U. has long history of frat evictions

The eviction of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity from its house at 3615 Locust Walk yesterday afternoon was not the first time a fraternity was kicked off the Walk. In fact, it is the fourth such occurrence this decade alone. In May 1990, the Psi Upsilon fraternity was evicted from the Castle at 36th Street and Locust Walk as punishment for kidnapping a member of the Delta Psi fraternity that January. The members of the 99-year-old Psi Upsilon were held collectively responsible for kidnapping William O'Flanagan, a brother in Delta Psi, which is better known as Saint Anthony's. O'Flanagan was abducted from his off-campus apartment, handcuffed to a pole and subjected to racial slurs for about two and a half hours. A report later released by Penn said O'Flanagan was afraid of suffering serious bodily injury, including death, during the incident. None of the 22 brothers the Judicial Inquiry Office charged in the incident were expelled from Penn, although two left on their own will. The Castle's vacancy -- which was eventually filled by the Community Service Living-Learning Program -- figured centrally in the University's discussion of diversifying the Walk. Psi U will return to the Castle this fall. In November 1992, the Theta Xi fraternity was evicted from its house at 37th Street and Locust Walk because of excessive vandalism to the property. Members of the fraternity claimed they were not solely responsible for its damage, and blamed Penn for the bad conditions of the house. In 1996, the Women's Center -- which had been housed in Houston Hall -- moved to Theta Xi's building, now known as the Locust House. In June 1994, the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity lost its charter with its national organization because it failed to meet certain standards of operations. Like the current eviction, the Phi Kap eviction was handled completely within the fraternity, with the University playing no role. The organization temporarily leased the house on 3539 Locust Walk to the Delta Delta Delta sorority, the first and only sorority on the Walk. The 148-year-old Phi Kap chapter recolonized in February 1997, however, and will be moving back into the house this fall.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.