THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, November 4, 1995 TAG: 9511040291
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
A fraternity man called it prank that got out of hand. Now three Old Dominion University Greek chapters are facing stiff punishment for swiping pumpkins and Halloween decorations from homes in neighboring Larchmont.
Dana Burnett, dean of students for ODU, said Friday the fraternities will have to repay residents, perform community service and make a public apology to the children of Larchmont.
``Certainly the leadership and alumni advisers were mortified, embarrassed. involved, but we hold the members responsible.''
Calls about stolen pumpkins and decorative flags began to roll in last week after they disappeared from doorsteps. The students were fingered after a resident spotted the decorations outside an apartment on 40th Street near the campus.
Pumpkins or other decorations have been stolen in previous years. But this year some residents were infuriated. They scouted around until they spotted the loot.
The university said it confiscated 19 flags. And residents said about 60 pumpkins were taken.
Burnett named three social fraternities - Delta Sigma Phi, Lambda Chi Alpha and Pi Kappa Alpha - connected with the theft.
ODU officials met with the students and members from the Larchmont Civic League Thursday to mete out discipline. Burnett said two of the three fraternities had signed agreements late Friday to abide by the terms of punishment. He was confident the third would do the same.
The punishment falls into three parts:
Community Service. Combined, the three groups must perform 230 hours of community service to be defined by the Larchmont Civic League. Suggestions included working with Larchmont Elementary School and assisting residents with yard or housework.
Restitution. The groups agreed to pay back any monetary losses suffered from stolen pumpkins or damaged decorations such as flags or scarecrows.
Apology. The fraternities will agree to meet with Larchmont children to apologize, and host a party for them.
Ariel Mordetsky, president of Delta Sigma Phi, said his organization is prepared to take responsibility for the thefts.
``Members went and did some things, and we're sorry we did that. We're doing a review within the fraternity to find out who did what,'' Mordetsky said. ``It was completely taken way too far.''
The Delta Sigma Phi president, a junior majoring in biology, said the incident has provided a catalyst for change within the fraternity.
``We're always looking for ways to help the community,'' said Mordetsky, 20.
Scott Ward, Larchmont Civic League president, attended the Thursday meeting. He said he thinks the gravity of the theft was driven home.
``I think that justice pretty much has been served,'' he said. ``The kids really understood. . . the severity of what they did.''
Ward said he pointed out to the fraternity members why stealing a pumpkin can affect small children.
``It becomes a member of the family and that's what they stole,'' Ward said.
Burnett, who also is vice president of student services, said he hopes the community service will be completed by the end of this month.
``I hope anyone who has suffered will be in touch with me or the university to let us know about the loss,'' he said. ``We will be the conduit. We will collect all of the claims, the fraternity will write us a check and we will parcel out the money.''
Claims, he said, should be directed to his office at 683-3442. ILLUSTRATION: Color drawing
KEYWORDS: FRATERNITY PRANK THEFT by CNB