Hazing allegations raised at WSU (Theta Chi and Delta Chi)

PeppyGPhiB · #1 11-08-2007, 03:35 AM

Saw this story on the news tonight, but so far this is the only print news I can find on it...probably more will surface tomorrow.

Hazing allegations raised at WSU

Washington State University is removing 32 freshmen from two fraternities for their own safety after allegations of hazing, including an alleged incident that resulted in a broken jaw.

The Theta Chi and Delta Chi residents will be temporarily relocated to campus residence halls, according to a statement released late Wednesday afternoon by WSU.
http://www.lmtribune.com/breaking-news/469/

bcs · #2 11-09-2007, 01:45 PM

News sources have it wrong (imagine that). There was no "hazing" involved in this incident. I love how media spice things up to make their stories more 'news worthy'. Makes me wonder how many other news stories are inaccurate.
Here's another article: http://wsunews.wsu.edu/detail.asp?StoryID=6855.

nittanyalum · #3 11-09-2007, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcs

News sources have it wrong (imagine that). There was no "hazing" involved in this incident. I love how media spice things up to make their stories more 'news worthy'. Makes me wonder how many other news stories are inaccurate.
Here's another article: http://wsunews.wsu.edu/detail.asp?StoryID=6855.

I'm not sure where you're getting that there was definitively "no hazing" involved. This is clearly a very carefully worded press release from the university and greek life office to acknowledge an incident occurred and the freshmen are being relocated "for their own safety". My guess is they specifically avoided the words "haze" as well as "pledge", though they did use the word "assault" and mentioned the need for the greek community to adhere to standards that guarantee students' safety. Even if it somehow wasn't "hazing", you still have young students being subject to "assaults" somehow, one ending up with a broken jaw and the university concerned enough to whisk the freshmen off to safer havens. Still doesn't come off looking good for the greeks.

Tom Earp · #4 11-09-2007, 03:15 PM

A colleges first concern is the safety of their students as it should be.

There are a lot of things thrown around but nothing of substance about what actually transpired. Sounds like maybe a fight between two Fraternities?

"If" that is the case, maybe that is why noting specific was mentioned about hazing and pledges.

seattlealum · #5 11-09-2007, 03:21 PM

there were actually multiple fights between the two house. not hazing. the media uses the term "hazing" for "desire of sensationalism"

more people will read the article if it mentions hazing. just the way it is

LaneSig · #6 11-09-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seattlealum

there were actually multiple fights between the two house. not hazing. the media uses the term "hazing" for "desire of sensationalism"

more people will read the article if it mentions hazing. just the way it is

So, both you and the other poster know for sure that the original reporter was told that the reason was multiple fights, but they chose to say hazing instead? There's no chance that the reporter was told hazing? Reporters are losing their jobs these days over the slightest mistake in their stories. You need to call the editors and tell them.

seattlealum · #7 11-09-2007, 03:33 PM

I would bet that there have allready been phone calls to editors about this. As the reporter does not mention their source, there is no way to know who told them what, but from personal experience with reporters in reference to previous instances at WSU, they print what they think will sell a paper.

exlurker · #8 11-09-2007, 04:47 PM

The student newspaper, the Daily Evergreen, has an article:

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/23992

I agree that none of the reports make the fraternities (or at least some of their members) look good.

coug4lfe · #9 11-09-2007, 09:05 PM

Do you honestly think that reporters don't "stretch" the facts for sensationalism? The facts are that 2 young men were brutally beaten after exchanging words at a pizza place. The Delta Chi's went back to their house, gathered up a larger group and then proceeded to beat the other 2 guys and left them bleeding on the sidewalk with severe injuries. It had nothing to do with hazing. It was not on fraternity property. It is being handled by Greek Life and by the fraternities themselves. Unfortunately, the cowards that did the beating have refused to come forward and are being protected by their "brothers." Hopefully, justice will eventually be served. The beaters will be prosecuted. In my opinion since the fraternity that was responsible for the brutality refuses to cooperate and the young cowards that are so filled with rage that they would injure a young man badly enough that he required his jaw to be wired shut have not come forward, that Delta Chi should be shut down. No amount of taunting or even property damage is an excuse or justification for the physical harm they caused. That they are still allowed to be on campus as a fraternity is beyond me. I would be totally ashamed to be a parent of a Delta Chi at Washington State.

