half of sdsu’s suspended frats cleared

Updating the ongoing debacle unfolding at San Diego State University, NBC San Diego is reporting that three of the six suspended fraternities have now been reinstated on campus: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Phi Kappa Theta. The fraternities were suspended shortly after the police announced arrests of persons affiliated with the fraternity, pending an investigation of any institutional involvement. That investigation has now revealed that none of the three cleared chapterhouses were involved — though some members are still being examined. Three other fraternities remained suspended, “pending further investigation”: Lambda Chi Alpha, Theta Chi, and Phi Kappa Psi. The alleged cocaine kingpin on campus, Kenneth Ciaccio, is a member of Theta Chi.

σφε’s lessons as gtown’s only frat

It’s always hard to sew new fields and all the more so when those field have been strewn over with salt. Georgetown University once had social fraternities but long ago banished them from campus. In the spirit of a new millennium, Sigma Phi Epsilon decided to try to bring the greek spirit back to campus in 2005 — and was rewarded with a burgeoning chapter now in 2008. They admit it’s difficult lacking a house or even regular meeting space, but assert that the Sig Ep “Balanced Man” program provides all the structure they need — leavened with doses of outings like paintball and their annual retreat. By all accounts, Sig Ep is persevering in a less than accommodating college environment admirably. As it remains the only social fraternity at school, it remains to be seen whether those with a less strict regime will take root as well.

stanford pledges to lose housing privileges

Stanford University is moving to withdraw standard housing privileges from anyone pledging a housed fraternity or sorority, starting immediately. These “underprivileged” fraternity members have the option of later petitioning for so-called “unpreferred” housing, which places them at a severe disadvantage to non-greek students in terms of obtaining plum housing assignments — or housing at all. Alternatively, a pledge who drops before initiation may request removal from the underprivileged list. But there appears to be no allowance for greeks who opt not to live in chapterhouses or who cannot for lack of space, reflecting the university belief that “once a student pledges a fraternity or sorority, the responsibility of providing housing to the member falls to the house.” Noble sentiments and perhaps a step to equalize greek and indie options, but with the greek system growing at Stanford, space concerns may multiply. Moreover, if greek housing is to be officially recognized as replacements for university housing, serious consideration should be given the College Housing and Infrastructure Act pending in Congress, which would permit funding for greek housing under the same standards as college dorms.

u arizona φγδ and βθπ both snag top greek honor

What to do when the committee to select your campus’s Greek Man of the Year deadlocks? University of Arizona’s answer seems to be: Give both the finalists the award. This year the university’s fraternity and sorority office opted to hand out awards to both Mark L. Herchold, of Phi Gamma Delta, and Cameron Warner, of Beta Theta Pi. Along with the usual plethora of extracurriculars inhering to the top honoree(s), these winners sported an alphabet soup of other greek organizations: Herchold was also in the honorary Gamma Sigma Alpha; while Herchold was president of both Pi Sigma Alpha, a poli sci honorary, and of the Order of Omega, which recognizes greek leadership. Both, presumably, had seats at the head of the table at the annual banquet.

mit rush tracking system comes under fire

Since 2005, the greek system at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has obligated its member fraternities to use an online system to track freshmen. Every time an eligible freshman (that is, a male) enters an event during rush week, his registration is simultaneously and surreptitiously entered into the “Clearinghouse system,” which maintains a running record of every individual’s attendance throughout the week. This system, in turn, is only accessible to participating greek organizations. Apparently when the system was first introduced, entries were made in plain view of attendees, but wiser (or perhaps sneakier) minds have since moved the nitty-gritty to back rooms. This columnist writes on behalf of an aggrieved IGC group, the “Number Six Club,” which claims the system is tantamount to “Big Brother.” (Understandably, some freshmen agree.) Various manifestly flimsy excuses for the practice have been proffered in the past, ranging from “its to promote safety at parties“ to “we need to monitor event lengths.” The IFC has finally admitted this semester the purpose is in fact to track potential pledges to best direct rush efforts. Is this wrong? Probably. That’s what the article argues, anyway. (On a side note, your correspondent has no idea what the “Number Six Club” is. A fraternity? A society? A dining club? It seems to be under the IGC umbrella, whatever it is.)

an unusual medium for fraternity hijinks

Boston University aspiring artist Basil Conidine is offering a particularly unique take on fraternity and sorority. He’s penned an “opera comique in one act” about the travails of the (obviously fictional) Beta Epsilon Epsilon Rho fraternity, beset by a vengeful RA, inquisitive sorority girls, and the ever-vigilant Boston University cops. This isn’t any hack job, either: it’s scored for three sopranos, one mezzo-soprano, three baritones, and one tenor, along with piano and chamber orchestra. The show premiers at the BU Concert Hall on Tuesday the 13th; tickets are available for those in the Boston area.

