Nationals suspend Beta fraternity

At 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning, following hours of deliberation, the national foundation of Beta Theta Pi fraternity decided to suspend and disband its IU chapter's charter. \nCiting a "number of risk management incidents" during the past several years involving IU's Pi chapter, Tom Olver, the foundation's associate director of communications, said a committee of administrative officials, staff, general chapter officers and Pi chapter alumni found the chapter "too large a liability" to remain on campus. \nRepeated alcohol and pledge violations brought Pi chapter conduct into question before the National Foundation, Olver said. The chapter was permitted to argue its case before a committee of peers from other collegiate chapters across the country. This committee agreed IU's chapter should be examined more closely by the national organization.\nDean of Students, Richard McKaig pledges the University's support of the Foundation's decision.\n"We certainly expect national fraternities to support our decisions as a University," McKaig said. "It's a matter of partnership based on mutual trust and respect." \nMcKaig said Beta has violated University hazing and alcohol policies four times in the past four years. One case involved hazing, and the other three were alcohol-related. Beta would have also faced two pending charges when the school year began this year, one involving hazing and the other concerning alcohol.\nThe chapter continues to face a pending lawsuit in which three fraternity members allegedly chased and beat Columbia University student Michael Kirk after a January party at the house, located at 919 E. 10th Street. \nThe lawsuit, filed in Monroe Circuit Court, primarily named Beta members Dustin D. Harrington and Carl R. Conedera as defendants. The suit also targets Beta Theta Pi\'s national foundation, the Pi chapter at IU and three other fraternity members accused in the assault. \nBrandon M. Kitkowski, a third defendant cited, was arrested and later charged with Class C felony battery, according to IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger.\nPi chapter officers were unable to be reached for comment Wednesday.\nThe IU Greek system has suffered similar blows within the past few years, including the suspension of Sigma Alpha Mu and Theta Chi. McKaig expressed disappointment upon learning of Beta's suspension, which "can't help but reflect" on the Greek system.\n"We wish we would have heard that (Pi) chapter won the outstanding chapter in the nation, which would reflect positively on the Greek system and the University," McKaig said. "In this case we have another men's chapter that simply is not meeting standards of the University."\nPi chapter's charter has now been placed in the hands of the general fraternity with the intention of returning to campus in "suitable time," Olver said.\nWhile he would not speculate how long specifically Beta will be off-campus, Olver said Pi chapter alumni met with Foundation Director Stephen Backer in Indianapolis Tuesday night to discuss the duration of Beta's time off-campus. \nHe also noted the chapter's charter has not been revoked, meaning the chapter could re-colonize in the future.\nBeta's national standards for re-colonization follow a specific policy developed in 1997 by the Foundation. Deemed the "metaprinciple initiative," the process is a "way of bringing chapters back in line with the founding principles and obligations of the fraternity," Olver said. Beta now boasts 34 fully partnered chapters across the United States. All re-colonizations follow this process. \n"It's somewhat difficult to speculate as to when Pi chapter will be expected to return to campus," Olver said. "The chapter was founded in 1845 and has an enormous and wonderful tradition and history, and a number of dedicated alumni want to be involved with re-colonization."\nOlver said he expected the University's cooperation in the process as well. \nTypically, Greek organizations seeking re-colonization live off-campus for two to four years, McKaig said. The chapter then files to return to campus and recruits new pledge classes. McKaig indicated such re-colonizations on the IU campus have generally been successful.\nMembers now in the fraternity will assume alumni status. Beta's spring pledge class will not be initiated, Olver said.\n"It's unfortunate, but current pledges will not be able to benefit from the ceremony of initiation due to the actions of their predecessors," Olver said.