Theta Chi party prompts charges

Campus judicial officials will consider charges against about 25 students for alcohol-related violations of the University Code of Ethics that occurred at a Theta Chi fraternity party.\nThe University expelled Theta Chi and its nationals revoked its charter after the Jan. 27 party, where alcohol was served. An IU freshman died a week later of head injuries he sustained at the party.\nDean of Students Richard McKaig said he expects letters informing individuals of the charges against them will be mailed early next week.\nBefore he received the police report, McKaig said he expected campus judicial proceedings to commence for individuals who were at the party. When he received the report last week, he said the decision became clear.\nAfter reading the report, McKaig said he instructed the Office of Student Ethics to determine who would be charged.\n"I've asked for the names identified in the report to be isolated with the names of their violations, so charge letters can be sent," McKaig said.\nHe said the charges range from underage drinking to actions that endanger a student, the community or the academic process. McKaig said the police report provides information about people who were drinking, who planned the event and people who brought alcohol into the house, but does not reveal who purchased the alcohol.\nMcKaig said judicial proceedings on campus are not rare -- there are about 2,000 per year. But he said charging 25 individuals from a single incident is unusual.\nCampus judicial proceedings are meant to be educational and to help students, said IU Student Association Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Cioffi, a senior.\nWhile the goal of the process is to help students, sometimes members have no choice, said IUSA Associate Justice Brian Clifford, a sophomore.\n"There are some cases where sanctions have to be severe," Clifford said.\nThe letters students receive include citation of the specific section of the code they allegedly violated, an explanation of violations, a paragraph about their rights and instructions about scheduling hearings, McKaig said.\nMcKaig said the process could contain three steps, but how far it goes is up the student. Because of the high number of people charged in this incident, some students will go to the greek judicial board, some to the campus judicial board and some will be presided over by an administrative hearing officer, McKaig said.\nEach residence hall has a judicial board, and the greek system has one of its own.\nFollowing judicial board, students are given a verbal explanation of the decision and receive written confirmation within a week, McKaig said. They then have a set number of days to accept or request a hearing commission to appeal the decision. The commission is composed of two faculty members and one student judicial officer, usually an IUSA associate justice. \nAfter that, McKaig said students can appeal to the faculty, administration and student review board, a three-person panel that serves all year. As chief justice, Cioffi serves on that board.\nPossible punishment includes reprimand, probation, community service, alcohol classes, suspension and expulsion, Cioffi said.\n"We're allowed to give any punishment we're willing to monitor," Cioffi said.\nMcKaig said while many students view the campus judicial process as disciplinary punishment, it can help with alcohol education and point out risks involved with underage drinking.\n"The institution's primary purpose is educational," McKaig said. "We want individuals to learn from their behavior"