Oliaro denies FIJI appeal
Five-year ban remains, with the only difference being FIJI can apply for reinstatement one year earlier
Paul OIiaro |
By Katrina Garcia
The Collegian
Vice President of Student Affairs Paul Oliaro denied Phi Gamma Delta’s appeal regarding its five-year ban on Friday.
Oliaro served as the appellate officer in the case. The suspension, issued in late January, is due to repeated alcohol violations, according to the university’s official report.
FIJI did raise questions regarding the suspension, but no new evidence was presented to change the decision, Oliaro said. In his letter responding to the fraternity’s appeal, Oliaro expressed concern over underage drinking that had occurred at the FIJI house.
“We did not hold them accountable for Danny Daniels’ death,” Oliaro said. “We do hold them accountable for drinking at their house.”
Daniels, a 19-year-old former Fresno State student, was at the fraternity house Jan. 7. He was found dead the next day with a blood alcohol level of .34.
The fraternity provided alternatives to the sanctions— ones that Oliaro said he wished would have been presented sooner.
“I wish they had brought those up earlier, but they had their opportunity,” Oliaro said. FIJI had declined to give any statements during the original decision process, made by Carolyn Coon, executive director of student life, on Jan. 24.
Oliaro said FIJI could be reinstated as a recognized fraternity a year earlier than the suspension allowed.
The fraternity could start the process of petitioning to reestablish itself as early as 2009 with the possibility it could be a recognized chapter in the fall of 2010 under specific conditions. Those stipulations include no current FIJI members be a part of the reestablishment and that the new chapter agree to be alcohol-free.
Another point raised in Oliaro’s letter included the Oct. 25 incident with Daniels at the FIJI house. Daniels fell out of a window, placing the fraternity on suspension. FIJI contended Daniels had “jumped” out of the window as a suicidal gesture, but in campus police reports, fraternity members referred to the incident as “falling” rather than “jumping.”
Kevin Roche, president of the Interfraternity Council, said Oliaro’s decision not to accept the appeal was expected because of campus and community reactions. He also said members of other fraternities feel that FIJI’s circumstances could have happened to any of them.
“They think, ‘It could’ve been us,’” Roche said. “It’s galvanized the Greek community. It’s made us realize our flaws.”
Roche said one of the IFC’s goals is to ensure that the fraternities be more united, as opposed to students representing themselves as a member of one fraternity or another.
“We’re all Greek,” Roche said.
New steps will also be taken to promote greater alcohol awareness. Roche said one of several alcohol awareness workshops to be held during the semester will be next Monday. At least seven members from each fraternity are required to attend.
“The message is not going to be a don’t drink mantra,” Roche said. The workshop will promote responsible drinking and discuss signs of someone who may have a drinking problem and how to administer proper first aid on anyone who may need immediate help.
“It’s a good first step forward,” Roche said.
FIJI members were not available to comment.
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