DKE denied

Delta Kappa Epsilon's campaign to regain favor within the UW fraternity system has been put on hold for at least five years.

The presidents of 27 fraternities voted earlier this month that DKE must shut its doors and remove its letters from the front of the house and wait before again being eligible for acceptance into their governing body -- the Interfraternity Council (IFC).

This marks the latest setback in the fraternity's efforts to regain peer credibility and IFC membership perks after a wrongful-death lawsuit brought against DKE in 1998 exposed hazing practices, resulting in its loss of IFC membership in 2001.

The IFC affirmed that decision this month when it unanimously agreed the fraternity, after shutting down, must wait four years before reorganizing and an additional year before reapplying for membership.

With five years of required downtime, 2009 is the earliest DKE could be welcomed back into the IFC.

The IFC set an Aug. 31, 2004 deadline for the fraternity to close its doors and remove the DKE letters from the front of the house, according to a statement sent to all fraternity presidents, DKE representatives and The Daily. By that time, the DKE international organization must revoke its chapter at the UW, or the local chapter must separate itself from the international name, according to the document.

DKE officials are tight-lipped about whether or not they will comply with the IFC decision.

"We are letting the information digest before we formulate our next step," said Marcus Lee, former DKE president and current live-in adviser.

It is rare, however, for a fraternity to follow the course of closing doors and reorganizing.

Phi Kappa Tau disbanded in 1998 following a shooting incident on the fraternity's property. The chapter "recolonized," or reorganized, this year.

Theta Xi recolonized after closing in the early 90s for hazing, said IFC adviser Jason Bartusch.

In each case, the fraternities' national headquarters intervened and shut down the houses, according to Bartusch.

The IFC does not have the authority to close the DKE house; mandating membership requirements is the most it can do, said IFC President Tyler Hermsen.

The four- to five-year period is required so members graduate and move-on, giving the fraternity a "fresh start," said Bartusch.

"A fresh start is the best way for the fraternity to go forward," said Bartusch, who is not a voting member of the IFC. "To accomplish this, current members need to graduate."

IFC membership would give DKE sought-after perks, such as access to freshman lists for recruiting purposes, and admittance to social events, such as Greek Week and concerts.

Being a part of the IFC would also include shedding the stigma of being a non-sanctioned fraternity, and making the fraternity eligible for University recognition.

As the only unrecognized fraternity, DKE is singled out in letters to incoming students that discourage new students from joining the fraternity.

The fraternity has threatened legal action against the UW because of "discriminatory activity directed at ... Delta Kappa Epsilon" in the form of "written or verbal correspondence to incoming freshman (sic), students, interested parties or pledges," according to letters written by DKE on June 2, 2003.

The IFC has received similar threats of litigation from the fraternity, said Bartusch.

Timothy Burke, an Ohio-based lawyer helping DKE obtain University and IFC recognition, has not returned phone calls to The Daily.

DKE's difficulties originated in January 1998. Two days after the conclusion of the fraternity's initiation ceremony, freshman John LaDuca's body was found. His death was ruled a suicide.

Seven months later, the fraternity was the defendant of a wrongful-death suit.

Depositions taken from fraternity members revealed the severity of the initiation ritual: days of calisthenics, confined living spaces and personal humiliation.

Furthermore, the lawsuit revealed that many alumni, ranging in ages from mid-20s to 60s, participated in the hazing traditions.

According to information from DKE given to the IFC, two alumni who participated in the hazing in 1998 remain on the alumni board as of May this year.

That fact remains a concern to the IFC's leaders.

The fraternity has spent more than a year corresponding with UW officials.

The IFC, which operates separately from the UW, began meeting with DKE representatives at the fraternity's behest.

A six-member commission made of three undergraduates and three alumni met bi-weekly throughout April and May to discuss DKE's requests.

The commission met twice with active and alumni representatives of DKE and once they met with relatives of LaDuca.

DKE alumni have been quiet about operations.

Matthew Strain, DKE's alumni association president, and David Easlick, executive director of DKE International, have declined to comment on any issues regarding the fraternity or the IFC's decision.