the two faces of πκα international

The Tulane chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha has gotten in trouble a lot lately — or at least trouble has bene imputed to them. Most recently, they’ve been derecognized by the university and dechartered by their international for allegedly dousing their pledges in a scalding bouillabaisse that saw the pledges hospitalized for second-degree burns and ten brothers charged with second-degree aggravated assault. But only two years ago, Pi Kappa Alpha international was firing volleys at Tulane in defense of their chapter, claiming accusations against them false, defamatory and reckless. They demanded retraction of a newspaper article implicating them date rape and sanction of the student government committee that had requested an investigation. The newspaper would admit its headline was “unfortunate” and the university quietly ignored the request. Whether defending or disowning their chapters, Pi Kappa Alpha international seems to be very much on the ball.

alabama state ex-pledge sues φβσ for hazing

Patrick Miller is suing the Alabama State University chapter of Phi Beta Sigma for physical injuries and harassment he allegedly suffered in the course of the fraternity’s hazing. He was a pledge for ten weeks and the mistreatments evidently became sufficient to require his hospitalization in the final two weeks. Some members of the fraternity were convicted of criminal charges; now Mr Miller is seeking the recoup some of his medical costs from the men who he claims caused them. While criminal prosecutions for hazing are accelerating, in the past lawsuits have usually been limited to claims of wrongful death. Whether Miller’s suit heralds a new expansion of litigation remains an open question.

uw senior holds forth on greek tradition

Columnist Tim Williams of the University of Wisconsin at Madison’s student newspaper, the Badger Herald, has some thoughts about fraternity tradition that he seems to think are original: greeks are immature hypocrites. Referring to an ill-defined but evidently ill-reputed incident (that may or may not have occurred) he dubs “Bucketgate” committed by the local Sigma Phi Epsilon, he concludes that “the Greek system is simply a bunch of people who pay a lot of money to live together.” Not exactly a novel accusation, Mr Williams. He also finds immaturity in frats’ “two faces of community and beer bong leadership.” Would Mr Williams prefer frats practice drinking games by night without philanthropy by day, like most college undergraduates? His critiques ignore the fact that greek men and women are generally leaders on campus and in communities; and among the most dedicated and generous alumni. If they play hard after working hard, does that implicate some kind of janus-faced hypocrisy? The article is mostly newsworthy for commentary it accrued (which may be viewed at the article’s page) and the letters to the editor it engendered: see, for example, this response from a Sigma Phi Epsilon alum.

house on umd frat row goes to τκε

Most universities have frat rows of some kind, but the University of Maryland’s is particularly posh. A traditional horseshoe lane just inside campus is lined with thirteen neoclassical manses, complete with white pillars and brick façades. But when No. Three Fraternity Row became available after the local Delta Tau Delta was evicted, only two chapters applied. The winner was Tau Kappa Epsilon, only three years back on campus after a ten year hiatus and two years after unsuccessfully applying for No. Six, vacated by an ousted Beta Theta Pi. The winning edge over the other contender, Phi Kappa Psi? The Tekes’ strong membership role and clear documentation of finances and social calendar. Numbers, organization and good chapter operations trumped a avowedly “troubled past with the university.” Food for thought to exiled chapters contemplating how to turn themselves around.

unique δκε house celebrates sesquicentennial

May a chapter has a history delving back into earlier local organizations absorbed or subsumed by a national fraternity when they reached a certain size. But the Zeta Zeta of Delta Kappa Epsilon at Louisiana State University, which is celebrating its one hundred fiftieth anniversary, has a special honor. Deke was a early pioneer in the South, spreading quickly in the 1850’s where other fraternities feared to tread — below the Mason-Dixon line. They reached LSU in 1858, but the chapter dissolved soon after in the civil war. It was only reactivated in 1923 after over a decade or petitioning by a local group, the Friars. Deke recognizes their uncommon diligence by their rare allowance in wearing the Friars’ pin alongside the Deke. Now alumni from around the nation are arriving with double pins to celebrate the Zeta Zeta’s history and future.

six chapters suspended after drug sting at sdsu

A shocking story out of San Diego State University continues to evolve and now it appears that six fraternity chapters have been suspended. A six-month joint local-federal undercover investigation wrapped up this week with the arrests of ninety-six people, the vast majority many of whom were students. The DEA announced seizures of four pounds of cocaine, fifty of marijuana and forty-eight live plants, 350 ecstasy pills, semi-automatic pistols, and over $60,000: this was no cottage business. The six chapters named by the story, who have been suspended pending investigation of their involvement, are Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Kappa Psi, Phi Kappa Theta, Theta Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Sigma Alpha Mu. University president Stephen Weber made no bones: “if we find that the fraternities as organizations were involved, they will be kicked off campus.” Meanwhile, a fellow greek took a milder stance: “This looks bad for the whole Greek system.“ Whether his comment came before or after his house (Phi Kappa Theta) was suspended is not reported.

