Fraternity Loses Charter Over Alleged Rape

The American flag flew at half-staff Wednesday at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house near San Diego State University, after the group’s charter was suspended earlier this week by its national office over an alleged sexual assault at a chapter party nearly two years ago.

Bitter fraternity members, their spirits sagging, loaded belongings onto a truck in their front yard and vowed not to disband.

“We will continue to meet as a local fraternity under another name,” said member Gene Tucker. “We don’t need the school or the national office. If they take our house away, we’ll find another place to meet.”

About 60 current undergraduate members of the fraternity unwillingly became fraternity alumni after the group’s supreme council, based in Memphis, Tenn., suspended the chapter’s charter on Monday night, according to Raymond Orians, executive vice president of the national fraternity.

1985 Incident

The suspension stems indirectly from the alleged rape of a sorority pledge at a 1985 fraternity party. The woman claimed she was attacked by several fraternity members while others watched through a window.

As a result of the incident, the supreme council scrutinized the local chapter and concluded that the fraternity had problems with a deteriorating program, finances, leadership and maintenance of its house, located on the 5000 block of College Avenue, Orians said.

The supreme council also said the university administration’s attitude toward the fraternity--specifically that it dealt more harshly with the fraternity compared to others--played a role in the decision.

An SDSU police investigation of the case last year concluded that the woman was sexually assaulted by three men while other men watched through a window or from other parts of the room. She was reportedly unconscious after drinking punch she thought was non-alcoholic, but which in fact had been spiked.

After the investigation, the university expelled the fraternity from campus activities for at least five years and sanctioned 29 members. The sanctions included banning those most directly involved from the California State University system.

The university also demanded that the national organization revoke the local chapter’s charter, but was unsuccessful.

SDSU administration officials on Wednesday had not received official notification of the suspension by national fraternity officers, and will not comment until they do, spokeswoman Louise Snider said.

The fate of the fraternity house, which is owned by fraternity alumni and is home to 18 undergraduates, will be discussed today, members said.

Members Shocked

Orians said the national office observed the local chapter closely over the last 18 months and made eight visits to offer advice and support.

“This wasn’t an emotional decision. It took two hours to reach it,” Orians said. “They failed to meet the objectives and standards that we set together.”

Orians said that national officers and local undergraduate members concurred after a lengthy phone conversation Monday night that the fraternity could not succeed in the “poor environment” that existed.

Members interviewed Wednesday said the suspension was “shocking” and that they will appeal it at their 1988 national convention.

“We’re being punished,” said member Dave Gurley. “I think it all derives from that (alleged rape) incident, but most of us weren’t even members at the time.

“It’s like they pulled the rug from under my feet,” he said. “Things were still going to happen for me. I still had a lot to experience.”