Rider Closes ZBT Chapter

Second Frat Shut Down at Rider

By Patrick W. Connelly
Co-Editor, The Frat Boy News

Rider University has closed its second fraternity in less than a year.

The university's chapter of Zeta Beta Tau was shut down last week. The fraternity had violated campus policies and was serving a probation sentence, university officials said.

Zeta Beta Tau brothers were told they can no longer live in their chapter's house and will be forced to move into campus housing for the spring semester.

The fraternity joins Phi Kappa Tau as the second such organization to be shut down by the university since last spring.

Rider closed Phi Kappa Tau following the suspected hazing in the death of freshman pledge Gary DeVercelly Jr., who had drank a large amount of alcohol. Its chapter president said hazing wasn't involved in DeVercelly's death.

Hazing Charges Dismissed for Rider Administrators

Prosecutor Backs Off Rider Case

A county prosecutor in New Jersey will reportedly ask a judge to dismiss charges filed against two Rider University administrators in the hazing death of a Phi Kappa Tau pledge.

Earlier this summer, the prosecutor charged the fraternity's president, two brothers and the university's dean of students and director of Greek Life for the April death of pledge Gary DeVercelly. All five were charged with aggravated assault.

DeVervelly died after he reportedly drank three quarters of a bottle of vodka in just 15 minutes at a Wednesday night party at the fraternity's house.

Charges against the three brothers of Phi Kappa Tau still stand.

Rider Phi Tau President Denies Hazing in Pledge's Death

Rider Frat Leader Denies Hazing Charge

The president of Rider University's Phi Kappa Tau chapter says he had nothing to do with the hazing death of pledge last spring.

Three brothers of the fraternity, including it's president Michael J. Tourney, have been charged in connection with the April death of one of the fraternity's pledges.

Gary DeVercelly, 18, who was originally from Long Beach, Calif., was pronounced dead at a hospital near Trenton, New Jersey. Local police took him and another student to the hospital when they received a call about a students vomiting after drinking a large amount of vodka; he was comatose by time they arrived and never regained consciousness.

DeVerCelly was a member of the Rider University's baseball team and a new member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

At a Wednesday night party at the Phi Kappa Tau house, DeVercelly reportedly drank three quarters of a bottle of vodka in just 15 minutes.

In addition to the brothers charged were two university officials. The other four charged in the incident are Ada Badgley, 31, the university's director of Greek Life; Anthony Campbell, 51, the dean of students; Adriano DiDonato, 22, Phi Tau's residence director and house master of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house; and Dominic Olsen, 21, pledge master of Spring 2007 pledge class.

Phi Kappa Tau Brothers Face Hazing Charges for Pledge's Death

Rider University Officials Face Charges in Hazing Death

Three brothers of Phi Kappa Tau's chapter at Rider University, including it's president, have been charged in connection with the April death of one of the fraternity's pledges.

Gary DeVercelly, 18, who was originally from Long Beach, Calif., was pronounced dead at a hospital near Trenton, New Jersey. Local police took him and another student to the hospital when they received a call about a students vomiting after drinking a large amount of vodka; he was comatose by time they arrived and never regained consciousness.

DeVerCelly was a member of the Rider University's baseball team and a new member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

At a Wednesday night party at the Phi Kappa Tau house, DeVercelly reportedly drank three quarters of a bottle of vodka in just 15 minutes.

In addition to the brothers charged were two university officials. The five charged in the incident are Ada Badgley, 31, the university's director of Greek Life; Anthony Campbell, 51, the dean of students; Adriano DiDonato, 22, Phi Tau's residence director and house master of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house; Dominic Olsen, 21, pledge master of Spring 2007 pledge class; and Michael J. Tourney, 21, the fraternity's president.

Rider University Bans Alcohol at Frat Parties

Freshman Died After Binge Drinking

The administration of Rider University plans to curb student binge drinking on campus this coming school year by banning alcohol at all frat parties.

Many believe that the new approach to controlling alcohol at the university came as a result of the death of 18-year old student Gary DeVercelly. DeVercelly's blood alcohol content was more than five times the legal limit when he died after a night of drinking at the university's Phi Kappa Tau house.

Rider University also plans to have a full-time staff member live inside each Greek house and said they will also notify the parents of any student found to be in violation of the campus alcohol policy.

Ohio Phi Tau Brother Fell From Balcony

Greeks Examine Balcony-Fall Incident

A party last week at an apartment above a Subway restaurant near the campus of Ohio University has a sad ending as a brother of Phi Kappa Tau fell from a balcony.

The university is not releasing the name of the students, but said he was hospitalized after the fall and is doing okay. The party reportedly had brothers of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity and sisters of Delta Gamma in attendance.

"We talked to the president (of Phi Kappa Tau), and he said that the (student who fell) hadn't been drinking," a student told The Athens News. "But we're obviously not sure of that."

Greeks at the university are hoping a similar incident does not happen again at the Athens, Ohio, campus.

Phi Tau Chapter Suspended for Fire

Fraternity Suspends Nebraska Chapter After Fatal Fire

Nebraska Wesleyan's chapter of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity was suspended for four year's by its national organization following an investigation into a fatal fire where hazing was said to be involved.

The frat's national president said there wasn't any connection found between possible violations of its risk management policy and the fire, but its actions were significant enough to cause the brothers to have their chapter suspended.

The suspension comes about a week after brothers were indicted on arson and hazing charges. They were said to have been in possession of illegal fireworks at the time of the November fire and were said to have thrown them unlawfully.

