C.U. Fraternity Suspended for Hazing
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The Lambda Theta Phi fraternity remains on temporary suspension pending review, and a former Cornell student faces charges in the aftermath of a one-month-old hazing incident involving various members the Cornell community.
The incident, which took place on the evening of Feb. 23, began when the pledges of Lambda Theta Phi organized themselves in what is known as battle position — hugging each other in a line and squatting. Fraternity brothers than charged at the pledges. In his voluntary statement, a Cornell student and Lambda Theta Phi pledge related that he was removed from the group by Eric Perez, a student at LeMoyne College, and smashed into a sheet rock wall which shattered on impact.
The student stated that he was then placed in a pitch-black room with two other pledges; brother Gilberto Anthony Gomez entered and said that the pledges could leave after they had been slapped across the front of the face. Gomez then allegedly slapped the student and allowed him to leave; the student stated that he later heard Gomez bragging about slapping other pledges multiple times.
The Ithaca Police Department charged Gomez and Perez with second-degree hazing and second-degree harassment, both violation level crimes, which are less serious than misdemeanors. Perez pleaded guilty to the harassment charge and the hazing charge was dropped, resulting in a $250 fine. Gomez will appear in court on March 28.
The Cornell University Police declared both Gomez and Perez personas non grata, meaning that they will be arrested for trespassing if found on Cornell grounds.
In response to a reported hazing incident, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs put Lambda Theta Phi on temporary suspension as of Feb. 27, effectively halting all fraternity events. According to Travis Apgar, associate dean of students for fraternity and sorority affairs, this was done to prevent further opportunities for hazing to occur within the organization.
The suspension will remain in effect until Lambda Theta Phi comes before Cornell’s Fraternity and Sorority Review Board. The Board will then decide the chapter’s future status and determine what counseling or education the fraternity needs as well as whether any disciplinary action should be taken.
“We work very hard to educate the fraternity and sorority community on hazing issues in an ongoing basis,” Apgar said.
The last violation documented on Cornell’s online list of hazing incidents took place in the spring of 2006.
As Ithaca College students are also affiliated with the fraternity, their administration is also looking into the matter. I.C. spokesman Dave Maley told the Ithaca Journal, “our public safety office is investigating the possibility that some of our students may have been involved in hazing activities in campus housing.”
Aside from the incident that led to the charges, other instances of hazing during the pledging process were also described. According to the statement, the pledges were not allowed to speak to anyone but family, faculty and fraternity members as part of a social probation, known as the vow of silence.
During physical fitness nights, pledges were required to repeat fraternity sayings, some of which included racial slurs, the student stated; the brothers also repeatedly threatened the pledges with physical violence — one brother threatened to kick a pledge in the face if he failed to memorize a certain phrase. According to the student's statement, during the entire pledge week, the pledges were never given the eight hours of sleep they were guaranteed, and one night they only got two hours of rest.
Chapter President Anthony Lopez declined to comment on the incident. Byron Bustos, national president of Lambda Theta Phi, stated in an email, “Lambda Theta Phi is fully cooperating with Cornell University and local authorities and hopes to resolve this situation shortly.”
Hazing.....same ole....same ole......
Same crap. It's gone on for years at Universities throughout the country and nothing is ever done about it.....well at least nothing EFFECTIVE has been done about it, or it wouldn't continue FOR YEARS ON END.
So when you kill somebody, will it stop? Of course not, once in a blue moon some pledge gets killed and everyone gets all up in arms....for a couple of months.
Then it happens all over again. So why even print this story, who gives a damn? NO ONE, that's why it has continued forever.
If the frat councils had any backbone at all which they don't as evidenced by years and years of hazing problems, and i mean frat councils nationwide, when caught hazing a fraternity would be banned from campus for 5 years and no members of the frat at the time of the hazing could continue to be members (in case you have a genious in school for more than 5 years).
Keep In Mind the Council
If one were to peruse the Cornell.edu hazing site (hazing.cornell.edu) one would see that a disproporionate number of hazing incidents and the most egregious ones were not committed by the IFC member frats but by the Greek Multi-Cultural bodies. Don't throw all fraternities under the same bus.
As a member of a Phi Iota
As a member of a Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity inc it is really diasspointing to read something like this. The only justification that I can try and comprehend why an individual will put there hands on another individual that can make any sense at all during a pledge process is for discipline. Now it raises the question how incompetent and weak is your fraternity that physically harming some one is the way to make and idividual stronger. I mean what are you preparing them for to beat up there professors, parents, Bosses, Spouses,etc. Is creating a soldier the point of having a pledge process? I thought it was to enlighten individuals in the importance of becoming productive members to society. Not to create animals that are only going to hindure the reputation of the greek community.
its heart breaking to hear
its heart breaking to hear of two latino organizations bickering over this topic. there are far more important things that require our attention and yet we continue back and forth with one another.
i pledged to help the latino community - but there still remains people who are willing to turn on each other. as alex g. stated we all have our skeletons in the closet. instead we continue trying to pick out each others.
please look inside as to why you pledged which ever organization. and if you feel you must be competing with phia.ltphi.slb.lul. and/or whomever else is then you need to put ur mind back in focus - open your eyes. who cares whos older. who cares got more members. you could be the oldest one here but with a low level of respect for your fellow latinos - why should u be followed?
thank you jason for being professional about this matter. alex g. i'll hope the best for you and your org.
