In a closed hearing Monday, members of the Inter-Fraternity Council Judiciary Committee recommended that Phi Kappa Psi fraternity's Fraternal Organization Agreement be reinstated. The final decision to reinstate a fraternity's FOA rests with the Office of the Dean of Students.
The FOA establishes a fraternity's relationship with the University.
Phi Psi lost IFC recognition April 10 after five fraternity members were arrested Feb. 14 for breaking and entering the Washington & Lee University Phi Psi chapter house. Under the direction of other fraternity members, then-second-year Engineering students Drew Jacobs and Mike Hurter, second-year College students Konrad Sarosiek and Christopher Castro, and third-year Architecture student Michael Reina stole over $1,200 worth of goods from the house.
Phi Psi officers have not yet submitted FOA materials to the Office of the Dean of Students, Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said.
"A recommendation from the IFC would quite likely be received well, and the supporting materials - when received - would be processed quickly," Laushway said.
IFCJC also requested at the hearing that Phi Psi conduct a hazing education program for the IFC fraternities by Dec. 1, and then yearly for the next three years. Phi Psi members also must complete 100 hours of community service by April and submit to the IFC a copy of revised guidelines for pledging.
IFCJC members warned Phi Psi that its FOA would be revoked again if members violated IFC standard of conduct No. 13, which prohibits hazing.
Losing IFC recognition voids a fraternity's FOA.
The IFCJC also had sanctioned Phi Psi members to complete 200 hours of community service, devise a new code of conduct, plan a hazing education program for the IFC, and maintain a clear police record - all prior to Monday's hearing.
Even if a fraternity were to complete its sanction prior to its IFCJC hearing, the IFCJC would not necessarily recommend the reinstatement of its FOA, said Mike Christopher, IFC vice president for judiciary.
"If they completed [their sanction], it still would be contingent on kind of a gut feeling about whether they had turned themselves around," Christopher said.
Recommendation for reinstatement "is not a given," he said.
That Phi Psi completed these tasks within six months "shows that as a fraternity we have been able to grow and learn from this, and it shows that the IFC is an effective self-governing body, so it's positive from both aspects," Phi Psi President Dan Payne said.
IFC President Wes Kaupinen said Phi Psi members' promptness in completing IFCJC's sanctions reflects well on the IFC.
"They have successfully turned an unfortunate event into an educational experience for their chapter and the entire fraternity system," Kaupinen said. "The IFC is confident that Phi Psi will continue to work within their fraternity and also with their nationals and alumni in fully restoring the chapter as a positive influence."
Payne said the incident has taught Phi Psi members to be more mindful of their actions within the fraternity.
"We've learned the correct way to run a pledge process and not to adhere to any stupid traditions," he said.
Laushway said he was pleased to learn of Phi Psi members' willingness to rectify their wrongdoings.
Terry Harper, Phi Kappa Psi national fraternity executive director, could not be reached for comment. Castro and Jacobs declined to comment.
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