Phi Delt At Emory University Suspended For Hazing, Held ‘Fight Club’ For Pledges

Dillon Cheverere12 years ago

The first rule of Pledge Fight Club is you do not talk about Pledge Fight Club. The second rule of Pledge Fight Club is you are no longer allowed to fight Legacy Peter. He’s taken a beating this semester and people are starting to notice.

I’m pretty sure I can guess how this thing went down. Fearing stark repercussions of getting caught physically hazing their pledges, some bright, young mind in this chapter came up with the perfect loophole in the system: “So uhhhhhh, what if we just make them haze themselves?” Then, before cooler heads had a chance to prevail and foil this questionable scheme, some drunk asshole replied, “You’re a goddamn genius!” And then BAM, the Pledge Fight Club was conceived.

The Georgia Beta chapter of Phi Delta Theta has been suspended for four years after the conclusion of an investigation that revealed several hazing infractions, including the mandatory participation of a pledge fight club.

From The Emory Wheel:

The investigation revealed multiple instances of hazing, Riordan said, including requiring pledges to participate in a “fight club,” consume “unusual amounts” of items “that are not typical for eating,” sleep on the floor of the house basement in just their boxers with no pillow or blanket and consume alcohol.

The fraternity was first investigated for hazing in the spring, and was placed on a “cease and desist” probation by the university. After no evidence was found, the probation was lifted. It wasn’t until new evidence was turned over that the investigation was reopened. It turns out the pledges came forward.

The University reopened the investigation this summer after “participants” in the hazing turned in email evidence to the conduct office and eyewitnesses came forward, Riordan said.

“It was emails that clarified that there had been some hazing and that the first time around people weren’t truthful,” Riordan said.

I bet it was Peter, man. Peter broke rule number one.

The chapter has appealed the suspension, and a ruling could come as early as next week.

Phi Delta Theta is not the only fraternity on campus to face similar sanctions. Since spring 2011, “Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority have been suspended for hazing.”

[via The Emory Wheel]