PeppyGPhiB · #10 11-10-2007, 03:45 AM

Since I was in high school, I've heard stories about the screw ups in the fraternities at WSU. My brother later went to WSU, but never would have joined a fraternity there...he said they were "losers." Now, I haven't met many fraternity guys from WSU, but it seems like they're always getting put on probation or suspended or losing their houses, and sorry, but it takes A LOT to be seen as out-of-control and wild at WSU!

banditone · #11 11-10-2007, 10:49 AM

The fact that it was all freshmen is what leads me to believe it was 'hazing', an idea pushed upon them by upperclassmen.

It happens... But in this instance, no broken jaw and trip to the hospital and there would be no story.

SigKapCoug · #12 11-10-2007, 10:51 PM

Damn, where did all these other Cougs come from?

This is not a good semester for our Greek Community.

But I will be really surprised if one or both of these chapters doesn't close. WSU is usually pretty swift about unrecognizing chapters (Sigma Nu... Phi Sigs... etc etc)

coug4lfe · #13 11-11-2007, 03:28 AM

GammaPhiBeta, spoken like a true person that knows nothing about the REAL WSU. Get real. The Greeks ARE WSU. It is an awesome school and most of the people we went to school with that are our lifelong friends from the Greek system are multimillionaires and very loyal Cougs, so I guess it can't be all bad. It started with the former President that was bound and determined to shut down the Greek system at WSU (he is of the religious persuasion that does not allow alcohol use or at least purports not to, but we all know how that goes!) It is totally ridiculous. We did way worse things than any of the houses that are getting shut down left and right are doing. Our school President at the time came to our parties. The "losers" in the dorms and apartments also did way more drugs than the Greeks. Is that better? My bet is that your brother would not have been accepted by any house, anyhow. Also, my brother was president of his frat and he was accepted into the top Dental School in the nation. My husband was also president of his fraternity and is highly successful. Okay, Gamma Phi Beta...why on earth are you on this board 24/7? No job? Nothing else to do? Are you really even in a sorority or have you just watched too much Legally Blond and Animal House? Finally, it does not take a lot to get shut down at WSU. Quite the opposite. The Greeks are the target because they are the visible group. The same thing goes on at UW. My daughter is a recent grad and sorority member. She said the Greeks were always targeted when they had absolutely nothing to do with any of the problems. They were discriminated against.

This problem is not so much a Greek thing anymore. It is a police matter. IMO, the police and the University have dropped the ball. If it was my kid that was curb stomped and has his jaw wired shut for months and cannot go back to school, you can bet I would have law enforcement and the Whitman county prosecuting attorney all over Delta Chi. I don't know why they were not shut down right away? They are not being forthcoming in who was involved. The Theta Chi's are. They have a policy that any involvement at all will result in immediate expulsion from the fraternity. I wonder if Delta Chi can say the same thing? Again, property damage and verbal taunting are not the same as beating the heck out of a kid, especially in the cowardly manner in which it was done. The D-Chi's went back to their house and rounded up several more guys and then went back to Pappa John's and beat the TWO Theta Chi's brutally. Cowards.

coug4lfe · #14 11-11-2007, 03:38 AM

I am sorry for the rant. It is ridiculous to even answer ignorant comments like, "my brother would not join a frat at WSU because they were losers." That does not even merit a reply. I apologize to all the loyal Cougs. I am tired of the media and know nothings speculating and making ridiculous statements about nothing of which they have any first hand experience or knowledge.

I am really mad that both fraternities will most likely be closed down. In my mind that is condoning violence. It is okaying what Delta Chi's did by saying, well, Theta Chi's deserved what they got because they broke the glass doors at Delta Chi's. How insane? How unjust? For the record, it was only a few involved and none of my family members. They were too busy studying and working at productive things and being good fraternity brothers to be bothered by the drama of some immature and brutal jerks.

nittanyalum · #15 11-11-2007, 10:42 AM

Wow, coug4lfe, SLOW DOWN. You are clearly allowed to have your opinions and defend whatever side of an argument you like, but coming on here and making direct derogatory comments to someone who's been posting here for over a year is not necessary. Why go after someone and wonder why they are on the boards however much they are -- why did YOU come here and join up just to rant? It sounds like you might have a son in one of these fraternities (Theta Chi?) and this is hitting very close to home -- got it, definitely stand up for him if you like -- but keep your head about you because otherwise people will disregard your posts and thus, your possibly valuable contribution to the discussion. PeppyGPhiB is from WA, so she is just giving her opinions (in general terms about fraternity life, not specific houses), and she's entitled to do that too.