My sister was actually at the party, and narrowly escaped a piece of the cannon because a column she was standing behind blocked it from hitting her. One guy got hit with a piece and hurt, but not seriously. I don't think any punitive action was taken, because they kept it pretty hush-hush. That was the end of their cannon days, though.