ZBX found guilty of hazing

Punishments have been levied against UW-Platteville’s Zeta Beta Chi sorority following three separate incidents of hazing during the fall.

Photograph by Stephanie Coren


Members of the Zeta Beta Chi sorority can now wear their jackets and display their signs following a month-long suspension for hazing. The sorority still can not recruit new members this semester.

Members of the Zeta Beta Chi sorority can now wear their jackets and display their signs following a month-long suspension for hazing. The sorority still can not recruit new members this semester.

According to Rich Egley, dean of students, ZBX was found guilty of hazing stemming from three separate incidents. First, a brick bearing ZBX’s colors was hidden on campus and pledges were told to find it, no matter how long it took and return it to the house. Second, pledges were picked up from their residences during the evening, blindfolded and taken several miles out of town and told to find their way back using only a flashlight. Finally, pledges were told to watch a pornographic movie and take detailed notes, of which they were questioned on later and forced to watch again and again until they answered every question correctly.
One of the pledges reported these incidents to Egley leading him to file official charges of hazing against the sorority and suspend them until a hearing could be conducted. The sorority was mandated to cover up the letters on the front of their Hickory and Main Streets house and not wear any clothing displaying their colors or insignia until the suspension was lifted.

According to Wisconsin State Statute 948.51, hazing is any activity that is a condition of initiation or admission into or affiliation with an organization, regardless of a student’s willingness to participate in the activity.

While Egley admits that these allegations fall on the tamer side of hazing, they are illegal nonetheless.

“I think the judicial board sent a pretty clear message,” Egley said. “There will be no hazing at UW-Platteville, not just no life-threatening hazing.”

The pledge alleged that ZBX pressured her into these acts. The sorority denies these claims.

“She was not told to do anything,” Sarah Schultz, a junior communication technologies major and vice president of promotions for ZBX said. “We emphasize to our new members that they can chose to not do any activity that they feel uncomfortable with at any time and that this will have no effect on them getting into the sorority.”

Egley said it is hard to determine whether or not activities such as these are voluntary.

“There is a grey line between what members are encouraged to do and what they are forced to do,” Egley said. “It is a pressure situation.”

ZBX was brought before the judicial board of Women’s Greek Council to decide if the claims of hazing were true. Caitlyn Connelly, president of the sorority, argued that the activities were voluntary and had educational merit. The board disagreed and found the sorority guilty of hazing.

Egley said in lieu of their conviction ZBX has been placed on probation until Jan. 1, 2012, stripped of their ability to recruit new members until the Fall of 2010 and required to write letters of apology to all new members involved in the incidents. He said during this probation if ZBX is found in violation of any UW-P greek life policies they could be immediately terminated as a student organization.  They must also hold all chapter events on campus, draft all new chapter documents, plan and implement an educational program on hazing. Any new members who no longer wish to be a part of the sorority must also be refunded dues.

Egley hopes some good will come from the incident.

“I am not sure everyone understood what constitutes hazing,” Egley said. “We are attempting to turn the light bulb on, and I think it has come on, and sororities and fraternities will know what is expected of them in the future.”