Late last week, after nearly a month of debates, investigations and intense scrutiny by the national media, the College announced its decision to permanently derecognize Zeta Psi Fraternity for the publication of "sex papers" -- internal newsletters detailing the sexual exploits of various brothers.
"As of today, Zeta Psi fraternity at Dartmouth no longer exists," Dean of the College James Larimore told The Dartmouth last Friday.
In a letter to the Dartmouth community, President of the College James Wright summarized the basis for the administration's decision to derecognize the fraternity.
"Zeta Psi undermined fundamental values we hold dear. When such conduct violates our standards, the College must take action," the letter said.
Specifically, the conduct to which Wright referred was the fraternity's in-house production and distribution of secret newsletters that included accounts of brothers' sexual activities. They were revealed to the public on April 18, after Melissa Heaton '02 came forward with two of the newsletters -- one of which she discovered in a dumpster outside the fraternity last month, and another which she had procured over the summer.
Members of the fraternity maintained that these newsletters were solely satiric and humorous in nature and not intended to offend or embarrass anyone.
In a press statement released soon after Friday's announcement, Zeta Psi president Gene Boyle '02 called the College's decision unjustified.
"This action was not justified on the merits. The penalty imposed was overly harsh and grossly disproportionate to the offenses charged," the statement said.
In its original statement to the press, Zeta Psi's overarching international organization -- Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America -- announced that the Dartmouth Zeta Psi chapter could potentially face expulsion from the organization for its controversial newsletter. On Friday, however, Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America joined its local chapter in expressing its discontent with the College's decision and also questioned the integrity of the judicial process.
"We are very disappointed that Dartmouth College has taken the decision to issue a lifetime ban against the Psi Epsilon Chapter [the Dartmouth Chapter] of Zeta Psi Fraternity -- without providing its members the due process to which they, and every citizen, are entitled," Richard Breeswine, Executive Director of Zeta Psi Fraternity said in a statement to the press.
In sharp contrast with this position, President of the Panhellenic Council Tasha Francis '02 said that the sanctions imposed upon Zeta Psi were "definitely" fair.
Zeta Psi has "nothing to complain about," Francis explained, because the fraternity chose to be adjudicated solely by the administration rather than in conjunction with the Coed Fraternity and Sorority Council's Judicial Committee. The JC, she said, might have recommended more lenient penalties to the administration.
President of the Intra-Fraternity Council Eric Powers '02 would not comment specifically on the fairness -- or lack thereof -- of the College's decision but did say that, "Zeta Psi deserved to be sanctioned for the publication of the newsletters."
"The publication of the newsletters was entirely inappropriate and has no place in the Greek system," he added.
According to President of the Coed Fraternity Sorority Council Shihwan Chung '02, Zeta Psi exhibited behavior that was "positively reprehensible."
"There's some behavior that's unacceptable, and if you're going to commit that kind of behavior, you're going to have to accept the consequences," he explained.
Chung also declined to comment on the fairness of the College's decision and deferred to Dean of Residential Life Martin Redman.
Determining the fate of the fraternity was ultimately Redman's responsibility. His decision to derecognize Zeta Psi came after a five and a half hour hearing last Sunday -- intended to determine whether or not the fraternity had, through its newsletters, violated codes of conduct.
"[The decision] primarily had to do with issues surrounding the harassment of individual students and allegations of the violation of several of [the College's] coed, fraternity and sorority minimum standards," Redman said.
During the hearings, evidence was presented that indicated the existence of at least one more newsletter in addition to the two originally exposed to the community, according to Redman.
Days following the conclusion of the hearing, Redman found that Zeta Psi had, indeed, violated three standards of conduct -- one involving harassment and two others pertaining to the fraternity's own local and national ethical codes.
Both Zeta Psi Fraternity at Dartmouth and Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America took issue with Redman's consideration of the fraternity's -- in addition to the College's -- behavioral standards in making his decision.
In the international organization's statement, Breeswine said, "We find it disturbing that Dartmouth cites as justification for the closure that the chapter has violated Zeta Psi Fraternity's Codes of Ethical Conduct -- especially since that is not yet a conclusion that the fraternity's own Discipline Committee has reached."
