WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Summer Wildcat Set against a wall in the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house lies a broken picture of smiling alumni. The photo rests atop shattered glass, and the faces look out to an overturned pool table and shattered windows - evidence of the destruction of a fraternity that was present at UA for more than 75 years.

Vandalism leaves Pike's future on campus uncertain

Although former Pike President Drew Baxter is at home for the summer in Maryland, the shattered glass and graffiti in the house in Arizona serves as a constant reminder of the loss of a rich tradition and brotherhood at his university.

Baxter is also reminded of the frustration that he has felt over the past year as he lead Pike through probation, loss of UA recognition and finally its national charter.

"We almost got it turned around."

"We almost got it turned around. This past semester we didn't do a single thing wrong," Baxter said.

Baxter said he feels cheated by the University and betrayed by Pi Kappa Alpha national headquarters.

And apparently he's not the only member of Pike who feels that way. According to fraternity member John Clark, who identified himself on KVOA News Channel 4, said angry members of the fraternity began the destruction on May 28 after learning that, on May 16, the national headquarters had suspended the chapter's charter. The demolition would last three more days.

"... we didn't do a single thing wrong."

According to Baxter, the national headquarters never officially notified the house members that their charter had been suspended.

"(National headquarters) kept telling us that everything was going to be fine. We did everything they asked us to. The least they could have done is told us," he said.

Pike's past November 8, 2001 UA suspends Pike's activities after several fights involving fraternity members are reported. Pike cannot host or participate in university activities until May 16, 2002, and is placed on probation. September 2002 Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol (GAMMA) finds bottled alcohol at a dry bid night party. January 2003 UA temporarily withdraws its recognition of Pike in response to the alcohol violation. The house later learns that it will be suspended from UA until the fall of 2005. April 1, 2003 Vice President for Campus Life Saundra Taylor shortens the length of Pike's suspension after an appeal by its members. The group will now be able to expand on campus in spring 2005. April 24, 2003 UAPD is called to the Pike house during a date auction for the Bobbi Olson memorial fund. Police asked the fraternity to move the fundraiser indoors. May 16, 2003 The national headquarters revokes the local chapter's charter. On May 28-30, 2003, the Pike fraternity house begins to be vandalized.

On May 31, the Tucson Police Department responded to a call of burglary and criminal damage at the house at 1525 E. Drachman St. A fraternity member, who was living at the house at the time of the vandalism, reported that two TVs and a fan were stolen. The student's door had also been forced open. The report stated that the victim believed that the perpetrator was a former fraternity member.

TPD has not made any arrests in conjunction with either case.

Clark said the damage to the house was caused by older members who "weren't really part of the house anymore."

According to Baxter, the house was damaged "beyond repair." Nearly every window in the house had been shattered, while paper and trash was strewn throughout the hallways. Three expended shotgun shells were also found in a parking lot west of the building.

According to the Pima County Assessor's Web site, the property is owned by Gamma Delta Holding Corporation. The corporation is located at a property owned by Pike Alumni and former chapter advisor Stephen Lyders.

Lyders declined to comment on the situation.

Former Pike adviser Ron Gerhart could not be reached for comment, but posted a message on the Pi Kappa Alpha Web site.

"I personally have been threatened (anonymously) and have initiated a police report/investigation to protect myself and family," he stated.

Graffiti left on the walls of the house read, "Gayhart is a backstaber [sic]" and "Gayhart, I know where u live!!"

Both messages were directed toward Gerhart, Clark said.

Despite the members' frustration, Pike alumnus Scott Henderson said that there is no excuse for the destruction that occurred.

"I believe that vandalism and destroying things is inexcusable," Henderson said.

Henderson, who lived in the house for a semester, said that while the loss of the national charter was unfortunate he doesn't believe that the vandals' actions were justified.

"I personally believe that rules are set up for a purpose. If those rules are broken, there's obviously going to be consequences," he said.

WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Summer Wildcat Sliding doors leading to the courtyard were shattered, leaving shards of glass on the ground and porch at Pike's house.

A troubled past and a lost brotherhood

When Vice President for Campus Life Saundra Taylor decided to allow Pi Kappa Alpha to reapply for recognition in spring 2005, fraternity members believed that they had in fact turned the corner.

