Officials continue IFC investigation
By Stephanie Zeller
Published: Friday, September 23, 2005
The Murray State News
University officials will meet Monday morning to determine the status of social suspension for four fraternities whose members admitted to drinking alcohol at the Greek Retreat in August.
Mike Young, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, said the suspension will be removed if the service hours and $1,000 donation meets the University officials' "satisfaction of accountability."
Alpha Gamma Rho, Lambda Chi Alpha, Pi Kappa Alpha and Sigma Chi were charged $250 each, but the members have yet to complete their combined 85 hours.
Young said he received an e-mail from Michael Brown, Interfraternity Council president, which stated the coordinator of Jonathan Creek, where the retreat was held, said he would have a date when the individuals could complete their service hours.
"They will remain on probation until the community service hours have been completed," Young said.
Rob Whitfield, public relations director for IFC, said the facility responded positively to the apology letter and the monetary donation. He said they are hoping the suspension will be removed by next week.
However, Jonathan Creek officials also alleged fraternity members defecated on room towels while at the retreat.
"The University was informed that a towel was found with a substance that appeared to be feces," Whitfield said. "Obviously, there was no confirmation as to whether that was actually the case."
Whitfield said IFC conducted an investigation to verify all of the information and found no proof the defecation occurred.
"In fact, there is wide speculation among IFC that is probably did not occur, or if it did, that the substance was not feces but was something like mud," he said. "The area close to the camp, the ground was incredibly muddy and quite frankly, it stank."
However, a Jonathan Creek representative, who requested anonymity, said the maintenance supervisor discovered the towels.
"It was not mud," the representative said.
As to whether ignorance is a legitimate excuse for bringing alcohol, the representative said the fraternities should have known the facility was dry because he spoke with Michael Brown about the rules before the event.
Whitfield said the rules were ambiguous to the individuals. He also said as far as he knows, the involved individuals were of legal drinking age.