FIJI appeals suspension
Weeklong process begins
Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
(Above) The locked entrance to FIJi continues to house members fighting their five-year suspension. (Below) Hanging on a FIJI house wall are pledge paddles, one with Danny Daniels' name.
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By Katrina Garcia
The Collegian
Fresno State’s Office of Student Affairs announced it received a formal request Friday from the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity for an appeal of its five-year suspension and four other sanctions.
The university’s final decision on the appeal will be made by Paul Oliaro, vice president of student affairs and dean of students. Oliaro must now meet with the students who will submit their case to him.
The appeal will be heard in private, Oliario said. The final ruling will be sent to FIJI by a letter.
According to Carolyn Coon, Director of Student Affairs, the appeal process should take about a week.
Oliaro will look at both the current suspension decision made by Coon and FIJI’s appeal as he makes his decision.
The appeal will give FIJI the opportunity to provide new information they feel can contradict the university’s findings. They may also challenge the severity of the punishment.
A report on FIJI by the university police department lists incidents from the past three and a half years.
Alcohol-related incidents are included in this report.
An incident involving Danny Daniels, Jr. jumping out of a FIJI house window, put FIJI on probation, according to police reports. On Jan. 7, Daniels died of alcohol poisoning at FIJI. Since a final decision had not been made on the first incident, Coon looked at both incidents, as well the past events, when deciding upon the suspension.
FIJI cannot be officially recognized by Fresno State for at least five years because of the alcohol-related incidents that violated university policies There are four other sanctions in addition to the suspension. This includes the provision that FIJI must remain alcohol-free if the ban is lifted in 2011. Any misbehavior or failure to follow the sanctions could increase the length of the suspension.
The decision to ban the fraternity was announced Jan. 24. Michael Licari, FIJI’s alumni advisor, expressed frustration over the suspension.
“It does seem pretty harsh,” Licari said. “It blows my mind that they can put that much blame on us.”
The five year suspension of FIJI was made on Tuesday, Jan. 24 th.
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