THE STUDENT VOICE SINCE 1904
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
VOLUME 123 ISSUE 38
MONDAY, OCTOBER 11,2010
CAUSES
WWW.KANSAN.COM
Contributed photo
Garrie Rangel, breast cancer survivor, and her husband, Patrick, stand in front of the car that Patrick painted after his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has been a survival for three years.
Jayhawks shave off hair for awareness
BY GARTH SEARS gsears@kansan.com
"I'm not scared." Chin said, sitting on the chair. "Do it."
They were about to buzz off Grace Chin's short, black hair.
It was two weeks ago when Chin, a senior from McPherson, was talking about starting a head-shaving event in October, to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
That was when the topic hit home.
"The day I first talked about doing this event, my mom visited me up here and told me they found a cyst in her breast," Chin said. "She's flying back to Korea to get it removed."
Doctors haven't performed a biopsy yet to know if it is malignant or benign, but Chin is now a member of an always growing group - people on campus affected by breast cancer.
Chin and Jac Jewell, a second-year graduate student from Flint, Mich.,
organized a hair-shaving event Saturday in the lobby at Ellsworth Hall, which they were calling "The Bald and the Beautiful" on their filers.
It wasn't supposed to be a big deal. Just some dorm residents coming in, pitching in some money to shave people's heads, and getting to talk to two breast cancer survivors from Lawrence, lewell said.
With students coming in and out of the lobby to watch, six people had their hair buzzed - Chin first and five men after her - while the crowd was joking and laughing.
Before the event, Jewell said he hoped for $50 in proceeds from Ellsworth's spectators. After the event, he said they had raised about $120, which went to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
But Saturday was about much more than the money — it was about the bonding. The survivors
SEE CAUSES ON PAGE 7A
VOLLEYBALL | 1B
Kansas knocks off top-10 opponent for first time ever
The Jayhawks beat No. 10 Iowa State in four sets on Saturday, winning their fourth straight home match and improving to 12-6 overall.
STUDENT SENATE | 3A
Sustainability plan halted
Time concerns force Chancellor Bernadette-Gray Little to decline to sign a sustainability action plan that would bind the University to various goals.
University plans to nominate the buildings on Jayhawk Boulevard for the National Register of Historic Places. This title would include a tax break.
CAMPUS|8A
KU may get historic district
Classifieds...7A
Crossword...4A
Cryptoquips...4A
Opinion...5A
Sports...1B
Sudoku...4A
INDEX
WEATHER
TODAY
75 48
Scattered T-Storms
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
81 52
7139
Sunny
Mostly Sunny
weather.com
All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2010 The University Daily Kansan
ONGOING INVESTIGATION
House on two-year probation
New details in a report shed light on questions, also add uncertainty
BY GARTH SEARS
y
gsears@kansan.com
The University of Kansas placed the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, more commonly known as FIJI, on two-year probation on Friday for hazing, and the investigation report released to the Kansan is full of new details explaining the circumstances of the incident as well as the extent of the fraternity's repercussions.
THE RESULTS
Based on the investigation, University officials said three forms of hazing may have taken place from August through September.
— Extreme embarrassment or ridicule, through the FIJI Island costumes.
— Personal servitude, by pledges having to clean actives' apartments.
Endangerment to physical health, by "providing a culture where underage drinking was permitted, encouraged, and possibly forced," the report said.
The Phi Gamma Delta fraternity has been placed on a two-year probation for hazing allegations. The investigation began after Matthew Fritzie, a freshman from Stilwell, was injured on Sept. 17 after diving into a temporary pool.
However, during an administrative hearing, University officials determined that only two forms — subjection to ridicule and personal servitude by new members — were substantiated as violations, said Jill Jess, a spokeswoman for University Relations.
"After a thorough investigation, the evidence substantiates that members of Phi Gamma Delta violated the university's hazing policies," said Marlesa Roney, vice provost for student success, in a news release Friday.
No individuals were under investigation for hazing, and no individuals were punished, Jess said. She said it was strictly an investigation into the fraternity as a whole.
But the fraternity itself is investigating individuals.
Bill Martin, the executive director of the national fraternity and its spokesman in this investigation, was out of his office Friday. He hadn't returned an e-mail and his office directed all calls regarding the investigation to him.
"The fraternity believes that the actions of a few members have resulted in these findings," the Kansas chapter of the fraternity said in a statement. "Graduate trustees have been selected to review all actions of the fraternity, continuing the investigation into the findings of the University, and undertaking a membership review to determine which members will be allowed to continue as members."
Chris Neal/KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Although every name has been redacted, the report said University officials interviewed the man hurt at the fraternity Sept. 17, who said he was "ordered" to "swan dive into the pool."
