Hell Week: Chi Tau at Chico

[DeltAlum]

Pretty grim and damning testimony.

[hoosier]

The possible punishment that these guys face is not enough.

This local newspaper deserves some recognition - they've printed 28 articles, and the ones I've seen are pretty objective.

Was Chi Tau the name of the DSP chapter before their suspension?

[whittleschmeg]

SO sad....people need to start acting responsibly we wonder why the reuptation of GLO are going down hill....

[luvtoscrap]

If anyone is interested the Michigan anti-hazing law -Here it is. Sorry about the length but it is interesting reading.

bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled



"The Michigan penal code,"



(MCL 750.1 to 750.568) by adding section 411t.



THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:



Sec. 411t. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), a
person who attends an educational institution shall not engage in

or participate in the hazing of another person.
(2) A person who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a crime
punishable as follows:

(a) If the violation results in physical injury, the person
is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not
more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.

(b) If the violation results in serious injury, the person is
guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 3 years or a fine of not more than $2,500.00, or both.
(c) If the violation results in death, the person is guilty
of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 20 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both.
(3) A criminal penalty provided for under this section may be imposed in addition to any penalty that may be imposed for any other criminal offense arising from the same conduct.
(4)This section does not apply to a person who is the subject of the hazing, regardless of whether the person voluntarily allowed himself or herself to be hazed.
(5)This section does not apply to an activity that is normal and customary in an athletic, physical education, military training, or similar program sanctioned by the educational institution.

(6) It is not a defense to a prosecution for a crime under this section that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing.
(7) As used in this section:

(a) "Educational institution" means a public or private is a middle school, junior high school, high school, vocational school, college, or university located in this state

(b) "Hazing" means an intentional, knowing, or reckless act by a person acting alone or acting with others that is directed against another person and endangers the mental or physical health or safety of the other person, and that is done for the purpose of pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization. Subject to subsection (5), hazing includes any of

1 the following that is done for such a purpose:


2 (i) Physical brutality, such as whipping, beating, striking,

3 branding, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or similar activity.

(ii) Physical activity, such as sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, confinement in a small space, or calisthenics, that subjects the other person to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the other person.

(iii) Activity involving consumption of a food, liquid, alcoholic beverage, liquor, drug, or other substance that subjects the other person to an unreasonable risk of harm or that adversely affects the mental or physical health or safety of the other person.

(iv) Activity that intimidates or threatens another person with ostracism, that subjects the other person to extreme mental stress, shame, or humiliation, that adversely affects the other person from enrolling in or remaining enrolled in a school or program, or that may reasonably be expected to cause another person to leave the organization or the educational institution rather than to submit to the activity.

(v) Activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involves the commission of a crime or an act of hazing.

(c) "Organization" means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, cooperative, club, service group, social group, athletic team, or similar group whose

1 members are primarily students at an educational institution.

2 (d) "Pledge" means a person who has been accepted by, is considering an offer of membership from, or is in the process of qualifying for membership in any organization.

(e) "Pledging" means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization.

(f) "Serious injury" means serious impairment of a body function as that term is defined in section 479a.


There is a precedent for a chapter with a revoked charter that does not hold the National Headquarters liable; however, the university, the local chapter and individual members were liable. Believe it or not in this case that I am making a reference the university actually tried to argue that the student was at fault for his own hazing since by joining a GLO he knew he was at risk of possible hazing.

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

The DSP alumni corp board owns the house or at least most of it, to the best of my knowledge. I am also pretty sure they were aware of the chapter's "traditions" because these are not new activities the fraternity participated in - im sure these were things DSP did when they closed in 2002 (which wasn't that long ago). Thats why I think the Carringtons have a case against the people who own the house...or at least the DSP alumni that do.

FYI Chi Tau was the name of the local fraternity before they got their DSP charter (no idea what year), which is why they chose that name once they closed.

I also wanted to point something out that Tom Earp made me think of in another thread: Most local fraternities/sororities have great reputations on this campus, and most national fraternities/sororities are the same way. It's not a "local" or a "national" problem....it's just certain groups.

[Tom Earp]

AlphaPhiBubbles


Granted, it is not just one group of Greeks, It is a situation that has gotten totally out of hand that needs so be taken care of asap!

I just hope they dont want to clean House of All Greeks as some Schools have done!

As I said, I started a Local. there is nothing wrong with Locals. I was just thinking about the Risk Management and Issurance cost.

[Tom Earp]

As far as DSPhi Alum/House Corp. owning and renting the House, "theortically" is not responsible as Leasors for what that renter does.

Now, what does the fact have to to do with Chi Tau?

Well, only if they as a Group are recognized by DSPhi as an Underground Chapter.

Proving that could be a real can of worms!

[hoosier]

Could religion curtail college party life?


By LARRY MITCHELL - Staff Writer


Some local religious leaders wondered this week if they could help change the hard-partying behavior of Chico's college students.

Their thinking was inspired by hearing a Chico State University official describe just how common binge drinking has become locally.