berkeley σπ killed in town-gown dustup

A Los Angeles Times article sheds light on a new angle in a much publicized death in the Bay Area: Chris Wootton, an honors student and Sigma Pi at the University of California at Berkeley, was stabbed to death on Saturday following some sort of altercation; while Andrew Thomas Hoeft-Edenfield, a student at Berkeley City College, was reportedly present at the dustup and was arrested shortly thereafter “in connection with Wootton’s death.” The Times piece highlights the often frayed relations between Berkeleyans unaffiliated with the university living in the “flatlands” below the campus and the fraternities lining the border between the two, observing that “young people from the Berkeley flats and nearby Oakland have been drawn to the party scene of fraternity row.” Meanwhile, Edenfield’s father is quoted saying that “fraternities look down their noses at anyone from the flatlands.” Exactly what sparked the fatal fight remains unclear.

csulb ζφρ presents sex and chocolate

The men of regional SoCal frat Zeta Phi Rho at Cal State University at Long Beach have opted for apparently titillating topics in a recent educational program, entitled “Sex & Chocolate.” The brothers explained that both (besides being perennial student favorites) are “indulgences that have become devalued in society.” Alumni helped arrange the event in conjunction with philanthropy Just4One, where attendees were told about the darker side of chocolate and sex: child labor in cocoa agriculture and human trafficking in the sex trade. An original idea for philanthropy, and apparently well-received.

an siu φκτ brother relates life with indies

Ray Sophie is a Phi Kappa Tau brother at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, its flagship campus. Writing in his last column of the semester, he offers a squib in the form of a bestiary of his independent roommates — amusing both for its light style and colorful descriptions. All seven are fellow swimmers, but range from an inveterate hibernator to an eclectic tinkerer. What Sophie sees as uniting them all is that they “make fun of the fact I am in a fraternity, despite the fact they really liked all of my brothers whom they have met.” Unfortunately, not exactly unusual sentiments. Sophie hasn’t had the opportunity to live with brothers yet. “I hope to remedy that situation shortly,” he says.

umn πβφ teaches profs a few things

The University of Minnesota chapter of Pi Beta Phi thought they’d add some special guests to their semiannual dinner recognizing sisters who had achieved excellence in academic classes the preceding semester. And guess who’s coming to dinner? The professors who taught those classes. Although the dinner was of course primarily to honor the ourstanding sisters, the event also served to show the invited dons that greek life wasn’t all parties and Belushiesque shenanigans — an education that was appreciated. “‘I’m English,’ the graduate instructor in marketing said. ‘We don’t really have those sort of things there.’” In the Pi Betas’ case, skirts and flawless supper etiquette were in evidence. Faculty dinners are a common event at many houses, and though some faculty preconceptions may be well off base, getting a chance to teach professors a few things just shows turnabout is fair play.

social networking sites finally go greek

First there was Friendster. Then there was MySpace. And then there was Facebook. Now comes UGreekRow.com, the brainchild of three University of Arizona grads — definitely a campus well known for its boisterous greek scene. They saw a gaping opportunity for an integrated social networking platform for undergrads to manage often nettlesome duties like finances, dues collection, housing, and the like. But their more ambitious aims include helping graduates (like themselves) get jobs through greek alumni connections. One founder was inspired when he “wasn’t able to leverage the fact that I’m in a fraternity to help find [himself] a job.” Though their site isn’t due to launch until 2009 Fall 2008, they’re optimistic: hooking up talented undergrads with chapter alums eligible for headhunting bonuses just seems like a good idea.

arkansas high school’s mock trial depicts greek crime

In celebration of Law Day, a holiday few have probably heard of, a Fayettville, AK high school stages a mock trial to demonstrate to students in its law class how prosecution of a serious felony might proceed. The crime depicted: a co-ed fraternity president’s allegedly pushing a female pledge to her death from a clock tower for “disloyalty to the fraternity and for refusing to have sex with one of his friends,” after forcing her to take tequila shots earlier in the night. Aside from intimations of Hemingway and Hitchcock, the scenario could only play into stereotypes about fraternities. To the school’s credit, the facts were not too lurid and the exercise reportedly focused on the law— and a mock trial has to concoct some crime. Probably shouldn’t read too much into it. Then again, the accused was convicted of hazing and manslaughter. Not that fictional chapter’s finest moment.

