Muhlenberg TKE's get 3 year suspention

[The1calledTKE]

Sounds like they got screwed. I am sure they can win on appeal. The chapter got the punishment because of the action of a few guys. They didn't even give IHQ chance to review it before they made the decission.



The Morning Call
Allentown, PA
February 21, 2003

'Berg bars fraternity 3 years
TKE suspended for alleged assaults, drug use. Action is college's
third since 2000.

By Christina Gostomski
Of The Morning Call

Muhlenberg College handed Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity a three-year
suspension Thursday after punishing some of its members for alleged
sexual and simple assaults, underage drinking, alcohol abuse and drug
use.

The fraternity won't be allowed to return until the fall of 2006.
That sanction makes the Greek organization the third fraternity in
three years to be kicked off campus.

''I feel heartbroken,'' said Jonathan Rosen, president of the
fraternity, also called TKE.

The disciplinary action followed ''repeated violations of the social
code,'' said Michael Bruckner, spokesman for the Allentown college.

Citing student privacy, college officials wouldn't go into detail
about the violations, but Associate Dean of Students Chip Hurd said
they included allegations of two sexual assaults and one simple
assault last semester and one sexual assault this semester.

Hurd, a Muhlenberg and TKE alumnus, said there also were ''several''
reported incidents involving underage drinking, alcohol abuse and
drug use this academic year.

The school's judicial board, which consists of students, staff and
faculty, heard allegations against the fraternity on Feb. 7. The
board then recommended to Dean of Students Rudy Ehrenberg that TKE be
suspended. Ehrenberg concurred, and the fraternity, which has about
50 members, was notified Wednesday.

The 19 TKE members who live in the off-campus fraternity house at
2309 Turner St. may stay there through the end of the semester. No
social events or alcohol will be permitted, a college staff member
will move in, and students will face regular inspections.

College officials hope the sanctions will deter fraternity members
from destroying the house before moving out. The house is owned by
the TKE alumni association, but the college owns the property.

On Thursday, students complained about the suspension.

''They're holding a whole group liable for the actions of a couple
people,'' said Justin Hyde, president of the Interfraternity Council,
which governs the college's fraternities.

Rosen, a senior, said his fraternity does more than party; it
sponsors annual clothing drives and holiday parties for school
children.

TKE is appealing the sanctions to the college's appeals board, Rosen said.

''I feel that there was a step that was missed,'' he said. ''There
was a very big lack of communication. Š I wish that the college would
have addressed us and let us take action.''

Although the college disciplined the individuals involved in the
reported incidents, it didn't notify the fraternity it could face
disciplinary action, Rosen said.

Kevin Mayeux, chief executive of the fraternity's national
organization, also complained.

''We at national headquarters were not aware our group was in
jeopardy until last Friday,'' he said. Although TKE loses six to
eight chapters a year, ''it's rare to ever lose a group like this
that you don't know about in advance.''

Hurd said the fraternity and the national organization, based in
Indiana, were repeatedly notified but did not act. ''They didn't come
here in a timely fashion,'' he said of the national organization.

This is the first suspension for TKE, which has had a chapter at
Muhlenberg since 1958. But an episode in 1990 gave the chapter a
black eye. Two fraternity members went on a destructive rampage at
the house, leading the city to condemn it. The house has since been
renovated.

Last year, the college suspended Delta Tau Delta for a year after a
hazing incident. In 2000, Muhlenberg suspended Alpha Tau Omega
indefinitely after a series of alcohol, drug and hazing violations.

The national organization of TKE hasn't taken disciplinary action
against the chapter, Mayeux said. He said a TKE regional member is at
Muhlenberg this week investigating the situation.

''If the allegations bear out to be true, then we concur with the
decision the college made,'' he said.

Copyright © 2003, The Morning Call