Suspended fraternity seeks early return

By Kimberly Miller

Arizona Daily Wildcat

The UA chapter of Delta Chi fraternity might be getting a second chance on campus if negotiations go well.

Based on a series of safety violations during the 1994 spring semester, Delta Chi was declared inactive by its international chapter in November and lost its recognition as an official student organization at the University of Arizona.

Initially, the fraternity was not going to be allowed to apply for recognition for five years, but recent talks between the Dean of Students Office, the Department of Student Programs and the fraternity's international chapter may result in Delta Chi being allowed back on campus this fall.

Carol Thompson, associate dean of students, said the offices are in the process of discussing certain restrictions and guidelines with Delta Chi's international headquarters that the fraternity will have to follow if allowed to return to campus.

Raymond Galbreth, executive director of Delta Chi's international headquarters, said they want to re-establish the behavior patterns of the undergraduate members of Delta Chi. He said some of the conditions they are discussing with the UA are increased alumni involvement, more restrictions on social events and alcohol, and having a live-in adviser in the fraternity house.

Thompson stressed that no final decision has been made but that she expects a determination fairly soon.

"Everyone wants to kind of bring closure to this whole situation," Thompson said.

She said that with a 70-year history on the UA campus, Delta

Chi international believes a strong reorganization of its UA chapter will prevent the problems that occurred last semester from happening again.

A reorganization could mean a whole new fraternity, with former members having to be interviewed and accepted by a board approved by Delta Chi international.

"What we would do would be to have a membership review process where we would interview each of the individuals and only allow in the ones that we feel comfortable with," Galbreth said.

Although Delta Chi may be allowed to return to campus before its five-year suspension is over, Galbreth said it is not a message to other fraternities that the activities that got them in trouble are accepted.

"I don't think anyone on campus would consider what they've gone through to be a slap on the wrist," Galbreth said. "I don't think any fraternity or sorority on campus would think having to move out of the house in the middle of the year would be a slap on the wrist."

He said everyone involved in the negotiations and reorganization mainly wants to have a fraternity that is beneficial for the university community.

"What everyone's concerned about is to provide a positive, safe and nurturing environment for our undergraduate members at the UA chapter," Galbreth said.

Thompson agreed that the suspension still sends a strong message to other fraternities.

"It's still a very strong message," Thompson said. "No one wants to have to go through reorganization and all the things Delta Chi has. It's really, really hard."

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