Conduct Update: Alpha Tau Omega

Update: 5/6/2015
The University Committee on Discipline met on May 2, 2015 to adjudicate the charges below: 

1. Respect for Others D1 (Hazing)
2. Respect for Others (General)
3. Respect for Community A1 (False Information)
4. Respect for Community E1 (Failure to Comply)
5. Respect for Community J1 (Encouraging Others)

The incident these charges were related to, is described below:
Several Lehigh students were arrested in Robbinsville NJ, for charges related to theft and vandalism. The students told police that this was a pledging activity and that they were pledging Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. During the University investigation, it became clear that at least one student was pledging the fraternity when not eligible, additionally, the chapter members provided false or misleading information to investigators.

Alpha Tau Omega pleaded responsible to all charges.  As a result of this behavior the following sanctions will be imposed:

Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity is placed on Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution from May 2, 2015 through May 13, 2016. During this period of time, the organization is on notice that any further violations of the Code of Conduct will result in the dissolution of the organization immediately without further review. Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution may not be imposed for longer than two regular semesters. If this sanction is imposed during a semester, it may be imposed for the remainder of that semester and two additional semesters.

Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity is placed on Disciplinary Probation effective June 1, 2016 through May 31, 2017. Disciplinary probation is the conditional continuation of a group or organization for a specified period of time not to exceed four semesters. This status implies that any further violation of this Code of Conduct may result in dissolution, termination, or other authorized sanctions. Other sanctions may be imposed, including limitations on social activities, and additional requirements may be imposed as conditions for reinstatement of recognition in good standing.  

Member Review: The chapter is required to conduct a member review with the assistance and guidance of OFSA, The Alpha Tau Omega National Office, and the Alumni Board of Trustees. The following people must be reviewed in this process: all current (spring 2015) seniors, the Spring 2015 new members, and the Spring 2015 new member educator. A report of the outcome of this review is due to the OFSA no later than August 1, 2015.

Regarding the Spring 2015 New Members: If the spring 2015 new members are allowed to stay after the member review, they will be suspended from all fraternity activities and are required to go participate in the True Merit New Member process before being reinstated. In addition, these new members are not permitted to live at the house prior to reinstatement. 

Regarding the Spring 2015 Ineligible New Member: Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity is not permitted to give the student who was "ghost pledging" a bid at any time.

Chapter Education Plan: The Alumni Board of Trustees and the Chapter Executive Board must develop a plan for ensuring that all members (current and alumni) understand that the “old traditions” of Alpha Tau Omega must not return and that all members must uphold the new values and mission of the organization. This plan must be presented to OFSA by August 31, 2015.

Rationale for Findings:
Respect for Others D1 (Hazing) – Responsible
Clearly this was an unauthorized new member activity in which members of the senior class sent New Members out for “sandwiches” and in which at least 1 of 2 groups was told to steal signs

Respect for Others (General) – Responsible
New Members and Seniors disrespected the Lehigh University Community, Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity, Princeton University, and Robbinsville (and possibly Philadelphia) by stealing property. In general, acted in disrespectful manner by alluding police, lying to police, and agreeing as a group to lie to University investigators

Respect for Community E1 (Failure to Comply) – Responsible
The senior class planned an activity that occurred after 3/29 and after initiation as way for the new members to “earn” respect by bringing back some old traditions of Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity.

Respect for Community A1 (False Information) – Responsible
The submitted new member plan did not include this activity Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity did have a “ghost” pledge. Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity members lied to police and university investigators during the investigation. Several Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity members were not completely honest and forthcoming at this hearing.

Respect for Community J1 (Encouraging Others) – Responsible
Senior class encouraged new members to break the law and the code of conduct by getting the new members engage in a scavenger that included stealing property

Key Facts:
1. Chapter president pleaded responsible
2. Testimony of witnesses during the hearing
3. Police report
4. University investigation report
5. Alpha Tau Omega rosters

Rationale for Sanctions:
The panel was pleased that Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity took responsibility for the charges and that the outgoing president, was honest and forthcoming. He clearly understood the severity of the violations of the code by certain members of the fraternity. It is also apparent that most of the problems come from a small group of members and that many of the members have espoused and support the new values. It is our hope that the outgoing chapter president and local alumni members will work with the new undergraduate leadership to ensure that these values continue to be taught and supported by both active members and alumni. It should be noted, that the panel feels the actions were serious enough that without the leadership of the chapter president that we would have dissolved Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. It is our hope that all will gain a better understanding of the principles that the chapter president has attempted to instill over the last year.

