Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 31, 1994 TAG: 9405310018
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CAMERON HUDDLESTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The fraternity, which is known as Fiji, is the first at W&L ever to be suspended for hazing. Former Fiji President Ralph "Moke" Wolfe, other fraternity leaders, members and alumni contend the fraternity has been wrongfully punished and are seeking a reversal of the 18-month suspension handed down by the Student Affairs Committee on Jan. 17.
"The gloves are off," said Wolfe, who was president when Fiji was suspended. "We've got to use all the ammunition to defend ourselves."
So Fiji is trying to appeal its suspension to the W&L Board of Trustees, Wolfe said. No one has ever appealed an SAC decision to the board.
The fraternity was suspended because members forced pledges to drink alcohol and engage in strenuous physical activity.
As a result, fraternity members will not be allowed to live in the house next year, participate in fall rush or be group hosts for parties.
The voice of the fraternity was heard April 19. Frank H. Terry Griffin, father of Fiji freshman T.J. Griffin, talked with a board of trustees member, whose name he would not reveal for publication, in an attempt to bring what Wolfe called an "injustice" to the attention of the board.
Griffin, who wrote an appeal in defense of the fraternity, wants the trustees to form a board of inquiry to reconsider Fiji members' accounts of the events that led to their suspension, Wolfe said. Griffin would not make any further comment about the fraternity's appeal.
The fraternity submitted its first appeal, written by Griffin and the House Corporation, an advisory panel of alumni, to university President John Wilson on Feb. 4. Wilson announced March 18 that the suspension would continue until next January, when the SAC will review the case and decide whether to continue the suspension for the remaining six months.
Wolfe said the SAC and Wilson went on the word of a single student, former Fiji pledge Jay Taggart. But Wilson said he drew his conclusion from the testimony of five members of the pledge class and set aside Taggart's account. Wilson said although discrepancies existed between Taggart's account and those of the other pledges, all admitted some form of hazing occurred on the nights of Nov. 29 and Dec. 4, 1993.
Taggart reported two incidents to Dennis Manning, the dean of freshmen and residence life. According to a letter Manning wrote based on information he received from Taggart, Fiji pledges had been forced to drink gin and beer Nov. 29 until they were drunk and nauseated as part of a planned pledge activity. The pledges were then forced to do push-ups until they collapsed, according to the letter.
However, T.J. Griffin said no member ever forced the pledges to drink to the point of intoxication Nov. 29. He said he and the other pledges did push-ups upon request, but not to the point of collapse. He said they returned to the dorms sober.
Griffin said the events of Dec. 4 were not a planned pledge activity. Members and pledges were at the fraternity house playing drinking games, he said. Anyone who drank did so of his own free will, he said. Griffin also said the only physical activity that night was a push-up contest.
Griffin and Wolfe said the activities on the two nights could be considered hazing but were not serious enough according to the standards of the university handbook to warrant suspension. Wolfe, Griffin and Griffin's father said that according to the handbook, suspension can be enforced only if an incident is severe, such as the death of a student resulting from hazing.
"Does someone's life have to be imperiled before we do something about this?" Manning asked.
Griffin maintained in his appeal that nonserious hazing should not be grounds for suspension. Griffin said no pledge was injured on the two nights.
Griffin said he will continue to keep a dialogue going with the board of trustees and Wilson. He has also encouraged fraternity members to continue their appeal, Wolfe said.
"He told the guys, `Keep your heads high, and don't let them think they've beat us,' " Wolfe said.
by CNB