Posted on Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 6:30 a.m.
University of Michigan fraternity suspended, expelled following investigation
By Kellie Woodhouse
A University of Michigan fraternity was expelled from the school's greek life council and suspended by its national office after a pledge was hospitalized for over-drinking, according to the Michigan Daily.
The Daily, U-M's student newspaper, reports that it's unclear if the incident is related to hazing, but that the school's Interfraternity Council began investigating the Psi Upsilon fraternity in mid-March.
An official from Psi Upsilon's national office has already visited Ann Arbor to investigate, the Daily reported.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
BhavanaJagat
Sun, Mar 24, 2013 : 4:52 p.m.
Where is Brotherhood? In a party when people get together, we need a few brothers who are willing to stay sober and watch the flock.
Doug
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 11:17 p.m.
Why was this censored? If the U of M really investigated over-drinking at fraternities there would be few left on campus!
genetracy
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 8:51 p.m.
Psi Up's, fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.
Joe Kidd
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
What I do not see here, from either this article or the Daily article is how much this really affects the guys in the frat. No events, no recruiting, suspended from the organization. I sure they are all broken up about that while they are planning tonight's party.
Tru2Blu76
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 3:25 p.m.
Numbers, please. What percentage of Michigan students are fraternity / sorority members? I ask because quite a few members of my family are Michigan grads, while others graduated from other colleges & universities. AND because I have direct knowledge of their college years, I see that none of them ever belonged to a fraternity / sorority and none of them ever participated in binge drinking. I can add all those friends who went to college: none of those people indulged in this manner, either. Asking around among these people, none of them talks about great fraternities they know of or what a great time they had drinking alcohol. Much like marijuana smokers, the ones we hear talking about good times had while drinking are those who've made drinking part of their life style. Just guessing: fraternities / sororities are in a minority compared to the whole student body - here and elsewhere. Right? Why is it that these minority organizations are magnets for misbehaviors - some of them dangerous? And why is it that so many universities accept and tolerate having such parasitic minority groups attached to them? I suppose it's worth getting U of M on Playboy's annual list of "best party schools." That must be part of the noble traditions at Michigan, MSU, EMU, Wayne State, etc.
Youwhine
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
So they can't just kick the students out of the house without at first going through an eviction process. Now you have a bunch of guys (who have already been getting in trouble all year) living in a place where they know they won't be returning to next year, without even the EXPECTATION that they follow certain fraternity rules... Sounds like a recipe for some SWEET parties between now and the end of the schoolyear.
Youwhine
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 2:50 a.m.
JBK, more than likely you guys were just likely that nobody ever challenged the legality of what you did. Sme rights cannot me signed away. I'm not saying I disagree with your principles, just the legality ;) in this case, they have established residency. The national will no doubt bring in security and make things uncomfortable, but you can't just put somebody out, you can't enforce ex-post-facto contracts upon them, and you can't bar them from living in their residence/having guests/etc. Plus these are spoiled brat UM kids, so their daddies are probably all lawyers in W. Bloomfield or NY...
JBK
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 12:48 a.m.
Both you guys make good points, BUT in all liklihood, National owns the house and their bylaws trump typical eviction ordinances. As a Pike at WSU, you are forced to sign paperwork essentially allowing the Fraternity to throw your azz to the curb. I was a House Mgr at our Frat house and we threw guys out all the time on 24 hrs notice. We had a master key to all rooms and we would throw their crap on the front lawn. The person expelled had no legal remedy!
bamboozled
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 9:17 p.m.
Good point. The national would be well-advised to assign 24-hour staff to the house that would closely monitor the behavior. Putting each member on a behavioral contract (violate it and you're out immediately type thing) might be wise as well. Otherwise, that house could end up trashed in ways that would require razing rather than renovating.
annarboral
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.
So if a West Quad student binge drinks and then gets sent to the hospital will the University be suspended and West Quad shut down? Why are people picking on fraternities when binge drinking exists in most every student population?
Mindfulmoon
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.
Your reply is ridiculous. There is vast difference between a residence hall and a fraternity that agrees to live by certain values about service and brotherhood. The local chapter not only went against the national office, but they also acted in a way that put the life of one of their brothers at risk. If you read the reports, the young man blew a .59, the police had broken up the party twice due to safety issues, and the young men chose to act in a reckless and dangerous manner. When you normalize binge drinking you are missing the point of how freaking dangerous this situation was.
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 9:13 p.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UnPzp2lmNk
TheDiagSquirrel
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.
Fraternities: like gangs, but with less violent crime, and cash initiations instead of violent initiations
Ricebrnr
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5:31 p.m.
where do you get less violent from? You haven't been paying attention...anti hazing laws (regularly broken) aren't there cuz, they sit in chanting circles passing a talking stick..
SMC
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
[Insert "Animal House"quotes here.]
HB11
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 11:21 a.m.
"Mr. Blutarsky.....zero point zero."
Brian Bundesen
Sat, Mar 23, 2013 : 12:13 a.m.
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Eric Stratton, damn glad to met you.
microtini
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 11:28 p.m.
"You're all on double-secret probation!"
djacks24
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.
It's a zit...Get it?
Piledriver
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 7:04 p.m.
"Your Out! Finished at [U of M] expelled! I want you off this campus at nine o'clock Monday morning, and I've contacted your local draft boards and told them that you were all, all eligible for military service"
Cavern Clubs
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.
"Thank you sir...may I have another?" "That's something that will always look good on your permanent record Chip" "Do you mind if we dance with your dates?" "You're all worthless and weak! Now drop and give me twenty!"
original perp
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 5:46 p.m.
Christ. Seven years of college down the drain.
JBK
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.
Babs: Greg, honey, is it supposed to be this soft? :)
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:45 p.m.
Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.
Homeland Conspiracy
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:44 p.m.
They confiscated everything, even the stuff we didn't steal!
An Arborigine
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
I'm shocked, shocked to learn that binge drinking could be taking place in a fraternity house!
Krupper1
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:16 p.m.
oops! "Your"
Krupper1
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 2:16 p.m.
You winnings, Sir.
GoNavy
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 12:19 p.m.
Interesting. They have one of the nicer-looking houses as well (at least from the outside; on the inside it's as trashy as most others). I wonder what start up frat the house will be handed off to.
JBK
Fri, Mar 22, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
Navy - In most cases, the Fraternity / Sorority own the property, so any start up would have to negotiate a lease. I was a Pike at WSU during my under-grad days, and all of the homes were owned by the National Chapter. However, it could be different at UM.