THE INVESTIGATION
Matthew Fritzie, a freshman from Stilwell, was lifeflighted from the fraternity house, 1540 Louisiana St., to the University of Kansas
DEFINITION OF HAZING
"The code defines hazing as any action, activity or situation that recklessly, negligently or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health, welfare or safety of a person; creates excessive fatigue or mental or physical discomfort; exposes a person to extreme embarrassment or ridicule; involves personal servitude; or substantially interferes with the academic requirements or responsibilities of a student."
Source: University Hazing Code
with alcohol, but that they made him drink it.
According to the report, Fritzie said he was placed in "timeout" in the corner of a second-story room that night, while active members sat at a table in the middle, drinking.
"They tossed beer cans at him and told him to drink," the report said, and he "did not think he could say no."
Besides describing his "timeout" as happening on the same day as the injury, Fritzie also detailed several other allegations that University officials investigated as hazing.
The report stated that several hazing allegations were made,including a "timeout"session for not participating in drinking alcohol.
Fritzie alleged:
Pledges were forced to fill and move heavy sandbags to build the pool in the weeks before the party, sometimes until as late as 2 a.m., and active members
Hospital that night for head trauma after he dove into a temporary pool. The hospital confirmed his presence and also his release Sept. 27.
Fritzie was one of about 30 people affiliated with the fraternity who were interviewed for the report.
- "actives" - would throw sand on pledges while they worked.
He alleged that not only did active members provide him
"Actives would pour beer on a pledge's face, forcing the pledge to drink;" the
report said.
Pledges were required to do two exercises, "wall sits" and "bow and toes," where "pledges were required to balance on their toes and elbows," the report said, and were yelled at for getting tired.
- Pledges had to dress up as a character assigned to them by actives. Some of the wostumes - like "Goth girl"
TIMELINE
Friday, Sept. 17 — Matthew Fritzie was life-flighted to University of Kansas Hospital from the FIJI house. Colleen Drazen, assistant director of Greek life and leadership programs, received a phone call reporting the injury.
Monday, Sept. 20 — The Kansas chapter of FIJI released a statement saying that the fraternity was investigating the incident and that thoughts and prayers were with Fritzie.
Wednesday, Sept. 22 — Marlesa Roney visited Fritzie in the hospital, left her business card with his family, and received a call from an attorney informing her that Fritzie's injury was the result of hazing.
Friday, Sept. 24 The University placed FUJI on interim suspension, pending their hazing investigation. The international fraternity released a statement, saying it also was investigating its Kansas chapter. Jane Tuttle, assistant vice provost for student success, interviewed Fritzie, with Fritzie's attorneys and a representative of the office of the general counsel present. Tuttle and Lori Reesor, associate vice provost for student success, interviewed the 23 pledges besides Fritzie.
Monday, Sept. 27 — Fritzie released from hospital. Reesor and Tuttle, sometimes together and sometimes alone, interviewed five actives individually.
wednesday, Sept. 29 — The University had a hearing to determine whether FUJI had substantially violated the student code.
and "fairy godmother" - were embarrassing.
Pledges were forced to clean the homes of junior and senior fraternity members.
Among the 23 other pledges besides Fritzie and six active members interviewed, differing accounts of what happened that night arose.
The pledges said that making sandbags and building the pool was hard work, but that it was a joint process that active members helped with and oversaw.
Some of the other pledges were asked if it was required to clean the apartments of actives. Every pledge asked said no. But an unnamed active member admitted that pledges had cleaned his apartment.
One pledge said that only one person dove into the pool, but one of the other active members said others were also diving in from on top of the sandbags, according to the report.
The same active member said new members were supposed to clean houses, and then asked the interviewer whether it was hazing. The interviewer asked him what he thought. He replied, "I suppose it is," the report said.
Many of the pledges were adamant that Fritzie was not forced to jump into the pool.
One member said that Fritzie knew how deep the pool was and that he wasn't hazed. Another two members said he was not told to jump in, the report said.
or
Two active members said they saw Fritzie stand on top of the sandbags and jump in from the back of the pool.
FIJI'S PUNISHMENT
1
The University news release also said FIJI would have to adopt all decisions made by its national office through the graduate trusteeship.
While the fraternity is on probation, it cannot participate in University events such as intramurals and Rock Chalk Revue.
This means that FIJI will be alcohol-free through the 2011 2012 school year and no social events will be allowed on chapter grounds through the spring of 2011.
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FIJI will be required to shorten its new-member education program to eight weeks and it will be coordinated by the graduate trustees.
Every chapter member will also be required to participate in community service hours.
Edited by Anna Nordling