Delta Chi illegally returns to campus during four-year suspension, source says
Hofstra’s chapter of the Delta Chi was suspended due to hazing. // Photo courtesy of Delta Chi fraternity.
Hofstra University suspended the Delta Chi chapter after hazing allegations. The chapter was suspended over the summer after the university removed the fraternity, placing the organization on an unrecognized list, citing disciplinary reasons.
Reasons for an organization’s removal for disciplinary reasons can “include but are not limited to hazing, alcohol and drug abuse, risk management violations and failure to comply with university policies and expectations,” according to the Fraternity and Sorority Life webpage.
Investigations into an organization are conducted by Community Standards, the dean of students and Public Safety. Regarding Delta Chi, the university cannot comment on the status of the investigation or the details regarding it.
Paul Ferrante, assistant director of Student Leadership and Engagement for Fraternity and Sorority Life, explained that hazing is prohibited on and off campus.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for hazing,” Ferrante said. “We do a lot of education related to hazing prevention. For example, we just implemented National Hazing Prevention Week in September. We also provide education throughout new member education about hazing.”
The university has placed other fraternities on the unrecognized list for the same amount of time. For example, Sigma Alpha Mu was placed on the list in December 2019 after a student reported multiple occurrences of hazing, which led to their departure from the fraternity, according to a previous article written by The Hofstra Chronicle.
Delta Chi’s suspension will last until August 2026, or when all former members have graduated, according to the university.
Ferrante noted that not all suspensions are for four years; rather, the university determines the proper course of action based on what occurred.
“Typically, it varies based on the outcome and what happened through the investigation that was conducted by Public Safety, Community Standards and the dean of students,” Ferrante said. “It really depends on the investigation and what is deemed appropriate by Community Standards and the dean of students. So there’s no set timeline.”
The Chronicle reached out to many former members and alumni associated with Delta Chi for interview requests.
Many members chose not to respond or declined to comment.
Following the suspension of the fraternity over the summer, a source affiliated with Greek life contacted The Chronicle with additional information. For the protection and safety of the source, the pseudonym Adrian will be used for storytelling purposes.
Delta Gamma’s annual Anchor Cup tournament raises money for the sorority’s philanthropy partner, Services for Sight, an organization that provides resources for people who are blind or visually impaired. The event was held on Oct. 9, and was hosted at Hofstra’s Soccer Stadium, bringing many members of fraternities, sororities and club sports together.
During the event, Adrian noticed a fraternity participating under the name “Oozma Kappa,” wearing neon green shirts. Oozma Kappa is a fictional fraternity that Mike Wazowski and Sulley joined in the movie “Monsters University.”
Adrian and other members of Greek life found the “Monsters University” reference funny. However, they were concerned after seeing a slight detail in their pledge names similar to the ones associated with Delta Chi. Once several members noticed this, they felt these former members of Delta Chi should not have been at the event.
“This fraternity was not only removed from Hofstra’s website but was labeled as a danger to girls within the Panhellenic Council,” Adrian said.
Although this situation made many Greek life members feel uneasy, the university provided more details regarding a situation like this.
“Unrecognized organizations cannot operate on campus in any capacity,” said Colin Sullivan, director of communications of Student Affairs. “No recognized club or organization can invite an unrecognized organization to an event. However, students who were members of unrecognized organizations can still be invited as individuals to social events and gatherings.”
Once the higher-ups in Delta Gamma noticed that former members of Delta Chi were participating in the event, they were escorted off the field. According to Adrian, the former brothers were upset about being kicked out.
“The allowance of fraternities as dangerous as Delta Chi should be acknowledged as well discussed with all Hofstra Pride members when talking about Greek life and the affiliation towards Hofstra University and their name,” Adrian said.
Other sources in a Greek organization have confirmed Delta Chi’s suspension and added that the hazing is related to alcohol poisoning. However, these individuals declined to participate in an interview. The sources state that the Panhellenic Council, the governing body of all sororities on campus, has asked them to remain silent until a statement is released.
The Chronicle has reached out to the Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council, the governing body for all fraternities, for an interview. Both councils did not respond to our requests.
The university advises that students should be careful if they interact with students on the unrecognized list.
“For your own well-being, you should not affiliate with any unrecognized Greek or other student organizations,” the website reads. “Hofstra University does not advise or control the actions of any unrecognized groups. Inactive and unrecognized Greek chapters are not permitted to recruit, hold events or induct new members.”
In November, The Chronicle contacted Delta Chi’s international headquarters for a comment on the Hofstra chapter investigation. Emails were sent to Davis Millard, director of member safety and Ben Ely, director of communications and publications. After no response, a call was made to the headquarter’s direct line. Following the prompts, the phone was picked up by Ely, and he declined to comment.
Although the headquarters did not provide a statement regarding the investigation, Delta Chi is opposed to hazing and became the first fraternity to do so in 1929.
Chapter seven of Delta Chi’s Cornerstone’s “Member Education” section describes their no-tolerance policy.
“The general fraternity continues to uphold this historic position and opposes hazing in any form,” it reads. “Through your associate member oath and ultimate membership in Delta Chi, you are obliged to support and comply with Delta Chi Law.”
Hofstra’s recent suspension of the frat is not the only chapter that has made headlines. In February 2021, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) freshman Adam Oakes died the morning after a rush event, a practice in which members of Greek life get to interact with incoming first-year students. During the event, Oakes drank a bottle of Jack Daniels, ran outside the Delta Chi frat house blindfolded and hit his head on a tree. Oakes was found dead in the house the next morning. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as alcohol poisoning, according to FOX News.
Three months after Oakes’ death, VCU expelled the chapter. In September, VCU planned to pay nearly $1 million to Oakes’ family as part of a settlement for his death. VCU will also revamp its approach to Greek life on its campus, according to The New York Times.
New York legislation has charges for anyone who is found guilty of committing or participating in hazing.
“A person can be found guilty of hazing in the first-degree if during the initiation process of a potential member, he intentionally or recklessly engages in conduct, including, but not limited to, making physical contact with or requiring physical activity of such other person, which creates a substantial risk of physical injury to such other person or a third person and thereby causes such injury,” according to NY Penal Law Article 120.16.
Hazing in the first-degree is a class A misdemeanor, which can result in one year of jail time or three years probation. In addition, depending on the details of the case, the person charged will have to pay a $1,000 fine or twice the amount of their financial gain.
“Please make the Hofstra community aware of this immediately,” Adrian said. “Members of the Pride should be aware of the danger they could potentially be in when affiliating with these kinds of people.”
If a student wants to report a possible violation of the Code of Community Standards or other university policies, the university urges them to contact the Department of Public Safety at 516-463-6789.
