Miami University is welcoming two fraternities, Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) and Delta Kappa Epsilon (DKE) back as they return to campus. While Fiji is returning from a suspension, DKE will be restarting their chapter at Miami this semester.

According to April Robles, director of the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternal Life, DKE will be recruiting new members for a fresh start.

"DKE folded and restarted their chapter this semester with all new members under the supervision of their adviser Rich Hofmann," Robles said.

Robles also said the men who are currently members of DKE are new to the chapter.

Sophomore Michael Weir, DKE's president, said Hofmann was not alone in facilitating the fraternity's return to campus.

"We have two alumni, one of which helped with the re-colonization in 1989, and there is one inactive member who is currently living in the house," Weir said.

Weir said DKE completed the rush process this winter.

"During rush, all the guys living on campus received an e-mail telling them about DKE, and we went through recruitment and ended up with 15 to 20 new members," Weir said.

Although a DKE chapter did exist at Miami, the new chapter remains separate from it, while maintaining the basic philosophies that the previous chapter possessed, according to Weir.

"We are still the Kappa chapter and are affiliated with the Interfraternity Council," Weir said. "We are trying to create our own fraternity while restoring the history of the Kappa chapter."

Weir said DKE has already begun functioning as a legitimate chapter would and is currently concentrating on

enhancing itself.

"We have already had elections so now our main focus is on expanding and growing to get new members," Weir said.

According to Weir the DKE house, located at 325 E. Sycamore St., has undergone renovations.

Fiji is ­­­­­­­returning to campus in late March after a two-year suspension for allegations of hazing, Robles said.

According to Bill Martin, executive director of Fiji, both Miami and Fiji's national board of directors made the suspension decision.

"It was a paralleled decision by the university and by the international fraternity," Martin says.

Robles said Fiji's nationals were involved in the decision making process.

"Fiji's nationals imposed a stricter punishment than the university," Robles said.

According to Martin, Miami had imposed a minimum of a one-year suspension of which the national executive board could extend.

"The difference between the two punishments was the length of time of the suspension," Martin said. "Originally the university had a one-year suspension and the fraternity imposed an indefinite suspension that was later appealed to the two-year suspension that was implemented. Ultimately we felt that the actions that triggered the suspension warranted a two-year suspension."

Martin said Fiji completed an extensive process in order to be permitted back on campus. As many of the members graduated during the suspension, the remaining senior members initiated the revival procedure.

"The process was started by undergraduate members of the fraternity, who are currently seniors," Martin said. "In response to a request from the men who are still on campus, we agreed to grant them the opportunity for revival."

Martin said he expects Fiji will be completely immersed in Miami's Greek life by the 2009-10 school year.

"I expect that the chapter will be up and running with full capacity in the fall," Martin said.