UW group expels frat over hazing
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A University of Washington fraternity that initiated members through a six-day ritual of beatings, sleep deprivation and humiliation has been formally kicked out of a student group that is the governing body for UW fraternities.
Delta Kappa Epsilon, known as the Dekes, was expelled from the Interfraternity Council (IFC) by a unanimous vote of 26 UW fraternity presidents.
The vote further ostracizes the Dekes from the UW's "Greek" community and cuts off its access to lists of incoming freshmen who are interested in joining a fraternity.
"I think what it says is that hazing is not going to be tolerated," said Andrew Janison, a Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity member who is vice president of standards for the IFC.
A local DKE alumni-association spokesman declined comment yesterday, citing orders from an attorney defending the group against a wrongful-death suit filed by the parents of John LaDuca of Kent, who hanged himself the day after the January 1998 initiation ritual ended.
The suit, filed in King County Superior Court, also names the university and the fraternity as defendants.
The IFC said it will ask Delta Kappa Epsilon's international organization to revoke the local chapter's charter.
But the international president indicated yesterday the letter would be a wasted effort.
"The desired purpose of the university to eliminate hazing (at DKE) has been accomplished," said David Easlick, the executive director of DKE International.
He said he was certain the last two pledge classes were hazing-free.
The Dekes have repeatedly refused to discuss details of the 1998 initiation with the council, and in October 1999 assured it that no hazing occurred during LaDuca's initiation.
However, in interviews and sworn testimony related to the suit, fraternity members described the hazing in detail and defended it, saying the ritual was a tradition and one of the most significant and formative moments in their lives.
The Dekes' expulsion from the IFC means the fraternity can't hold events with other fraternities or sororities, and its members can't attend IFC-sponsored events.