φκψ at uri expelled after swat drug bust

"Three strikes and you're out" is a common principle not just in baseball but in criminal justice, as the Phi Kappa Psi chapter at University of Rhode Island has recently discovered. Over the last couple years, they have accrued two strikes to their name following charges of drug use in the fraternity and property damage. (The university also counts a weapons charge, but that apparently derives from possession of a... wait for it... bb gun.) Not damning in and of itself—though the nature of the predicate drug use isn't specified—but enough pecadillos add up to something more than the sum of their parts: an indication of a dysfunctional chapter culture.

The most recent infraction is perhaps more serious: a 4 AM raid by full SWAT team in December uncovered a locked safe in one brother's room, in which was found a quantity of marijuana, loose cash, some sort of ledger, and two scales. Not surprisingly, the brother, one Robert S Gallo, was charged with not only possession but also sale and trafficking in marijuana. (One scale, maybe he could argue quality control for personal use. But two scales? Come on.) The university had evidently had enough, and expelled the fraternity for at least eighteen months, after which it can return to recruitment, though it will have to vacate the house until September 2012. Though the alumni own the house, the university owns the land on which it rests. It is not to the brothers' credit, though at least marginally understandable, that "after the eviction, five fraternity brothers put much larger holes in the wall."

Meanwhile, the URI IFC president sought to distance greeks from Phi Kappa Psi's actions, who he said "stand against the values and beliefs shared by the Greek Community," adding that "the actions of Phi Kappa Psi are unfortunate yet do not in anyway reflect activities common in fraternity and sorority houses at URI." It is to be hoped that Phi Psi alums will implement more substantive oversight and instil a better culture if and when they return to campus.

Providence JournalWPRI-TV 12URI A Good 5-Cent CigarWJAR-TV 10South County Independent

δυ colony, first frat at webster, inches towards recognition

The Delta Upsilon colony at Webster University in St. Louis has been faced with some challenges not typically borne by new colonies: it is the first fraternity at Webster since the school was founded in 1915, and its arrival met "a lot of resistance to greek life," according the DU President Kevin McWilliams. But he also admits that "nay-sayers" have made them a stronger organization, more attentive to solving problems and responsive to the student body. In the last year since the student council voted to recognize them, they have quickly established themselves as a force on campus: a regular organizer of philanthropic events and academically setting a high standard among student groups.

Of course, no group can function without funds, and DU as a colony still has dues set at a scant $150—though they are set to rise to at least $250 once full chapter status is reached. They look nearly sure to do so, having met all the national's requirements in terms of structure, membership, and programming; indeed, with their collective GPA of 3.13, they would be one of the most scholastically outstanding chapters in the whole fraternity. Most colonies struggle to meet the precedents set by the established greek aristocracy; DU is struggling to set their own precedent at Webster. So far, they seem to be giving greeks a good name.

Webster Journal

penn state φδθ countersues using arcane rule to save their house

Many a frat has knuckled under when the university moved to retake their property, but not the alumni of Phi Delta Theta at Pennsylvania State University. After the chapter was suspended last year, the university moved to purchase their felicitously-located property, which the fraternity had held since 1905. Wishing to keep open the opportunity to return to campus, the alumni demurred and refused arbitration to determine a fair price.

For most properties, that would be the end, since an owner need not sell if he does not wish to. But the Phi Delta Theta plot had been granted them in 1905 under the condition that it be used as a fraternity house. Should it cease to be so used, the university had the right to repurchase the lot. The university now contends that Phi Delta Theta does not qualify as a fraternity, since the university does not recognize fraternities without a national organization, and the local chapter was expelled by its national after a series of alcohol violations. (I suppose this means we should be technically be referring to it as "The Chapter Formerly Known as Phi Delta Theta.")

The chapter in countersuit argues that they need not be a recognized fraternity but only a fraternity to meet the conditions of the 1905 grant. But they also bring to bear an arcane legal principle entitled the Rule Against Perpetuities. In short, the Rule states that any grant must settle finally without condition within twenty-one years of the death of someone alive when the grant was made. The idea animating the Rule is that the "dead hand" of the grantor should not be able to encumber a property with conditions reaching down through the generations. A condition that exceeds the Rule's horizon is void, as Phi Delta Theta argues is the condition that the property be used as a fraternity house. Of course, this being an arcane legal principle, there are exceptions, and thus the lawyers will spar.

