UMass suspends fight fraternities ZBT, Pi Delta Psi

[hoosier]

UMass suspends fight fraternities



Friday, October 21, 2005


By HOLLY ANGELO

hangelo@repub.com

AMHERST - Two University of Massachusetts fraternities were suspended yesterday for their roles in an Oct. 2 fight on "Frat Row" that left six people with stab wounds.

Pi Delta Psi at 389 North Pleasant St. and Zeta Beta Tau at 374 North Pleasant St. were sent letters yesterday afternoon informing them of the suspension. Michael Gargano Jr., vice chancellor for student affairs, announced the suspensions.

"We feel as though, based on the reports we have, it requires the university to take action," he said. "We've already suspended two other fraternities. We're cleaning up the Greek community."
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In June, the university suspended Alpha Tau Gamma at 118 Sunset Ave. and Sigma Alpha Mu at 395 North Pleasant St. for three years for fire, health, and building violations.

"We think it's disappointing and unfounded," said Chris P. Canton, the president of Zeta Beta Tau and a stabbing victim in the fight, through a family member last evening. "We are going to appeal it and try to work it out."

Last week, Amherst police arrested two juveniles - one from Amherst and another from Sunderland - and charged each with assault and battery and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a shod foot) for beating one of the stabbing victims. At least one of the juveniles was attending a party at Pi Delta Psi when the fight broke out.

Two fights involving about a dozen people erupted on North Pleasant Street outside Pi Delta Psi on Oct. 2, one at 12:33 a.m. and another at 1:12 a.m. Six people were stabbed, including five UMass students.

Two of the stabbing victims, Canton, 21, and Joseph Gratton, 20, are brothers at Zeta Beta Tau. Police are still investigating and trying to determine the cause of the fights.

Gargano said he expected both fraternities to file an appeal today. The suspensions mean that the fraternities must cease operations immediately.

They are no longer recognized by the university, and do not have access to university resources.

Gargano said that no university students have been suspended because of the fight, but this is being reviewed.

"It's a very, very complicated case because of the relationships of the students involved and their relationships to the fraternities," he added. "We're trying to identify the actions of individuals and the action of the fraternity itself."