The UChicago chapter of Phi Delta Theta, known as Illinois Beta, is currently under general council probation, the fraternity’s national organization wrote in an email to the Maroon. The cause stated was a violation of Phi Delta Theta’s alcohol-free housing policy.
According to the email, the organization “holds the safety of every member of the Fraternity as well as the individuals of the campuses and communities they are a part of, in the highest regard.” Phi Delta Theta did not respond to further questions about the length of the probation and what the chapter must do to lift the probation.
Phi Delta Theta’s website states, “A chapter can be placed on probation, or have its charter suspended, for violating the Fraternity’s risk management policies, including engaging in abusive behavior, violating our Alcohol-Free Housing policy, misusing drugs and alcohol, or hazing.”
The chapter’s house is located at 5625 South University Avenue. The fraternity was previously suspended in January 2016 for “risk management violations” following a hazing incident that also resulted in a University investigation and a $250,000 lawsuit. The national fraternity subsequently required the chapter to be “recolonized” through the hand-selection of new members after all members prior to the suspension had graduated.
The Illinois Beta chapter did not respond to a request to comment on the probation.
Editor’s note: Maroon Chief Financial Officer Arav Saksena, president of Phi Delta Theta, was not involved in the reporting of this article.
