Delta Delta Delta Closes Penn State Chapter (Hazing, Risk Management)

[exlurker]

Update Dec. 7 '09

A little more . . . from the campus paper's Dec. 7 issue online:


Excerpts:

By Caitlin Sellers and Somer Wiggins
Collegian Staff Writers
Delta Delta Delta sorority has lost its charter after its national organization found the chapter in violation of the Penn State Code of Conduct and Tri Delta Policy.

The chapter has been under investigation since Nov. 5 for "alleged hazing and risk management violations," according to a press release from the national sorority.

Delta Delta Delta sorority members who violated membership obligations will face individual sanctions and possible membership removal, but those unassociated with violations can remain unaffiliated members of Delta Delta Delta sorority, according to the release.

Deena Berger (junior-psychology), the chapter's former president, said she plans to comment in the future on the chapter's closing.

The allegations of hazing were primarily addressed by the Delta Delta Delta national sorority, said Kara Zinger, the Panhellenic Council (PHC) vice president for communications and a member of the Collegian's business division. . . .

The . . . chapter of Delta Delta Delta sorority was established in 1947. According to the press release, the sorority hopes to recolonize at Penn State in the future.

Affinity Public Relations President Karina Shaver . . . said there is currently no set timeline for the sorority's return to Penn State.

She said the PHC is not looking toward adding a new chapter of a national sorority to Penn State as a result of Delta Delta Delta's disbandment.

. . .
About two weeks ago, several members of Delta Delta Delta sorority created Trilogy, an independent organization, . . . . Trilogy will keep the sorority's original THON pairing with Kappa Delta Rho and the same Four Diamonds family. . . .

Delta Delta Delta's former members will also continue to live together in their dormitories next semester, Shaver said. Their residence will no longer be considered a sorority floor, and the chapter meeting suite will no longer be used by the students. . . .

[33girl]

So in other words, they're still going to do THON (this is a huge huge HUGE deal) and they're still going to live together. But they're not going to be paying national dues or have any national or Pahellenic rules to follow.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmkay. There may be a shortage of waffles at the Eggo factory but there apparently is none at Penn State.

[WVU alpha phi]

I knew a girl in this chapter. She graduated two years ago, I don't speak to her but I really wish I knew her thoughts on all this!

[naraht]

Originally Posted by 33girl

So in other words, they're still going to do THON (this is a huge huge HUGE deal) and they're still going to live together. But they're not going to be paying national dues or have any national or Pahellenic rules to follow.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmkay. There may be a shortage of waffles at the Eggo factory but there apparently is none at Penn State.

I think that the Delta Delta Delta national is going to have decide pretty quickly whether they consider this group an informal continuation which wiil eventually bring Delta Delta Delta back to Penn State or a group whose existance will keep Delta Delta Delta from returning to Penn State as long as it is active.

I wouldn't want to try to return the Sorority to the school as long as these girls (and those they recruit!) consider themselves to be the true Delta Delta Delta's on campus.

[ASTalumna06]

Originally Posted by 33girl

So in other words, they're still going to do THON (this is a huge huge HUGE deal) and they're still going to live together. But they're not going to be paying national dues or have any national or Pahellenic rules to follow.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmkay. There may be a shortage of waffles at the Eggo factory but there apparently is none at Penn State.

This is what I was thinking.

How would they still be able to participate in school-sponsored functions (ESPECIALLY something as huge as THON), and not be a recognized organization? If this occurs, I think there might be some hostility from the other groups.

Is this a decision that was made by the school AND the national organization collectively?

[exlurker]

Originally Posted by ASTalumna06

This is what I was thinking.

How would they still be able to participate in school-sponsored functions (ESPECIALLY something as huge as THON), and not be a recognized organization? If this occurs, I think there might be some hostility from the other groups.

Is this a decision that was made by the school AND the national organization collectively?

Hmmm. Another update in the school paper -- this one addresses the THON issue (at least somewhat) and says that 61 members of the now-closed Tri Delta chapter resigned from Tri Delta, apparently at least in part due to their feelings about how THON participation.

http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive...o_inquiry.aspx

Something interesting about all this (interesting to me, anyway) is that this new "Trilogy" organization was reportedly (in a previously-mentioned news story) formed before the Tri Delta chapter was officially closed. The resignations were, reportedly, also prepared prior to the official closure. My tentative conclusion is that many members of the chapter essentially saw clear signs of the upcoming handwriting on the wall -- the closure was probably not a startling development once the investigation got under way.