http://www.thelantern.com/news/2005/...d-937697.shtml
Interim suspension is lifted
By David J. Cross
Published: Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Article Tools: Page 1 of 1
Three Ohio State greek organizations under investigation for allegations of hazing were taken off of interim suspension following appeals to Vice President of Student Affairs Bill Hall.
Ruth Gerstner, spokeswoman for the Office of Student Affairs, said Delta Gamma sorority, 131 E. 15th Ave., Kappa Phi Lambda sorority, 1160 Kinnear Road Apt. 2316, and Beta Theta Pi fraternity, 165 E. 15th Ave., were notified in e-mail messages Friday that they had been taken off interim suspension.
Gerstner said the organizations are still under investigations for the allegations despite the removal of the interim suspension.
"(An) interim suspension by its very nature is meant to be temporary and the investigation to date doesn't indicate that any of those groups are at an immediate risk of harming students or the community," she said. "Therefore, the interim suspension was lifted."
Attempts to contact the presidents of Kappa Phi Lambda and Beta Theta Pi were unsuccessful.
Caroline Von Sick, president of Delta Gamma and junior in psychology, said Delta Gamma was notified April 11 that it was under investigation for hazing allegations and that the organization was formally notified April 15 that it was on interim suspension and under investigation by Student Judicial Affairs and Greek Life.
Von Sick said Delta Gamma appealed the suspension on April 18.
The exact dates Kappa Phi Lambda and Beta Theta Pi were notified of the investigations and the interim suspensions along with the dates their appeals were filed are not certain.
Von Sick declined to comment about the specifics of the hazing allegation about Delta Gamma on the grounds that she had no new information besides the investigation is still pending.
According to a document obtained from Greek Life's Web site, hazing is defined as "any action taken or situation created, intentionally, when on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule."
According OSU's Student Code of Conduct examples of hazing include forced drinking, paddling and creation of excessive fatigue.
The allegations against the greek organizations are not related, Kurt Foriska, coordinator Greek Life, said in an April 21 Lantern article.
In an April 20 e-mail message Gerstner said an interim suspension meant the greek organizations were not be able to "participate in any recognized student organization activities, including intramurals, chapter socials events or social events with other student organizations."
She also said an interim suspension is "designed to protect students from possible harm and to encourage cooperation with university authorities."
Gerstner said she does not know when the investigations will conclude.
"It'll take as long as it takes," she said.