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Show Thursday, April 27, 2006 ™DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE Strike two for Greek Row Hazing in fraternity results in lost charter Delta Delta Delta to lose charter Patrick Muir Chronicle Asst. News Editor The National Executive Board of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority notified the Utah chapter last January that its charter will be revoked on April 30. The decision came as a shock to the U chapter's leadership because the group was never given a warning or put on probation. In November, members of the executive office visited the U and told the chapter they were proud of how the members had improved financially and academically, Melissa Carey, president of the Utah chapter, said. "Something happened in two months where, instead of having faith in our ability to do this, they decided (to revoke the charter). We're shocked," she said. Jason Gomez, chapter development specialist, said the sorority's executive board voted to withdraw the charter because of a destructive pattern that had developed. "For the past few years, there has been a consistent need to recruit new members, which has put strain on the chapter both for leadership andfinancially,"he said. The sorority is the smallest on campus with 30 members. The expected number at the U, called "total," is 63 members. "Almost every sorority on campus has been struggling with numbers and making total," Carey said. Currently, only two out of the six sorority chapters are above total, which was recently reduced from 80 to 63. In March, Carey appealed the decision to the executive board and was denied. The dismantling of the sorority will affect the organizations for which the chapter raises money, including The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake, St. Judc's, a cancer research hospital and Primary Children's Medical Center. For the past three years, the chapter has provided five volunteers, five nights a week at Rocky Point Haunted House. In exchange, an estimated 325,000 in donations is given to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salt Lake. Allison Barclay, director of operations for the Boys and Girls Club, said it is a significant amount of their budget. "I'm very sad to hear they're losing their charter. They've been a great help," said Beatrice Turvey, area director for the Boys and Girls Club. The sorority received its U charter in 1932 and built its house, located on 100 South, in 1938. p.muir@ chronicle.utah.edu Patrick Muir Chronicle Asst. News Editor The Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity removed the Utah Alpha chapter's 91-year-old charter at the U just before Winter Break for violating the group's risk-management policy. After an allegation was reported about the hazing of a pledge, area alumni conducted an investigation. The alumni concluded that the charges were correct. During an initiation activity, three men ganged up on pledge Ryan Rasmussen. When he did not flinch at their taunting, one kicked him in the mouth when he was down on all fours, said Shon Rasmussen, Ryan Rasmussen's father. The incident took place during initiation week, often called "hell week," when pledges become official members. After the incident, the pledge left the chapter's house. He has declined to comment. "The Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity has a zero-tolerance policy regarding hazing, and that means closing chapters," said Ken Maikowski, Tau South Province president. "The chapters are well aware of this policy." The hazing policy was covered at the President's Leadership College for new chapter presidents in January, as well as at Phi Delta Theta Leadership College in August, when a member of the U's chapter was present. The policy was also addressed individually in a letter that was sent to each member of Phi Delta Theta from the General Council president last October. "Hazing is against the law in the United States, the state of Utah, the University of Utah and is contrary to the policies of Phi Delta Theta," Maikowski said. "Hazing is not what Phi Delta Theta is about or what we believe in." The group is appealing the ruling to the fraternity's general headquarters. The fraternity docs not have to sell its house because the U has agreed that the chapter can reform at any time when the nationals deem appropriate, said former chapter president Joe Rodgerson. A facebook.com group titled "Remember the Phi Delts!" has been started in honor of the closed charter fraternity. A few students have used the message board to verbally attack the pledge in question. Before the hazing incident, 2005 was a positive year for the group, with the chapter winning Greek Week and a member being named greek Man of the Year. In the fall of 2004, the chapter also won AH-greck Philanthropy Week by raising more money for the Huntsman Cancer Institute than any other fraternity. This last semester the fraternity participated in service activities with P.E.E.R., No More Homeless Pets in Utah, Camp Kostopolous. Hurricane Katrina relief, Neighborhood House, the American Cancer Society, the First Presbyterian Church and the Lou Gherig's Foundation. Two members of Phi Delta Theta were voted on to the U's Greek Council for 2006. p.muir@ chronicle.utah.edu Apply to work at The Chronicle, We are hiring: Let us help you move home for the summer. We offer: UPS®shipping Packaging services Packaging supplies And more... 10% Off UPS 50% Off Moving Boxes The UPS Store (Foothill Village) 1338 S Foothill Drive The UPS Store centers are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., an indirect subsidiary of United Parcel Service of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation. 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