National fraternities apply scrutiny on campus chapters

Wednesday's suspension of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity was one of at least a dozen other fraternities who have faced disciplinary action from the University or a chapter's national organization in the last four years.\nSenior Ben Schmidt, IFC president, said national organizations are now more involved with individual chapters. "These sorts of issues present a huge liability for chapters and a huge liability for national organizations," he said. \nJudson Horras, director of Chapter Development for Beta Theta Pi's national organization, said national fraternities are increasingly interested in focusing chapters on the principles upon which they were founded. \n"A lot of the national organizations are saying 'Hey change has to happen and it is going to happen'," he said. "Sometimes, you've got to take a stand and close some of the old chapters that are strong and large to ensure the organization remains credible."\nSchmidt said IFC encourages IU chapters to hold parties away from fraternity houses and to employ third-party alcohol vendors. In 2000, the IFC passed a resolution banning alcohol from all houses on campus, limiting social functions and requiring off-campus functions be served by a third-party vendor. \nCurrently, IFC is implementing Training for Intervention Procedures or TIPS, a national alcohol education program, for new member classes. \nWhile national organizations are increasingly involved in the actions of chapters, Schmidt said chapters are dealing with increased attention from the University. This comes in part in the form of a police officer who Schmidt said patrols campus specifically in search of policy violations at social functions.\nIn 2000, the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity were suspended by Dean of Students Richard McKaig for violating the University's alcohol policy. This suspension resulted from the 1999 death of then-sophomore Joseph Bisanz. Although alcohol was found in Bisanz's blood, the coroner determined asphyxiation as the cause of death.\nLater that year, McKaig investigated Delta Chi, 1100 N. Jordan Ave., where then-freshman pledge Todd Hege was taken to Bloomington Hospital with a .2 blood alcohol content, a chipped tooth and bruises to his face. At the time, McKaig told the IDS fraternity members could face disciplinary action for alleged alcohol violations. \nIn April of 2000, the national organization of Sigma Alpha Mu revoked the charter of IU's Sigma Zeta chapter for "hazing and other activities not consistent with the mission of the fraternity," as stated in a press release.\nTheta Chi's nationals revoked the IU charter in February because of a party at their house. University officials said the death of then-freshman Seth Korona was related to a skull fracture he sustained at that party. \nIn July, nationals disbanded Beta Theta Pi for several risk management incidents during the past several years.