University of Maryland News

University of Maryland Statement on the Expulsion of Delta Tau Delta, Inc.

On February 28, 2008, the University of Maryland Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life responded to an anonymous phone call alleging the hazing of pledges of the Delta Sigma chapter of Delta Tau Delta, which operates on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park. The allegations came to the attention of the university through a call to the Greek Life Duty Phone, a 24-hour hotline staffed by the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life to address emergency, health, and alleged hazing concerns.

The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, in collaboration with the Office of Student Conduct and the Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity, began an immediate and aggressive investigation of the chapter and the allegations. The Delta Sigma chapter operations were halted while the university investigations were taking place, effectively beginning February 29, 2008.

The allegations included a range of hazing behaviors—including abusive alcohol consumption and mental, emotional, and physical duress—imposed upon the current pledge class, as well as other alleged hazing behaviors dating back to Spring 2005.

The University of Maryland, College Park views hazing as a fundamental violation of human dignity; and it is strictly prohibited at the university. These allegations were taken quite seriously because they reflect neither the values of the university's Greek Life community nor the values of the larger university community.

Hazing is also a violation of the risk management policy of Delta Tau Delta, as detailed in the international Fraternity's Member Responsibility Guidelines. Every member, new member (pledge) and chapter is required to review and expected to comply with those standards.

Once the allegations were substantiated, the charter of the Delta Sigma chapter of Delta Tau Delta was removed by the International Fraternity's governing board and University recognition was revoked, effective Tuesday, March 11, 2008. The allegations and the sanctions were not contested by the International Fraternity.

The chapter house facility, located at 3 Fraternity Row, is owned by the university and leased to the Maryland Delta Tau Delta alumni house corporation, which, in turn, rents the building to the undergraduate chapter and its members. All residents living in the chapter house have until March 31 to move out of the facility. Information about available off-campus housing was distributed to the men during a meeting held on March 12.

Although the fraternity will no longer exist on campus, the chapter members will remain as UM students, and are expected to comport themselves according the University's Student Code of Conduct. The new members have been released by the fraternity to pledge other fraternities if they so desire.

Founded in 1858 at Bethany College, in Bethany, WV, Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity is now based in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers, IN. It was installed at Maryland in May 1948. A total of 1,161 men have been initiated into the Delta Sigma chapter of Delta Tau Delta at the University of Maryland. There were 48 undergraduate members in the chapter and a pledge class of 10.