Taylor made that decision in March after a hearing board created by the Dean of Students Office listened to the local chapter's appeal.

"(The hearing board) really saw the evidence that we were really trying. We were turning around," Baxter said.

Baxter said Pike had made up for its checkered past, which involved two different incidents.

Originally, Pike's activities were suspended by UA in November 2001, after fraternity members engaged in a number of fights. The Dean of Students Office then placed Pike on probation later that month. In addition to the probation, Pike was prohibited from hosting or participating in any activities from November 2001 to May 16, 2002.

While the fraternity was on probation for the fights, Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol (GAMMA) found non-fraternity members in possession of bottled alcohol at a "dry" (no alcohol) bid night party in September 2002. The finding was a violation of the Intra-Fraternity Council, Pan-Hellenic and GAMMA student risk management policy.

Four months after the violation, the UA temporarily withdrew its recognition of Pi Kappa Alpha. The house was originally going to face suspension until fall 2005, but upon appeal, Taylor decided the fraternity could reapply for recognition in fall 2004.

On that track, Pike was slated to be eligible for expansion, or recognition by UA, in January 2005.

According to Baxter, Pike had made numerous efforts to ensure its return.

"We worked so hard."

"We have made tremendous changes. It's like night and day from what it was, and all the guys are committed to change," Baxter said in a January interview.

Among those changes, 60 members were kicked out of the fraternity, and fraternity officers raised the minimum GPA requirements.

Baxter said the fraternity worked incredibly hard only to be let down by the national headquarters, leaving him and his brothers feeling betrayed.

"I feel very cheated by our nationals. They put the physical structure of the house and the awards before the actual fraternity. Where's the brotherhood in that?" he said.

In a letter written to local chapter advisers, Executive Director of Pi Kappa Alpha Eric P. Wulf said the national fraternity had visited the local chapter eight times since 2000 to address concerns regarding leadership and conduct.

"These visits, coupled with chapter meetings during several fraternity leadership events, represent more support than any other chapter has received since that time," Wulf wrote.

Baxter also said he believed the decision made by the national headquarters nullified the appeal attempt that the fraternity made earlier this spring.

He said that he believes that the national headquarters made a deal with the university.

According to Associate Dean of Students Veda Kowalski, the Dean of Students made no deal with the national headquarters. The only contact the Dean of Students Office had with the national fraternity was a letter informing headquarters that the local chapter's recognition had been suspended.

Associate Dean of Students Alexis Hernandez, who organized the hearing board that looked into the earlier incidents, said there was no secret agreement, as Baxter claims.

"We don't ask and we don't tell. That's between the national and the local. I don't tell nationals what to do. That's their business," he said.

However, Wulf's letter stated, "We have entered into an agreement with the University of Arizona to suspend Gamma Delta's charter and return to campus in the spring of 2005."

Hernandez disagreed with the wording used in Wulf's letter, and said no agreement had been made.

"An agreement would indicate that the university has somehow signed something in response · to the loss of recognition," he said.

Chris Bullins, UA Greek Life coordinator, also said that no such deal was made. However, he said the national headquarters had asked him for advice on the chapter's situation.

According to Bullins, the conversation focused on whether it would be easier for the local chapter to remain, or whether it would be easier to start over completely.

"My opinion was that starting with a new group of men in the future would be a better option. The culture that was existing in that organization was not one that allied with the values at the greek system at UA," he said.

WILL SEBERGER/Arizona Summer Wildcat All the windows overlooking the courtyard at the Pike house were shattered by vandals.

The fallout: What will become of UA's greek life?

When Pike members took out their frustrations on the house, they did more than damage a house, they validated the decision made by both the UA and the Pi Kappa Alpha national headquarters, Baxter said.

Clint Walls, vice president of public relations for the Interfraternity Council agreed with Baxter, saying that the members' actions only confirmed the decision to suspend Pike's recognition.

"What they did was downright abhorrent," Walls said.

And while the fraternity was not recognized by the university at the time of the vandalism, the act only served to further the negative greek stereotype.

"It's unfortunate that those people who are doing the right thing get punished because of the actions of the few," Bullins said.

"We did everything they asked us to."

ASUA President and former Sigma Chi member J.P. Benedict also agreed that the actions of the members of Pike only hurt the image of greeks on campus.

