The College has placed Psi Upsilon fraternity on a six week probation for allegedly violating the Dartmouth Community Standards of Conduct and the Student Alcohol policy as a result of the keg jump, which took place Feb. 12 during Winter Carnival.
The Judicial Committee of the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council held a hearing Tuesday to discuss the offenses, which include creating an environment which threatened the safety of College members and serving alcohol to underage and intoxicated individuals.
Dan Mahoney '01, president of Psi U, denies the charges made by the committee, particularly the allegations of providing alcohol to underage and intoxicated persons.
Mahoney admitted the keg jump is a dangerous activity, but pointed out that the College supports many sports that are potentially dangerous.
"I think the decision was inappropriate," Mahoney said.
He added that he felt the College should have negotiated with the fraternity to come up with measures making the keg jump safer, instead of "punishing us by surprise, when we were trying to comply with all the rules."
Benita Perch '01, vice president of CFSC and the chair of the Judicial Committee, declined to comment.
The committee outlined its decision in a letter delivered to the fraternity on Wednesday describing Psi U's three weeks of full probation, which prohibits the presence of alcohol in the common areas of the fraternity house, followed by three weeks of partial probation, which prohibits the registration of parties.
The keg jump was the 19th one of its kind, and the first that the College has claimed violated its rules.
The keg jump is one of the most popular activities of Winter Carnival and occurs annually on the ice-covered lawn of the fraternity property. Its importance became symbolically greater after the event was replaced in 1999 by a protest rally to support the Greek system.
Despite the probation, Mahoney said Psi U is still planning to conduct the keg jump again next year.