Productive rather than criticize
First and foremost, My name is Alex G. and a member of Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Inc. I've been a member since 1998 and around the greek system since '93. I must say that NO ORGANIZATION is innocent in hazing. I did my homework on several orgs including yours before I became a member, and I must say we all have our skeletons in the closet. So with that said and done, to the "BROTHER" of Phi Iota Alpha, PLEASE and I urge you PLEASE dont try to mock/insult my organization when one of your "FELLOW" brother is a DEAR friend of mine acknowledges your organizations hazing procedure. We all do them, we are all guilty of it, in one way or another. So dont come here and make yourself look pretty in the eyes of the media/forum. Im not here to blame or say to anyone that they wrong but we ALL have our traditions BESIDES our normal education. Rather than to belittle an org, why not try to unite and oversee a solution within the minority orgs? Isnt that what your pledging process teach you? Help rather than bash or criticize? Unite rather than segregate? We the brothers Nationally and locally will handle the issues on hand.
Alex G.
Member-Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Inc.
Phi Iota Alpha
I think it is important that we understand that the actions of individuals do not represent the beliefs or actions of an organization. I in fact disagree with any member of any organization making a comment in this difficult time in regards to the national organization of Lambda Theta Phi and want to personally apologize for the comment made by one of our members. I have asked that they keep their personal opinion to themselves as it is not the opinion of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity.
In greek unity,
Jason Nicolau
Executive Director
Phi Iota Alpha
u know
LTPhi isnt the first and now they want to slap pledges...stupid lambdas.
Coward, continue to stand
Coward, continue to stand behind the darkness of your shadow. You are too scared to show your identity cuz you know you got nothing on us. I see how much much you learned from your process.
Wow
After reading all of the comments that have been posted, I have to say that I am surprised that nobody commented on the following statement:
Keep In Mind the Council
If one were to peruse the Cornell.edu hazing site (hazing.cornell.edu) one would see that a disproporionate number of hazing incidents and the most egregious ones were not committed by the IFC member frats but by the Greek Multi-Cultural bodies. Don't throw all fraternities under the same bus.
____________________
I believe that EVERY...i repeat....EVERY greek has (as Alex G. stated) skeletons in their closet. Be it white, black, latino, asian, multicultural, etc...I think that it is dishonest to say that only "certain greeks" are guilty of hazing when, historically speaking, hazing has been around for centuries and the black, latino and multi-cultural orgs have only been around (at the most) 101 yrs (alpha phi alpha). Who hazed before that? So please, spare me the uneducated comments made just to draw attention away from the hazing that ALL organizations partake in. If anything is going to "throw you under the same bus" as us "multi-cultural/minority" greeks....it's your very own actions and over-defensive attitude. Granted, the fact that other orgs do it doesn't make what this chapter did any better...but it certainly negates any claim that only minority greeks participate in hazing.
Also, as a sister of Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority incorporated, Zeta Chapter, I know my history. So "Richard"....do your research....
Conclusion
It is sad that some people desmostrate happiness because of Lambda Theta Phi's difficult time, remember it is only in vain. As of Jason Nicolau, you are a true gentleman, I know it is hard to get hold on the young ones, and your are the real voice of your organization. Richard, please consider going back to school, "te quedaste analfabeto". Jen, I know exactly what you talking about.
Adolfo
FB of "The Lost Woods"
Who is Phi Iota Alpha
Who is Phi Iota Alpha??? Frankly hazing or pledging is not that big of a deal. It happens in the military,Cops firefighters and etc. As frat orgs to see this happen to a fraternity is bad publisity..Regardless Bush is president and he was in a fraternity yet it is ok for him years later? Society is full of hippocrites such as in the matter of Phake Iota Alpha. Who are they anyways?Im in a black NPHC org and I have heard of Lambda theta phi,but this other org the Phi's seem very disrespectful and have unprofessional members. Sad to see this occur in such a unfortunate time,yet that member is as representation of their organization. Perhaps next time with maturity and better manners this Phi alpha member can do a better job on respresenting himself on behalf of his org. Maybe the matter is not about hazing. As much as it should be on the phi's education on better professional matters in public relations!!! phi alpha Iota please better educate your members because it does not look proper in the eyes of people looking to join fraternal orgs in the future. Thank you