Tameka L. Hicks and Mikal J. Harris

Frenzied and appalled at the University’s suspension of their Registered Student Organization status, Delta Chi fraternity members are contemplating their options if their second appeal to reinstate them as a Registered Student Organization fails.

The fraternity has until 4:30 p.m. today to submit its appeal to Jean Paratore, associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and dean of students. If that appeal is denied, the fraternity may have to leave its house at the end of the semester.

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After 43 years at SIUC, the fraternity may not be recognized on campus until the end of spring semester 2002. The loss of the fraternity’s RSO status renders the fraternity ineligible for University money from student fees, and forces the fraternity from their Caldwell Hall chapter house at 105 Greek Row. If Delta Chi is not reinstated by the University, the fraternity also will lose recognition from the national Delta Chi organization.

The University’s suspension will effectively terminate formal greek activity for all current Delta Chi members.

A suspension period of four years will provide an opportunity for the current chapter membership to graduate, Nancy Hunter Pei, director of Student Development, stated in a letter turning down Delta Chi’s first appeal, thus allowing the inter/national fraternity to re-colonize, recruiting and initiating new members who may be more clearly dedicated and committed to ideals of fraternalism.

At a March 5 administrative hearing, Delta Chi’s RSO status was revoked until the end of spring 2002. Student Development officials discovered the fraternity, which was serving its second probation of the school year, organized a Feb. 13 Valentine’s social at the Marion Hotel and Conference Center. Alcohol was present at the event, despite the terms of the fraternity’s probation.

As a result of the fraternity’s suspension, the plaques and wooden paddles that once filled the walls of the Delta Chi house have been removed. The visible nail holes where those items once hung are a stark reminder of the fraternity’s plight.

This is 43 years of tradition down the tubes, said Brian Vanselow, Delta Chi rush chairman.

Pat Monahan, Delta Chi sergeant at arms, is hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Although they may have to vacate their charter house, Monahan said the fraternity will continue to stick together.

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I’m going to miss this house because of the tradition, Monahan said. Right now we’re looking at houses and apartments together. We’re not going to split up. We’re always going to be together.

Jay Curtis, Delta Chi president, said the fraternity has been receiving overwhelming support from other greeks as well as Delta Chi alumni. But Curtis said support has not been found in the national chapter.

We have weakened national involvement, he said. They’re not helping us at all. We haven’t heard from Bill Tallman [director of Delta Chi chapter development] since our first hearing [March 5.]

Their priority is to make sure Delta Chi will be here [at SIUC] in four years. He’s working more with the University.

Tallman said from his Iowa City office that he has been working to help the chapter by consulting with the University, and with fraternity alumni members throughout the appeals process.

We’ve been monitoring the case by talking to Student Development and members of the alumni board, he said. We are helping local alumni to help the chapter.

But even while monitoring the local chapter’s troubles, Tallman was unaware that the fraternity had retained a lawyer. He is not certain that the lawyer who Curtis said was working pro bono but would not name will help the fraternity.

I don’t know anything about that, he said. I’m not exactly sure that a lawyer will be helpful in the process. We have to let the wheels of justice turn.

Although Tallman was unaware of the lawyer’s involvement in the case, Pei said the fraternity has every right to seek legal counsel.

The Student Conduct Code provides provisions for students and student organizations to have an adviser present to assist in the appeals process, she said. That adviser certainly can be a lawyer.

But Pei said retaining a lawyer is not a guarantee that Delta Chi will be reinstated on campus by the University. Advisers cannot be involved in actual decision making.

The adviser is not an actual participant in the process, she said. The adviser is there to help the student.

If Paratore denies the fraternity’s second appeal, the formal University appeals process is over. The fraternity can consult with other administrators including Chancellor Don Beggs, with whom Curtis already has consulted. Beggs has said he cannot and would not interfere with the current appeals process.

Curtis and other fraternity members believe Delta Chi’s suspension hails from SIUC’s involvement in piloting the national Select 2000 initiative. The four-part program requires fraternity members to maintain alcohol- and substance-free chapter houses and sponsor dry social events, as well as other requirements. Student Development officials have repeatedly denied those assertions, although letters to the fraternity from those officials referred to Select 2000.

But in spite of Curtis’ intense dislike of Select 2000 policies, he said the initiative has benefited his fraternity in one way. Delta Chi has received a lot of its support because of some greek members’ opposition of Select 2000 policies as well.

I’ll be honest with you, he said. Before Select 2000 that probably wouldn’t have happened.

Monahan said although he believes he should not have to ask permission to drink alcohol, he does realize that the fraternity has disappointed some people.

I’m 23 years old, he said, and I hate for someone to tell me I can’t drink.

I feel that we have not only let down ourselves, but the alumni. I just feel like we have the weight of the world on our shoulders.