OCR::/Vol_093/WLURG39_RTP_19940118/WLURG39_RTP_19940118_001.2.txt Ring-111 i WASHINGTON AND LEE UNIVERSITY LEXINGTON, VA. JANUARY 18, 1994 -SAC suspends FIJI By Michelle Brien I’/1i News Editor 0 The Student Affairs Committee voted Friday to suspend Phi Gamma Delta frater- nity for 18 months for violation ofthe univer- sity hazing policy. SAC voted 11-0 with one abstention to suspend FIJI. The person abstaining wanted Ina harsher penalty for the fraternity, said Dean of Students and SAC Chairman David Howison. ‘' FIJI suspension stems from an official charge of hazing filed by Dean oI‘Freshmen and Resident Life Dennis Manning. Ilowison said FIJI can appeal the deci- osion by submitting a written appeal to Presi- dent Jolm D. Wilson within II) days. The last day for I’lJl to file an appeal is Jan. 27. Ralph “Moke” Wolfe, president of FIJI, said they will appeal the decision. “We are appealing because we think the punishment should fit the crime,” said Wolfe. (‘The incident did involve hazing, but it was minor. [SAC] walked in there wanting to throw a fraternity off campus.” The suspension means FIJI will not be permitted to participate in any function as a fraternity until the end of the 1994-95 aca- demie year, Howison said. The FIJI fraternity O house will be closed to all fraternity members exceptthose currently Iivingthere. FIJI mem- bers will be allowed to attend other fraterni- ties’ parties, but will not be allowed to hold parties at the FIJI house itself or at any other location. The hazing charges concern two events Cwhich allegedly occurred during fall term. Manning questioned freshman Jay Taggart abouthazingafterTaggart missed Manning’s English 105 class forthe fourth time. A fourth cut from the class meant automatic failure. Taggart said Manning asked if he had been at the FIJI house the night before and if 0 there had been a keg present. “Because of personal convictions I was not going to lie for the house,” said Taggart. “I was not mad at anyone in the house, but I Calyx Photo FIJI brothers pose for their 1992-93 Calyx Photo. Unless FIJI has a sucessful appeal they will not be able to gather as a fraternity until July of 1995. was not going to lie.” Taggart said the first incident took place the Monday after Thanksgiving break, Nov. 29. FIJI pledges were asked to report to the fraternity house at midnight. Taggart said they were told to lay on the floor ofa down- stairs room with the lights off. The pledges were then taken upstairs to the laundry room, where they knelt facing the wall. Taggart said they were forced to drink from a cup of alcohol, and were doused with beer. Pledges were then taken to the upstairs bathrooms, told to stand in the showers and forced to chug cups ofbeer. Then the pledges went back downstairs to do push-ups in uni- son. Taggart said the second incident oc- curred on the Friday night after the Big Head Todd concert. Taggart said pledges were called to the FIJI house at about 1:30 a.m. They were forced to do “keg shots” for failure to correctly answer trivia questions about house history. Taggart said they were also forced to do push-ups and wall stands. He said he returned to his room at about 6 a.m. The Student Conduct Committee is set to review a case of harassing phone calls in connection with the incident next week, SCC President Reggie Aggarwal said. Taggart al- legedlyreceivedthreatening phonecallsfrom a member of FIJI. Aggarwal could not give any further explanation ofthe case because of SCC confidentiality clauses. Taggart said he has only commented to clarify the situation, and he has no hard feel- ings against FIJI. “lt wasn’t a vendetta,” Taggart said. “I didn’t go afterthe house. I didn’t file charges. Dean Manning never used the fact that I might fail my class or use the Honor System [against me].” “The house got caught for doing some- thing that’s against Virginia state law and the policy of the school.”