News
C.U. Fraternity Suspended for Hazing
March 26, 2007 - 12:22amThe 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
To the previous statement.
To the previous statement. You yourself are belittling Phi Iota Alpha by criticizing him. They have been around since the 30's. Far longer that LTPhi's, Their history dates before the 1900's. Regardless, there are different types of hazing. But when it becomes violent and abusive, that's not acceptable. I understand doing physical activities and what not. But no pledge should ever be hit. We are trying to show them to become better by the activities we do.
Firstly, as stated
Firstly, as stated previously, ALL organizations participate in some form of hazing ritual. Mr. "not us Mainstreamers" if you think that getting pledges drunk to the point of blacking out or serenading the fat chicks in the cafe isn't hazing then you mustve been brainwashed really well. As for the act in question, I can personally guarantee that it is not the accepted practice of the Fraternity to conduct themselves in that manner during the induction process. And as mentioned in another statement it is funny how the police, military, fire, etc. use similar tactics during the induction process and they are governmental agencies. To phiotas were around before the 1900's...Please provide documented evidence so everyone can finally keep it moving. Lambda Theta Phi's claim is to be the first Nationally Recognized Latino Greek Organization. If phia was nationally recognized there would be documentation stating so. But they don't. Get over it. I'm sure your org has more important things to do then to worry about who's first...or does it?
The first?
The first Latino Fraternity was Sigma Iota, established in 1912, at LSU. Prior to its founding as a Greek-lettered organization, it existed as the secret society of Latinos called Sociedad Hispano Americano. The reason they were a secret society was because at this time there was alot of racism at universities which were predominently inhabitted by white men. Due to the lack of undergraduate membership and struggles on recruitment they established the fraternity of Sigma Iota. Phi Lambda Alpha which was another Latino fraternity on the west coast established in 1919 at the campus of UC Berkely with similar ideals to Sigma Iota decided to talk up merger agreements with Phi Lambda Alpha. On the great day of December 26th, 1931 they merged to form Phi Iota Alpha. Since then we have produced 4 presidents of Latin American Countries, many other notable politicians, diplomats in ambassadors from latin american countries to the USA, and many other great business leaders all over the USA and Latin America. Hows that for documentation?
Wow! You guys are like Ex-Pres Bush when asked about WMD.
PAY ATTENTION. Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. is the first Nationally recognized (chapters in multiple states) Latin fraternity. You continue to spew on about secret this and that, enjoy it. Whatever fraternity it was, then changed to, then changed again, and so on WAS NEVER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED! That is all that Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. says. Hold on....Me and my 3 other friends just started a fraternity two seconds ago, B.eta I.ota G.amma. We are now the first Biggie based fraternity IN THE WORLD! See? Anyone can do it.
Old vs. First
This article and comments have been rather interesting. I just did some research of my own since I have never heard of Phi Iota Alpha before. Phi Iota Alpha has a very unique history. It appears the letters themselves have been around for quite some time, but that fraternity died out. The current fraternity that exists did not take shape until the letters were re-established in 1984...hence the founding date of their Alpha chapter. Lambda Theta Phi's history is pretty straight forward...they are the first nationally recognized Latino Fraternity and it is documented. So you guys can stop your bickering back and forth about who's old & who's first. The facts are out there for all to see and draw their own conclusions from.
Lambda's were first, not the second or the third; the first
Ridiculous, I'm pledging now and the Lambdas have never disrespected me. Its a four week process so its not that bad. Im still allowed to twitter and my social probabation has not been established. Overall I can say I felt like ive earned my letters. Although I am not a brother yet, I know the day that i will cross, and the process is all about learning. I have learned allot about my culture and have read books like ive never have before. I dont get sleep deprived and I get to hang out with my girlfriend. Other organizations claiming to be the first, might have been out there way back then but we have documentation on being the first nationally recognized. Alright folks im going to watch the football game and then go through set. Its my third day of my fourth week, so im almost crossing. Its all about signing a paper.
NOT needed
That is so untrue and for you to mock another org's process is just disrespectful. Although I am not a lambda [i am female] I do know that their process is HARD and you EARN your letters. Most of my family [my uncles] are brothers of this organization and my female family members that have already gone to college were sisters of LTA.
From the countless brothers I have met throughout my WHOLE LIFE [litteraly, my uncles crossed a few years before i was born] I must say that these men are STRONG, RESPECTFUL, and HARDWORKING men. I have the most respect for them than I do any other frat because I have seen what a great impact their org has had on them.
thats right Skater, just sign
thats right Skater, just sign your paper. How about your LTPheeble's stop calling yourself conquistadores after the men who slaughtered hour people, though they "taught us religion and education." I guarantee you that any other REAL greek org has a process minimum of 10 weeks with a great deal of physical, emotional, and intellectual strain. So congratulations on your free letters, cuz by god you havent earned s***.
PHI!
To the previous comment.
HAHA, and that is why you are a skater!
I hate to state it but that's the truth. Just the same as Ophi-Dophi's. They are all skaters. Sucks to be ya!
dont miss understand me bro,
dont miss understand me bro, LTPHI comment is a skater not i! I earned my letters.