The appeals process is over and Beta Chapter of Delta Tau Delta at Ohio University has been suspended for five years.
Here is the article from the student newspaper:
Decision upheld in ruling of Delta Tau Delta suspension
Caitlin Bowling • Staff Writer •
cb119506@ohio.edu
"Ohio University officially suspended Delta Tau Delta yesterday, months after the city and university charged the fraternity with hazing its pledges.
Pledges told Athens and OU police that they were slapped and forced to drink large quantities of alcohol at a Nov. 12 fraternity event.
Delta Tau Delta appealed the five-year suspension Monday to Vice President for Student Affairs Kent Smith, who upheld the ruling.
"I am sure it is not what they hoped for," Smith said. "I feel like the sanction was appropriate under the circumstances."
A judge fined Delta Tau Delta $2,000 and ordered it to pay no more than $10,000 in restitution to two pledges on Jan. 22 after the fraternity pleaded no contest to the city's hazing charges. The same day, OU suspended the fraternity for the first time, but Delta Tau Delta appealed the decision on the grounds of new evidence, an improper sanction and an error during the original hearing. Both Smith and an appeals board upheld the punishment.
Smith, who makes the final decision in all OU judicial appeals, said he believed the punishment was warranted given the actions of the fraternity members and past rulings on hazing.
The suspension forces fraternity members with fewer than 90 credit hours to move from the house into a dorm.
Members must move into the dorm by Feb. 19, Smith said. However, other aspects of the suspension took effect immediately.
The suspension requires the fraternity to remove the Greek letters from its house and prohibits Delta Tau Delta from recruiting any new members, hosting chapter-related events at the fraternity house or participating in the Interfraternity Council for five years, according to a letter from Smith to fraternity President Paul Kolbe.
The national chapter placed similar restraints on the fraternity in November, but it is unknown whether or not the national chapter will impose an additional punishment.
Delta Tau Delta can apply for reinstatement as an OU organization in fall 2013, according to the letter."
I sent an e-mail before his ruling to Dr. Smith saying again that I agree with a totally anti-hazing policy, but thought that the five year penalty was too harsh, given that a chapter of another fraternity at the University of Colorado may be recolonizing five years after an alcohol/hazing related death of a pledge. Seems to me that there is considerable difference between a death and a chipped tooth. I received a very nice reply from him saying that if the appeal process reached him, that he would take my thoughts into account. I guess he did not agree, which is his option. On the other hand, hazing is hazing which is against Delt policy, University regulations and Ohio Law.
Still, I think five years is a long time given that the chapter had no other major charges over the past years.
I hope the Housing Corporation can figure out a way to keep and maintain the Shelter. I don't think it will be easy.
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