Hazing, shooting lead to disciplinary action for fraternities

This spring the Office of Residential Life (ORL) took decisive action against five fra- ternities found guilty of hazing violations. The five, Alpha Delta, Beta Theta Pi, Bones Gate, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Psi Upsi- lon, were placed on social probation for pe- riods ranging from three to six weeks.

None of the houses involved disputes the fact that it violated the rule. They protested, however, that the ORL had never warned them that violators could expect harsh pun- ishments. Some members of houses placed on social probation felt punishments em- phasizing education might better fit the crime. "The punishments could have been more productive by attacking the root of the problem . . . educating the houses," said Charlie Wheelan 'BB, president of Alpha Delta.

John Jennings, assistant dean of Residen- tial Life, disagrees. Hazing was discussed at workshops for new fraternity presidents and once again before rush began. Jennings paraphrases the fraternities' response as, "If we knew what the punishment would be, we would not have taken the risk." He dismisses this logic: "Anytime you disci- pline anyone, they react to the sanctions."

Dartmouth's anti-hazing rule was modeled after the policy written by the Na- tional Fraternity Executives Association (NFEA). The policy defines hazing as "any action taken or situation created, intention- ally, whether on or off fraternity premises, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule."

Some consider that definition too vague. Brett Matthews 'BB, president of Beta Theta Pi, speculates, "There must exist a problem in communication and education between ORL and the houses because a majority of houses on Dartmouth's campus violate the hazing policy."

O 1 J The ORL heard five hazing-related cases this year, some involving multiple viola- tions. This compares to one case last year and none the year before. Jennings attri- butes the larger caseload to a growing awareness on the part of campus and town police.

In an incident unrelated to hazing, the ORL took official recognition away from Theta Delta Chi fraternity, until April, fol- lowing the shooting of a female student in the buttocks with a BB gun. The victim, who requested anonymity, was treated at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital and released. The assailant, Shaun Tobin 'B5, a member of the house, later turned himself over to Hanover police. Tobin, charged with reck- less conduct, simple assault, and two mis- demeanors, spent three days in jail and was fined $550. In addition, the victim may press a civil suit against him. Tobin has since been separated from the College.

The sanction against Theta Delta Chi was not the result of the shooting alone, al- though Jennings said, "The severity of the incident would have warranted the punish- ment." The fraternity was also charged with possession of unregistered firearms and discharging them on the property. "We felt there was organizational negligence," said Jennings. Theta Delta Chi was already un- der social probation at the time of the shoot- ing for earlier violations.