SUNY Potsdam disbands fraternity

POTSDAM — A SUNY Potsdam fraternity will be disbanded for violating the terms of a previous suspension, a college spokesperson said Saturday.

Phi Chi Epsilon's Alpha Chapter, a fraternity formed at Potsdam in 1983, was ordered to cease all recruitment and social activities as of Tuesday.

"They are no longer recognized as a group at SUNY Potsdam," said college spokeswoman Deidre L. Kelly. "The college's decision is final. This isn't the first incident. They were already on suspension beginning in the fall 2008 semester for activities they were involved in that did not meet the Greek code. It was an easy decision for the college to make."

Ms. Kelly said the fraternity is accused of hosting a party involving alcohol and pledging new members, both violations of the sanctions placed against them last fall.

"The investigation into the actual party is still ongoing, but it is believed there were underage people present," she said.

Ms. Kelly said she did not know when the party took place. SUNY Potsdam officials took action when photos showing a party involving alcohol and pledging activity surfaced on the social networking Web site Facebook, she said.

"We're not sure whether it was a single incident or several over a period of time," she said.

Ms. Kelly said it's not clear whether any fraternity members will face campus judicial charges or criminal charges. Phi Chi Epsilon members will be given alumni status in the fraternity, according to the college.

The fraternity was not listed in the phone book nor in the college campus directory. An e-mail message seeking comment received no reply.

The "history" section of its Web site says the fraternity hopes to become a national organization. According to the fraternity's Facebook group page, one other chapter exists at SUNY Stony Brook on Long Island.