Union suspends campus sorority

PHOTOGRAPHER: Michael Goot

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A Union College sorority has been suspended but college officials aren’t saying why.

Delta Delta Delta has been suspended and ordered to cease all membership activities including pledging meetings and social events, according to a report by Union’s student newspaper, The Concordiensis, which quoted an email from Dean of Greek Life Timothy Dunn. The decision came following an Oct. 7 incident.

College spokesman Phil Wajda said in an email, “We are currently gathering information related to a recent event involving a sorority on campus. Any disciplinary action deemed necessary will be in accordance with the college’s policies and procedures. Due to federal privacy laws, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

A secretary in the Greek Affairs Office said Dunn had no comment.

The sorority could not be reached for comment through its Facebook page. A representative from the National Delta Delta Delta chapter did not return a message left seeking comment.

Schenectady police spokesman Lt. Mark McCracken said city police were not involved in the cited incident. “From my understanding it was a party that took place on campus. The college is handling it internally. There’s no police involvement,” he said.

McCracken said police sometimes receive phone calls from neighbors about off-campus parties, complaining about loud behavior, trash on the ground and loud music and the occasional public urination.

He said typically police don’t respond to a party unless it is very out of control. Campus security will respond to complaints of off-campus parties on Union Street, Union Avenue, Gillespie Avenue — three streets right near the campus.

Union has had some incidents over the years with fraternities and sororities. In 2005, the fraternity Chi Psi was suspended for two years after a student drank so much alcohol he had to be admitted to the hospital during Pledge Week. The chapter was in violation of rules that ban alcohol during pledging and the fraternity also did not register the party as required.

In 1999, Sigma Delta Tau sorority lost its housing and social privileges for a year after college officials learned they were hazing pledges by making them wear costumes to class and participate in a scavenger hunt to find three cans of beer.

College officials also changed its policy in 2000 to prohibit freshmen from rushing fraternities and sororities.