Beta Theta Pi & Lehigh U. Suspend Chapter (Alcohol; Hospitalizations)
 

The February 26, 2008 online issue of the Lehigh student paper has a report. An investigation is under way:

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3232308.shtml

How sad it this?

Thank you for making making your Fratenity be proud for you!:rolleyes:

Stupid and senseless, what is it going to take to get the dangers of this crap pounded into heads?

Almost as puzzling, why do they spell "offenses" in the title and under the picture as though they're writing in the UK instead of PA?

The update / report on the blood alcohol levels of the two hospitalized pledges indicates very high levels. One was .505; the other, over .300, according to the Brown & WHite:

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3241506.shtml

Oh my lord! It's a miracle they didn't have a death on their hands that night. Idiots.

Update March 15, 2008: Beta Theta Pi HQ Closes Lehigh Chapter

The campus paper has a report:

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3270283.shtml

Excerpts from article:

The Beta Theta Pi fraternity chapter at Lehigh was disbanded and suspended by the organization's national headquarters Thursday after an incident one month ago when two freshmen were sent to the hospital with near-lethal blood alcohol contents after attending a pledging event at the house last month.

. . . The students will be permitted to live in the Beta house for the remainder of the semester on the condition that there is no property damage or code of conduct violations, said John Smeaton, vice provost of student affairs. The Beta house will be considered a residence hall and not a fraternity house. . . .

The fraternity will still undergo a university hearing for charges of furnishing alcohol to minors and endangering the lives of students Monday night. Hearings for individual Beta members facing charges will be held at a later date. . . .

from a student's perspective...
 

as a student who attends lehigh, i am sad to inform you that this is not an isolated event or even one specific to that particular fraternity. that wasn't even a "hazing" event, really... it's far too common at lehigh and many students in many different fraternities/sororities have flirted with danger far too many times.

Thank you for your honest posting.
Too bad it is so true in too many campuses.

However reading Code of Conduct,IFC rules, and Hazing policy, activity seems to be in violation of all:
http://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/greek/...lianceForm.pdf
http://www3.lehigh.edu/pdf/housing/GPO_F_S_07-08.pdf
http://www.lehighifc.org/documents/1165546428_Recrutiment%20Brochure%20(draft).pdf
http://www.lehigh.edu/~inocs/docs/Pr...oredEvents.pdf
http://www.stophazing.org/laws/pa_law.htm
http://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/conduc...eJuly2006.html
http://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/conduct/hbook_5.html
http://www.lehigh.edu/~indost/conduc...ConductSum.pdf

And from my own experiences, I fear the the the' "old" traditions' have be either mis-constructed,mis-construed, abused and/or execrated.

Thank you for your candid statement!

It is a shame when some continue to carry on "the old" traditions no matter how bad they are.:mad:

It then comes to situations such as this and covers us all as Greeks to make us look bad.:rolleyes:

More About Lehigh Situation: Another Fraternity Closed (Hazing Alleged)

The March 18, 2008 campus paper reports that another fraternity at Lehigh has been closed: Sigma Alpha Mu. An appeal is possible.

http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3273615.shtml

Excerpts from article:

Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity was disbanded at a university hearing Monday night after being charged with hazing.

The fraternity has a week to appeal. . . .
Under the current sanction, the chapter will be dissolved for the next four years after which the fraternity will be eligible to apply for reinstatement . . . .

March 21, 2008 Edited to add:

Campus paper's editorial on the recent closures:
http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3277113.shtml

Campus paper's article with quotes from IFC president and other fraternities about the recent closings and hazing / alochol / "traditions," etc.:
http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3277110.shtml

Not sure if this story was added to this thread yet:
Officials: Beta can reinstate in 10 years

Restrictions for Beta Theta Pi fraternity's return to campus were discussed at a university hearing Monday.

Beta can apply for reinstatement in 10 years, given its nationals approves the bid, said John Smeaton, vice provost for student affairs.

Lehigh will also need to be in an expansionary period, Smeaton said, in order to take in another fraternity.

Termination was a consideration given the circumstances, Smeaton said.

The hearing resulted from incidents that occurred during a pledging event over a month ago at Beta.

Two freshmen were taken to the hospital after drinking near-lethal amounts of alcohol.
http://media.www.thebrownandwhite.co...-3277086.shtml

And this is a rather interesting blog in the campus paper:
The BW Blog

Commentary and discussion with The Brown and White’s top editors and writers.
March 5th, 2008

Is The Brown and White anti-Greek?

At a school with about 40 percent of undergraduates involved in Greek life, The Brown and White frequently covers what’s going on in sororities and fraternities. Sometimes we cover stories that reflect the positive aspects (link) of Greek life, such as philanthropic events or fund raisers. Other times we cover stories that reflect the negative aspects of Greek life, such as the high-risk drinking that led to a student being sent to a hospital with a .505 BAC (link).
Speaking as an editor with experience as both the news editor and the editorial pages editor, I don’t think the paper is anti-Greek.
http://blogs.thebrownandwhite.com/?p=46