Kansas University has placed Phi Gamma Delta fraternity on interim suspension as officials conduct a hazing investigation.
Fraternity suspended during investigation
Phi Gamma Delta fraternity on the KU campus is under temporary suspension while an investigation into a hazing incident is completed. The incident has one member still being treated at a Kansas area hospital. Enlarge video
Marlesa Roney, KU’s vice provost for student success, took the action Thursday evening per university code.
“The university absolutely will not tolerate hazing of any kind,” Roney said in a statement. “Such violations of human dignity are always taken seriously and confronted immediately by this university.”
The university, the fraternity’s national organization and Lawrence police are investigating an incident that occurred last Friday.
Matt Fritzie, a freshman from Stilwell, suffered head injuries at a fraternity party while diving into a pool of water, according to police. The fraternity doesn’t have a permanent, in-ground pool.
Roney was not available for comment on Friday, but Jill Jess, a university spokeswoman, said the suspension meant the fraternity would be unable to participate in any university events or use university facilities for the duration of the investigation.
The investigation will be conducted by officials from Roney’s office. It could have five possible outcomes, Jess said. First, the fraternity could be cleared of any wrongdoing. But if a violation of university code is found, then the fraternity could face a warning, probation, suspension or expulsion, depending on the results of the investigation.
She did not specify how long the process could take.
“It’ll take as long as it needs to take to ensure a thorough investigation,” Jess said. “But we understand the need for a swift resolution.”
The fraternity is the first to be suspended at KU since the university suspended Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity in October 2004 following an investigation by the fraternity’s international headquarters into hazing allegations.
Fritzie was taken to KU Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., but officials there said they couldn't confirm or deny he still was a patient at the hospital.
Lawrence police Sgt. Matt Sarna said on Friday that their investigation into the incident is still ongoing. It is being treated as a medical emergency, and nothing of a criminal nature has been found so far, he said.
Tim Nunnink, a KU senior, helped re-establish the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity at KU. He said his fraternity doesn’t haze at all, because of what it’s done to people.
“I think it’s pretty bad,” he said. “I think it’s something, definitely, that we need to keep a close eye on around campus.”
Comments
Keith 2 years, 8 months ago
They were already on double secret probation.
grammaddy 2 years, 8 months ago
Since the fraternity doesn't have a pool, and he suffered injuries diving into a pool at a frat party, what pool was he injured in?
huskerpower 2 years, 8 months ago
Temporary/inflatable/above ground pool
KRichards 2 years, 8 months ago
Wrong- It was a temporary pool made by the pledges as an act of hazing from sandbags and plastic tarps.
pfeifer 2 years, 8 months ago
Ahh but it is considered hazing in the university sense when active members force pledges to do anything that active members themselves won't do.
Clickker 2 years, 8 months ago
uhhh no....try "to do things that they themselves have done before" as a job in order to gain admittance. I'm sure the pledges had a blast doing this, and it is a team building exercise. Not hazing.
homechanger 2 years, 8 months ago
Only one thing to do. TOGA!
newmedia 2 years, 8 months ago
Rock On! TOGA and then a Road Trip!!
Danimal 2 years, 8 months ago
How is it that after decades of incidents like this fraternities can still get anyone to sell them insurance? And why is it that every time there is one of these incidents on (near) campus the roll underage drinking almost certainly played goes unmentioned? I hope that Matt Fritzie recovers quickly and completely, and learns a few things from this. I've said it before and I'm saying it again, there is no place for elitist, racist, and xenophobic institutions like fraternities and sororities in higher education and certainly not at a public university. I know that might mean they would have to mingle with some "poor" people, but maybe some common sense would rub off on them.
kusp8 2 years, 8 months ago
Here, Here! Agreed!
livinginlawrence 2 years, 8 months ago
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The_Big_B 2 years, 8 months ago
Nuisance property. Any of the Frosh under 18? Might have been child endangerment, too.
grimpeur 2 years, 8 months ago
Drunk, fat and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
dudedog12 2 years, 8 months ago
That was a good description of :Hazing" Hazing is retarded, they must not have anything else to do, i'd bet those who do these kind of things drop out anyway...
