TX Tech Saddle Tramps on Temporary Suspension
 

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=4442731&nav=3w6y
2/1/06
Saddle Tramps on Temporary Suspension

The Saddle Tramps will no longer be ringing the victory bell after Texas Tech wins. The spirit organization is on temporary suspension. Saddle Tramps say some members encouraged new members to come to their induction at the bell tower last Thursday in costume.

Texas Tech Police documented suspicious activity on the east side of the administration building at that hour. The Office of Campus Life is investigating it as a possible hazing violation. During the investigation, the Saddle Tramps are on temporary suspension. This means their funding from campus life has also been suspended.

As mentioned, they can't ring the victory bell and they also lose privileged seating at basketball games.

KA, TKE, DSP all involved in hazing charges and suits at TX Tech.

Anybody able to update what their results were?

KA members are all now outstanding alumnus in bad standing as of a few months ago. all of the pledges got immediately initiated.

At least The Chapter was not removed and they are given a second chance to revitalize.:)

Any Updates on the other two would be appreciated!

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=4476672&nav=3w6y

2/8/06
Former Saddle Tramp Member Speaks Out About Alleged Hazing Incident

New developments in an alleged hazing incident surrounding the Texas Tech Saddle Tramps. The Lubbock district attorney's office is asking Texas Tech police to re-open their investigation into what happened the night of January 26th.

... NewsChanne 11_spoke with a Tramp alumni that says you must pass a test to become a Saddle Tramp. It does involve the Bell Tower, the same place where the Texas Tech police caught this year's pledges, but the former member says it does not include hazing.

"It's usually pretty innocent." The former Saddle Tramp member wanted to stay anonymous so he could tell NewsChannel 11 the history behind Saddle Tramp initiations. "The tradition is very old, it goes back to the very beginning of the organization. This joking around at the Bell Tower is new maybe in the past ten years or so."

Tradition says the pledges are brought to the Bell Tower and are told to climb the steps and count every stair on their way up. When they reach the top, they have to give the correct number, before they can be called a Saddle Tramp.

The Bell Tower tradition is not what was in question this time. It's what the pledges were reportedly wearing. But was it hazing or innocent fun?

"There's maybe a little public humiliation, but it's in the middle of the night, no one is out there." The Tramp says he remembers the night he was initiated. "When I was a pledge it included a lot would wear white it-shirts and the members would write phrases on them. Then we'd have the pledge bring random things like jumper cables to get them scared, to make them start thinking a little bit, then we told them to show up at the Bell Tower."

He says the original tradition is harmless but what he and other alumni are asking is was tradition followed or did it get out of hand this year? "We would like to see the organization strap down and get down to business and do what they're supposed to be doing."

The former member we spoke with says the Saddle Tramps aim to be leaders in the Tech community but speculates members are getting younger and that may explain why things could've got out of hand this year.

KA will be back in the fall and most of the member suspended will be back as active. TKE is operating with out reconized by the University. Not to sure whats going on with DSP. And the Saddle tramps wont be gone for very long considering the amount of weight thier alumi can trow around so i would say look for saddle traps ringin the bell this comming fall at the football games