UW-Whitewater suspends fraternity for alcohol, hazing violations
WHITEWATER — UW-Whitewater has suspended the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity for three years after an investigation showed the organization engaged in underage drinking and hazing, university officials said.
The university and the national fraternity organization imposed the suspension Tuesday, following a complaint from a parent last month.
“We do everything we can to ensure students’ safety,” said Mary Beth Mackin, assistant dean of student life. “This is a step we had to take.”
Much of the underage drinking and hazing—including servitude and eating or drinking strange things—occurred during the fraternity’s recruitment process, she said.
But it was the pervasiveness of alcohol within the organization, she said, that concerned university officials.
“It seemed like everything they did there involved alcohol,” Mackin said.
The suspension essentially disbands the Iota-Omicron chapter, founded in 1963, she said. TKE is not allowed to operate in any form over the next three years.
“We just felt that the safety concerns were so significant that we really needed to have this chapter be gone for a while, especially until the current group of members has gone through the university,” Mackin said.
The university chose to involve the national fraternity organization to “send a stronger message to students,” Mackin said.
Had the university acted alone and suspended the fraternity as a student organization, TKE simply wouldn’t have been able to advertise its activities on campus or use meeting space on campus.
“But by bringing in the national organization … it prevents them from operating out of the house on campus,” she said.
Chapter President Jason Moore did not return a phone call before press time.
The TKE house at 1238 W. Main St. has been unoccupied since a fire in November caused severe damage. The house is being renovation and would have been ready for students to move in this fall.
Mackin said the owner of the house likely will rent it to other students while the fraternity is suspended.
The fraternity can reapply to become a student organization and be recognized again by the national fraternity organization after Aug. 15, 2011. But the university imposed strict criteria if TKE is reinstated:
-- The chapter and the house must be alcohol-free for two years.
-- The first recruitment will be supervised by the national fraternity organization, and written plans must be approved by the university.
-- The chapter must devote 100 hours of service to alcohol and hazing education on campus.
“We want them off on the right foot,” Mackin said of the conditions of TKE’s return. “It’s hard to get past that history.”
May 28, 2008 at 3:10 p.m.
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Brotherhood? I hadn't considered that...
What's wrong with me that I've never felt a need for brotherhood?
May 16, 2008 at 2:42 p.m.
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I think it all has something to do with Mary Worth.....she's getting back at the "brotherhood".... ;O)
May 16, 2008 at 1:27 p.m.
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Niether....it's for the brotherhood
May 16, 2008 at 1:21 p.m.
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So what is the purpose of the fraternity, to do community service or to party hard? I think the answer to that question would depend on who you asked, and who was asking the question.
May 16, 2008 at 1:01 p.m.
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You know with articles printed in the paper like this, its going to give the public a bad perception of fraternities. The tke's do good things for the community, but it is not publically recognized. For example: They helped out in special olympics, Raised money and did the polar plunge, Raised money for breast cancer benefits, and ect. Does the public know this? This message is for everybody out there: Don't think just because you read a bad article think these guys are scum. I have never read an article in any paper that had anything positive to say about any fraternities. It is all negative to the public's eye. It would be nice to see a newspaper say something good about a greek orginization every once in a while. I also have a question to the public and that is: Do you people notice about every year at University Wisconsin Whitewater there is one fraternity being suspended or kicked off campus? It is almost like Mary Beth Mackin is trying to exterminate the greek orginizations
May 15, 2008 at 8:45 p.m.
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I think the university always has been aware of the drinking and hazing, the other cheek had been turned until now when parents and students are compaining because the harmless hazing that used to take place has become increasingly violent and dangerous. And with the rise of alcholism within university students, it is in the student's best interest to be protected. Yes, it is too bad that a fun part of university life is being taken away, but just like everything else, people become increasingly over the edge, and can't just be...they always have to be bigger and better then the last guy. Sad.
May 15, 2008 at 7:25 p.m.
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At what point did drinking not go on at a frat house? I thought that was why you joined. And why did it take how many years for UW W to find out that there was hazeing and alcholol together? Did some one just wake up and go those frat guys sure do drink alot.
May 15, 2008 at 6:39 p.m.
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A TKE without alcohol? Thats just CRAZY!!!!! :)
May 15, 2008 at 2:33 p.m.
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"Two C's, two D's and an F. That's a 1.2 grade average. Congratulations, Kroger. You're at the top of the Delta pledge class" Van Wormer
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Lighten up, I don't know about the others, but I am just recalling some geat lines in a funny movie.
May 15, 2008 at 2:14 p.m.
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Sad that everyone finds this so amusing. I had a couple friends start out in Whitewater, one dropped out and another transferred. Think of the $$ parents shell out for their kids to go there just to have them cut class, party all night, and flunk out. It's a shame...
May 15, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
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"Well, well, well. Looks like somebody forgot there's a rule against alcoholic beverages in fraternities on probation!"-Dean Van Wormer
May 15, 2008 at 9:14 a.m.
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A PLEDGE PIN?! ON YOUR UNIFORM?!
May 15, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
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"Last time I saw a mouth like that it had a hook in it."
May 14, 2008 at 9:14 p.m.
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Thank you sir! May I have another?
May 14, 2008 at 8:24 p.m.
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Did we quit when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO! Now come on who'es with me TOGA TOGA!!!!!! Wait till Otis see's us He loves us! Shamma Lamma Ding Dong!!!!!
May 14, 2008 at 5:28 p.m.
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diamondback:
If you read the story, it answers your question.
"The TKE house at 1238 W. Main St. has been unoccupied since a fire in November caused severe damage."
Thanks,
Kayla Bunge
Reporter
May 14, 2008 at 3:51 p.m.
May 14, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.
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The frat boys tried to put that fire out with alcohol. Oh, well....live and learn!
May 14, 2008 at 2:44 p.m.
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Does anyone remember if the TKE house was the one that had a fire a few months back ?
May 14, 2008 at 2:40 p.m.
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"See if you can guess what I am now"
May 14, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
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Toga.....toga!!
May 14, 2008 at 12:59 p.m.
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So...that's the second time they've been suspended (They were just reinstated like a year or two ago), and two other fraternities at UWW are currently suspended. Delta Chi gets reinstated this year I think, and Lambda Chi has another year or so left on their suspension. They're not really making a good name for the Greek community. Bummer for the Greeks.
May 14, 2008 at 12:48 p.m.
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"Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son" - Dean Van Wormer, "Animal House"
May 14, 2008 at 12:37 p.m.
May 14, 2008 at 11:31 a.m.
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They took the whole freakin' BAR!!
May 14, 2008 at 11:17 a.m.
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Alcohol free for two years!?! There goes their furture recruitments!
May 14, 2008 at 10:52 a.m.
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Someone should have told them they were on double secret probation.
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