Wallythewalrus 2 years, 8 months ago
Bluto's right. Psychotic, but absolutely right. We gotta take these bastards. Now we could do it with conventional weapons that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody's part.
missmagoo 2 years, 8 months ago
what the heck is a frat suspension? no more keggers?
drnater 2 years, 8 months ago
this just in... Fiji, will now be moving all frat organized activities to the street, due to inability to have parties on frat grounds. This way they can blame the city instead of further punishment for the frat when they decide to have another pool party.... This is a service announcement brought to you by your local friend, common sense...
drnater 2 years, 8 months ago
p.s. Hedley, you got paid for that, that's the whole point of a job. The chain of command you start low and work your way up, frats aren't suppose to be structured like that.
dudedog12 2 years, 8 months ago
only that they are usually rich and don't exercise good judgement...
ophiolite 2 years, 8 months ago
Let me get this straight: The first week of school a young woman gets raped at a fraternity and KU says it isn't their concern. Hazing occurs at a fraternity and KU suspends the fraternity. Tell me, what is wrong with this picture? Shouldn't every offense against human indecency treated the same Zero Tolerance?
slvrntrt 2 years, 8 months ago
Same thing that's wrong with KU hiding the fact that two people overdosed and died in Naismith Hall last year.
KRichards 2 years, 8 months ago
Naismith is private, really no different than doing the same thing in an apartment.
jayjayhawk 2 years, 8 months ago
From what I've read, the greek houses are technically private property as well, but after the Naismith accidents you did not see everyone running with arms up yelling for all apartments to be shut down?
dudedog12 2 years, 8 months ago
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Alceste 2 years, 8 months ago
Hazing builds "brotherhood". shrug
The_Big_B 2 years, 8 months ago
Greek is Weak
estespark 2 years, 8 months ago
May I have ten thousand marbles please?
Kontum1972 2 years, 8 months ago
it is a shame that this greek organization allowed this too happen, the president of the house condoned hazing? This should not have been his agenda, and he knew it was wrong. The National Inter-fraternal council has banned hazing many, many years ago. I became involved with the greek system in 1969 and hazing was not allowed during that time. I am still involved with my fraternity as an alumni, we treat our pledges with respect, granted that must complete a pledge program before initiation and "no form of hazing is allowed". The alumni of the organization have a duty to monitor what goes on in the house and i know there are alums living in Lawrence and they should help monitor what goes on in the house. I know there are traveling secretary's who are on payroll for each Greek organization that travel around the country checking on what is occurring on all campuses. It is also the responsibility of the frat council on campus to monitor all actions by sororities and fraternities on the campus of KU....to be honest they dropped the ball. It is a shame this happened and those involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. My sympathies go out to the parents of the student. the actions of a few "bad eggs" paint a black mark on all the good fraternities and sororities across the nation.
158 Zeta Lambda Chi
audibleangel 2 years, 8 months ago
exactly right. i'm glad to at least see some action is being taken, although i'm sure nothing will result from it..
CHEEZIT 2 years, 8 months ago
He didn't throw up in front of Dean Wormer, he threw up onnnnn Dean Wormer!!!
Dejacrew423 2 years, 8 months ago
Just curious, how deep and wide was this lagoon/pool? It's been said in other articles that he may have dived into the pool but I'm wondering if it's shallow enough for him to have been tossed in and him hit his head that way. Either way, whether it was his fault, nobodies fault, etc. I really wish him a full and speedy recovery. Head injuries are tricky and can easily take a turn in the wrong direction without any reason so I am praying for him and his family.
Alceste 2 years, 8 months ago
The guy is toast....trust me....his brain will NEVER work correctly again.
We have to remember that "hazing builds "brotherhood"....
Personally, I would like to see the chapter President and his cronies brought up on criminal charges....let's see where the "brotherhood" goes after THAT LEGAL ACTION occurs....
Masochists...these little boys...and that is all they are: LITTLE BOYS..... I hope they choke every night they attempt to sleep.....
case1234 2 years, 8 months ago
Glad to know that 90% of America's largest companies are run by members of fraternities ;) sounds to me like a lot of people here are jealous that they didn't have fun in college, or even go to college.
Cheers!
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