U of Tennessee Pi Kappa Alpha Chapter Suspended: Alcohol Enemas Alleged

[AGDee]

The attorney says he asked the kid the night he was admitted to the hospital whether he did the enemas. The police say the kid's BAC was .4. From everything I know about BACs, someone with a .4 isn't going to have a memory of the events and isn't going to be able to have a coherent discussion.

As for the HIPAA thing, I think one article I read said that he had injuries in the rectal area consistent with the enema theory. I don't know where they would have gotten that information other than from a hospital.

ETA: Go re-read the first article posted here where it says the police report stated he was non-responsive and had signs of physical/sexual assault. If this information came from the police report then no, HIPAA does not apply at all.

[amIblue?]

From everything I've read, the info regarding his injuries came from the police report.

[Kevin]

Lots of rumors flying around right now. Let's keep those to a minimum. I can say that Pi Kappa Alpha is handling this horribly from a PR standpoint.

This is Pike's press release:

PI KAPPA ALPHA FRATERNITY SUSPENDS ZETA CHAPTER
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
The Zeta Chapter surrendered its Charter on September 28, 2012. Subsequently, the International
Fraternity suspended the Chapter’s charter, effective immediately, with the status of its charter to be
revisited no sooner than 2015.
“While there have been some sensational elements to the incident that took place on September 22, 2012,
the important area of focus for the Fraternity is the illegal and dangerous activities involving alcohol. The
International Fraternity found this culture of activity to be of great concern and therefore unequivocally
accepted the charter surrender, and further resolved to suspend the chapter’s charter.”
“It is unfortunate that a group of initiated members of the chapter have tarnished Pi Kappa Alpha’s
reputation. The Fraternity reserves the right to pursue expulsion proceedings against these individuals in
accordance with its Constitution.”
“It is important to note that there are students from this chapter who are of upstanding character. Zeta
chapter has historically produced scores of respected alumni and men of integrity who do not and should
not have their name associated with these behaviors. Many of the current undergraduate members and
alumni have voiced their concern about this incident and are supportive of the decision to suspend the
Chapter’s charter. These activities were not representative of the Zeta Chapter, its alumni, or the
International Fraternity and the mission they strive to uphold.”
“The International Fraternity remains committed to working with the University of Tennessee in ongoing
efforts to address and educate students on the dangers of the misuse of alcohol.”

That said, I find it pretty dubious that this attorney speaks for Pike's chapter as that same chapter plead guilty to 7 counts of alcohol related misconduct and accepted their suspension from campus. Then there's this guy who appears to be speaking for the chapter who denies everything and threatens to sue everyone in sight. If this guy doesn't speak for Pike, someone really dropped the ball in making the public aware.

Also, what a horrible and totally unnecessary press conference on so many levels. Seeing a grey-haired attorney in a bow tie talking about butt chugging should be a drinking game. Talking seriously about the kid's sexual orientation being questioned and wanting to set that straight is pretty bad too. The worst thing ever? Letting the kid make a public statement. How does any of that help anything?

[dekeguy]

Adds a whole new dimension to the term "asshole"!

[removed]

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by dekeguy

Adds a whole new dimension to the term "asshole"!

[removed]

So you're saying that if they would have chosen men who could handle their liquor better, this wouldn't have happened?

[dekeguy]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

[removed]

So you're saying that if they would have chosen men who could handle their liquor better, this wouldn't have happened?

No, I was just shaking my head in dismay. The Pikes I knew were squared away stand up guys and generally too smart to shove booz up there.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by dekeguy

No, I was just shaking my head in dismay. The Pikes I knew were squared away stand up guys and generally too smart to shove booz up there.

If you were a stand up guy it would run right back out and the whole thing would be pretty pointless.

[sdtennisgal]

I just caught a re-run of The Soup that featured the ill-advised press conference with the attorney representing (I think) the Pike chapter and apparently the young man who was hospitalized. Horrid in every respect. There was definitely a victimization feeling to the whole thing, and definitely a homophobic tone in the attorney's statement (how DARE anyone imply this young man might be a HOMOSEXUAL?!). The other brothers standing around sullenly wearing dark suits and sun glasses made it look even more idiotic.

I did some dumb things in college (I still remember trying to use nicotine patches to stay up to finish a paper...don't ever do that), so did my room-mates, so did my sorority sisters. However, when you got caught (see: underage drinking/public alcohol posssession/public urination-though please note, that was not me), you cried, called your parents, then dealt with it. These guys just don't want to let it go.

[Kevin]

That whole incident inspired my advisory board to have a serious conversation about crisis management. I guess that's a positive takeaway.

[greekdee]

Originally Posted by Kevin

That whole incident inspired my advisory board to have a serious conversation about crisis management. I guess that's a positive takeaway.

Absolutely. Best to have that discussion when you DON'T need crisis management and at least have some ideas in mind in the unfortunate event you ever do need it.

This is the second very large, long established fraternity with deep pocketed alums that Tennessee has shut down recently. FIJI was booted in May of this year. Sounds like a crack down on The Hill. I hope fraternities that aren't already doing so will begin to seriously consider their risk management programs. It's rare that an entire chapter is responsible for its demise. It usually comes down to the actions of a renegade group of high risk brothers or maybe even just a few. Fraternities may need to implement zero tolerance policies in regards to problematic members. Honestly, do members who are willing to put the entire chapter at risk really deserve to wear the letters?

I was thinking about the president and how hard it must be to always know your chapter lost its charter the year YOU were captain of the ship. Kinda felt bad for him, but my husband (who was president of his large fraternity) had no sympathy for him. He said when you accept the office of president, it's your job to know what's going on in your house at all times. He said no, you can't be there 24/7, but you always have solid men in place and keep your house under control.

Well, I hope this whole thing does not impact the other fraternities at UTK...in that "butt chugging" doesn't become something people associate with fraternities there in general. Sadly and unjustly, the consequences of a small group of people can be far-reaching, but hopefully, the entire UTK fraternity system won't suffer ridicule or see a reduction in young men interested in going through recruitment.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by greekdee

Well, I hope this whole thing does not impact the other fraternities at UTK...in that "butt chugging" doesn't become something people associate with fraternities there in general. Sadly and unjustly, the consequences of a small group of people can be far-reaching, but hopefully, the entire UTK fraternity system won't suffer ridicule or see a reduction in young men interested in going through recruitment.

May be too late. Seems like "butt chugging" is already being associated with Tennessee. Then again, this too shall pass.





Tail-wagging Tennessee mascot gets a 'butt chugging' makeover

[LaneSig]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...cident-univer/

Many of the members/pledges of the Pi Kappa Alpha chapter have appeared in court. Article that tells about their sentences.

[greekdee]

How awesome not for them -- now when they try for internships or jobs, and their names are run through the Google meter, they will pop up with a connection to the butt chugging incident. What a regrettable night for all involved. I wonder how many times they have wished they had made other plans that night? I'm curious what the present relationship is between brothers at the house that night and those who were weren't. I know the press conference gave the appearance of support, but it's only human that there would be hard feelings among those who were not involved, but lost their undergrad involvement and saw their fraternity made a global laughing stock.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by greekdee

I know the press conference gave the appearance of support, but it's only human that there would be hard feelings among those who were not involved, but lost their undergrad involvement and saw their fraternity made a global laughing stock.

The presser gave the appearance of at least one alumnus who is completely out of touch with what is best for his chapter. So stupid on so many levels, not the least of which was that it prolonged the story remaining in the news.

[ZetaPhi708]

Update, almost one year later:

http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/23316188...gging-incident