Apparently one for the bon mot, the frat's lawyer summed up the suit: "This is as rare in law as human rabies is, and it’s equally fatal."

Centre Daily TimesPenn State Daily Collegian

former penn state ζψ house dog shot to death

Many fraternities, notwithstanding the liability associated, have a house dog to serve as a combined mascot, playmate and occasionally guard. The Zeta Psi at Pennsylvania State University enjoyed the company of Akita-mix mutt Bruce for a number of years before the dog moved back home with David Rosenblatt, the brother who had brought him. Now six years old and living with Mr Rosenblatt's father Stan, Bruce was brutally shot to death a week ago by an off-duty, out-of-state police officer, struck down by three bullets.

Zete brothers back at college were first incredulous and then saddened. "I don't understand how that happened," said senior Zach Cullen, interviewed for the article, who repeated, "I don't understand how that could happen. It's just ridiculous." Mr Rosenblatt explained the assailant must have felt threatened by Bruce, but expressed disbelief anyone could be endangered by the small canine: "Bruce didn't have a mean bone in his body. He could be scary if he barked—he would bark at other dogs—but he never once bit anyone and he never once bit another dog." Regardless, there seems little doubt that the response was wildly disproportionate. Concluded Mr Cullen, "You don't need to shoot a dog, let alone three times. It's quite excessive and extreme."

The name of the officer implicated in the shooting has not been released by his fellow cops. Abby Silverman of the Montgomery County District Attorney's office, says she is treating the (alleged) crime "very seriously," and that the unnamed officer will receive no special treatment because of his position.

Penn State Daily CollegianNorth Penn Reporter

new chapter of αοπ finds warm welcome at wash u

Sororities first setting up shop on university campuses can stumble on any number of pitfalls, including unfamiliarity with regulations, disconnects with the student body, and rivalry with entrenched competitors. None seems a problem for the newly established Alpha Omicron Pi at the University of Washington in St. Louis. Representatives from the national are on campus recruiting for a January 29 bid date, and all hands seem to be on deck: they are in regular correspondence with the greek life office, and "current sororities are also helping by compiling lists of names of their friends or women they know who may be interested and passing those along to AOII."

All the general sisterliness may owe to the excellent health of the Wash U sorority system. The AOPis were selected from a pool of eleven applicants to expand onto campus because the six existing sororities were experiencing fervid demand, their memberships swelling to over 150 sisters apiece, on average. Not wanting deserving women to be turned away due to ballooning membership in limited seats, the Women's Panhellenic Association opted to open up more spaces with a new sorority.

In a side note, the Wash U Student Life That is actually the name of their student newspaper follows an odd practice of printing "Π" by means of two capital I's, as though it were the Roman numeral for two; this practice can be seen in the quotation above. While the resulting typemark vaguely resembles the letter pi, in this age of digital production, it seems hard to imagine they are at a loss for the actual character. This isn't the age of the printing press anymore, folks.

Wash U Student Life

greek reputations subject of discussion on gossip sites

For all that greeks, with their antediluvian ritual and classicist Greek lettering, hearken back to the age of their founding, they are as much subject to the developments of modern technology as anyone else. This is amply proved by the encroachments of gossip sites like Rate My Sorority, College Confidential and the ubiquitous Juicy Campus onto onetime sacrosanct greek reputations, not necessarily to the benefit of the fraternities and sororities under discussion. Posts on College Confidential label University of Pennsylvania (whence the story) sororities variously as "the college equivalent of the high school cheerleader" (Delta Delta Delta) or "notorious cokeheads, though this is really more legend than reality" (Kappa Alpha Theta).

Even the sites' managers are surprised at the extent to which conversation is dominated by greek life, including the founder of Juicy Campus, Matt Ivester. But the sites' execs also agree that gossip is a valuable tool in evaluating a group's reputation: "Gossip is highly underrated," according to Sean Bandawat, Rate My Sorority's president. Meanwhile, presidents of the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils decried the sites as detracting from the interpersonal nature of greek rush. But it doesn't look like the online gossip mills will be shutting down anytime soon. "More information and opinions can be really good," said Ivester.