Conduct Update: Alpha Tau Omega

Update: 4/29/2015
Alpha Tau Omega was placed on interim suspension on April 11, 2015, due to alleged University policy violations by the chapter and its members.  Allegations include: hazing, respect for others, failure to follow the chapter's approved new member education plan, providing false evidence, and encouraging others to violate the Code of Conduct.

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Expectations has scheduled a Disciplinary Hearing for Saturday, May 2nd, regarding these allegations.  Although the investigation is still ongoing, the interim suspension has been adjusted to allow the chapter to convene and take care of organizational duties as the semester is concluding.  This includes, specifically, meetings to prepare for and conduct an Accreditation presentation and executive officer elections.  

Original Post: 4/11/2015

Effective immediately all activities of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Lehigh University have been temporarily suspended.  This action is being taken because of alleged University policy violations by the chapter and its members. 

This interim suspension mandates that no chapter activities of any kind may occur, either on Lehigh's campus or off campus for Alpha Tau Omega.    

This also means that Alpha Tau Omega members are not permitted to contact newly initiated members in any way (personally, electronic, through third parties, etc.) until further notice.  This includes Alpha Rho newly initiated members being present at the chapter facility and/or any off-campus facilities where chapter members live. 

If this order is violated, individuals and/or the chapter will be immediately charged with further violations of the University Code of Conduct and disciplinary action will be taken.   This "no contact" order does not imply any judgment regarding the factual nature of the incident.

The Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations will begin an investigation and this interim suspension will remain in effect until the formal resolution of these allegations is concluded.   Failure to comply with the terms of interim suspension will result additional charges.

Additionally, the Lehigh University Code of Conduct requires that students and student organizations not only know and adhere to the Code of Conduct, but cooperate with the University when investigating violations. 

The Alpha Rho chapter alumni leadership and Alpha Tau Omega Headquarters have been contacted.  If there are further questions, please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at (610) 758-4157.

Conduct Update: Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

On April 20, 2015, a disciplinary conference was held to adjudicate the charges below:

• Respect for Others D1 (Hazing)
• Respect for Community A1 (False Information)
• Respect for Community I1 (Posted Rules and Regulations)

The incident these charges were related to is described below:
It was reported that Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity was involved in unsanctioned activities off campus that constitute hazing.

The chapter was found responsible for the charges and the following sanctions were imposed:

The organization is placed on Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution from April 21, 2015 through December 31, 2015. During this period of time, the organization is on notice that any further violations of the Code of Conduct will result in the dissolution of the organization immediately without further review. Disciplinary Deferred Dissolution may not be imposed for longer than two regular semesters. If this sanction is imposed during a semester, it may be imposed for the remainder of that semester and two additional semesters.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity is placed on Disciplinary Probation effective January 1, 2016 through May 31, 2016. Disciplinary probation is the conditional continuation of a group or organization for a specified period of time not to exceed four semesters. This status implies that any further violation of this Code of Conduct may result in dissolution, termination, or other authorized sanctions. Other sanctions may be imposed, including limitations on social activities, and additional requirements may be imposed as conditions for reinstatement of recognition in good standing.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is required to develop a power point presentation outlining Kappa Alpha Psi's recruitment and intake process that can be used with Dean of Students and other University Staff. It is to be completed by November 1, 2015.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is required to work with the OFSA to develop and execute a program on hidden harms and hazing. It is to be completed by February 1, 2016.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. is required to develop a transparent explanation of the organization's
recruitment and intake process that can be shared with potential members and used by other organizations as a template for their own processes. It is to be completed by October 1, 2015.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.is required to have all activities related to new member education
approved by the OFSA at least 2 weeks in advance.

