Fraternity might face sanctions

Delta Tau Delta faces sanctions from the University after IU Police Department officers responded to a call Saturday at the fraternity house and found people who "looked drunk," said IUPD Lt. Jerry Minger. \nMinger said while there weren't any state laws broken, University rules might have been violated during the event.\n"There really wasn't any action taken by the officers other than checking the IDs, and the students they did check were all over 21," Minger said. "However, since it was apparently in violation of University law, it was given to the dean of students."\nPart III, section B of the IU Code of Student Rights prohibits the use or possession of alcohol in a fraternity house. \n"We went to the house, and there was a report from the officers, and there were people there that appeared they were there at a party," Minger said. "There was probably a breach of University regulations, and it was written up as an informational case for the dean." \nInterfraternity Council Executive Vice President of Administration and senior Mike Trent denied anything of interest occurred Saturday afternoon.\n"There was basically a misunderstanding, and nothing came out of it," Trent said. "There was a philanthropy event (at Delta Tau Delta), and the cops went there, and they didn't find anything. If anything, it was a false report." \nSenior Delta Tau Delta President Billy Riesner agreed with Trent's stance and said there wasn't any drinking.\n"Police officers approached our back door, they were met by two vice presidents," Riesner said. "(The police) said they had witnessed drinking, and the vice presidents denied that claim. There was a philanthropy that day, but there wasn't any drinking. The police officers did not press the issue, they did not enter the house with the dean, and no one has been charged." \nIf students are found to have been drinking at Delta Tau Delta, Dean of Students Richard McKaig said the fraternity could face a number of different potential punishments handed down from an appointed Judicial Board. \nMcKaig said Monday he has not yet looked at the police report concerning the matter. \n"If a Judicial Board determines the allegations are accurate, the fraternity could face a wide range of consequences," McKaig said. "They could face probation, social restrictions for a period of time, suspension of the chapter or an expulsion from campus."\nMcKaig said he won't be able to look at the report until he meets with IU officials Wednesday. But, if the fraternity is found responsible, the typical timetable for a possible punishment should come within the next two to three weeks. \n"It would immediately go to the Office of Student Ethics, and if there is grounds for a charge, a hearing would be scheduled in front of the Greek Council," McKaig said. "Or because it's so close to the end of the year, it could go to an independent board."\nRiesner maintains his fraternity has done nothing wrong and calls the incident a simple misunderstanding.\n"(The police) were mistaken," Riesner said. "I know it caused a little confusion with the administration, and I'm trying to get everyone on the same page with what happened."\n-- Contact senior writer Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.