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Phi Delts suspend Indiana U. hazing chapter
Phi Delts' charter suspended
Fraternity: Incident happened before semester began, few members involved in violations
By Maggie Bozich
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Published Tuesday, October 12, 2004
The Alpha chapter of Phi Delta Theta fraternity had its charter suspended by the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity last week. The general council decided on this action because the chapter violated University and Phi Delts risk management policies relating to hazing and alcohol, according to a Phi Delta Theta statement.
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"We were notified of our chapter's suspension one day after rush concluded."
Zeb Holt
Senior, Phi Delta Theta president
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Brad Belcaster, a member of the Phi Delta Theta house corporation board, said the violations were made by a few individuals and not by the chapter as a whole. The decision for suspension came from Phi Delts national and not from the University, Belcaster said.
"There were violations of the risk management polices by a few individuals," Belcaster said. "We have turned over the chapter's report to the University and asked them to continue their investigation. The University wrote a letter in our support of how we handled the situation. We submitted with our report to the nationals."
The event that sparked the investigation was not chapter-sponsored, said senior and Phi Delt president Zeb Holt.
"This event was not chapter sponsored or organized," Holt said. "It was the action of a few individuals. This event occurred before school started; all of the guys were not even back yet."
At this time, Phi Delts are not discussing the specifics of the incident, Holt said.
Marc S. Mores, associate executive vice president of Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity, did not return phone calls before press time Monday.
Dean of Students Richard McKaig said he knew about the process of Phi Delts getting their charter suspended, although he was unable to attend the meetings to discuss the topic.
"I was unable to attend most of the meetings, but Assistant Dean of Students Steve Veldkamp attended," McKaig said. "I know the national fraternity had contacted the University along with alumni to talk about what was going on."
Veldkamp did not return phone calls to comment about the meetings before press time.
The chapter was able to participate in rush, Holt said. Forty-three men signed with the house and have been notified of the situation and if the decision for the charter to be suspended stands, the signed men will be able to pledge a different house.
"We were notified of our chapter suspension one day after rush concluded," Holt said. "We have let the signed rushes know the situation, and pending a decision reversal they will still have the opportunity to pledge our house. But they do have the option to pledge another house."
The Indiana Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta is the longest continually existing of any of the chapters or fraternities in the nation, Holt and Belcaster said.
Belcaster said neither the house corporation board nor the students know when the chapter will go off suspension. However, area alumni do not agree with the decision by the Phi Delta Theta nationals, Belcaster said.
"The press release from our nationals says that the alumni agree with the decision," Belcaster said. "We vehemently disagree with the decision. And we were not consulted about the decision in advance."
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