According to Benedict, Sigma Chi had its national charter suspended earlier this week. Sigma Chi had also lost its university recognition in May 2002, he said.

"Without question (the vandalism of the Pike house) reflects poorly," Benedict said.

Senior Associate Dean of Students Carol Thompson said that such behavior is disappointing, as it only hurts the image of fraternities.

"Obviously I don't think (other fraternities) would feel very proud about that kind of action. Its not what the greek experience is about," she said.

However, Walls disagreed, citing the removal of Pike as evidence that Greek Life at UA does not condone or associate with behavior that furthers the stereotype.

"(The suspension of Pike's recognition) shows that we are getting rid of any person who supports that stereotype. Fraternities like theirs no longer exist on this campus. We're making sure of it. We recognize that they were a cancer on our system and we got rid of them," Walls said.

And while Walls said that the actions of Pike might hurt the perception of Greek Life on campus, he is confident that the benefits that Greek Life gives to the community outweigh the negatives.

"Ninety-nine percent of fraternity men are upstanding people," he said.

The decision to change the image of fraternities and sororities has not been limited to the fraternities themselves as both the state legislature and UA have strengthened already strict regulations regarding greek life.

However, according to Baxter, the policy has done little to help the greek system on campus.

"When I first came to this school, the greek life was fun, and everyone wanted to be a part of it. If I were an incoming freshman, I'd be crazy to join a frat now. It wouldn't be any fun," Baxter said.

However, Hernandez disagreed with Baxter.

"If you take a look at the things, these behaviors are creating their own problems. Nobody went out to get (Pike)," he said. "If the greek system fails, it will be under the weight of its own problems."

Problems in the greek system cause both local administrators and national fraternities concern, as well as financial consequences.

In his letter, Wulf said that since 1993, the national fraternity has incurred more than $120,000 in liability spending resulting from three claims. No other chapter has this number of claims, the letter stated.

Despite thoughts that the administration does not want a greek system on this campus, Hernandez said both he and President Pete Likins, who was a member of Delta Tau Delta at Stanford University, only want to ensure student safety.

"If a student makes a decision to be involved · we want it to be a good experience for them," Hernandez said.

The future for Pike at UA "a difficult road"

The process of establishing a fraternity is a difficult and time-consuming process. However, the difficulties in Pike's case might be compounded due to recent events, Bullins said.

"This particular group of men are going to have a very difficult battle to try to convince their peers and the administration," he said.

According to Gerhart's online posting, the fraternity plans to return to campus in two years.

"The National Fraternity and the University of Arizona have agreed, in principle, to recolonize in the spring of 2005," Gerhart said.

Bullins said that he was informed by the national headquarters that they will seek to recolonize in spring 2005.

For any fraternity, the founding of a chapter begins when the national headquarters writes a letter to Greek Life asking for expansion.

After that first step, Bullins said that an expansion committee is formed. The committee then decides whether the fraternity is ready for expansion.

Men who wish to start the fraternity are given a semester to present their proposal for the fraternity to the expansion committee, the Interfraternity Council, and the Dean of Students Office. Each of the three bodies reviews the proposal in great detail and gives feedback on whether or not the expansion process is ready to proceed. If given a good review by all three bodies, the fraternity is formerly recognized by the university through the Dean of Students Office and allowed to start rushing.

According to Bullins, there is no guarantee that such approval will come.

"We will expect to be convinced that what has happened in the past will not happen again," Bullins said.

Thompson agreed that it will not be easy for Pike to return.

"I have found that in the past that when frats come back to apply for recognition, (Greek Life, IFC and the Dean of Students Office) tend to have high standards of what they expect. They may question the damage (to the Pike house)," she said.

However, according to Walls, the break may actually give Pike a better shot at being reinstated at UA, as no original members will be involved in the expansion.

"They have one gleaming advantage: Every four to five years, it's brand new faces," he said.

While Walls said that questions would come up regarding the damage to the house, he believes that the fraternity has the potential to be successful in its endeavor for expansion.

"It's probably good that they're going to have some time away from the campus," Thompson said.

Until such a decision is made in the future, Pike's return to campus seems uncertain.

"It's going to be a difficult road for these men," Bullins said. "The future men are going to answer to this past."