Teke Porno scandal

[Pike4Life]

Hey I just read about this in the Chronicle of Higher Education, June 15, 2001 edition (page A35).

Apparently there is a porno tape that was just released - "Kelley the Coed Part Six - Double Secret Probation" -- that heavily features the letters, crest and other trademarked names of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity. The movie was filmed in the Teke house at USC.
Teke is suing the California company that produced the video - United Video - for unauthorized use of their trademarks. According to the article, the lawsuit says the video depicts sexual acts, hazing, excessive alcohol consumption, and irresponsible and destructive behavior.

The cover of the video box reads: "Kelly's favorite fraternity is in big trouble when they get placed on double secret probation -- that means no girls, no alcohol and no sex. What's Kelly and her horny over-sexed sorority sisters to do? Where there's a will there's a way." And above that text is a picture of several individuals engaging in sexual activity in front of a banner prominently displaying the TKE letters.

United Video claims the USC Teke chapter was paid a fee for permission to film at its fraternity house, but the Teke lawyers say they haven't seen any evidence to back that up. Plus an individual chapter does not control or authorize the use of the trademarks.

CRAZY STUFF!!! I can't believe that a chapter would even think that was a good idea! I would understand letting a film crew work in the house, but I would definately take down any and all letters or fraternity-related stuff. I mean even 90120 used made-up and fake fraternity stuff!

[SH80]

What is the world coming too?

[KABillyMac]

Double secret probation...........LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL


Thank you for this post pike I have officially laughed my butt off and have further given evidence to my co workers that I am 1 sandwich short of a picnic

[LeslieAGD]

Well actually, TKE was on probabtion on our campus for a Rush Video that they made in the fall of '99 which made numerous mention of all the (five letter word) that they "get." Since then they've really cleaned up their chapter though.

[amycat412]

I'm an alumna from USC and USC's greek system and the oNLY way I can see something like this happening would be over the summer. Over the summer the fraternity houses rent out their rooms to whomever wants them (students generally) for super cheap. I lived in the LXA house one summer for $300 for the whole summer. Couldn't beat it. At a time when there are few brothers around and full access to the house by random students, something like this COULD happen. I can't believe other greeks in residence wouldn't have stopped it, unless they weren't fully aware of what was going on.

[BrianMUDU]

Your chapter houses get rented out to just random people over the summer? Strange, never heard of such a thing here at Miami.

[HeidiHo]

At least 2 frat houses rent rooms over the summer at Cincinnati.
Heidi

[queequek]

Most of the fraternity houses here at Iowa State rent their rooms to girls. Sorority houses are closed for summer, and they love to stay in our place.

[ees125]

Some fraternities at PSU also rent rooms out during the summer.

[BrianMUDU]

That's interesting. We either have brothers live in who are taking summer classes, or it is just locked up and closed for the summer.

[shadokat]

Yeah, our sorority house is closed for the summer if nobody's living there. And we don't even own it. We have a great landlord now that we moved out of the first hole in the wall we had.

[UNFSigmaChi]

If you can't go greek....haha sorry but when I hear TKE thats what I think of. I too think its pretty odd that you let random people live in YOUR house for the summer. Arent' you worried that the residents there might find stuff they aren't supposed to or destroy the house...plus if they get hurt..man i don't wanna think of the suits. So they let girls live in the house with guys....aren't you worried one of the girls might get raped or claim rape??????

[Sig624EI]

I see nothing wrong with houses renting out rooms to non brothers during the summer. In fact I know the U of M sigs rent out rooms of their house during the summer, as does my chapter occasionaly. It can benefit the chapter (finance wise) and also help non greeks become interested in the fraternity. I think the key is that there still has to be control, or at least the majority of the summer renters should be brothers.

[amycat412]

Originally posted by UNFSigmaChi:
So they let girls live in the house with guys....aren't you worried one of the girls might get raped or claim rape??????

Same could be said for co-ed dorms. I mean, you're all adults and can control yourselves. The people sticking around are generally in summer school--which is a hard and intense condensed semster anyway. Never had any problems when I lived at LXA, never heard of anyone having any problems anywhere on campus. I don't remember, but I am sure a lease was involved that dealt with the fraternity's property and symbols, etc. Plus most of the live ins were either members of that house, of sororities (all sorority houses closed for summer), and of the few fraternities that may be closed for the summer. Rarely if ever were there people who were not greek friendly in residence for summer. All the apartment buildings were avaiable at super cheap summer rates, they could live there if so.


[This message has been edited by amycat412 (edited June 14, 2001).]

[James]

Renting rooms in Fraternity Houses is common but no absolute. Housing Corporations love ways to offset costs, after all bills and repairs have to be paid, and often summer doesn't see a full complement of brothers.

As far as fliming part of a movie there . . . There are certain releases that have to be signed by the landlord or else the film can't be filmed there or you can sue for compensation before release.

Notice that in this case the National is suing for use of trademarked items . . . which should be interesting because I don't believe TKE letters can't be copyrighted by themselves because they are standard english alphabet and the producers can say they mean anything they want. They will have to empahsize the crest etc . . .

Otherwise I am inclined to get excited about the whole thing, its just a movie