WSU frat allegedly drugged, hazed members

Washington State University's Interfraternity Council Senate confirmed the suspension Wednesday of the Washington Gamma chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at WSU after allegations were made to the university's student conduct office of hazing, providing alcohol to minors and drugging drinks at a party.

The chapter's operations were suspended by its international fraternity headquarters Tuesday. The same fraternity was investigated in early 2015 after a member made racial slurs in denying admittance to three young black women arriving to attend an event.

"Phi Delta Theta is currently under investigation for two incidents that allegedly occurred in late February," Interfraternity Council President Nathan Harris said. "The first report is of the chapter allegedly providing alcohol to minors, and attendees reporting signs and symptoms consistent with being drugged at the event."

Harris said the second incident was an alleged hazing event that took place Feb. 25, during which a WSU student was transported to Pullman Regional Hospital with life-threatening blood-alcohol level concentrations.

In addition, the Council alleged that a member of the fraternity posted a Facebook status Tuesday night attempting to raise money to purchase hard liquor for a party this weekend, without regard to its suspended status by its headquarters and from the Interfraternity Senate.

The WSU Office of Student Conduct received several reports regarding the incidents, according to a letter from the office read at Wednesday's emergency meeting.

According to the letter, a party or event held at the chapter house the evening of Feb. 27 and morning of Feb. 28 resulted in reports to the student conduct office alleging alcohol was provided to minors.

"After consuming chapter-provided alcohol, two students exhibited signs and symptoms consistent with being drugged," Harris read from the letter.

The event involved 100 to 200 chapter members, students and others in the alleged misconduct, according to the letter.

The Feb. 25 incident allegedly took place during a new member activity at the chapter house, when alcohol was provided to and consumed by minors, "specifically new members," Harris said. "The members were separated into teams based on their pledge class years and were challenged to consume as much hard alcohol as possible."

During the meeting, Harris persuaded the senate to make permanent an emergency policy permitting suspension from the senate of any fraternity chapter suspended by its national or international organization. Such a policy did not exist in the past.

Neither members of Phi Delta Theta, other organizations or individuals chose to speak on the fraternity's behalf.

The decision made to suspend the fraternity does not result in an "automatic failure to recognize the fraternity" by the university, but as a result, Phi Delta Theta will not be permitted to participate in the Interfraternity Council's Greek Week.

The suspension may be lifted at any future meeting.

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.