Delta Kappa Epsilon will return to campus May 1 after a two-year absence for repeated alcohol violations.
The freshmen initiated into DKE in 2003, shortly before the fraternity’s removal by alumni, are the active members who plan to rebuild the organization on campus.
The DKE Alumni Association removed the fraternity after it violated its probation in 2003, said Victor Felts, director of Greek Affairs.
The Office of Greek Affairs placed DKE on a three-year probation for an alcohol violation in May 2003 but there were two more incidents involving alcohol within a few weeks.
“When we were in the process of levying additional punishments, [the fraternity] was removed by alumni before a hearing could take place,” Felts said.
Dean of Students Kevin Price contacted the DKE Alumni Association and many discussions followed, said Rusty Barkerding, a member of the association.
The alumni also discussed options with the chapter before deciding to remove them for two years, Barkerding said.
The fraternity could have chosen to attend hearings and face suspension and removal from campus, or the members could withdraw on their own and spend time re-evaluating their chapter, Barkerding said. Taylor Butterworth, a geology junior and a member of the DKE rush committee, was a freshman when the fraternity was removed.
“The alumni thought it would be best to reorganize and reevaluate the chapter’s goals, rather than just fight the allegations,” Butterworth said.
Barkerding said the association has been working with the current members of DKE to prepare the fraternity for its return this spring.
“We’ve been very successful,” Barkerding said, adding that he was pleased with the current members’ commitment.
“They recognize some of the problems of the past and have agreed that it’s a new day, and there is a new method of doing things,” Barkerding said.
Barkerding said the alumni still are talking to Greek Affairs about whether the fraternity will enter under any kind of probationary status regarding alcohol use.
The fraternity will spend the summer organizing and will recruit and initiate students starting in the fall, Butterworth said.
Butterworth said the members are “willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure that DKE moves in the right direction.”
Pike Barkerding, a studio art junior and DKE treasurer, said there are currently 15 active members.
“My pledge class was the last to be initiated, and we’re all coming back,” Pike Barkerding said.
The fraternity will move back into the DKE house on Dalrymple Drive near Christ the King Catholic Church.
The house has been empty since 2003.