Bad news for Iowa Phi Delts

[33girl]

DeltAlum - DKE has stuff on their website (dke.org) about the freedom of association bill (that's not the name of it, but its exact name has left me) and so does Greek Pages.

If every administrator and faculty member at that university doesn't speak up on this situation, they might be sorry later....what happens when a student says "my prof graded my paper wrong"? Will they get fired and their position given to a TA? Actions like this set a dangerous precedent.

I could say a lot more on this but I don't want to lapse into gutter mouth.

[IowaHawkeye]

Letter to the Editor

The benefits of Greeks


If the DI's negative journalism about the Greek system has made me frustrated in the past, then the recent story about the alleged hazing made me ill.

This is a story about one student who has come forth with allegations more than a year after the incidents supposedly took place.

Despite the fact that this is an isolated occurrence reported by an unnamed source with suspicious motives, the DI chose to run a gigantic, three-quarter page photo of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity house with an accompanying story filled with quotes from Dean Phillip Jones, a man who seems to positively vibrate with excitement every time he gets to take a crack at the Greeks.

I feel the DI and Jones would like to villainize the Greek system, but they must keep perspective. On a basic level, fraternities and sororities are social clubs. On a more complex level, though, the Greek system is filled with men and women who take their brotherhood and sisterhood very seriously.

For years, I have been part of a group of women who offer each other unwavering support, whether someone failed a test, broke up with a boyfriend, or lost a parent. I've seen the women of my house cry with joy when a sister got engaged, dance until dawn with cancer-stricken children, and proudly sing "We Are Family" at the top of their lungs. Every house on this campus can relay similar stories.

The Greek system isn't perfect, but we don't deserve the sensationalism and villianization that is thrown at us. At the core, we are simply UI students who slave over finals, pay U-Bills, and cheer on the Hawkeyes, just like everybody else. Let us operate in peace.

Libby Waterbury

UI senior, Alpha Chi Omega alum

[33girl]

Thanks for posting that, Iowa Hawkeye. Give Libby a big hug from me.

[Beef]

We had a kind of a similar situation at Mankato St a few years ago. One guys was going around to all the fraternities and trying to get a bid.. I forget which one he decided to go with but he ended up getting cut. So a week or so later, there is a big story about ABC fraternity kicking this kid out because he was gay!! When infact he ws kicked out because he was talking about all kinds of stupid perverted crap and actiung stupid. And on of his friends came out and said his plan was TO GET kicked out so he could try and get the Greek system into more trouble/scrutiny. It was pretty F'ed up. Actually, I think his friend was in one of my classes.

It amazes me how petty people can be when there is something they dont like going on.....

[dzrose93]

Originally posted by 33girl
Thanks for posting that, Iowa Hawkeye. Give Libby a big hug from me.

Same here! What a well-written editorial! Libby made her point without lowering herself to Jones' and other anti-Greeks' level. Because of that, she came across as an intelligent young woman with a level head on her shoulders - which is what every Greek woman should try to be.

I'm also happy that the paper printed the letter. That's a very good sign. At my alma mater during my college years, that editorial would have never made it into print!

I would suggest that every other GLO on campus follow Libby's lead!

[Tyler_PKT]

I am from the University of Iowa. I have to say that this incident has been blown out of proportion. When day I was with one of my brothers who was friends with a phi delt pledge, and we were talking about what happened. I can think of ways of which I what I had to go through could be blown out of proportion just the same.

[IowaHawkeye]

UI sanctions Phi Delts for past hazing


By Rebecca Sutlive




The Daily Iowan



UI officials have revoked recognition of the Phi Delta Theta chapter, saying their investigation backed up a whistleblower's allegations of hazing.

Former fraternity member and UI sophomore Omar Vejar alleged last fall he was forced to consume mass amounts of hard liquor in a short amount of time, among other activities that he considered to be hazing.

"Charges against Phi Delta Theta were substantiated by our investigation," said Dean Phillip Jones, the UI vice president for Student Services, who handed down the sanction last month. Jones had encouraged Vejar to come forward.

The sanction will prevent the group from participating in university programs, such as formal rush week and Greek week. The move also forbids the members from holding office in the Interfraternity Council. The members, however, will still be able to live in the fraternity's house.

"I don't see a difference to not belonging to the university," said Steve Snyder, the chapter's adviser. "My guys don't have to answer to the dean's office. The only things we're missing out on are formal rush, Greek week, and IFC office. We don't have the university looking over our shoulder."

The UI's sanction could last up to five years, although modifications could take place in that period, possibly leading to a shortened penalty.

"If the fraternity wants to make other proposals, we'll consider them," Jones said, though no negotiations have taken place thus far.

