2008 Woodie Awards
Phi Mu Delta suspended; seven arrested on alcohol charges
Nate Batchelder
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: News
Five brothers and two students who had received bids at the UNH fraternity Phi Mu Delta were arrested late Friday night as Durham Police responded to a call that several individuals were in need of medical attention due to excessive alcohol consumption.
In response, the University of New Hampshire has interim suspended the fraternity, located at 21 Madbury Road, denying them all rights and privileges of a recognized student organization, including loss of rights and privileges of membership in the UNH Interfraternity Council. The suspension is pending the outcome of a hearing by the UNH Office of Conduct and Mediation.
"The incident is very serious and disappointing, but does not represent the majority of our Greek chapters or the members of our community," said Mary Anne Lustgraaf, director of Memorial Union/Student Activities, who oversees management of the Greek system.
The national office of Phi Mu Delta followed suit with UNH administration, suspending the chapter pending completion of the investigation, and ordered for the cancellation of their homecoming plans next weekend.
"The decision to temporarily suspend was based on allegations that the chapter failed to support and demonstrate Phi Mu Delta's founding values, which are the cornerstone of the organization and for each chapter," said Tom Murphy, executive director.
This is not the first confrontation Phi Mu Delta has had with UNH policy, though they weren't actively on probation prior to this weekend. Adam McCready, coordinator of Greek Life, said the fraternity was on disciplinary probation on two occasions last year - once on Feb. 9 for violating UNH alcohol policies, which expired April 1, and on another occasion for town noise violations.
After contacting emergency services, the two members were rushed to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover and were released the next morning. After being released from the hospital the two were charged with unlawful possession of alcohol.
In response, the University of New Hampshire has interim suspended the fraternity, located at 21 Madbury Road, denying them all rights and privileges of a recognized student organization, including loss of rights and privileges of membership in the UNH Interfraternity Council. The suspension is pending the outcome of a hearing by the UNH Office of Conduct and Mediation.
"The incident is very serious and disappointing, but does not represent the majority of our Greek chapters or the members of our community," said Mary Anne Lustgraaf, director of Memorial Union/Student Activities, who oversees management of the Greek system.
The national office of Phi Mu Delta followed suit with UNH administration, suspending the chapter pending completion of the investigation, and ordered for the cancellation of their homecoming plans next weekend.
"The decision to temporarily suspend was based on allegations that the chapter failed to support and demonstrate Phi Mu Delta's founding values, which are the cornerstone of the organization and for each chapter," said Tom Murphy, executive director.
This is not the first confrontation Phi Mu Delta has had with UNH policy, though they weren't actively on probation prior to this weekend. Adam McCready, coordinator of Greek Life, said the fraternity was on disciplinary probation on two occasions last year - once on Feb. 9 for violating UNH alcohol policies, which expired April 1, and on another occasion for town noise violations.
After contacting emergency services, the two members were rushed to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover and were released the next morning. After being released from the hospital the two were charged with unlawful possession of alcohol.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jen Smith
posted 10/08/08 @ 9:56 PM EST
Mary Anne Lustgraaf, should look at the student's facebook pages if she thinks that this incident does not represent the majority at UNH. Underaged drinking is a daily occurance at UNH and is ignored by UNH and RA's
Jess Fubel
posted 10/09/08 @ 6:05 PM EST
UNH PD didn't "respond to a call" about PMD. They were notified by two (most likely) intoxicated girls in the parking lot of Store-24 about two guys passed out on a couch at PMD. (Continued…)
jml93
Jess
posted 10/09/08 @ 6:10 PM EST
UNH PD didn't "respond to a call". They were told by two girls in the Store-24 parking lot about two guys passed out on a couch at PMD.
Steve Miller
posted 10/09/08 @ 6:27 PM EST
"The incident is very serious and disappointing, but does not represent the majority of our Greek chapters..."
-Mary Anne Lustgraaf is either ignorant, dishonest, or both. (Continued…)
Ned Flanders
posted 10/13/08 @ 5:56 PM EST
Steve, maybe you've dealt with some particularly stingy RAs, but I know for the duration of my time here I've had plenty of RAs who have known about people drinking and done nothing, seen pictures of students drinking on Facebook and done nothing (or actually talked to them in a supportive manner about it) and if these RAs are caught drinking themselves, the University tries to hush-hush it to keep from having to train more RAs. (Continued…)
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