To answer the original question, yes.
Taken from the University of Maryland newspaper.
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Fraternity kicked out for repeated offenses
Univ. refuses to recognize Beta Theta Pi
By Owen Praskievicz
July 27, 2006
University officials ordered fraternity Beta Theta Pi off the campus last week and refused to officially recognize the organization, citing a litany of past rule violations. The action requires at least a two-year absence of the organization from the campus.
The punishment is the most drastic measure the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life could take against a fraternal organization. Despite the seriousness of the decision, OFSL Director Mike Hayes declined to reveal the specifics of why Beta, currently residing in a Fraternity Row house, was kicked out.
“We probably won’t air the dirty laundry of Beta — that’s not in anybody’s interest,” Hayes said, but noted Beta received a string of warnings during the past two years after police and other sources raised concerns about the fraternity’s members.
The fraternity’s dismissal comes at the end of a school year that saw the passage of a formal policy governing fraternity and sorority practices and behaviors, which Hayes said reflects OFSL’s mission to build a “values-based” Greek community.
“Most of our chapters have gotten the message that the fundamental core of what the fraternity is has got to shift,” Hayes said, and denied Beta was being used as an example. “We would not put people through an anguished process just to make a point. It’s too stressful for everyone involved,” he said.
Over the course of two academic years, Beta’s “programming continued to erode that enough people were concerned about the viability of the chapter,” Hayes said.
The fraternity’s national office had also become involved in trying to improve the chapter, but Beta’s National Director for Chapter Services Jud Horras said his office ultimately supported the university’s decision to close the chapter.
Beta President Jonathan Shriner said a “spotless record” during the spring semester and attempts to satisfy OFSL requests were ignored by OFSL Assistant Director Matt Supple, who he said seemed “disinterested” in their efforts. Supple was unavailable for comment.
“The amount of stuff we have done is in no way justifiable for kicking us off,” Shriner said.
The decision to revoke the charter so late in the summer puts Beta’s house residents in a tough situation, Shriner said. All residents must move out by the end of the summer, and the only help offered by OFSL was the off-campus housing website, he said.
Beta will apply for a new charter in two years, Horras and Shriner each said.
The last university chapter to have its charter revoked was Sigma Alpha Epsilon in 2004, but the preceding two years were turbulent for the fraternity. Hayes acknowledged accusations of hazing and rape as well as a student death there contributed to the chapter’s dismissal.
For Beta, though, “there was no smoking gun” Hayes said.
Staff writer Kevin Litten contributed to this report. Contact reporter Owen Praskievicz at
praskieviczdbk@gmail.com.
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