Sorority idiots get burned on the butts during ritual ceremony

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THE DEPAUW
http://www.newspaper.depauw.edu/
November 14, 1997

Depauw Kappa chapter won't punish members for hazing

Jon Fortt And Pete Sampson

(U-WIRE) GREENCASTLE, Ind. - Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority's Iota chapter
decided Wednesday night not to strip anyone of membership in the wake of
last Thursday's alleged hazing incident.

Kappa's national organization said Thursday that this move comes after
students on the Iota chapter's standards committee, a smaller group of
initiated sorority members, recommended that the group of at least 12
women involved be stripped of membership.

The Kappa national organization will now, with the university, conduct its
own investigation into the matter. The national chapter and the university
will determine what action they will take.

Twelve or more Kappa members were in a Hogate Hall dormitory room last
Thursday, and allegedly hazed four or more pledges. At least three pledges
have told police that actives burned them on the hip with cigarettes.

The DePauw was able to confirm that the 12 or more sorority members who
were in the room allegedly include senior Megan E. McGinn, junior Sarah
M. Porter, and sophomores Amanda N. Heldt and Jennifer T. Miller. Not
everyone in the room actively participated in the alleged hazing. Heldt
is the younger sister of Student Body President Trina Heldt, who is also
a Kappa.

Marilyn Bullock, a representative from Kappa's national organization,
told The DePauw on Wednesday that nationals would let the chapter decide
what to do with the women.

The DePauw has learned through Kappa members who were present that
Thursday night's ritual involved certain rites of passage including
kissing a skull, witnessing a simulated castration and taking sips or
gulps of Hot Damn, a 48-proof liquor.

The ritual in the Hogate room did not involve all house members, but was
the practice of a smaller "family" - a group of at least 12 sophomores,
juniors and seniors who shared the ceremony.

So far the university is standing firm on its decision not to officially
discipline the sorority or its members until DePauw Police's investigation
is complete. DePauw Police Chief Mark Freeman has said that the
investigation should end today, and that he will turn his findings over to
Putnam County Prosecutor Matt Headley within the next 24 hours.

The Kappa chapter has remained silent about the allegations. Dean of
Students Alan Hill suspended all of the chapter's activities last Friday,
except house meetings. The chapter was scheduled to initiate 38 pledges
Saturday night, but could not because of the suspension. Kappa is DePauw's
largest sorority, with 131 members.

After an all-house dinner on Nov. 6, more than 16 members and pledges left
the Kappa house and met just after 10 p.m. in Hogate Hall, where a few
older members have dorm rooms.

When the four or five pledges entered a dark, candle-lit room on the
dorm's third floor, they were greeted by older members. Some of them were
wearing disguises. Some of the older members allegedly yelled at the
pledges, saying that the ceremony they would witness was serious and
deserved solemn respect.

First, members told pledges to kiss two spheres about the size of racquet
balls. They were supposed to have some symbolic importance within this
"family" in the sorority.

Next, members allegedly told pledges they had to complete a three-part
rite in order to join the "family." It included kissing a skull that had
hair on it, said to represent pubic hair; watching while one member
symbolically cut a phallic object off of a robe another member was
wearing; and taking sips of cinnamon schnapps. Pledges said sipping the
alcohol was optional.

After the rite was complete, the older members told the pledges they were
part of the family. Several of the women, including at least one pledge,
left the dorm. At least three others chose to stay, and later reported
that they received cigarette burns.

The Student Affairs office received a phone call from a pledge's parent on
Friday, and that sparked the university's investigation. Kappa's national
organization released a statement Monday.

"Kappa Kappa Gamma does not condone any form of hazing, underage drinking,
or violation of university, federal or state laws," it read. "The results
of the investigation will determine what action the Fraternity will take
with the chapter or individual members."

DePauw Vice President of Student Services James Lincoln, gave a similar
statement Monday.

DePauw University is an undergraduate liberal arts school in Greencastle,
Ind., with about 2,200 students. It is home to 11 sororities and 14
fraternities, including the oldest greek-letter sorority and fraternity in
the nation. About 80 percent of the student body belongs to greek
organizations.

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