More Phi Delt hazing problems

hoosier · #1 02-02-2002, 11:25 PM

Friday, February 1, 2002

Southeast Missouri State suspends fraternity over alleged hazing incident

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) -- The Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Southeast Missouri State University faces a suspension of more than a year over an alleged hazing incident.

Under the suspension, the fraternity can't operate on campus until the summer of 2003 at the earliest, and then only if the university reinstates it, university officials said Thursday.

Southeast officials ordered members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity to move out of the school-owned fraternity house by the end of February. The students will be allowed to stay in school, officials said.

The fraternity was chartered at Southeast in 1992 and has about 50 members. Nineteen had been living in the house, but most already have moved out even as the fraternity seeks to appeal the suspension.

Southeast Missouri State drew national attention eight years ago when a student died following a hazing incident.

Michael Davis was beaten by members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in February 1994. Davis, a 25-year-old journalism student, died after being repeatedly punched, kicked and slammed to the ground during a hazing ritual. Seven members of the fraternity were convicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter. Southeast permanently banned the fraternity.

Since then, the university has handed down suspensions in two other hazing cases: Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1996 and Sigma Tau Gamma in 1997.

Hazing is prohibited under state law and university policy. The university regularly instructs students about the dangers of hazing and makes clear it won't be tolerated, officials said.

In latest suspension stems from alleged wrestling matches in the yard of the fraternity house. University spokeswoman Ann Hayes said students pledging the fraternities wrestled active members of the group.

Hayes and other school officials declined to discuss the incident in detail or describe any injuries sustained in the hazing other than to say they weren't life-threatening.

"We don't take hazing lightly," Southeast president Ken Dobbins said.

The Rev. J. Friedel, director of Catholic Campus Ministries and adviser to Phi Delta Theta, wouldn't comment.

Hayes said university officials learned of the hazing near the end of the fall semester, and only recently completed an investigation. No criminal charges have been filed.

dzsaigirl · #2 02-03-2002, 10:47 AM

My fiance's stepbrother is in that chapter!

hoosier · #3 02-03-2002, 01:30 PM

Is he a good wrestler? What's his front yard record?

dzsaigirl · #4 02-03-2002, 01:38 PM

he played football at Southeast...but not anymore. He's a biggun!
I can't really comment on his wrestling skills, but as far as personality goes, he's just not my type of guy.

hoosier · #5 02-03-2002, 05:12 PM

January 26, 2002

Fraternity faces hazing sanctions
By KIMBERLY JONES
Special to The Sun

University of Florida's Chi Phi fraternity was found responsible for hazing and giving false information to University Police on Friday by the Greek Judicial Board.

Accusations of making pledges live in a 6-by-12-foot storage room while loud music was played, forcing them to crawl in human excrement and beating pledges with paddles were made by Dave Walen, a contractor who did remodeling on the house and who testified against the fraternity.

"During 'Hell Week,' they had 14 guys live in a closet with no sleep and blaring music," Walen said. "Also, when some of the pledges had been disrespectful to the older brothers, they put cat food cans and the biggest filter of coffee grounds I'd ever seen and made them eat. One pledge ate till he vomited."

The week was supposed to be the initiation week that new pledges went through before they were inducted as brothers.

The fraternity faces several sanctions.

"They will be required to have a national representative, not affiliated with the UF chapter, live in the house until spring 2003," said Cyrus Williams, assistant dean and director for Student Judicial Affairs.

They also will have to pay for a national speaker to speak to the Greek community about hazing and the risks involved with it and have another presentation to the Greek presidents about hazing.

These sanctions will be sent as a recommendation Monday to Dean of Students Gene Zdziarski, who then decides the fraternity's fate.

Though they are facing these sanctions, Friday night Chi Phi members were celebrating that the punishment wasn't more severe.

Chi Phi was kicked off campus in 1998 for hazing and underage drinking. It returned to the house at 1 Fraternity Row in the fall of 2000.

Under UF code, hazing is an act that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical heath or safety of a person as a means of gaining or keeping membership into an organization.

Walen and Gino DiFonzo, former house adviser and Chi Phi alumnus, testified in a hearing Friday morning against the fraternity.

Walen said he saw pledges forced to do pushups and jump in the air "until they literally could not stand." He also saw pledges forced to run in the woods and on the practice field across from the fraternity.

Chi Phi brother and fall 2001 president, Rafael Molina, denied that any hazing ever occurred.

"Hazing is something we're all educated on. We sign a statement of understanding that says that there will be no hazing," Molina said. "We wanted to make sure that hazing would never be a part of our new member recruitment."

Molina said DiFonzo was a disgruntled employee who was trying to obtain money from the fraternity. He also said the fraternity calls the week "Inspiration Week," not "Hell Week."

Molina said Chi Phi is taking this as a learning experience and will act more quickly when they see problems with their employees.

"We're building a house, getting stronger and embodying our traditions of truth, honesty, personal integrity, leadership and community service," Molina said.

Walen said he was upset that only sanctions were brought against the fraternity instead of them being expelled from school or kicked off campus.

"They make a constant effort to defy every rule and have no respect for any law or rule," Walen said. "They're completely untouchable and immune to any type of prosection."

carnation · #6 02-03-2002, 07:12 PM

Okay, hoosier, we know that hazing exists and we all hate it here so your point is......?????

AlphaGam1019 · #7 02-03-2002, 07:27 PM

*cough* Hatchett?

carnation · #8 02-03-2002, 07:29 PM

(cough) V.

AchtungBaby80 · #9 02-03-2002, 10:44 PM

You know, it seems really ironic to me that very few chapters really haze nowadays but the world seems to think every Greek organization does it, I guess thanks to articles like these. When my dad was a pledge in the late 50s, EVERYONE (including both fraternities he pledged) hazed, and the stories he can tell would curl your toenails. But no one seemed to get in trouble for it then...