After its fourth policy violation in three years, the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity is being forced to shut down, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs said yesterday.
Following an unsanctioned event last week that resulted in two participants being sent to the emergency room of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and treated for alcohol poisoning and bodily injuries, Penn has been in talks with the fraternity's national leadership to determine the specifics of the group's fate, according to an OFSA statement.
At a minimum, the fraternity, located at 235 S. 39th St., will be suspended from campus for three years, allowing time for current members to graduate before the group is allowed to re-establish itself at Penn.
Former ZBT President Jon Schottenstein confirmed the fraternity's closing last night.
"We just broke our probation and our agreement," Schottenstein said. "The house knows. We had extensive meetings, but we're not together right now."
While the status of the ZBT brothers living in the fraternity house has not been determined by Penn, InterFraternity Council President Conor O'Callaghan said it would "certainly be my hope that the ZBT brothers will be able to remain there the rest of the semester."
The University will give ZBT the opportunity to voluntarily close, but will attempt to suspend the group for at least three years if the fraternity refuses.
If the fraternity does not make its decision promptly, Penn plans to seek permanent expulsion. A final resolution will likely take place in the coming weeks.
OFSA Director Scott Reikofski said last night that he stands by his office's statement.
"ZBT has had a string of policy violations and behavior issues and been under a lengthy probationary agreement that began in spring 2001 and has been extended and/or modified as a result of subsequent violations," it read.
The fraternity received its colony status -- a final warning -- as a result of a spring 2003 mixer that landed a female party guest at HUP for alcohol poisoning. As a result, ZBT was also suspended for one year.
ZBT's string of violations dates back nearly three years. In a spring 2001 event involving beer kegs and property damage, the group was found in violation of numerous regulations, including hazing, alcohol and risk management policies.
The following spring, ZBT was once again under investigation, as kegs were found during a routine inspection of the house. The presence of alcohol was a direct violation of the group's probation status.
One year later, ZBT hosted the mixer that resulted in a female party guest being sent to HUP.
Former ZBT Vice President and College junior Brian Isen said the group's closure is a devastating blow to Greek life at Penn.
"The University of Pennsylvania is saying goodbye to the best fraternity it has and will ever see," he said.
O'Callaghan agreed.
"Well obviously, it's disappointing," he said. "ZBT was one of our stronger chapters on campus."
However, the Engineering junior emphasized that ZBT's actions are not indicative of the Greek system as a whole.
"I don't think the ZBT situation is representative of the entire Greek system at Penn," he said.
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