Pikes receive death penalty
Michael Brenner
Daily Egyptian
editor@siu.edu
Barring a successful appeal, Pi Kappa Alpha's 14-year tenure at the University is over.
The fraternity, also known as the Pikes, was found guilty on all eight charges stemming from the April 4 drowning of Pike freshman pledge Brent Johnson and permanently banned from the University.
Among the more serious rules the Pikes were found to have violated were ones concerning making alcohol available to minors and the prohibition of alcohol at any activity associated with the fraternity.
Meredith Mercier ~ Daily Egyptian
Inter-Greek Council Public Relations Outgoing Officer Laura Taylor and Inter-Fraternal Outgoing President Chris Calmes await the fate of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity Tuesday morning during a press conference at the Student Center. University officials permanently suspended the fraternity Tuesday after finding them in violation of eight charges in result of the April 4 drowning of pledge Brent Johnson.
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It is the first time a fraternity has been banned from the University.
Katherine Sermersheim, director of SIUC Student Development and the person responsible for the decision, said the punishment fits the crime.
"These violations are very serious and thus require serious consequences," Sermersheim said.
Sermersheim said the main factors in her decision were Johnson's death, inconsistencies in reports from fraternity members regarding the incident and the chapter's history of violations ˜ the Pikes have committed four infractions in the last 10 years, three of which involved alcohol.
Also swaying her decision was what she said was evidence of hazing unrelated to Johnson's death.
Sermersheim said a scavenger hunt, which is considered hazing by the University, was conducted during the spring pledge period, and part of its requirements were things that could be constituted as petty theft.
"Although hazing does not appear to have occurred during the camp outing on April 4 and 5, 2004, information that suggests hazing occurred at some point throughout the pledge period does exist," Sermersheim said.
Chris Calmes, outgoing president of the Inter-Fraternal Council, is offering no comment on the punishment, but he said Pike members will be meeting over the next few days to determine if the organization will appeal.
The Pikes have until 4:30 p.m. April 30 to submit an appeal to the office of Larry Dietz, the vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The fraternity may only appeal on four grounds:
1. A procedural error substantially affecting the outcome of the hearing.
2. There is no evidence in the record to support a finding of violation.
3. There is new or newly discovered evidence that may substantially affect the outcome of the hearing.
4. The sanction is excessively severe.
If the Pikes cannot prove any of the above items, or if they choose not to appeal, the suspension will go into effect ˜ meaning the fraternity will no longer be a Registered Student Organization; it is ineligible for funding from student fees; it will not be permitted to partake in rushing, pledging or initiation activities; and it may no longer conduct programs and activities or use University facilities.
Dietz, although he could not make detailed comments due to an ongoing investigation by the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, has not ruled out actions against individual members of the fraternity.
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Daily Egyptian Spring 04 
