Former Lambda Chi member reveals 'severe' initiation traditions

[hoosier]

(Received this from "Fraternal news")


Northern Star
Northern Illinois University
July 16, 2003

Former Lambda Chi member reveals 'severe' initiation traditions

By Aacia Hussain, Northern Star

While some of Lambda Chi Alpha's former members continue to appeal a
Northern Illinois University decision to expel the fraternity from campus,
one man hopes to forget frightening memories of the fraternity.

"They treated us like prisoners of war during initiation week," said a
former member of the house, who agreed to speak to the Northern Star on
condition of anonymity. "They made us go crazy."

Even though other fraternities chose to carry out initiation traditions,
those at Lambda Chi were unreasonably severe, he said.

Members repeatedly were forced to drink alcohol in excessive amounts, he
said. Some members became violently ill from ingesting alcohol and using
illegal drugs, but the fraternity members in control refused to let them be
taken to the hospital.

During initiation week, the source said pledges were put into what he
described as "P.O.W. blocks." Pledges were blindfolded for 14 hours while
they were constantly watched. They were stripped down to their boxer
shorts, then wrapped in towels and placed in a room with a heater turned on.

Throughout the initiation, members endured various other mental tactics,
including not being allowed to sleep.

Pledges were kept in these blocks while they were forced to listen to a
deafening blend of satanic music and nursery rhymes. The nursery rhymes
were remixed to repeat words over and over to increase mental agony, the
source said. The music was blasted through loudspeakers while the pledges
sat blindfolded with their arms raised.

The source said pledges also were subjected to verbal abuse. Fraternity
members screamed at them and called them names to "make them crack." Some
of the pledges broke down and cried, he said.

Many of the members had their rooms broken into and their personal
belongings searched by other residents of the house.

Other members were kept under strict control and were threatened with grave
consequence if they disobeyed, he said. They were discouraged from getting
good grades if it kept them away from the house. Having a girlfriend or
doing anything that included people not affiliated with Lambda Chi was
frowned upon, he said.

"There are guys that feel they are scarred for life," the source said.

One member expelled from NIU declined to answer questions relating to the
hazing allegations.

It wasn't until seven members of the fraternity decided to come forward
this spring that the allegations came to light. After they agreed to make a
written statement detailing everything they had witnessed, University
Programming and Activities took action.

The fraternity received an appeal hearing June 23 from NIU when members of
Lambda Chi met with Michelle Emmett, associate vice provost of Student Affairs.

The university charges against Lambda Chi included physical abuse;
excessive hazing and intimidation by certain members within the fraternity;
using and selling illegal drugs; and alcohol abuse.

There are no police charges against members of the fraternity.

"I did a lot of listening," Emmett said. "They explained to me why they
felt their charter should be reinstated."

Emmett remains undecided on the decision for an appeal, and she is
investigating the case further.

"She's trying to piece together what really happened," Greek Affairs
director Chris Juhl said. "It's all up to her now."

Part of the problem is that up until the appeal hearing, members weren't
open to explaining everything that happened, Juhl said.

Several members of the fraternity have been expelled from NIU.

Judicial Director Larry Bolles doubts the appeal will succeed easily.

"It will be difficult to overturn the decision when they're still suspended
by [their national headquarters]," Bolles said.

Emmett is waiting for a response from the headquarters before casting a
final decision on the matter. She said she wants to take the time to make
her decision a fair one.

"This is their last appeal," Emmett said. "It doesn't go anywhere after this."

If an appeal is not granted, there will be no chance of the fraternity
existing at NIU for the next five years, Juhl said.

"If she does not change a single thing, that's it," he said.

Juhl has stated that some of the members within the fraternity --
especially the seven who came forward with the allegations -- felt
threatened and feared for their safety.

If Lambda Chi's suspension is not overturned with an appeal, its national
headquarters will order the letters removed from the house.

Representatives from Lambda Chi's national chapter and those appealing the
sanctions were unavailable for comment at press time.

(C) 2003 Northern Star