Rationale for Findings 
During the hearing, the chapter representative of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. took responsibility for charges 2 and 3 and the evidence provided confirmed that assertion. Regarding the hazing charge, it became clear during the hearing that there was little differentiation between recruitment and intake (new member education) during the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters and that at least one potential new member believed that the activities that were going on during January of 2014 were a requirement for membership. These activities included shoveling show, cleaning members houses, and similar acts of personal servitude. The perception of the time commitment was significant enough that new members felt overwhelmed and unable to meet those requirements.

Rationale for Sanctions:
The Lehigh University Code of Conduct calls for dissolution in cases of hazing that "...cause actual
emotional distress (or creating a situation in which emotional distress is likely to occur,". This case
clearly meets those requirements. The members of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. were not intentionally malicious in this case, but their lack of planning, communication, and empathy towards
new members created a situation in which any new member would experience significant emotional
distress. With that in mind the sanction of dissolution is deferred and assuming that Kappa Alpha Psi
Fraternity, Inc. learns from this incident, the organization can continue to provide a positive opportunity for men at Lehigh University.

Need to Ditch Stuff at Move Out?

It's been a great year, everyone! We've spent countless hours in our community--tutoring at local schools, cooking dinner for residents at local shelters--and collectively we've served hundreds of hours. Thank you for a great year, and for all you've done for our university and for the Lehigh Valley. We're approaching the end of the semester, and we'd like to encourage you to donate any unwanted items to our move out collection drive. All items collected will be sold for nominal prices to South side residents. All proceeds will then go back into the community through our homework clubs and other programs for local schools.

IFC Leadership's Thoughts on Rape Culture

            As a Lehigh Greek Community, we understand the power that we have as Greek students on our campus. Recently, the issue of rape culture has been discussed and talked about by many different organizations around campus, most recently the Brown and White. This post was written because we wanted to let our peers know what we are doing, and what we have been doing, to make sure that Lehigh University is a safe and welcoming community for all.

            The issue of rape culture is something that college campuses face nationally, and we at Lehigh are no exception. Rape culture is something that we as an Interfraternity Council (IFC) and as a larger Greek community have started to talk about and address because we all realize the significance that its presence has on a national scale. One of our goals is to always take proactive measures addressing national issues in order to improve our community here at Lehigh.

            One of the ways we are working towards addressing the issue is by revamping our formal recruitment process. At the beginning of the fall semester 2015, the IFC implemented a new recruitment process and recruitment bylaws that outlined a more structured formal recruitment than we have had in years.  Part of this new recruitment plan is the implementation of a series of three educational lectures that are required for Potential New Members (PNMs) to attend before they will be allowed to join an IFC chapter. These educational lectures are intended to teach PNMs about what is expected of them as part of our IFC community. The new recruitment plan also lays out set guidelines for what recruitment events a chapter can and can not have. We have added language to our bylaws to address this issue, specifically targeting the issue of women and the role they play in recruitment events. Strip clubs and any recruitment events where women are the primary focus of entertainment are not permitted by these new guidelines. In addition, recruitment in the past was heavily focused on alcohol and we put practices into effect this past year in order to shift the focus away from it. We are enforcing these rules and we are holding the members of the IFC accountable for their actions.

            Looking towards the future, the IFC and the Panhellenic Council will be working on an initiative together to continue to educate the Greek community about these issues that are present on our campus like offensive party themes, degrading language, and inappropriate recruitment texts. This initiative will be a series of talks about how these inappropriate recruitment texts, degrading language, and offensive party themes affect the women in our community and how these ideas and practices promote the rape culture here on campus. Education about the issue and showing how these actions actually affect people in our community is the best way to make a lasting impact on the members of the Greek and Lehigh community as a whole. In addition to these talks, IFC worked closely with the Panhellenic Council, Multicultural Greek Council, and the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs on Campus Event Policy changes last year, which highlighted the need to end inappropriate themed parties.

