Two Penn State Fraternities Lose Recognition for Rules Violations

Penn State announced Saturday it has revoked the recognition of Delta Upsilon and Pi Lambda Phi fraternities until the end of the 2018 spring semester and the end of the 2019 spring semester, respectively. The organizations cannot participate in any Greek life activities or university functions.

“Unfortunately, these men had the opportunity to do the right thing, when the university made abundantly clear what its expectations were and what the consequences for failing those expectations would be,” said Damon Sims, Penn State’s vice president for student affairs, in a press release. “The point of everything we are doing in this domain is to establish a safe, viable, and successful Greek system that can be sustained for many years to come. The misbehavior of these chapters demonstrates very little regard for the trouble alcohol can bring. I am disappointed by this outcome, but effective accountability must be achieved.”

Delta Upsilon’s recognition was revoked for organizing socials with alcohol and underage drinking, twice in three weeks. The fraternity also held ‘a fifth and a friend’ party, which the university says was “specifically designed to encourage alcohol consumption.”

Pi Lam’s recognition was revoked for providing guests with alcohol on three occasions during social events, as well as exceeding the capacity of the fraternity house and violating Penn State’s regulations for social functions this semester. The fraternity’s national organization has also begun the process of closing the chapter, according to a press release from Penn State.

The actions come as Penn State has instituted new regulations for fraternities and sororities and clamped down on violations since the February death of sophomore and fraternity pledge Timothy Piazza following an alcohol-fueled bid-acceptance night at Beta Theta Pi.

Among those regulations, the university has temporarily banned fraternity social events involving alcohol since last spring. They are expected to be permitted again later this year, after certain conditions are met, with 10 per semester per chapter permitted, down from the previous 45.

These two suspensions mark the seventh and eighth fraternities currently suspended. Forty Interfraternity Council fraternities maintain their recognition at this time, according to the chapter directory released via the university’s new Greek Life Score Cards.