As Kappa Sigma fraternity dissolved its Duke chapter this weekend, another fraternity, Theta Chi, is facing similar administrative pressures and could follow the same track in the upcoming months, members said this weekend.
Due to a combination of alcohol and hazing violations, Theta Chi was placed on probation last semester, preventing the fraternity from having all but one party or any brotherhood events. This semester Theta Chi was caught violating its probation when a residence coordinator found several members playing a drinking game in their section.
"The RC came in and saw them playing Beirut," said David DiPietro, a senior in Theta Chi.
Theta Chi has since submitted a proposal to the administration that specifies the way in which they believe they should be punished for the incident. If the administration does not accept this recommendation, University officials will give Theta Chi three options.
"They can revoke our charter, prevent us from having a rush class or we can lose our housing," DiPietro said. "Any of the three things kills the fraternity."
Some brothers offered alternative viewpoints about whether dissolution would then be inevitable.
"Losing housing or losing a pledge class will eventually lead to us dissolving," said sophomore Elias Parisca, a Theta Chi brother, adding that the loss of a pledge class would take a year of membership out of their fraternity, and the removal of their residential space would eliminate the fraternity's campus presence.
Others said brothers support different decisions depending on their year. Many seniors, for example, said they might be more willing to dissolve as they already choose to party in Chapel Hill bars or in off-campus houses.
"As... seniors, [dissolving is] an option we're considering," DiPietro said. "When [the administration] figures out our punishment, we will make a decision to either comply [with what the University mandates] or dissolve."
Theta Chi President Joel Yancey declined to comment, and said the fraternity had no official comment.
Sophomore Andrew Fong, also a member of Theta Chi, said he is frustrated because he cannot take advantage of everything that fraternities are normally allowed to do and said he wants Theta Chi to have all the privileges of being a fraternity.
"Personally I would like to avoid [dissolution]," he said. "I want to come back in five or 10 years and have a section to visit. We're not going to let Kappa Sig's [decision] influence us in any way."
Jared Bryant, a sophomore in Theta Chi, agreed.
"Dissolving is conceding defeat. You can't continue the way you want to operate," he said.
Some fraternity members said the administration has even discouraged Theta Chi from dissolving.
"They tell us they don't want us to dissolve because they're supposed to be supporting greek life," DiPietro said.
The brothers said they are unaware of Theta Chi's official standing and how they are recognized by the University--suspended or on probation. They noted that they cannot decide on their future plans until they hear back from University officials.
"Basically we're going to wait and see what the administration says," Fong said. "The administration tends to work a little slowly. We don't know what they're going to do with us.... We're kind of in the dark right now and hoping for the best. "
Interfraternity Council President Jeremy Morgan said Theta Chi differed from Kappa Sig and also recently-dissolved Sigma Alpha Epsilon because it is in trouble with the University for its repeated violations--not with nationals or alumni.
"This was a small thing, but it was really the last straw," Morgan said. "[University officials] want to know why this continues to happen."
Todd Adams, director of the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life, wrote in an e-mail that he has no information regarding Theta Chi.
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