Hazing claims threaten Greek chapter

For years, complaints have surfaced about hazing and misuse of alcohol by Alpha Tau Omega fraternity members at Tulane University. But the chapter's national office intervened recently after it received reports of hazing, including one pledge wearing only a diaper who allegedly was paraded in front of women at a party.

ATO's Beta Epsilon chapter was suspended March 16 by Wynn R. Smiley, chief executive officer of the Indianapolis-based fraternity, and could be shut down, according to a letter from Smiley to ATO alumni. A copy of the letter was provided anonymously to The Times-Picayune.

James Hardy, a local ATO board of trustees member, confirmed the nature of charges facing the chapter.

Hardy said fraternity members are contrite, and he expressed hope that the organization's national board will not revoke the group's charter after an inquiry is completed in the fall.

"Initially, they didn't really understand what was at stake," Hardy said of the local fraternity members. "They understand it now."

One of chapter's leaders, Sid Bigham, acknowledged the group broke rules related to alcohol use, but he denied it has engaged in hazing and said the March incident of the pledge in a diaper has been distorted.

With its Tulane chapter dating to 1887, ATO is among the Uptown campus's oldest fraternities. A Tulane Web site lists a motto for the chapter as "Building Tolerance for Mediocrity."

Misconduct charges may lead to the suspension of a Greek organization once or twice a year at Tulane, but a charter revocation, which would sever the group's ties to the university, is rare.

Smiley declined to comment, but his March 31 letter shows he is fed up with misbehavior reports from the Tulane chapter.

"As the national fraternity began its investigation, credible information, including witnesses to events, confirmed that the chapter was participating in hazing (including at least one pledge being dragged out of a locked room every hour on the hour and paraded in front of women at a chapter social function wearing only a diaper)," Smiley wrote. "In addition, pledges were involved in forced alcohol consumption, calisthenics, line-ups and other hazing activities."

The letter cited past reports of the chapter violating fraternity rules, including the use of beer kegs, designed to limit risks and liability.

"The most recent reports are simply the flames shooting out from what has been smoking for many semesters," the letter said. "If I thought drastic reforms would be effective in saving the chapter, I would explore the options. However, I believe that it is virtually impossible for Beta Epsilon to operate as an ATO chapter in good standing given the current culture of the chapter . . ."

Against the backdrop of other complaints, Hardy said, the diaper incident fueled the national office's wrath.

But Bigham said "a majority of the information that was relayed to national was inaccurate." He denied pledges have been forced to consume alcohol or perform calisthenics, and he said the pledge who wore a diaper during a March sorority mixer at the ATO house did so voluntarily and was kept in a room with no lock on the door.

Bigham said the chapter wants to resolve the national office's concerns.

Hardy said ATO executives may be persuaded to give the local chapter a new chance after the suspension, during which members can hold meetings but not stage social events. National ATO officials might order more community service work by the chapter, or place an extended ban on events that include alcohol, he said.

"National wants to see if they can intervene in this chapter's life," he said.

Hardy said the chapter faces tighter restrictions than it did when he was a member in the late 1970s. One key change, he noted, was the Legislature's move in the 1990s to increase the legal drinking age from 18 to 21, raising the specter of criminal charges against many of the young people attending frat parties.

Most national fraternities now prohibit kegs, and hazing is prohibited under state law as well as under Tulane rules, said Dan Nadler, Tulane's associate vice president for student affairs. The university requires, among other things, the hiring of off-duty police officers to monitor Greek parties that serve alcohol, and years ago set up a telephone hot line for hazing complaints, he said.

Nadler said disciplinary action taken by Tulane against a fraternity or sorority chapter usually tracks that taken by the national organization. As of last week, he had not been provided details about complaints against the ATO chapter.

"As of right now, the chapter is in good standing with the university," he said. "We will be following up with the national office."

Hazing claims threaten Greek chapter