u missouri greeks take a solo safety stroll

Many college greeks seem to be mostly on the receiving (and often critical) end of inspections by university authorities. It might then seem strange that when the folks at Minnesota University at Columbia invited representatives from campus housing and police to join them on a “safety walkthrough,” they were roundly spurned. All the odder because student safety is generally near and dear to the hearts of administrators across academia fearful of parental lawsuits. The aptly named Greektown and Frat Row neighborhoods in question are off-campus. Apparently “out of sight; out of mind” is the reigning policy at MU; and the local municipality thinks upkeep should be handled by the university if its students are the main tenants. So if the greeks there need safety repairs to be made to streets and plant? “They would have to hire MU Campus Facilities,” said its associate director.

calisthenics and cayenne at nwu λφε

In an unusually searching take on ostensible hazing in fraternity initiations, Peter Jackson of the Northwestern University daily records the experiences of a class of Lambda Phi Alpha pledges who opted to drop en masse. The decision was reportedly a communal one among the seven (remaining) pledges, with some quitting in solidarity with their fellows against their own wishes— an interesting testament to the Lambda‘s pledge process’s stated goal of fostering pledge class unity above all else. The travails visited on them range from the muscle-building (extended exercises) and purportedly character-building (pledge piggyback rides) to the stomach-turning (drinking a brew of hot sauce). Still, to all reports the ex-pledges bear no ill will to the Lambdas: “the pledges stressed that they didn't leave because of the hazing, but because they were more interested in the partying.” Not strictly kosher, but hardly the “hazing: a greek tragedy” that the article’s title claims.

ucsc λφε highlights donor shortage

In keeping with a philosophy that sees it fielding teams named (no joke) the Banana Slugs, the University of California at Santa Cruz publishes a newsmagazine (“City on a Hill Press”) in lieu of a student paper. It provides this enlightening article on national Asian fraternity Lambda Phi Epsilon’s latest event to promote bone marrow donorship. While there are never enough organ donations for all, there’s evidently a critical shortage of the Asian-ancestry donors necessary for successful transplants in Asian recipients. This was abjectly illustrated to the UCSC Phi Lams when one of their brothers died while waiting for a match. Since then — nearly a decade ago — the cause has been their crusade, and this is only the latest in a long series of events.

annapolis αφα reaches out to area high-schoolers

Seizing a nascent but growing trend, the men of the Alpha Phi Alpha’s Eta Eta chapter at Annapolis are moving to reach out to potential brothers even earlier than the first days at college. May 17 will mark the fruition of this effort, the inaugural African-American Young Men Conference, designed to bring in high-schoolers from the entire area for a day-long program on navigating the increasingly heavy burden thrust on ever younger teenagers, from STDs to college admissions. Wisely not overestimating the attention span of their audience, “all the presentations are intended to be brief so the boys won't lose interest.”

ut σαε brothers face the (muted) music

Following up on a previously blogged story, the four University of Texas Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers indicted in connection with the 2006 death of pledge Tyler Cross have pled guilty to charges including hazing and provision of alcohol to a minor. No charges held any directly reponsible for the death, which was ruled an accident. But even so the consequences seem disquietingly minimal. Two of those indicted were sentenced to community service; while the two brothers who were serving as pledgemasters while cattle prods and brands were wielded received a four day jail sentence. “We’ve obtained jail time for the most severe offenders,” announced the Texas DA, seemingly satisfied. To be fair, four days in jail is hardly a picnic for a college kid. Meanwhile, Sigma Alpha Epsilon marches on under an “agreement from the University of Texas to reduce hazing at that fraternity.” Reduce rather eliminate. Consequences for those involved seem lacking all around.

kansas state φβσ reclaims ancestral home

Its more common these days to hear about chapters losing their houses whether though financial or punitive misfortune, so it’s a nice ray of sunlight to read about a fraternity reclaiming a piece of their heritage. Phi Beta Sigma at Kansas State has completed a long-dreamed-of project of reacquiring and renovating the house erected by their Delta chapter back in 1917 as their first installation west of the Mississippi. Like so many other greeks, they lost the property during the riven years of the Great Depression and World War II, and it took considerable archival work to track it down. Now two brothers have already moved in, and they’re thinking about inviting in Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to further realize their vision. That’s historical preservation in the twenty-first century.

indictments issue in ut σαε hazing death

In a story much-reported across the nation, last year a University of Texas pledge Tyler Cross died after falling from a fifth-floor balcony with a BAC of 0.19. Although ruled an accident, the fatal fall followed an evening of what transpired to be hard-core hazing by Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Brothers were found to have used cattle prods and hot irons on pledges, who were instructed afterwards not to attend class to avoid revealing evidence of the abuse. On the night preceding the death, Cross was among those ordered to drink large quantities of liquor. A year later, four indictments have been issued against ΣΑΕs, including the president, vice president and pledgemaster, charging hazing and underage drinking violations. The Houston Statesman reports that “a fourth former member of the fraternity was charged with failure to report hazing, also marking the first time the office has pursued that charge.“ About time.