"We are awash in alcohol," Rick Rees, associate director of student activities at Chico State, told members of the Chico Area Interfaith Council Wednesday.

Members of the council, who represent local religious groups, wondered if they might help by involving students in the activities of their congregations.

Rees suggested perhaps they could.

But the challenge is daunting, he said. "When it comes to binge drinking, "we are ranked right up in the top tier" of colleges.

He was invited to speak because members of the council were concerned about some high-profile events during the last school year.

Rees ran through those events.

In the fall, a student died in a crash that happened when he and others were coming back from a party at the Sacramento River.

In the spring, a student at a fraternity pledge event drank so much he came as close to dying as is possible.

Also, in the spring semester, a fraternity pledge, Matthew Carrington, died as a result of hazing activities.

And after that, members of a fraternity participated in making a pornographic film that a company then sold over the Internet.

This has been one of the most disturbing times in the university's history, Rees said.

There are some encouraging signs, however, he noted. The university is going to be much stricter with fraternities and sororities. Students themselves are realizing the irresponsible behavior must stop because of the human cost and the fact all the bad publicity "devalues their degrees," he said.

Also, the university and the city are cooperating much more than in the past to address the problems.

But no one should expect instant change, he said. "We suspect things might get worse before they get better."

Rees, who has worked at Chico State for many years, said the current group of college students stands out both by being very bright and having a surprisingly "cavalier attitude toward authority."

Given the environment in Chico and the campus' reputation for heavy partying, the disturbing behavior that's been seen lately isn't so surprising, he said.

Within a mile of campus, there are 56 establishments that sell alcohol, he said. At certain times, like Friday evenings, drinks are amazingly cheap. In addition, few classes are scheduled in the afternoons on Thursdays and Fridays, which sends a message to students.

"The culture is you come to Chico and then you look for a party. That's what we're teaching them to do," he said. "We need to quit that."

In fact, a significant percentage of freshmen arrive at Chico State already in the habit of binge drinking, he said.

Members of the council asked Rees if he thought they could help by inviting students to participate in their congregations' activities.

"I don't think there's any question students need as many alternatives to going drinking as we can provide," he said.

The Rev. Mike Newman, pastor at the Newman Catholic Center which caters to students, noted the Interfaith Council used to distribute a brochure during campus registration, that listed local congregations and their meeting times.

It was discontinued because although all religious groups in the area were invited to submit information, only a few did, he said. "I think we should resurrect that."

Rees' talk was followed by a brief discussion of possible outreaches to students, such as holding a "religion fair" on campus and organizing a campus chapter of Habitat for Humanity.

It was noted that some congregations have young-adult groups that attract many college students.

Newman said his center has succeeded by serving meals after church services and offering presentations by thought-provoking speakers.

He suggested the area's faith communities appoint representatives to discuss how they might be more successful at offering students alternatives to parties.

[AlphaPhiBubbles]

just as an aside... as MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION.... i don't think religion will solve Chico's problems. I'm already pretty pissed that they shut down the very old and historic El Rey Theater in downtown chico - not to renovate it or preserve it - but to turn it into a church. *sigh* I'm sorry but it pisses me off every time i drive by. That theater is really neat and they used to have midnite matinees all the time and I could walk there from my house.

I will admit I'm pretty anti-organized religion, but to each their own (and I truly believe that).

And hey if greater acceptance of God or whatever will help Chico students from getting sent to the hospital for alcohol poisening then that is fine by me.

Ok my rant is over...sorry.

And yea, it looks like in a few years there will be no more greek system.

[exlurker]

Chico Chi Tau Death Update: Judge Says "Torture" Charges Might Be Possible

The local paper reports that a judge has indicated that charges of "torture" might be possible in the Chi Tau case. The maximum possible penalty for a conviction of torture would apparently be considerably higher than the penalty for hazing. (The defendants had gone to court attempting to have the hazing charges thrown out.)

So it looks like there will be more to come on this story

http://www.chicoer.com/local_news/ci_2939825

[texas*princess]

One of the things I will never understand is why people put up with other people yelling at them and making them do dumb and unsafe things to gain admittance.

If any sorority made me do things like that just to get membership, I would have peaced out and not once looked back.

[exlurker]

Originally posted by texas*princess
One of the things I will never understand is why people put up with other people yelling at them and making them do dumb and unsafe things to gain admittance.

If any sorority made me do things like that just to get membership, I would have peaced out and not once looked back.

Well said, princess. For a long time I've wished that new members / pledges could be made more aware of the power they have, especially as a group. If enough new members absolutely would not tolerate what was being done to them or their peers, reported the GLO or filed charges, and walked out, I think Greek life -- at least on campuses where hazing's still strong -- would be improved.

A big problem, of course, is when new members actually live in the hoouse. That's a lot more common for fraternities than sororities, and the fear of having to find a new place to live on short notice -- plus the fear of having personal property destroyed -- can deter new members from taking the "I'm outa here" step.