            Addressing the rape culture on both a national and local level is something that the Lehigh Greek community has banned together on to fix. It has been a new initiative of all three of the Greek councils, to meet once a month and have All Greek Council meetings. At these council meetings, students of the Greek community lead conversations about rape culture, the social system, and the Greek culture here at Lehigh. One of the most extensive meetings we had was a meeting in the Spring of 2014 about the pressure felt by sorority women when provocatively themed parties are had, and how these provocative themes are a precursor to a culture that allows violence towards women. This talk was one of the talks in a series of many which lead to the eventual crack-down on offensive themes. These meetings help to promote Greek unity and show the idea that we are one Lehigh community and we need to work together on fixing these problems. Along with this, the IFC, Panhellenic Council, and Multicultural Greek Council are in support of the OFSA’s Title IX Harassment Policy training for all chapters, which will be implemented next year, as well as TIPS training for all Greeks. A major part of the TIPS training is centered on recognizing dangerous alcohol use and its side effects, including bystander intervention and how a lack of accountability add to this rape culture. The councils are in support of OFSA’s effort to expand TIPS training to all second year Greek students.

            As a Greek community here at Lehigh, we understand that rape culture is a problem on all college campuses and in all Greek communities nationally, and we here at Lehigh are doing our best to address the situation in a meaningful way. We are doing everything we can to work towards getting rid of this culture from our community. If you have any further questions or concerns feel free to reach out to IFC President Matt Bay, mdb216@lehigh.edu, or IFC Campus Relations Chairman Erik Thomas, ejt217@lehigh.edu. 

Congratulations to Those Recognized at Greek Awards

The IFC, MGC, and Panhellenic councils hosted Greek Awards on Wednesday, April 22, 2015.  The evening featured reflections from the year as well as recognized a number of students for their leadership within the Fraternity & Sorority community. Award winners included the following: 

IFC Awards
Interfraternal Award – Brendan McCullagh, Pi Kappa Alpha
Interfraternity Council President of the Year – Matthew Bay, Phi Sigma Kappa
Outstanding IFC Man of the Year – Ricky Johnson, Delta Upsilon
Interfraternity Lifetime Achievement Award – Ryan Newcomer, Phi Sigma Kappa
Peter Wolle Alumni Advisor Award – Gary Tilles. Theta Chi

MGC Awards
Outstanding President Award – Gladys Castellon, Mu Sigma Upsilon
Emerging Leader – Alejandra Silguero, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc.

Panhellenic Awards

Panhellenic Emerging Leader Award – Kallyse Duddlesten, Pi Beta Phi

Philippi Panhellenic Service Award – Stephanie Barry, Alpha Chi Omega

Outstanding Panhellenic Woman of the Year – Rachel Sholder, Alpha Gamma Delta

Outstanding Panhellenic President Award – Allie Starer, Alpha Chi Omega

Stephanie A. Phillips Panhellenic Award – Sara Sullivan, Kappa Delta

Overall

Greek Woman of the Year – Riley Barry, Alpha Phi
Greek Man of the Year – Sean Purcell, Chi Phi

We're exceptionally proud of these students and look forward to many more great things to come in the following academic year.   

Conduct Update: Alpha Tau Omega

Effective immediately all activities of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Lehigh University have been temporarily suspended.  This action is being taken because of alleged University policy violations by the chapter and its members. 

This interim suspension mandates that no chapter activities of any kind may occur, either on Lehigh's campus or off campus for Alpha Tau Omega.    

This also means that Alpha Tau Omega members are not permitted to contact newly initiated members in any way (personally, electronic, through third parties, etc.) until further notice.  This includes Alpha Rho newly initiated members being present at the chapter facility and/or any off-campus facilities where chapter members live.

If this order is violated, individuals and/or the chapter will be immediately charged with further violations of the University Code of Conduct and disciplinary action will be taken.   This "no contact" order does not imply any judgment regarding the factual nature of the incident.

The Office of Student Conduct & Community Expectations will begin an investigation and this interim suspension will remain in effect until the formal resolution of these allegations is concluded.   Failure to comply with the terms of interim suspension will result additional charges.

Additionally, the Lehigh University Code of Conduct requires that students and student organizations not only know and adhere to the Code of Conduct, but cooperate with the University when investigating violations.

The Alpha Rho chapter alumni leadership and Alpha Tau Omega Headquarters have been contacted.  If there are further questions, please contact the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at (610) 758-4157.