Thirteen members of the University’s chapter of Theta Delta Chi fraternity were arrested Aug. 20 for breaking into the Union College Theta Delta Chi fraternity house and damaging more than $2,000 worth of property through actions including urinating on two couches.
“Our campus safety folks were on routine patrol when they noticed an individual outside of the house and asked what he was doing,” Phil Wadja, director of media and public relations at Union College. “He said he had permission to be in there.”
Wadja said campus security was suspicious because Union College was not yet in session, and the house was unoccupied for the summer.
Campus security contacted the city police in Schenectady, N.Y., where Union College is located, and all 13 Theta Delta Chi members present were charged with trespassing, Wadja said.
“There was some damage to the house, about $2,000 dollars, including two couches that they had apparently urinated on,” he said, adding that the students had broken into the house through a second-story window.
Theta Delta Chi fraternity members visit Union College quite often, Wadja said, in part because the fraternity was founded at Union College. He noted, however, that when students do visit, “it is generally during the school year and not in the middle of the night.”
Schenectady District Attorney Robert Carney said the students were originally charged with misdemeanors, but because they agreed to pay for the damage, the charges will be adjourned for six months and subsequently dropped if the students stay out of trouble. Ultimately, the students will have no criminal record.
Carney also noted that Union College officials and Schenectady police were particularly upset because the students were not honest from the beginning.
“Some or all of them said they were from William & Mary,” Carney said.
According to Alex Koch, president of the University’s chapter of Theta Delta Chi, the brothers’ visit to Union College was part of a yearly tradition.
“Every year the incoming pledge class takes a road trip to some of the other charges around the Northeast,” Koch said. “Unfortunately, Union College operates on a trimester schedule, so no brothers were at the fraternity house, and the guys made the poor decision to stay at the house anyway.”
Koch said they had received permission to stay at the house from a Union brother at Theta Delta Chi’s national convention, “but communication with Union was obviously insufficient.”
Since the incident, Koch said attempts to contact Union College brothers have been well-received.
“They have been very understanding and supportive,” he said. “Nothing would make us happier than to visit them and put this embarrassing incident behind us.”
Michael Citro, assistant dean of fraternity and sorority life, said officials at Union College notified the University’s Office of the Dean of Students of the incident.
“We coordinated a follow-up with the fraternity to learn more exact details,” Citro said. The incident has since been referred to the Inter-Fraternity Council Judiciary Committee.
Citro added that his office is working closely with IFCJC and the University’s chapter of Theta Delta Chi to resolve the issue, noting that the fraternity has been “extremely cooperative.”
When an incident involving fraternity members occurs, any member of the University community may file a complaint with the IFC, IFC president Taylor Richardson said. In this case, Citro reported the incident.
Once a complaint is filed, a group of IFCJC officers investigate the incident to determine whether it necessitates a trial, said Lansing Lee, IFC vice president for judiciary.
If a trial is deemed necessary, the presiding judges will determine guilt or innocence, as well as the appropriate sanctions. Any consequences are imposed upon the whole fraternity, not just the individuals who committed the act in question, Lee said.
Though fall rush is fast approaching, Richardson said he does not think the incident will affect Theta Delta Chi’s recruiting.
“They made a mistake, and they’ll learn from it,” Richardson said.
Koch, on the other hand, said the incident certainly could affect recruiting, but added that Theta Delta Chi hopes to be able to move forward and have a strong rush.
“We apologize for the damage we have done to the reputations of Theta Delta Chi, ourselves and, most importantly, the University of Virginia,” Koch said. “We hope to work with all relevant parties and reach a positive resolution.”
Citro said it is important for fraternities to remember that any actions they may take on and off Grounds can lead to both positive and negative reactions.
“My sense is that the core of the fraternity members are committed to the values of the fraternity,” Citro said. “They are going to work through this incident to ensure that their fraternity continues to succeed.”
Wadja said the incident was most likely a lapse in judgment on the part of the students involved.
“I’m sure they regret it now,” he said. “It was just a foolish thing to do.”
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