Colgate withdraws recognition of three fraternities

[hoosier]

Colgate withdraws recognition of three fraternities


December 9, 2004, 11:09 PM EST
HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Three fraternities at Colgate University will not be allowed to house students beginning next fall after negotiations to sell the Greek houses to the school failed.
Colgate will no longer recognize Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Kappa Epsilon and Kappa Delta Rho, school officials said Thursday.
Seven other fraternities and sororities reached agreements to sell their houses to the university before a Nov. 30 deadline. Colgate decided over a year ago to buy and regulate the houses after a series of hazing incidents.
In 2001, Colgate shut down Delta Kappa Epsilon for a year for serving alcohol to the driver in a crash that killed four people. Kappa Delta Rho was suspended indefinitely last fall after the university accused members of hazing, and Alpha Tau Omega was suspended for four years in 2000 for fighting.
With the university's oversight, the Greek organizations will lose some individual governance and must follow one set of rules for social events, recruiting and dining.
"The university has put a lot of time and resources into these negotiations, and there were a couple houses that couldn't come along, but the lion's share has," college spokesman Charlie Melichar said.
Alumni chapters of each Greek organization must vote by March 15 on selling the houses for the agreement to become final.
About 40 percent of Colgate students belong to a fraternity or sorority. The university, 45 miles southeast of Syracuse, has about 2,750 undergraduates.
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