Delta Omega Chi of MTV fame loses recognition

moe.ron · #1 06-14-2003, 03:16 PM

UCSC revokes fraternity's recognition over fish incident

By Jennifer McNulty

UC Santa Cruz announced today (June 13) that it has "revoked recognition" of the Delta Omega Chi fraternity over an incident last month that resulted in the death of a campus koi fish. The revocation, which is permanent, means that the campus has severed all ties to the fraternity. Without UCSC affiliation, the fraternity will no longer have access to campus services or facilities.

"Our investigation into this matter has resulted in a finding of responsibility for Delta Omega Chi fraternity," said Doug Zuidema, director of UCSC's Student Judicial Affairs Office. "We have revoked recognition of the fraternity based on our conclusion that members of the organization were involved in the removal of the fish from the pond and its death."

UCSC police investigated the matter after a rare mature Hikari Ogon Japanese Koi disappeared on the evening of May 20 from a pond at Porter College, one of the campus's 10 residential colleges. Campus police took the case to the Santa Cruz County District's Attorney's Office for prosecution.

Zuidema's office, meanwhile, launched its own investigation to determine if the organization or any individuals had violated UCSC's code of student conduct.

In announcing his finding regarding Delta Omega Chi, Zuidema said the fraternity had chosen not to appeal the the campus's decision. "They have accepted the sanction," he said.

The Student Judicial Affairs Office's investigation into individuals who participated in the incident at Porter College pond has not been completed. But Zuidema estimated that part of his investigation should be concluded by early next week.

Federal privacy laws prevent the university from disclosing judicial findings against individual students. However, if students are found to have violated university rules, Zuidema said, they would be subject to discipline ranging from a warning to dismissal.

Link to STory

33girl · #2 06-14-2003, 06:57 PM

So now the fraternity has no one to answer to whatsoever and will be completely underground, doing whatever they want?

Smooth move, UCSC.

chideltjen · #3 06-14-2003, 08:25 PM

did mtv finish taping? this season should be quite interesting.

texas*princess · #4 06-15-2003, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
So now the fraternity has no one to answer to whatsoever and will be completely underground, doing whatever they want?

Smooth move, UCSC.

No kidding... that is what I was thinking.

squirrely girl · #5 06-15-2003, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
So now the fraternity has no one to answer to whatsoever and will be completely underground, doing whatever they want?

Smooth move, UCSC.

so what was UCSC supposed to do? it's a lose - lose situation...

marissa

madmax · #6 06-15-2003, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by squirrely girl
so what was UCSC supposed to do? it's a lose - lose situation...

marissa

The school could do the same thing they do for every other non-greek campus organization. Punish the individuals that were responsible and leave the fraternity alone since the fraternity wasn't responsible. From what I read the fraternity didn't plan the fish-fry. It was a couple of members that were acting on their own. Those members were probably involved in other campus organizations such as athletics, band, chess club or whatever. Schools never ban any of those organizations when a member does something stupid. They simply punish the guilty party.

SATX*APhi · #7 06-15-2003, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by madmax
The school could do the same thing they do for every other non-greek campus organization. Punish the individuals that were responsible and leave the fraternity alone since the fraternity wasn't responsible. From what I read the fraternity didn't plan the fish-fry. It was a couple of members that were acting on their own. Those members were probably involved in other campus organizations such as athletics, band, chess club or whatever. Schools never ban any of those organizations when a member does something stupid. They simply punish the guilty party.

Exactly my thoughts.

CatStarESP4 · #8 06-15-2003, 04:15 PM

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRG GGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! What a bunch of numbskulls! I still don't understand what possessed the two guys to do something so heinous and stupid. I am sure if the punishment is severe enough for them. Why didn't they appeal and accept the school's decision? That was a cop out! Was it a way to accept what a few guys did was wrong? Do you think that MTV should share the blame for this? One question remains, if they lost recognition, do they still continue to function as a fraternity but off campus?

The_Nash · #9 06-16-2003, 04:27 AM

I was talking to one of my good friends who goes to Santa Cruz and is a Theta Chi, the only national on campus, and I asked him about this, and he said that they hadn't been kicked off campus. I told him about what I read on here and he said he was chilling with them two nights ago and that they hadn't been kicked off.

Another thing, Santa Cruz's Greek system doesnt really have to many ties to the University as it is so i dont think taking away there recognition will do much to hurt them

LeslieAGD · #10 06-16-2003, 10:46 AM

All I have to say is that I'm really not surprised.

LXAAlum · #11 06-16-2003, 01:15 PM

So, fraternities on MTV's Fraternity Life are now 0-2 in surviving the taping of the series?

Gee, you'd think the next group would look long and hard at this....

APhiAngel · #12 06-16-2003, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LXAAlum
So, fraternities on MTV's Fraternity Life are now 0-2 in surviving the taping of the series?

Gee, you'd think the next group would look long and hard at this....

What happened to Sigma Chi Omega?

I agree that this was going to be a lose-lose situation

but really, some people need to realize that they are being filmed and they need to quit dicking around or else they are going to get caught.

LXAAlum · #13 06-16-2003, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by APhiAngel
What happened to Sigma Chi Omega?

I agree that this was going to be a lose-lose situation but really, some people need to realize that they are being filmed and they need to quit dicking around or else they are going to get caught.

I thought there was a thread that discussed SXO was also closed due to hazing and other risk management concerns...

#14 06-16-2003, 05:07 PM

I believe they (Sigma Chi Omega) have been suspended.

FuzzieAlum · #15 06-16-2003, 07:27 PM

Between this and the dorks who got a fish stuck in their head at Anchor Splash, I think the moral here is that fraternities are better off staying away from fish altogether.