Fraternity on probation after underage drinking incident

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
September 27, 2006

La Salle’s chapter of Phi Gamma Delta (also known as FIJI) was placed on interim suspension on Sept. 15 on the belief that members had served alcohol to minors during a rush event. After a preliminary hearing was conducted, and no evidence that the party was a rush event was found, the suspension was lifted on Sept. 25, and the fraternity is currently on probation.

According to Alan Wendell, Associate Dean of Students, on Sept. 14, EMTs were called for a freshman who consumed large amounts of alcohol at what was thought to be a rush event thrown by members of Phi Gamma Delta. The event took place at 5384 Chew St., the residence of multiple members of the fraternity.

Due to national rule, alcohol is not permitted at any rush events, even if all attendants are over the age of 21. When Wendell received word of the incident, the fraternity was placed on interim suspension.

To prevent incidents like this from happening, Wendell sits down with each Greek organization on campus prior to each rush period to ensure that alcohol will not be present at any events.

“We keep a watchful eye on them,” Wendell said.

As a result of the suspension, Phi Gamma Delta was not allowed to recruit new members, participate in University programs, participate in intramural athletics or take part in interfraternity and sorority activities until further notice.

Phi Gamma Delta was charged a second time when Wendell received word that the fraternity had violated the interim suspension by continuing to hold rush activities the following week.

John Cole, president of Phi Gamma Delta, found the charges against his fraternity to be unfair and unfounded. He claimed that the event on Sept. 14 was not a rush party, and that the house where the incident occurred was not official Phi Gamma Delta housing.

“Members of the fraternity rent and reside there,” Cole said.

After the interim suspension was put into effect, a notice on the mylasalle portal was posted on Sept. 21, informing the University community of the recent happenings, a move Cole said was, “immature and uncalled for.”

The posting on the portal was meant to “make sure others didn’t put themselves in peril, since it is recruitment time for all Greek organizations on campus,” Wendell said. The portal announcement did not sit well with Cole.

“The University defaced our organization in terms of public relations before any hearings of any sort, which is unfair,” he said.

At the preliminary hearing, Cole sat down with Community Development Assistant Director Mark Bastubner, who Cole said was, “a great help in dealing with this situation.”

At the hearing, no evidence was found that the event on Sept. 14 was a rush party.

“We originally believed it was a rush event, but I don’t have enough evidence to prove this,” Wendell said.

According to Wendell, if the party was rush-related, the ruling would have been more serious, and on Sept. 25, Phi Gamma Delta went from being on suspension to the less severe sentence of probation.

“This is how the situation should have been dealt with in the first place instead of defacing our organization via web posting, which created more animosity,” Cole said.

The probation indicates, according to a portal announcement posted on Sept. 26, that Phi Gamma Delta will now be under review of La Salle for a period of time before the probation period is over, and will be required to participate in an educational program.

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu