By Melissa Boyd (Whetstone staff)

Theta Phi Alpha, a sorority that was involved in the hazing incident last November, faces a 5-year suspension for hazing again.

The hazing incident was reported on Apr. 10, said head of safety and security Walt Beaupre.

“Information was received from the national vice president for one of our Greek organizations,” he said. “The letter stated ‘effective immediately, the Chapter is to cease all chapter and new member activities until further notice.’”

Beaupre said Wesley started its own investigation.

“The report has been sent to our campus judicial officer for review,” he said.

Dr. Angela D’Antonio, who submitted her resignation as adviser for Theta Phi Alpha last semester, said she wasn’t informed of all the details.

“I know it was definitely hazing and something to do with alcohol,” she said.

She said she was disappointed in the organization.

“We had already made some stride on improvements,” she said. “They just need to make a decision about what kind of organization they want to be. I know the president has been trying to make things better but I haven’t talked to her about this incident at all.”

Dr. Colleen DiRaddo, dean of students, said that Wesley and nationals made a joint decision to suspend the group.

“When it comes to suspension, Wesley or nationals can suspend,” she said. “But there’s an agreement to support each other on the decision made. This time, nationals made the initial suspension and notified us on what basis.”

She said nationals already completed their investigation and Wesley is continuing theirs.

“We know that it related to alcohol and hazing,” she said. “There was a clear violation of the student code of conduct.”

DiRaddo said they aren’t going to withdraw the organization from Wesley completely, but there is a minimum time frame for the suspension. This suspension will last five years.

“With hazing, a potential consequence is shutting the chapter down,” said LaDarius Thompson, coordinator of student activities. “We could revoke their charter.”

Revoking a Greek charter would mean the organization would have to start over completely, as if they had never been at Wesley.

DiRaddo said that after the 5-year suspension is up, nationals will come back and assess.

“They’ll come to explore and Wesley will also decide if it’s a good time to expand,” she said. “Wesley could close any or all Greek organizations if they wanted to. Headquarters really wants to cooperate with us.”

DiRaddo said the next step is to make a strategic plan, which they haven’t done yet but are probably going to start next fall.

“With the new dean, it will be a good time to complete the next phase,” she said. “One of the things we will be having is to have LaDarius being the chief person working with Greeks.”

Thompson said that he’ll start as Greek Union adviser July 1.

“Jenai Copeland (current Greek Union adviser) will be leaving for graduation,” he said.

D’Antonio said she hopes the organization takes this time to think about what standards they want to uphold.

“It’s a quick time to tarnish a reputation,” she said. “But it takes a long time to rebuild it.”