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.