Daily Pennsylvanian

penn state greeks rev up for "canning" drive

When Pennsylvania State University students speak of "canning," they aren't referring to the artisanal packaging of produce and preserves in tin cans. At Penn State, "canning" refers to a statewide drive in which organizations disperse their students through nearly every city and town of size, dressed in sandwich boards, and bearing empty tin cans for donations. It's a massive fundraising effort for the Four Diamonds Fund, a university charity devoted to ending childhood cancer. Notes the Penn State Live, "organizations can raise more than $20,000 on a canning weekend." That's not chump change standing alone, and aggregates quickly given all the groups involved over four weekends scheduled throughout the year.

Although greeks are always heavily involved in the effort, this year the greek councils are trying to step up the motivation as interest typically wanes by the upcoming third such weekend of solicitations. The Interfraternity Council and Panhellenic Council held a joint event offering tips to maximize donations, promote safety, and present a positive image of greeks and the university. Nor was the event just a rallying cry for their own troops: the president of the local Zeta Psi said, "we're here talking to everyone, not just greeks," while the president of the local Alpha Xi Delta reminded participants to be safe when soliciting donations on unfamiliar street corners. Though there should be no violations of the law here; groups are sure to get municipal permits, unlike the typical canhandlers.

Penn State Daily CollegianPenn State Live

cops call in swat team for wsu φκσ raid

A convivial party at the Phi Kappa Sigma house at Washington State University spiraled into disaster by stages Wednesday night. Police were first summoned to the scene on complaints of minors being served alcohol. Though there is no report of discovering any such violations, while there officers were informed of illegal drugs in a parked car. (Who did the snitching is wisely not reported either.) Following up, they observed a bong and bag of marijuana in the back seat of the vehicle; a warrant was quickly obtained for search of the vehicle, which gave up no more evidence, but led to a warrant being issued for the house once it was ascertained the car's owner was a resident. By this time, the local police no longer felt confident of their ability to continue on alone, so they called in a SWAT team.

Despite the fact that the party's attendees were "intoxicated" and likely rowdy, the call for backup was not for fear of any fraternal resistance; said Pullman Cmdr. Chris Tennant, "we activated the SWAT team not because we needed special weapons and tactics, we just needed the bodies." A presumably thorough search of the house turned up additional caches of marijuana, pipes and bongs.

No arrests were made, but misdemeanor charges for drug and paraphanalia possession are expected. Your tax dollars at work: training law enforcement officers in special weapon skills and tactics so they can be summoned to rifle thtrough fratboys' rooms for bongs.

Moscow-Pullman Daily NewsWSU Daily EvergreenSeattle Post-IntelligencerDenver Examiner

lehigh welcomes δχ and πκα to greek community

Lehigh is welcoming two new chapters to its greek community, Delta Chi and Pi Kappa Alpha. Unlike most other greeks already on campus, both will be non-residential chapters. They were selected out of a group of five finalists for the expansion of the greek system, which also included (in alphabetical order) Zeta Psi, Pi Lambda Phi, and Phi Delta Theta. Part of the allure of the two winners was that they would offer a different experience from residential fraternities: "We think bringing new options to Lehigh only enhances the current Greek experience," said the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Tim Wilkinson. Also considered were the chapters' level of alumni and national support, compliance with the detailed application procedures, and plan for campus programming. The newly approved chapters will begin recruiting shortly.

The infusion of new blood is sorely needed, said the president of the Interfraternity Council, since for "the past ten years Lehigh has lost, on average, one fraternity a year." That still puts Lehigh at a deficit of eight greeks, so perhaps the snubbed finalists may have another chance in coming years. "If these two fraternities prove to be successful, there will be consideration to bring on more non-residential chapters," according to Wilkinson.

Lehigh Brown & White

smu σφε brother waxes lyrical about how great his frat is

Opinions (the wits say) are like orifices; everybody's got them. What everyone doesn't have is a pulpit from which to shout their opinion, and that's likely a very good thing, given what Southern Methodist University Daily Campus columnist Daniel Liu is expectorating about himself and his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Mr Liu was not impressed with what he saw based on his father's advice to watch Animal House (1978) as a primer on greeks. (Does he have something against Otis Day?) But he found salvation in the arms of Sigma Phi Epsilon, who drew him in with their Balanced Man Scholarship, for which he was a finalist. Then he received a personal call from a brother inviting him to come out early for spring recruitment, which he evidently views as an effort above and beyond the call of duty.

The following term, Mr Liu "spent a lot of time thinking about why I shouldn't join SigEp," but obviously didn't think hard enough. (A joke.) Ultimately, he decided Sig Ep had a lot to offer him, and he it, and the marriage made in heaven was consummated on March 20, 2006. Returning to campus to watch the current rush, he expresses doubt of Sig Ep's success, only to be shocked (shocked!) to find the house's bids well received.

