The Office of the Dean of Students has revoked Phi Delta Theta's Fraternal Organization Agreement following a recommendation from the University Judiciary Committee, according to a representative from Phi Delta Theta fraternity's General Headquarters in Oxford, Ohio.
The FOA is a document that establishes a fraternity's relationship with the University and the Inter-Fraternity Council.
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway would not comment on the Phi Delt case, but he said there is "an IFC fraternity that is no longer in relationship with the University."
The IFC Web site lists 32 fraternities as members, but Laushway said there are now 31 IFC fraternities.
UJC and the IFC Judiciary Committee investigated Phi Delt last semester for hazing allegations.
Second-year Engineering student John W. Cox allegedly was forced to drink a fifth of rum in 30 minutes after sleeping a total of nine hours in the previous five days during the fraternity's "hell week."
The revocation stands until May 1, 2001, said Howard E. Obenchain, Phi Delta Theta General Headquarters director of communications.
IFC executives said this incident is not representative of the fraternity system.
The FOA revocation is a "serious sanction, but I don't think it reflects poorly on the IFC," said Justin Saunders, IFC vice president for party patrol and IFC president-elect. The IFC will make a cooperative effort with Phi Delt to "try to get some focus in there."
Obenchain said the General Headquarters also will be supportive of what is best for "all parties involved" in the long-run.
"Typically in these situations, we support fully any decision the university makes," he said.
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IFC President Wes Kaupinen said the IFC is unaware of the UJC sanction and Phi Delt's status with the University.
"Through all these proceedings, the IFC has received no formal documentation regarding the initial sanctions. Nor have we received any documentation regarding the FOA," Kaupinen said.
Dean of Students Penny Rue, Vice-President for Student Affairs William W. Harmon and UJC Chairman Brian Hudak declined to comment.
IFC Rush Chairman Josh Johnson and Assoc. Dean of Students V. Shamim Sisson could not be reached for comment.
When a fraternity loses its FOA, that fraternity no longer is affiliated with either the University or the IFC. Two fraternities -- St. Elmo Hall and Phi Kappa Psi -- lost their FOAs in the past two years.
The University reinstated these fraternities' FOAs after evaluating whether they completed sanctions imposed by UJC or IFCJC.
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