Theta Chi evicted

Theta Chi fraternity learned last week it has 30 days to vacate its house and seven days to explain to its national organization why it shouldn't have its charter revoked.\nIU's Alpha Iota chapter, 1440 N. Jordan Ave., has been evicted by its landlord. The fraternity also faces a recommendation that its charter be revoked from a national Theta Chi committee, said David Westol, executive director of Theta Chi Fraternity.\nChapter president David Friedmann, a sophomore, declined to comment Sunday.\nThe fraternity has been suspended by the University since Feb. 7, pending the completion of an investigation into the death of freshman Seth Korona.\nKorona, 19, died Feb. 4 after several days in a coma.\nKorona attended a Jan. 27 party at the house where alcohol was served, said Dean of Students Richard McKaig. A friend said Korona hadn't felt well since attending the party.\nKorona suffered a blunt-force head injury, according to a preliminary coroner's report. The IU Police Department investigation into how the injury was sustained should be completed mid-week, IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said.\nCurrent action against Theta Chi comes from the fraternity's alumni corporation and national headquarters in Indianapolis, not from the University, Westol said. The chapter has been evicted by its landlord, Theta Chi Realty Board, Westol said.\nMcKaig said space in the residence halls will be made available to displaced members.\nThe chapter has until Thursday to respond to the recommendation its charter be revoked by the Theta Chi Risk Management and Standards Committee, Westol said.\nChapter officers were notified Thursday by e-mail, Westol said. The response should explain why the chapter ought to remain active, he said. Theta Chi's national eight-member Grand Chapter will make a decision soon after the chapter's response and will likely decide by e-mails or a conference call, Westol said.\nTheta Chi's eviction will stand whether or not the Grand Chapter acts on the committee's recommendation. \nWestol said he couldn't provide specific details about the "risk-management" violations that prompted the recommendation.\nTheta Chi's risk-management policy includes prohibition of alcohol and hazing, according to the fraternity's Web site, www.thetachi.org. It also addresses sexual abuse, harassment and fire, health and safety issues.\nWestol said the Theta Chi Realty Board, consisting of local fraternity alumni, makes up one of three entities that control the operations of a fraternity. The alumni corporation has authority over the house, the Grand Chapter has authority over the charter and the university has authority over recognition of a chapter, he said.\nIUPD will add extra security to prevent vandalism at the Theta Chi house as members move out, Minger said. IUPD is watching the house 24-hours a day, he said.\nTheta Chi has been under an order of suspension from its national headquarters since Feb. 1, said Jim Gibson, assistant dean of students. He said the suspension was for repeated violations in risk-management policy and standards. \nSenior Ben Schmidt, president of the Interfraternity Council, said he supports the Theta Chi organization and the University.\n"There are a lot of rumors right now that invoke (Theta Chi's) name to different degrees of liability," he said. "We're going to wait until all the facts come out."\nIn recent years, Theta Chi has been on and off probation from their national organization.\nIn 1998, the fraternity was put on probation after police found 175 cases of beer and 31.7 liters of vodka while responding to an alcohol-related injury.\nThe fraternity was cited for unspecified risk-management violations in January 2000.\nAlpha Iota is not the only Theta Chi chapter that has faced probation. According to Theta Chi's Web site, 24 percent of 140 chapters are currently on probation.\nWestol said Alpha Iota, founded in 1921, is one of Theta Chi's oldest and largest chapters. If Alpha Iota's charter is revoked, Westol said it could take about three years before the chapter is recolonized.\n"Obviously, if we close, we would like to return to campus," Westol said.