UMass suspends fight fraternities ZBT, Pi Delta Psi

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UMass suspends fight fraternities



Friday, October 21, 2005


By HOLLY ANGELO

hangelo@repub.com

AMHERST - Two University of Massachusetts fraternities were suspended yesterday for their roles in an Oct. 2 fight on "Frat Row" that left six people with stab wounds.

Pi Delta Psi at 389 North Pleasant St. and Zeta Beta Tau at 374 North Pleasant St. were sent letters yesterday afternoon informing them of the suspension. Michael Gargano Jr., vice chancellor for student affairs, announced the suspensions.

"We feel as though, based on the reports we have, it requires the university to take action," he said. "We've already suspended two other fraternities. We're cleaning up the Greek community."
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In June, the university suspended Alpha Tau Gamma at 118 Sunset Ave. and Sigma Alpha Mu at 395 North Pleasant St. for three years for fire, health, and building violations.

"We think it's disappointing and unfounded," said Chris P. Canton, the president of Zeta Beta Tau and a stabbing victim in the fight, through a family member last evening. "We are going to appeal it and try to work it out."

Last week, Amherst police arrested two juveniles - one from Amherst and another from Sunderland - and charged each with assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot) for beating one of the stabbing victims. At least one of the juveniles was attending a party at Pi Delta Psi when the fight broke out.

Two fights involving about a dozen people erupted on North Pleasant Street outside Pi Delta Psi on Oct. 2, one at 12:33 a.m. and another at 1:12 a.m. Six people were stabbed, including five UMass students.

Two of the stabbing victims, Canton, 21, and Joseph Gratton, 20, are brothers at Zeta Beta Tau. Police are still investigating and trying to determine the cause of the fights.

Gargano said he expected both fraternities to file an appeal today. The suspensions mean that the fraternities must cease operations immediately.

They are no longer recognized by the university, and do not have access to university resources.

Gargano said that no university students have been suspended because of the fight, but this is being reviewed.

"It's a very, very complicated case because of the relationships of the students involved and their relationships to the fraternities," he added. "We're trying to identify the actions of individuals and the action of the fraternity itself."

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Fraternity put on ice for party

By KYLIE CRAIG
Alligator Writer

Tau Epsilon Phi Fraternity (U Fla) was put on social suspension by the Greek Judicial Board on Wednesday evening after the fraternity hosted an unregistered party Aug. 20.

The infraction is one of several occurring recently within the Interfraternity Council, as Tau Epsilon Phi is one of three fraternities facing punishment in the next month.

TEP President Brett Lieberman said fraternity members were holding a "brotherhood" event at their chapter house the night of the party.

Lieberman said he ordered a Pay-Per-View fight for members living in the house to watch, all of whom were under 21 at the time.

Lieberman then left the house to visit his fiancée, and the fraternity members were left "in charge of themselves."

Former TEP Vice President Jason Lutin investigated the incident and said that after speaking with members present at the party, he discovered that seven underage members called fraternity alumni, who then brought other guests and beer to the house.

In his opening statement to the judicial board, Lieberman said, "We're embarrassed for ourselves. We're embarrassed for the Greek community. Something like this will never happen again."

He also noted the fraternity had not been in front of the judicial board in "a very long time."

Lieberman said there were no executive members present after he stepped out. The house just opened up for members to move back in the day before the party.

Police reports stated there were approximately 150-200 people at the house. However, Lieberman said the number was closer to 80.

Following the incident, the fraternity kicked out close to 25 members, who Lieberman said were "a bad influence on the others," and TEP National Headquarters put the organization on social probation until Spring.

The fraternity also sent letters to alumni who provided the beer saying TEP was embarrassed by their actions and banned them from the house for a year.

Along with social suspension through Dec. 17, the Greek Judicial Board also implemented social probation through Spring 2006.

The fraternity also has been involved in several community service projects since the incident.

One of the projects was the TEP Trot 5K, which was the first philanthropic event the fraternity has held in at least six years.

Lieberman said it was a challenge because none of the current members had ever been around so see a philanthropic event take place.

"TEP is in the middle of a culture change. It's all going in the right direction," Lieberman said.

[L.O.C.K.]

I would like to clarify that the people doing the fighting were not brothers of Pi Delta Psi. The fight ocurred off of Pi Delta Psi property.

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UMass clears 1 fraternity; 1 disciplined



Friday, November 18, 2005


By HOLLY ANGELO

hangelo@repub.com

AMHERST - One University of Massachusetts-Amherst fraternity has been cleared of charges related to a fight last month, but another has been placed on deferred suspension and will operate under restrictions.

Dean of Students Jo-Anne T. Vanin cleared Zeta Beta Tau, but Pi Delta Psi will lose its recognition as a Greek organization on campus if they have one more violation. Pi Delta Psi's deferred suspension is for the remainder of the fall semester. The fraternity will not be allowed to invite non-members to any of its social functions.

"I'm glad it worked out the way it did," said Chris P. Canton, president of Zeta Beta Tau. "Our story is our story. We were completely innocent of any wrongdoing. We were the victims."
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The fraternities are located on "Frat Row" on North Pleasant Street. On Oct. 2, two fights broke out and six people were stabbed, including Canton and at least one other brother from Zeta Beta Tau. Police arrested three people, none of them UMass students, on assault charges. Two were minors and another was 18 years old. At least one of the minors was attending a party at Pi Delta Psi when the fights broke out.

"Jo-Anne Vanin was very concerned that the perpetrators of the assault had been guests at a social function at Pi Delta Psi," said Edward F. Blaguszewski, director of news and information at UMass. "We'll closely observe their activity for compliance."

No one from Pi Delta Psi could be reached for comment yesterday.

The two fraternities were given interim suspensions Oct. 20 and were ordered to cease operating as fraternities until the appeal process was completed. During the appeals, brothers were allowed to live in the fraternity houses.

Police have not arrested anyone in connection with the stabbings and have never made public a motive for the fights.