And why? Because Sig Ep has a secret, which he is willing to share with us: The Balanced Man Program, which for those not in the know, is Sig Ep's membership development initiative. Almost every fraternity has one, though Sig Ep has a nifty graphic for theirs depicting the Vetruvian Man. This is their "secret" and "defining difference," a program that "helps build members up, instead of tearing them down."

The path of Mr Liu's editorial ranges from congratulating his own wisdom and deliberation to extolling the virtues of his frat, mentioning along the way other houses failing as his sails on the wings of eagles to victory. In sum, it's a mass of self-serving puffery virtually devoid of any useful thoughts. (An example of such advice, meager as it is: "You see, from my experience, most men at SMU who choose to go through rush are looking for friends, fellowship, and lots of fun.") Thanks, Mr Liu. Really.

SMU Daily Campus

illinois state δχ columnist tries to bust frat stereotypes

Evidently last semester the oft-heard phrase "stereotypical frat guy" made its way into Illinois State University's Daily Vidette, igniting a firestorm of criticism from outraged victims of the generalization. Well, maybe not a firestorm so much as a little puff of flame in a wastebasket.

But regardless! Now comes columnist Matt Spialek of the local Delta Chi rising to defend his greek brethren against the calumnies of stereotyping and the scourge of journalistic laziness lumping disparate individuals together. The title of his op-ed piece today: "A Greek Tragedy." His thesis, and helpfully, also his byline: "Something must change both in thought and action, in Greek and non-Greek, before we can get past the stigma of beer cans and barn dances." Mr Spialek (like your correspondent) rushed his fraternity in spring of sophomore year, so he is quick to aver that "I had friends. I surely did not need to 'buy' any." This implies freshman rushees don't have any friends and do need to buy them, but let's leave that aside. What is the grand purpose for which he joined Delta Chi, the principle that can bring together greek and independent?

Well, a "new experience," which doesn't take Mr Spialek very far rhetorically, so he shifts gears and cribs a page from Thomas Jefferson for the knockout blow: "the pursuit of happiness." Yes, if only greeks and indies would just look past the methods they choose in finding contentment during these "four, maybe five years of this unique transition between childhood to adulthood," and see the overarching purpose, all men would be united in a bond of shared goals.

Certainly Mr Spialek cannot be faulted for his optimism, nor his flights of visionary fancy. ("We are all doing what we love . . . let's give each other a break.") Words for even the "stereotypical frat guy" to live by.

Illinois State Daily Vidette

penn state ifc institutes bribes rewards for participation

In the continuing quest to get frats to play nice with one another and the rest of the college community, Pennsylvania State University has taken a giant step for fratkind: they're bribing them.

Not really; the Penn State Interfraternity Council recently enacted a new plan to assign points to chapters who provide community service, fundraising for charities, or other university programming. Indeed, fraternities also get points for members who attend other groups' programming, so this should encourage greater inter-greek cooperation and circulation as well. And after several smaller groups raised the specter of unfairness that larger chapters would muscle out the guppies by sheer dint of membership, the Great Compromise was reached: point assignments were tweaked to reflect a per capita assessment of chapter size. Thus a smaller chapter might actually enjoy some advantage over their larger confreres, since it is probably easier to get fifteen men out of twenty to an event than seventy-five out of a hundred.

The new plan reflects a similar arrangement already in place by the Panhellenic Council, a program fancifully dubbed "Pimp My Suite." We're not kidding. The fraternity version was passed by the IFC "by an overwhelming majority." As for the pecuniary rewards (presumably furthest from the minds of the civic-minded voters), the prizes haven't yet been finalized. IFC VP Programming Cory Will adverted, however, to the sort of items under discussion: "a big-screen TV or a sound system" were probable. Small wonder the plan proved so popular.

Penn State Daily Collegian

storied cal edifice built for and long housed θξ

When Theta Chi was first established at the University of California, Berkeley in 1910, they took over the old Kappa Sigma house; but they quickly found the colonial revival building unappealing, and commissioned the construction of a frathouse at 1730 La Loma Avenue in Berkeley. The Daily Planet's columnist Daniella Thompson proceeds to chronicle the building's history with considerable elan, lavishing detail on its architecture and design. The life of the Theta Chi students dwelling within is given somewhat shorter shrift, until 1959, when one of their initiates was diagnosed with acute nephritis, allegedly after being forced to consume raw liver—this coming shortly after a student had died from consuming raw liver at a University of Southern California initiation. (What was with all the raw liver?)