The UI determined "there was a basis" for the charges of hazing and subsequently the sanction, said Thomas Baker, the assistant dean of students, who headed the university's investigation.

Vejar called the sanction "appropriate," saying the investigation has forced the IFC and university administration to become more sensitive to future complaints.

"I feel this is the first step in assessing the hazing situation on campus," he said. "I don't regret having come forward and reporting what I experienced."

A police complaint, filed by Vejar in December 2001, prompted the separate investigations by the university, Iowa City police, and the fraternity itself. No criminal charges have been filed, but national headquarters put the local group on probation. That punishment included banning social events, issuing an apology for violations, and receiving education on reforming pledge activities.

Snyder said he is not convinced the hazing ever took place, although he was not involved with the fraternity at the time the instances allegedly occurred.

The university will no longer be able to enforce its policies on hazing or ban on drinking in fraternity houses for the Phi Delta Theta chapter.

"In my mind it's a Catch-22," Snyder said. "If you've got a chapter violating the rules, I'd think the university would want to monitor it more closely. Now, the university has no oversight over the chapter."

The sanction closes a chapter in the Greek system that worried Jones. He expressed wide-ranging concerns about incidents in the system on an audiotape obtained by the DI last fall.

"We're possibly going to have somebody hurt seriously or killed," Jones said on the tape.

[DeltAlum]

This whole thing makes no sense at all.

[33girl]

So does Phi Delt nationals still recognize them? If so, it really won't make any difference what the school's policy is on in-house drinking cause Phi Delt is dry nationally.

[IowaHawkeye]

Alum files complaint against frat's Web site


By Gian Sachdev




The Daily Iowan



A UI alumnus filed a sexual-harassment complaint against the Phi Delta Theta fraternity Monday, alleging that the organization's Web site degrades women and sexually abused children.

Cedar Rapids resident Dennis Hill, 43, a former pledge of Phi Delta Theta, said some of the site's awards for its members, including "Slut of the Year" and "Pedophile of the Year," dehumanize women and mock child molestation. He is asking the university to shut down the Web site or work out the issue with fraternity members.

"Mocking crimes against children and demeaning women is just plain sick," Hill said. "This site shows the incredibly dangerous potential of these individuals."

He accessed the list of awards at the bottom of the fraternity's "Chapter Minutes" section of the site, which is linked to the official UI Web site.

Hill, who filed his complaint with the UI Office of Affirmative Action, said he was motivated to come forward after learning of the recent charges from former Phi Delta Theta member Elmer Vejar. On Dec. 5, 2001, the UI sophomore accused the fraternity of hazing rituals during Hell Week 2000, including the forced consumption of alcohol and demeaning simulated sexual activity.

The fraternity chapter's charter was revoked by the university last month.

Hill also approached the Rape Victim Advocacy Program, Women's Resource and Action Center, and UI Student Services with copies of the complaint in hopes of garnering university support. His complaint also names the Interfraternity Council as a responsible party.

The fraternity's Web site is humiliating to women and children, said Theresa Klingenberg, the RVAP director.

"I'm personally offended by this and on behalf of all other victims," she said. "Jokes about pedophiles and child abusers are wrong in any light."

Phi Delta Theta chapter adviser Steve Snyder said he agrees that the Web site is in "bad taste" and "stupid," but, he said, he is upset with Hill for remaining angry for 22 years. Hill was voted out of the fraternity in the '70s, Snyder said.

"I barely even know this guy, and I'd say that it's time to grow up," he said. "If you don't fit into a fraternity, I say just go and join another one."

Snyder said that after Vejar's allegations of hazing instigated a university, police, and internal investigation into the fraternity, Hill sent letters to the national and international Phi Delta Theta chapters supporting the claims and implementing Snyder as a supporter of the acts.

Phi Delta Theta President Paul Sabatino refused to comment on the matter; national chapter representatives were unavailable for comment.

The affirmative-action office investigates all complaints of alleged sexual harassment, said compliance officer Jan Waterhouse, adding that she could not comment on Hill's complaints.

[KSig RC]

wow . . . now this absolutely reeks of BS

Calling the Affirmative Action office at U of I? whoa buddy . . . what a joke. This is turning into a huge-scale dogpile, and an absurd one at that.

[Tom Earp]

ONCE GAIN THE GREEK ORGS. TAKE A HOSE JOB!

KS R C check one of my Prev. Posts, talke to DH, GDM about a situation at his Almamatterand sounded like BS to me and him both!

We all stand up to protect something we beleive in and many who are not in are the ones taking the pot shots at us!

I do not like Greeks, I do not like Blacks, I do not like Whites, I do not like Asians, ETC! I get really sick of this crap!

Vented! Whew!