The brothers were informed at what was said to be a very emotional meeting Tuesday night.

Phi Tau Brother Seen Playing With Fire Before Suspected Arson

Records: Man Seen Burning Paper Before Fatal-Frat House Fire

By Patrick W. Connelly
Co-Editor, The Frat Boy News

A student of Nebraska Weslyan University and brother of Phi Kappa Tau who has been charged with arson and connection in a fatal November fire is said to have been playing with fire earlier in the evening.

Brandon Lovegrove, a Phi Tau brother, and two other men were arrested Friday for the arson where court documents showed Lovegrove was seen by another fraternity brother lighting a calender on fire and throwing it down a hallway in their chapter house. One student was killed in the deadly fire that destroyed part of the house.

The three men were jailed last week on suspicion of attempted first-degree arson, hazing, illegal possession of fireworks and unlawful throwing of fireworks, a report said.

Police Charge 3 in Deadly 2006 Phi Kappa Tau Fire

3 Face Charges Related To Fatal Fraternity Fire
Wesleyan fraternity member arrested for attempted arson

Police have arrested three men they believe had a hand in a November 2006 fire at Nebraska Weslyan University's Phi Kappa Tau house.

Jed C. Tompkins, 22, and Lance N. Daharsh, 21, were charged on suspicion of hazing, while Brandon W. Lovegrove, 22, was put in jail on suspicion of attempted first-degree arson, hazing, illegal possession of fireworks and the unlawful throwing of fireworks.

It wasn't reported whether the three men arrested were brothers of Phi Kappa Tau.

Rider Freshman Dies After Vodka Binge

Long Beach Teen Dies in Frat Drinking Incident

A student from Rider University died this weekend after drinking a large amount of vodka.

Gary DeVercelly, 18, who was originally from Long Beach, Calif., was pronounced dead at a hospital near Trenton, New Jersey. Local police took him and another student to the hospital when they received a call about a students vomiting after drinking a large amount of vodka; he was comatose by time they arrived and never regained consciousness.

DeVerCelly was a member of the Rider University's baseball team and a new member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.

It was at the Wednesday night party at the Phi Kappa Tau house that DeVercelly reportedly drank three quarters a bottle of Absolut vodka in 15 minutes. The other student taken to the hospital, William Williams, who is 19, was treated for alcohol poisoning and released.

No hazing charges have been filed against the fraternity and police are still investigating the incident.

Possible Phi Tau Hazing Left a Freshman in Critical Condition

Freshman in Critical Condition

A Rider University freshman was found unconscious after suffering cardiac arrest following a night of hardcore drinking at the Phi Kappa Tau house.

Gary DeVercelly, 18, originally returned to his room in the dorms after drinking, but began heavily puking. A university official said the DeVercelly had drank 3/4 of a bottle of Absolut Vodka in only 15 minutes, which of course likely induced the vomiting.

The latest report on the student said he was in critical condition and his family has flown in from California to be with him. Police say they will investigate the incident to check for any signs of possible hazing by the Phi Tau brothers.

Long Beach Sigma Pi Chapter Caught in Feud with Neighbors

Incident Provokes Concern Between Fraternity, Neighbors

An evening of green-beer debauchery has restarted a long time feud between the brothers of Sigma Pi at California State University, Long Beach and the neighborhood surrounding their fraternity house.

On evening of St Patrick's day one of the Sigma Pi brothers broke a window at a nearby coffee shop. However, no charges were pressed because the brother reached a financial settlement with the shops proprietor.

Now neighbors are planning on calling a community meeting to bring up some of the issues they have with the fraternity. One of the communities concerns is the frat houses close proximity to a elementary school. Anna Christensen, a resident of the area said “We want some dialogue.”

The fraternity's feud with the neighborhood goes back to at least 2002, when the frat was receiving a visit from the police 10 to 20 times a month at their neighbors request.

In the same year they were hit with an injunction from the Long Beach City prosecutor’s office. It stopped them from having parties, or events with more that 60 people at the house.

Long Beach has a history of clashes with fraternities. With no designated area for Greek housing, the houses are scattered amongst the surrounding neighborhoods. Phi Kappa Tau was hounded out of their house in 2002 after similar neighbor issues.

Phi Tau Evicted at PSU, TKE Also Facing Suspension

Frat Forced Out of House

The borough of State College evicted its first Penn State fraternity based on violations of borough ordinances and state laws. After failing to reach an agreement with the borough about numerous property violations, Phi Kappa Tau was evicted from their house this week for at least 6 months, officials said.

For the time being, the Phi Tau brothers will move into the empty Alpha Kappa Lambda house. The State College borough manager announced the Phi Tau must move out, while Tau Kappa Epsilon, who also faces suspension, is permitted to stay. Both frats were called "nuisance properties" by the borough last fall after for receiving rental permit violations, including disorderly conduct and excessive noise, and had there rental permits suspended Nov. 1.

After an appeal process failed, Phi Tau was notified they were being forced to move out earlier this month. TKE will be evicted ir further violations with the borough occur.

PSU Frats Allowed to Stay in Houses Until at least May

Fraternities Get Rental Reprieve

The State College borough asked two Penn State fraternities to move out of their houses last month after having their rental permits suspended.

Phi Kappa Tau and Tau Kappa Epsilon were asked to move and had their permits suspended for fire-code violations and instances of disorderly conduct. The fraternities found that, according to a borough ordinance, both will be allowed to stay until their leases expire in May.