The Theta Xis were driven from the house shortly thereafter, done in by the bad press and an increasingly radicalized student body in the 1960s; though they would return in 1977, they would have to find different lodging, since their physical plant had since been occupied by a hippie commune and then sold to an outfit revealingly titled the "Living Love Center," an ignominious end indeed. For those wishing the sordid details of the former Theta Xi house's degradations, Ms Thompson's article offers plenty. Perhaps too many. ("'A very large bus, possibly a converted Greyhound, used as a permanent living quarters by its owner, is parked conspicuously in the front yard.'")

Berkeley Daily Planet

utc frat row begins to take shape in πκα alum's hands

Did you ever wonder how a frat row comes to be? Is it an agglomerative process of one house and then another slowly setting up shop in the same general vicinity to gain the social benefits of proximity? Or is it more in the nature of a planned community, with an architect promulgating a master plan for greek life?

In the case of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, more the latter. A new property development spanning a few city blocks near campus is going into construction, with greek tenants already on board to occupy houses. The mastermind behind the frat row project is Roy Williams, a 1973 graduate and Pi Kappa Alpha brother, who has brought together architects, city planners, community leaders, local merchants, university staff and greek representatives "to create a project that will satisfy the concerns of both the city and the Greek organizations that call UTC home." Even independents seem enthused by the prospect of a frat row to call their own: The University Echo quotes on unaffliated sophomore as saying, "I am actually excited to see the Greeks get their own houses in the same area. You see things like this on movies all the time, but I never thought it would happen at our school."

Mr Williams' own Pi Kappa Alpha has already committed to purchasing a property in the development, and sororities Kappa Delta and Alpha Delta Pi have also put earnest payments for their own lots. Along with a fourth (unspecified) group, four of the five spots available in the first phase of development have been spoken for. But if the development plan is successful, more expansion may follow.

University Echo

police find purloined placard at u ark λχα

A police officer on his morning rounds at the University of Arkansas espied the door to the local Lambda Chi Alpha ajar, and sallied into the deserted house to investigate "the possibility of a theft." The investigation uncovered no burglars, but did bring to light a construction sign evidently pilfered from the university that had "been in that bathroom for as long as he could remember," according to Lambda president Phillip Long. The police have now seized the burgled clapboard, though details are sketchy on whether any charges will be filed. (For the sake of reason and proportionality everywhere, your correspondent certainly hopes not.)

The more enlightening section of the Arkansas Traveller's article detailing this scandalous tale of purloined placard and early-morning raids discusses the laws permitting police officer and university security to enter into and search fraternity houses. As a rule, private bedrooms enjoy more security from unannounced searches than common rooms and hallways. Unstated is whether a bathroom qualified as a "private" or "public" room. Perhaps a bit of both. In any case, police can only conduct searches validly with a warrant—or under one of the exceptions to the warrant requirement, which number in the myriads.

University security is a bit more tricky. If they are purely private actors, they can operate outside constitutional strictures on law enforcement agents; but many campus forces are deputized by local sheriffs, and therefore acting as agents of the government. And so it rapidly descends into the province of attorneys. Best lay advice for those harboring an item best not brought to light in their frathouse: get rid of it—or get a lawyer.

Arkansas Traveller

vandy σχ, σαε and βθπ brothers excel as country cover band

Five Vanderbilt University greeks are winding up their uncommonly successful career as a county music cover band. The brainchild of Jeb Raulston (Sigma Chi, vocals and lead guitar), the group has grown to include Andrew Dudas (Sigma Alpha Epsilon, fiddle), Andrew Vernon (Sigma Alpha Epsilon, bass guitar), Kevin Seguin (Beta Theta Pi, drums), and Matt Kuykendall (Sigma Alpha Epsilon, electric guitar). Following the dream of many pick-up college bands, the bluegrass quintet started off just playing for fun on weekends, and slowly metamorphosed into a local powerhouse with a healthy fan base. But with its members on the verge of graduating, the band looks likely to break up at the end of the academic year. A shame to be sure, but such is the fate of all but the most transcendant college bands.

