Probation details
Stipulations of the probation for Gemini Cooperative include: a membership review conducted by the Office of the Dean of Students and the Gemini adviser before new housing contracts are completed; a $1,000 contribution to the Purdue Cooperative Council to fund a new-member orientation and a speaker on hazing; no social activities at the house; at least two pre-approved community service projects each semester to be attended by at least 70 percent of house members; in addition to a number of other stipulations.
Stipulations for Twin Pines Cooperative's probation include a new membership/pledge program review conducted by the Office of the Dean of Students, Twin Pines executive officers and the Twin Pines adviser; no social activities held at the house (members-only events permitted); at least one community service project conducted by the house with a mandatory 75 percent attendance; and a new membership development program.
Co-ops on probation for hazing
By Tanya Brown
tbrown@journalandcourier.com
Two Purdue university cooperative houses are on probation after violating the school's hazing regulations.
On Thursday, Gemini Cooperative, 172 Littleton St., was placed on probation until Dec. 15, 2007, after new allegations of psychological and verbal abuse arose less than a year following the men's cooperative's completion of probation for alcohol violations.
In an unrelated incident, Twin Pines Cooperative, a women's house located at 322 Waldron St., was placed on probation until Dec. 2 after an investigation determined new members were forced to walk across campus clad in shower robes, towels and other shower attire.
An investigation of Gemini revealed that members have thrown items, such as water balloons and beer, at new members, behaviors that when combined with past infractions warrant a more lengthy probation than that given to Twin Pines, said Pablo Malavenda, associate dean of students.
"With Gemini, we felt they needed to be more closely supervised by our office," Malavenda said. "We feel it may take them a little longer to change the traditions they have established with their new members."
A Twin Lakes member who refused to give her name also declined to comment on the probation, saying, "We, as a house, have chosen not to."
Gemini could not be reached for comment.
Malavenda said Twin Pines has no violations similar to the hazing activity in its history. Some of the violations were witnessed by a staff member of the Office of the Dean of Students.
That staff person "approached the women about what they were doing," he said. "They were walking single file, obviously following the direction of the active member.
But what they had done were silly prank activities that were not life threatening. We're confident we'll get them back on track and eliminate the problem quickly."
Gemini presented a different set of challenges. According to the cooperative's file, Malavenda said Gemini was placed on probation from March to December of 2004 for alcohol violations.
It was suspended from November 1998 until December 1999 for physical hazing, which included forcing new members to steal from other houses and perform demeaning chores.
That suspension was extended in December 1999 until the fall of 2000 after the cooperative again found itself in trouble.
"That may seem like a long time ago, but there is still that pattern," Malavenda said. "A suspension is very severe. We didn't feel that was warranted here, but we wanted to send a clear message to stop."
Jason Casares, assistant dean of students, said in a statement that members of both houses knew about the hazing.
"We hope the recent incidents will provide a learning opportunity for these organizations, and they will go on to become responsible members of the Purdue community."
The findings and disciplinary actions are not subject to appeal.
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