New colony at U Maryland

[hoosier]

Fraternity returns after 10-year absence

By Hadass Kogan
March 08, 2005


Tau Kappa Epsilon, a fraternity that had its charter revoked 10 years ago, is re-establishing a chapter on the campus this semester.

Two expansion consultants from the national office are working with the Greek community to promote the group, which claims to be the largest fraternity in the world with chapters in Canada and Germany. The group has policies against pledging. A total of 48 students were at the first chapter meeting Sunday.

The fraternity had its university chapter charter revoked in September 1995 after being kicked out of its fraternity house and charged with misconduct for violating university hazing and alcohol policies, said Steve Lytle, one of the expansion consultants.

Lytle said the national organization was interested in returning to the university because of its proximity to a Tau Kappa Epsilon alumni association in Washington as well as the strength and size of the university’s student body.

“We came back because it’s like a flagship institution,” Lytle said. “We’ve had good relations here and they are welcoming expansion.”

Freshman business major Sean Shahparast heard about the fraternity through friends and received his bid to join Tuesday. He was referred to Lytle and Rob Heapon through friends and became interested because of the opportunity to create and influence an organization of his own.

“Basically, I knew I wanted to do a frat, but I’m not really down with hazing,” he said. “I see myself more in a leadership position. I think it would be more fun to set one up.”

Members are looking into purchasing a house on the corner of Rhode Island and College avenues — the house the previous chapter was kicked out of — or the former Sigma Chi house behind Fraternity Row.

According to Ellen Shertzer, fraternity and sorority adviser for the Interfraternity Council, TKE is currently considered a special interest group. It will gain university recognition in a matter of weeks, when it becomes a “colony” with eight or more members. The colony will exist for a minimum of three months, until members are initiated as brothers. It will receive a charter from the national organization declaring it an official chapter within the next year.

Shertzer also said Chi Phi will be colonizing at the university this April and Phi Kappa Si will be coming next fall.