U-Wire
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 20, 1997

ZBT Indiana chapter in danger of disbandment

(U-WIRE) BLOOMINGTON, Ind.- The Indiana University chapter of Zeta Beta Tau faces possible disbandment by its national headquarters after nine pledges were arrested on theft charges Wednesday during a fraternity-sponsored scavenger hunt.

The national office is investigating the house based on allegations that the local chapter was involved in "morally reprehensible" activities - including racially and sexually tainted actions - said James Greer, national executive vice president.

"This is a task with both incentive and consequence," the scavenger hunt list said. "You must all stay together ... If you stray from the group you will have to eat a retarded kid, diaper and all."

Among other things, the hunt required pledges to photograph "two chicks making out (less clothes, more credit)," "chick without shirt," "any funny-looking Mexican (blacksican, extra-credit)" and "any midget (black midget, super extra-credit)."

The 23-item scavenger hunt list was confiscated Wednesday when Bloomington police jailed nine ZBT pledges. The freshmen were booked on Class D felony charges for the theft of a street sign at the intersection of Fourth and Bryan streets.

Participants allegedly stole the letters "P" and "H" from the Kappa Alpha Psi house, which is now abandoned because of low membership. KAP is a predominantly black fraternity.

Four ZBT pledges were also charged with burglary.

Dean of Students Richard McKaig temporarily suspended ZBT Wednesday, calling the incident "as classic a case of hazing as you can get."

McKaig said the arrests and possible hazing will be investigated separately from the scavenger hunt's derogatory nature. He also said the predominately Jewish fraternity could be suspended permanently from the campus.

ZBT President Jason Nierman, a junior, said he is embarrassed by the scavenger hunt list. He said though the fraternity has conducted scavenger hunts in the past, they did not contain derogatory remarks.

"This year, there wasn't knowledge of the tradition, and as a result, the people who wrote the list changed the tradition," Nierman said. "They included things that are not - in any sense or any way - a part of the morals and ethics we believe in (at) this house."

Greer said he is deeply shaken by the social implications of the fraternity's alleged actions. He said if he finds the allegations to be true and that involvement was widespread throughout the fraternity, punishment can range from a reprimand to expulsion of membership in the national organization.

If the national organization closes the IU chapter, ZBT will join more than two dozen chapters closed in the '90s for wrongdoing. Greer said chapters have been closed after severe incidents, such as hazing, violations of alcohol policies, financial irregularities and narcotic infractions.

Interfraternity Council Vice President of Multicultural Affairs Michael Baker, a member of Sigma Nu, said the tone of the list was sickening and completely appalling.

"I am totally against whatever type of hazing that was involved ... I would agree with any disciplinary action the university uses," Baker said.

But IFC President Joe Rurode, a member of Beta Theta Pi, said he hopes something positive can come from the incident.

"This is a signal for the fraternities under IFC and the historically black and Latino fraternities to do things together: intramurals, philanthropies," Rurode said.

Nierman said his house has sent letters to IU's Black Culture Center, Office of Women's Affairs, the Latino Culture Center and other minority organizations on campus. ZBT also sent flowers and notes of apology to the sororities on campus and met with Kappa Alpha Psi members Thursday night to discuss the incident.

Nierman said by trying to atone for its actions, the fraternity is moving forward.

"They never thought what they wrote would be found by the police," he said. "The people who wrote this - whether or not it was a joke - are racist. It could have been they wanted something for the brothers to laugh at. But it's not funny. We're not a racist house."

Because of the list's controversial nature, Nierman said he fears for the safety of the fraternity members and regrets the misunderstanding.