Diamondback: Maryland Delta Tau Delta chapter joins ZBT under scrutiny

Hazing images spur inquiry
By: Kevin Robillard — From the Maryland Diamondback
Posted: 3/10/08
Delta Tau Delta is being investigated by both university officials and its national office in relation to an alleged hazing incident.

WBAL-AM, a radio station in Baltimore, reported that images of people wearing Delta Tau Delta T-shirts while hazing pledges have surfaced on a file-sharing service.

Mike Hayes, the university’s director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, would not confirm any details about the investigation or that Delta Tau Delta was the fraternity involved.

However, a press release from Delta Tau Delta’s national office confirmed it was working with the university to investigate the fraternity and said the fraternity was cooperating with the university’s investigation.

The press release also stated the national office sent the local chapter a “cease and desist” letter and suspended the fraternity’s charter, meaning the fraternity may host no social events on or off chapter property until the investigation is complete.

Hayes said the investigation began at the end of last week and should be finished sometime early this week. An automated reply revealed that he would be attending a conference in Boston until Thursday, so the Office of Student Conduct will run the investigation rather than the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life.

Attempts to reach the fraternity for further comment were unsuccessful, as were attempts to reach Will Cole, the president of Delta Tau Delta’s local chapter.

The alleged incident could be the second major hazing incident at the university this year. The first occurred in October when leaders of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity seated new members in a circle and forced them to chant the names of Zeta Beta Tau’s founders. When they misspoke, fraternity brothers poured water over their heads. At one point in the night, they mixed water with Shout gel and placed it in a new member’s hair, injuring him.

In response, Zeta Beta Tau was put on probation for 10 months and the fraternity will have to fund an anti-hazing flier and organize an anti-hazing event for the rest of the Greek community.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report. robillarddbk@gmail.com