Vanderbilt Hustler

usu σν president details events leading to death

A few weeks ago, we reported on a hazing death at Utah State University. Since then, the Salt Lake Tribune has engaged in a whirlwind of journalistic prolificacy, issuing story after story (after story) following the aftermath. Now it relates a detailed story from Cody Littlewood, president of the Sigma Nu chapter, explaining the events of the night on which Michael Starks perished.

In summary: Starks and another Sigma Nu pledge were given the honor of being "kidnapped" by the sisters of the Chi Omega sorority—a privilege since the pledge class had been starved of female company for a week. Although Littlewood said he made it clear no alcohol was to be involved in the abduction, his words were not heeded. Chi Omega sister Whitney Miller admits she ordered the abductees to disrobe and paint their bodies USU blue, in the course of which she provided them with a liter of cheap vodka, "which they consumed willingly," according to police statements.

By the time the kidnapped pledges were returned to Sigma Nu by the rest of their pledge class, both were unruly and intoxicated. Starks was evidently still conscious and talkative, but as precaution a certified nursing assistant examined Starks, and another brother called Poison Control, which gave him only the typical advice: make sure he lays on his side and drinks lots of water, and watch him carefully. (This is the Poison Control version of "take two aspirin and call me in the morning.") Littlewood followed the advice, checking on the sleeping Starks every 30-45 minutes. When he missed the sound of snoring on one of his checks, he roused the nursing assistant to perform CPR and dialed 911, but it was too late.

The account leaves little doubt that the events of the night involved highly questionable activities, whatever admirable attempts the fraternity made later to ensure Starks' safety. "We believe the elements of hazing have not been met. Assuming everything you say is true, there is no crime," says Littlewood's attorney. That remains to be seen.

Salt Lake Tribune

lehigh survey highlights faculty attitudes on greeks

Lehigh is a school with a fair emphasis on fraternities, so it is not entirely surprising that a recent survey commissioned by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs found that 63.5% of respondents has an overall positive opinion of greeks, and that the top three adjectives associated with greeks were "partying," "social," "fun," and "involved on campus." What more could a university ask? (Perhaps a little less "partying" and a little more "involved on campus.")

But the report was not all sunshine and roses for greeks. A majority of respondents viewed alcohol, drugs, or hazing as problem in greek houses, and a plurality heavy on independents and faculty thought homophobia and racism were also major problems. The fact that the latter two issues were largely espoused by those in the worst position to know suggests they are a public relations rather than substantive problem—but perceptions are not easily dismissed as immaterial, especially when held by faculty members in a position to judge students by the Greek letters on their sweatshirts.

A follow-up editorial in the Brown & White highlights the issue of faculty views, opining that faculty members may harbor an "'Animal House' stereotype of Greek life" more than students, since professors have limited contact with greeks and see fewer of the public works and student activities undertaken. Notwithstanding the provenance of the stereotype, though, the editors express concern that "professors may lump in all Greeks with each other based on this stereotype, regardless of their individual accomplishments or intelligence, and it could affect how they grade and treat Greek students in the classroom." But with only 63 instructors responding, it would be imprudent to generalize the limited responses to the faculty as a whole. As is so often the case, more research is needed.

Lehigh Brown & White

blagojevich trial compared to animal house kangaroo court

A recent column in the Chicago Daily Herald turns to some old tropes to make light of the impending Blagojevich impeachment. Looking to the general atmosphere of chaos surrounding the proceedings, author Chuck Goudie calls to mind the immortal kangaroo court in Animal House (1978), and burgeoning attorney Eric "Otter" Stratton's effervescent oratory in defense of his fellow brothers at the Faber College Delta Tau Chi.

Yet Blagojevich's (alleged) pecadillos include money-grubbing peddling of high national office, a sin not fairly relegable to the ranks of mere youthful indiscretions such as were committed by the Delta boys in cinema. The distinction is well represented by another classic of modern cinema, Super Troopers (2002):

Thorny: What? They can't lump us in with that fuckin' Martian.
O'Hagen: We're all in the same boat, fellas.
Mac: But our shenanigans are cheeky and fun.
Thorny: Yeah, his shenanigans are cruel and tragic.
Foster: Which wouldn't make them shenanigans, at all, really.
Mac: (Irish voice) Evil shenanigans!

Sage words. Leave the Deltas alone and let Blagojevich flap alone in the wind just like he (allegedly) deserves.

Chicago Daily Herald