SEMO bans fraternity in hazing incident

Southeast Missouri State University suspended the Phi Delta Theta fraternity for more than a year over an infraction of its zero-tolerance policy on hazing.

Under the suspension, the fraternity can't operate on campus until the summer of 2003 at the earliest, and then only if the university reinstates the organization.

Southeast officials ordered members of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity to move out of the school-owned Greystone house on Sprigg Street by the end of February. The students will be allowed to stay in school and either move into campus residence halls or find housing off campus, officials said.

The fraternity was chartered at Southeast in 1992 and has about 50 members. Nineteen had been living in the house, but most already have moved out even as the fraternity seeks to appeal the suspension through the campus judicial process.

School officials announced the suspension in a written statement Thursday. The Southeast Missourian inquired about the incident earlier in the day.

The suspension stems from an incident in the yard of the fraternity house, north of the Show Me Center. The hazing accusation resulted from wrestling matches involving students pledging the fraternity and active members of the group, said university spokeswoman Ann Hayes.

She and other school officials declined to discuss the incident in detail or describe any injuries sustained in the hazing other than to say they weren't life-threatening.

Still, university officials said hazing won't be tolerated.

"We don't take hazing lightly," said Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast president.

Telephone messages left on an answering machine at the fraternity house Thursday weren't returned. The Rev. J. Friedel, director of Catholic Campus Ministries and adviser to Phi Delta Theta, wouldn't comment on the hazing. He said local fraternity members have been advised not to discuss the situation.

Hayes said university officials only learned of the hazing near the end of the fall semester, and Southeast only recently completed its investigation.

Southeast's Department of Public Safety investigated the incident. Doug Richards, DPS director, said his office submitted a report to the Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney's office.

Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle decided not to file criminal charges, Richards said. Swingle was out of town on Thursday and couldn't be reached for comment.

Three incidents

There have been three publicly disclosed hazing incidents at Southeast in the past eight years. The most serious was the fatal beating of student Michael Davis by Kappa Alpha Psi members in February 1994.

Davis, a 25-year-old journalism student, died after being repeatedly punched, kicked and slammed to the ground during a hazing ritual.

Seven members of the fraternity were convicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter. Southeast permanently banned the fraternity.

Since then, the university has handed down suspensions in two other hazing cases: Alpha Kappa Alpha in 1996 and Sigma Tau Gamma in 1997.

Hazing is prohibited under state law and university policy. The university regularly instructs students about the dangers of hazing and makes clear it won't be tolerated, officials said.

With the lastest suspension, Southeast has 11 fraternities and nine sororities.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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