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The national headquarters of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) international fraternity voted Friday to suspend its chapter at Miami University until further notice.
The university will be meeting with the headquarters and key alumni to determine the extent of the suspension at an undecided date.
"We're suspending the chapter in response to regulation violations pertaining to hazing and alcohol," said Bill Martin, executive director of Phi Gamma Delta. "The university filed complaints, which prompted an investigation."
According to the chapter's adviser, Kevin McGraw, the suspension was related to Phi Gamma Delta's pledge activity, Running of the Bulls. In this activity, students dress in white with red sashes and race down Slant Walk.
An investigation was undertaken by national staff members, J.B. Goll and Dennis DiTullio, during a visit March 25 to 27 when they discovered hazing and two instances of giving pledges alcohol. Goll and DiTullio were called to Oxford by the university after concerns were raised about actions of the fraternity.
"We have not determined an amount of time for the suspension," Martin said. "There will be talks with the university about it."
Martin added that since the Mu Upsilon chapter's founding at Miami in 1957, there have been no previous suspensions.
"Suspension means that members of Phi Gamma Delta cannot organize or represent themselves as members of the chapter," Martin said. "The undergraduate members have been notified that the house will be closed at the end of spring semester."
The alumni corporation has reserved the right to close the house earlier if needed, to prevent any property damage.
In addition, presence of the Oxford Police Department was requested by the fraternity's house corporation to ensure that no damage was done to the property following news of the suspension.
"They hired us to provide off-duty security at the fraternity house beginning (Monday) night," said Sgt. Jim Squance of the OPD. "We have one officer there pretty much around the clock at least through the rest of the week and maybe longer."
The graduate members of the Miami chapter of Phi Gamma Delta are also celebrating their 50-year relationship with the university April 14-15.
Assistant director of Greek affairs at Miami, April Robles, said the behavior that caused the suspension just "comes with the territory."
"We always know the spring semester will have its issues," she said. "There is an influx of new people who don't know the rules yet."
Robles added that the Cliff Alexander Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Leadership has not made any final decisions on the time limit for the suspension as it is pending investigation.
"We haven't received the official press release as of yet so we are waiting on that to determine how our office will proceed," Robles said. "Our office will be in conversation with the headquarters and specific alumni to determine how we proceed."
After winning an award for their service and philanthropy efforts through Miami April 1, the chapter said they will be continuing to pledge volunteer hours, but Phi Gamma Delta will not get credit for it.
"The toughest part about our situation is that we're in trouble with our international headquarters - not with Miami," said some members of the chapter in a collective statement via e-mail. "As to us thinking it's unfair, well sure it's unfair, but such is life. We can't all get what we want. We just deal with what we get."
