The Inter-Fraternity Council Judiciary Committee has recommended that the Zeta Psi fraternity lose its recognition by the IFC following the arrest of a first-year student who was driving under the influence following a Zeta Psi rush event, Zeta Psi president Andrew Quinn said.
Barring the success of an appeal for the IFCJC to hear the case again, the IFC's president's council will vote Thursday on whether to take action on the recommendations.
First-year Josh Cowden was arrested for DUI in December when he was driving home from a Zeta Psi rush event off Grounds, Quinn said.
According to a Charlottesville police report, Cowden had a blood alcohol content level of .22 and was charged with a class one misdemeanor Dec. 3.
Quinn said Zeta Psi pled guilty to misconduct during an IFC investigation following the incident.
"What happened was irresponsible," Quinn said. "Every member of the fraternity understands that and takes this very seriously."
The investigation process for violations of IFC standards and procedures consists of trials for guilt and sanction held by a trial panel of four trained judges and a trial chair, IFC President Andrew Paradis said.
Following the trials, the IFCJC makes a recommendation for sanction to the IFC Presidents' Council, composed of the 32 fraternity chapter presidents and 17 governing board members.
A two-thirds majority vote of the Council would be required to approve the recommendation for removal of IFC recognition, Paradis said.
Paradis added that the IFC cannot remove a fraternity's charter; however, if the IFC chooses to discontinue its recognition of a chapter, the University "generally" will revoke its fraternal order agreement with the chapter.
Only the national organization can revoke a fraternity chapter's charter, Paradis said.
Quinn said Zeta Psi will file an appeal of the IFC recommendationthis morning.
Paradis said the IFCJC will decide within 24 hours of receiving an appeal whether the appeal will be accepted or denied. If the appeal is accepted, another trial will be held; however, if the appeal is denied, a final decision will likely be reached Thursday night, Paradis added.
Phi Delta Theta President Layton Hill said Quinn came to his fraternity's chapter meeting Sunday evening in order to explain the situation Zeta Psi is facing.
Quinn said he wanted to inform other fraternity men of the situation.
"We're trying to let as many fraternities and fraternity men know ... what happened and the steps we are going to take," Quinn said. "We don't want this to happen [to] another fraternity."
Quinn said his fraternity is currently working to improve relations with its national organization as well as with the IFC.
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