Frat adviser alleges extortion
Excerpt: An adviser for a fraternity that’s suing the University of Iowa and one of its vice presidents testified that UI would not recognize the chapter until it pleaded guilty to hazing charges.
“After we negotiated an agreement, we were being extorted into pleading guilty or we would not be recognized,” Phi Delta Theta local adviser Steve Snyder testified Wednesday in Johnson County District Court. “It was a constant pattern. We would negotiate a settlement and at the last minute we would be told we would have to sign this.”
Phi Delta Theta sued the university and UI vice president for student services Phillip E. Jones alleging a tape recording used in a hazing and alcohol violation investigation was illegally obtained and should not have been used.