Zeta Psi's Dartmouth chapter was more firm in its assertion of sovereignty.
"Dartmouth College lacks jurisdiction to punish Psi Epsilon of Zeta Psi for alleged violations of policies and procedures of Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America, Inc. That power rests with Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America, Inc. Likewise, Dartmouth College lacks jurisdiction to punish Psi Epsilon of Zeta Psi's for alleged violations of its own rules or regulations. Such power is reserved to Psi Epsilon of Zeta Psi." the chapter's statement said.
Given the recent violations and the organization's previous history (in 1987, Zeta Psi was temporarily derecognized by the College for the publication of similar, sexually explicit newsletters), Redman determined that the appropriate sanction to impose on the fraternity was permanent derecognition.
Redman said a fraternity's recognition by the College "is a privilege, not a right." By continuing a tradition that had already been deemed unacceptable by the College, Zeta Psi violated a principle of trust existing between itself and Dartmouth and is no longer deserving of this right, he said.
Despite speculation by some, Redman said that Zeta Psi's behavior could not be defended on the grounds of free speech. Under College policy, Dartmouth students and organizations are free to express opinions that may be contrary to those of the College; however, they are to be held accountable if, through their activities, they violate rules regarding items such as harassment and ethical conduct. Zeta Psi, according to Redman, was guilty of just that.
Zeta Psi denied these charges.
"Psi Epsilon [the local Dartmouth chapter] of Zeta Psi did not threaten or harass any women," the Zeta Psi statement said.
The statement also contradicted Redman's claim that free speech was not an issue in the case.
"Dartmouth College has chosen to interpret harassment in this case so widely that almost any type of speech deemed offensive by some member of the Dartmouth community can now result in severe sanctions. This action threatens the free speech rights of all students and organizations ..." it said.
Press statements released by the administration, in addition to announcing the Zeta Psi sanction, also spoke of the achievement of the Student Life Initiative -- a report compiled by a steering committee containing recommendations to the College on how to improve and restructure all social life, including Greek life, on campus.
Despite suspicions evoked by the original Initiative announcement and recent disciplinary actions taken by the administration against other Greek houses, Redman denied that Zete's derecognition was part of any broader, covert scheme by the administration to eventually disband the entire Greek system.
"There is no plan by myself or anyone else here to eliminate Greek organizations on this campus either wholesale or one by one as far as I'm aware of," he said.
In fact, recent media attention has focused on the administration's apparent failure to institute meaningful reforms within the Greek system. An article in The Boston Globe -- which flashed the headline "Dartmouth president under fire" -- criticized College President James Wright for allegedly bowing to pressures placed upon him by donors to the College, many of whom are supporters of Greek life.
When asked what role, if any, national coverage has played in the College's actions against Zeta Psi, Larimore said the media circus had not affected the outcome.
Larimore did say that the discussion engendered by the Zeta Psi scandal incited "spectacular" dialogue that was played out on the editorial pages of The Dartmouth and elsewhere. Redman agreed, saying that the conversations about gender relations and other issues stemming from the controversy were among "the few positive things about this experience."
As according to College policy, Zeta Psi has seven calendar days to submit a "request for reconsideration" -- an appeal of the sanctions imposed upon them -- to Redman.
At least one of three conditions must be proven for the request to be considered viable: that not all relevant information was presented during the initial judicial process, that procedural errors were made during the process or that the imposed penalties are too severe relative to the determined violations.
According to its press release, Zeta Psi "will consider its appeal rights and whether further legal action is merited."
Redman would not comment on the likelihood of Zeta Psi attaining a successful repeal of the sanctions, although he did say that he believed that the judicial proceedings were conducted without error.
Barring any success on the part of the fraternity to reverse its derecognition through an appeal, the College will allow members of Zeta Psi currently living in the house to continue to reside there until June 10.
Despite the grim predicament of one of its former members, the Intra-Fraternity Council is optimistic about the future of the Greek system, according to Powers.
"We lament the loss of one of our organizations, but we're going to use [the Zeta Psi incident] as a means of change," he said.
"The fraternity presidents are now coming together to look introspectively and determine exactly how we can avoid [such situations]," he continued. "I think people realize that offensive behavior is on its way out in the Greek system."
