something similar happened to the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter here at Iowa....
Publication: Daily Iowan
Publication Date: 11/13/00
Page and Section: 1 A
By Natasha Lambropoulos/The Daily Iowan
The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, 1032 N. Dubuque St., lost its UI recognition earlier this month for alleged violations of school alcohol-distribution policies during the Greek system's formal recruitment week in August.
While no longer considered a UI student group, Pi Kappa Alpha members still have to wait for word from the chapter's national headquarters to find out what will become of the fraternity and its privately owned house.
"When a chapter loses university recognition, that chapter loses its university housing benefits as well," said UI junior Jason Goslin, the Interfraternity Council president. "The national organization owns the house, and it is up to it to determine whether the members can continue to live in the house."
However, it is very seldom that Greek chapters who lose university recognition are approved to continue their charters, he said.
The charter is the official recognition of a fraternity by its national chapter. Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity representatives would not comment on the matter Sunday.
Phillip Jones, the UI vice president for Student Services, decided to revoke the fraternity's UI recognition for serving alcohol to prospective members in the chapter house, said Tom Baker, the UI assistant dean of students. He would not comment on how the UI became aware of the alleged misconduct.
Under UI recruitment policies, recognized student organizations may not serve alcohol to perspective members, Baker said. UI policies also state that alcohol is prohibited from all fraternities at the UI unless it is in the room of a member who is 21 or older and all others present in the room are 21 or older. Many students going through formal recruitment are incoming freshmen at the UI.
Allegations of alcohol disbursement to prospective members were placed against the fraternity in early September, Baker said. During various meetings with Jones and Baker, the executive members of the chapter "never disputed" the allegations against them, Baker said.
While the members of Pi Kappa Alpha did not directly admit to the UI's accusations, the UI finally determined alcohol was distributed because members did not profess their innocence in the matter, Baker said.
The situation was further investigated by Jones, which led to his decision in de-recognizing the chapter.
Jones was out of town and unavailable for comment.
With the loss of UI recognition, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity will no longer be able to participate in UI-related events or use UI facilities.
Unless it regains recognition, the fraternity cannot engage in events with other Greek chapters on campus, such as Homecoming, Greek Week and fall recruitment, Baker said.
The fraternity may appeal Jones' decision to UI President Mary Sue Coleman. There is no deadline for appealing, he said.
"As far as I know, my office has not been notified of an appeal, although it goes to the president's office first," Baker said.
The fraternity's chapter president, Dale McCaw, was unavailable for comment. Other fraternity members refused to comment.
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