The College revoked recognition of Beta Theta Pi fraternity on Dec. 6, severing all official ties with the organization. The move stemmed from Beta's violation of the terms of suspension imposed on the fraternity during Summer term.
Beta's "undergraduate chapter at Dartmouth does not exist," Dean of the College Lee Pelton said.
The College's decision to revoke Beta's recognition followed a recommendation from the Coed Fraternity Sorority Judiciary Committee.
The CFS Judiciary Committee, which acts as an advisory board to Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco on matters of possible Greek misconduct, found Beta guilty on Nov. 11 of violating its terms of suspension for using alcohol in the fraternity's basement.
Beta's recognition had been suspended on July 18, when the fraternity accepted responsibility for members chasing and attacking a member of Sigma Nu fraternity in late June.
Marty Dengler '97, who chairs the CFS Judiciary Committee, said it was up to Dean of Residential Life Mary Turco to make a final decision on whether or not to revoke Beta's recognition -- although the judiciary committee "was involved in every step of the decision but the final step."
Turco said she considered Beta's behavior since 1993 in deciding to revoke the fraternity's recognition. Turco denied an appeal for clemency, which included plans for reforming the chapter.
According to an Office of Residential Life letter to the community, Turco and Pelton felt "that the past behavioral record of the organization and its failure to abide by sanctions ... warranted the loss of recognition."
The College will not allow any students to live in the house at 6 Webster Ave., which is owned by Beta's alumni corporation. Revoked recognition includes the "loss of all College privileges and services granted to College-recognized student organizations and the complete termination of the undergraduate organization's affiliation with the College," according to the letter.
The Fall-term suspension violation marked the fifth time the fraternity had been in trouble with the College since 1993, the year the organization's senior members first entered Dartmouth.
Turco said students who belonged to Beta fraternity can still reorganize and petition for re-recognition.
But Pelton said he does not "contemplate any opportunity for that particular group of students to be reinstated."
Jack Burnett, president of Beta's Board of Trustees told The Dartmouth in November that the trustees were not surprised by the College's revocation of the fraternity's recognition.
"The decision was not unforeseen," Burnett said. "We understand Turco's decision, and we respect it."
Burnett said the positive aspect of the decision is that it will mean the end of a Beta chapter which has had a poor record in recent years.
"I think that there will never again be a Beta at Dartmouth that is allowed to have the poor behavior record that this chapter has had over the past seven years or so," Burnett said. "Betas across the country and around the world are happy to say good riddance to that."
The Beta house
The property at 6 Webster Ave. could potentially be bought by the College, Pelton said.
The College is "interested in acquiring property contiguous to the campus as a matter of general principle," he said. If the Beta corporation chooses to sell the house, the College will attempt to buy it, Pelton said.
Turco said the house is now empty, and the College has asked that former residents remove their property before the end of today. According to the letter to the community, the College "prohibits enrolled undergraduates from residing in an unrecognized fraternity house such as the former Alpha Omega chapter house at 6 Webster Avenue."
Turco said the ORL gave special assistance to relocate students who had planned to live in the Beta house.
"A few, though not very many, elected to live in College housing, and many went into rented apartments," she said.
Will Beta try to start over?
In November, Burnett told The Dartmouth that Beta hopes to be re-recognized by the College, although he is not sure when the students will try.
"Hopefully we'll be able to reapply for recognition at some point in the future," Burnett said. "It's a little too early to tell when that will be. It's all being done very carefully."
But Turco said she has not "heard anything official from any member of Beta about whether or not they will come forward" and reorganize for re-recognition.
"Our whole posture is one of standing up and accepting responsibility in areas which we have been amiss and moving forward," Burnett said in November. "We expect it should not prevent everyone from working together to make sure that there is a strong and positive Beta on campus in the future."
"With these creative solutions we hope that soon there will be a Beta at Dartmouth of which everyone can be proud," he added.
According to Turco, any group of students can petition for recognition of their organization, and there is a formal procedure to follow.
She said if the organization the students wish to create is a CFS group, the students should petition through ORL.
If members of the former Beta fraternity wish to establish a new organization for recognition, Turco said the process usually takes several months to a year.
But she said Beta's re-recognition would depend "upon what they present as the type of organization they wish to establish because they would be establishing something new."
Members of the former Beta fraternity could not be reached for comment last night.
Turco said that in the last 10 years other fraternities have had their recognition revoked, and some were able to reinstate themselves.
Alpha Delta fraternity was derecognized in May 1987 for failing to meet the minimum standards requirements and was reinstated in January 1988.
Bones Gate fraternity was derecognized in the fall of 1988 after a series of alcohol violations.
Bones Gate had been temporarily derecognized the previous spring after three students were admitted to Dick's House for alcohol-related complications after attending a party at the house. Bones Gate then violated the terms of the suspension in the fall.
Turco said Bones Gate was later re-recognized after it "had gone through a complete reformation and was very different from the organization that was derecognized."
Past violations
Besides the suspension of its recognition following the incident of last June, Beta's recognition was also suspended in May 1994 for hazing, disorderly conduct and violating the College's Alcohol Policy. Beta was put on probation with full social restrictions in November 1993 and October 1995 for alcohol violations.
The College also suspended Beta's recognition in 1991 for abducting and abusing a member of Chi Gamma Epsilon fraternity. According to Turco's letter to the community, in that incident the members of Beta bound the Chi Gam member "with rope and tape, placed him in an automobile against his will, and transported him to 6 Webster Avenue where he was verbally abused and various fluids were repeatedly poured over him."
This event was prior to the matriculation of any former Beta brothers still enrolled at Dartmouth.
