Delta Sigma Fraternity has been found guilty of hazing after an investigation by the Penn State Fraternity and Sorority Life Review Board.
Delta Sigma Fraternity, 508 Locust Lane, had a ritual-related incident late in the evening on Nov. 7 at the fraternity house causing a student pledging the fraternity to be admitted to Mount Nittany Medical Center for several days, a student affairs administrator said.
Felicia McGinty, the associate vice president for student engagement, said the students pledging the fraternity were asked to perform a task that was not alcohol related, and one student suffered life-threatening injuries.
However, McGinty said she could not release specific details about the incident or the student because of an ongoing investigation by student affairs.
State College Police Sgt. Mark Argiro said the department is still investigating the incident, and it has not pressed any formal charges against the fraternity or any members.
"The university can jump on things a whole lot quicker than we can," Argiro said. "Their burden of proof is not the same as ours."
McGinty said the Fraternity and Sorority Life Review Board were informed of the incident after the student was hospitalized. She said the board comprises students on the Interfraternity Council (IFC) and student affairs administrators. The board conducted its own investigation into the reported hazing, and members of Delta Sigma came before the board to present their side of events, she said.
The fraternity, which was already on probation for alcohol-related transgressions, was disbanded in November after an investigation into its previous offenses. The action was not taken in response to a single incident, she said.
"The fact that they were already on probation played a serious part in it," McGinty said. "But we also look at the nature of the allegation and hazing is something we take a very firm stance on."
Delta Sigma will not be recognized as an official Penn State fraternity beginning Dec. 22 and will be barred from participating in any recognized university functions, including Homecoming, Greek Week, Greek Sing and the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. Current fraternity members will be prohibited from collectively operating as a group and will have to move out of their fraternity house on Locust Lane by the end of the fall semester.
Next semester, McGinty said the alumni of Delta Sigma will possibly shut down the house for renovations.
McGinty said the office of student affairs is now investigating any individual violations of the student code of conduct by the fraternity. If any fraternity member is implicated in the investigation, it will be handled through the student discipline process in Penn State Judicial Affairs.
The fraternity has until Dec. 19 to file an appeal in accordance with university policy and IFC representatives could not comment on whether the fraternity would pursue an appeal.
IFC President Ben Jabara said the council has not released any details about the incident. Outgoing IFC President Brian Bertges said he could not comment because of the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation by the university and the State College Police Department.
Delta Sigma President Louie Torres and Delta Sigma Chapter Adviser Tom Daubert were unavailable for comment by deadline yesterday. In a previous interview with the Daily Collegian, Torres said Delta Sigma would attempt to join Delta Sigma Phi, which it was previously affiliated with in the 1990s.
McGinty said although it is unfortunate that a chapter has lost its recognition, the Penn State greek system is moving in the right direction by taking action against inappropriate behavior.
"It’s disappointing the group has not been able to abide by our regulations," she said. "But it sends a message that we are very serious about hazing and it’s something we can’t tolerate."
