The Daily Gamecock

Bleak week: time line of events that led to a halted rush

Sunday, Aug. 14

– Time unknown: A student was reported to police (after punching holes in Columbia Hall classroom window) that he had attended fraternity rush parties at Delta Tau Delta and Pi Kappa Phi. Drinking occurred off campus and in the Greek Village house.

– Time unknown: A student was arrested at Granby Mills in his boxer shorts. He told the officers that he had attended a fraternity rush event.

– 4 a.m.: A student was found in the Strom Thurmond Wellness and Fitness Center parking lot. He was transported to the hospital. Told officers and first responders that he had attended a fraternity rush party.

Monday, Aug. 15

– 10:30 p.m.: Sigma Nu hosted a recruitment event at Thirsty Fellow with alcohol.

Tuesday, Aug. 16

– 10:30 a.m.: Associate Director of Greek Life Keith Ellis informed Pi Kappa Phi of our knowledge of the incident from Saturday night.

– 5 p.m.: A meeting was held with fraternity presidents to discuss the incidents in question and to reinforce their national policies on dry recruitment. All but the Sigma Alpha Epsilon president attended.

– 6:45 p.m.: Ellis was approached by concerned chapter presidents that the message was not received and that chapters would continue previously scheduled recruitment events with alcohol.

– 8:30 p.m.: Assistant Director for Greek Housing Ryan Williams received a phone call from a concerned alumnus that two recruitment events with alcohol were planned to occur that evening. One was to be held on Waccamaw Avenue, the other at the Thirsty Fellow. Williams called Ellis to inform him of these events. Ellis counseled Williams to call USC's Division of Law Enforcement and Safety and the Columbia Police Department to alert them to these events.

– 8:45 p.m.: Ellis informed Fraternity Council of the events scheduled to occur and implored members to spread the word to the chapters that the university had knowledge of these two events and to put a stop to them before they occurred.

Wednesday, Aug.17

– Time unknown: Kappa Sigma hosted an event with alcohol, strippers and recruits. As men were returning back to the houses, one brother passed out and first responders were called at 5:15 p.m. The young man in question was not transported. Williams had a conversation with the president of Kappa Sigma about the event and was told the man in question was hanging out by the pool and had too much to drink. Later in the evening picture evidence was provided of "stripper day."

Thursday, Aug. 18

– 4:30 p.m.: A meeting was held with fraternity chapter presidents in Russell House room 201. The chapter presidents were asked to come up with an appropriate solution to the involvement of the six out of 18 fraternities involved in providing alcohol to minors during recruitment events. At this meeting, postponing recruitment until January for all fraternities was listed as an option the university was considering. The chapters were given until 6 p.m. to come to a resolution.

– 5:40 p.m.: Fraternity presidents returned from meeting with the following suggestions: dry recruitment, 8-week new member programs, 2-week social probation, GPA requirement for big brothers and reinstatement of Fraternity Council officers.

– 8 p.m.: Email correspondence was sent to Greekall Listerv informing everyone of the decision to postpone bid day until further notice. Additional information was to be provided by 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19.

Friday, Aug. 19

– 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Presidents of Delta Tau Delta, Alpha Tau Omega, Pi Kappa Phi and Sigma Nu were given notification of allegations and conduct hearings and were issued temporary suspensions.

Monday, Aug. 22

– 10 to 11:30 a.m.: Presidents of Alpha Tau Delta, Kappa Sigma, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Nu and Sigma Phi Epsilon were notified of the hearing date and time.

– 11:30 a.m.: Pi Kappa Alpha was given notifications of allegations and conduct hearing and issued temporary suspension.


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