UC Irvine fraternity suspended for hazing

Deepa Bharath

UCI CAMPUS -- For the first time in the university’s history, a

fraternity was suspended for two years after a pledge complained that he

was subjected to hazing during a nightmare weekend at Big Bear a year

ago, officials decided Friday.

Officials said the decision was a result of an investigation the

university undertook after sophomore film major Jeff Warden filed a

lawsuit against members of the Delta Sigma Chapter of the Beta Theta Pi

fraternity in November at Orange County Superior Court.

Warden said he suffered a seizure and had to be hospitalized as a

result of the hazing.

The university, after the two-month investigation, determined the

fraternity violated two policies relating to student conduct -- hazing

and serving alcohol to minors, spokeswoman Lori Brandt said.

“Hazing is strictly prohibited on and off campus,� she said. “So is

distributing alcohol to a minor.�

After Jan. 1 2004, the university will consider discussing the

reestablishment of the fraternity provided several conditions are met,

Brandt said.

Nine of the 13 fraternity members who were enrolled at the university

were disciplined, but nobody was expelled, she said.

Edwin Steen, president of the campus chapter of the fraternity, did

not return phone calls Friday.

Warden said he was happy with the university’s decision to suspend the

fraternity but said a total ban would have satisfied him more.

“It shows the investigation has found some wrongdoing and that’s a

good thing,� he said in a telephone interview Friday. “But I was hoping,

because of the seriousness of the incident, that the university would set

a precedent by [banning] the fraternity.�

Such a severe decision will give others the courage to stand up for

themselves and give them assurance that the university will not tolerate

hazing, he said.

Warden, a resident of Colorado Springs, said he and two other pledges

were taken to Big Bear and led to believe they were going on a

snowboarding trip.

“They assured us there would be no hazing,� he said.

But after they got there, the pledges’ wallets and cell phones were

taken, and they were offered alcohol and marijuana, Warden said.

He said he can only describe what followed as a “horrible experience.�

“I was forced to drink beer and deprived of food,� he said. “I was

forced to perform simulated sex acts. We were put in a hot room and then

taken out in the cold. I was scared. I was afraid for my life.�

Warden said he had not complained for a year because his fraternity

brothers said it would get them in trouble.

“But then, I suffered because of it,� he said. “I lost my driver’s

license. My credit suffered. I had medical bills to pay for all the MRIs

and CAT scans I had to take to prove I was eligible to drive again. It

just made me angry.�

So last fall Warden said he spoke to a campus ombudsman who encouraged

him to make the complaint. His suit seeks unspecified monetary damages on

allegations of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional

distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Warden said he wants to graduate and become a film director.

“This has affected me deeply,� he said. “I’m just hoping I can put all

this behind me and go on with my life.�

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .