Fraternity bans Missouri State chapter until 2021

The Phi Delta Theta fraternity is closing their Missouri State chapter until fall 2021 for a rules violation, and displacing 26 students living at the house on Elm St.

Missouri State Dean of Students, Dr. Thomas Lane, says he doesn’t know why the organization voted to close up shop.

“They voted to close the chapter,” Dr. Lane said. “The university supports that decision.”

The fraternity’s national headquarters released a statement saying, "This came after a discovery of violations of the fraternity's risk management policies. Phi Delta Theta looks forward to its return to Missouri State University in the Fall of 2021."

Those risk management policies spell out nationwide rules like a ban on alcohol and hazing. However, Missouri State has disciplined the chapter five times since 2012 for various offenses.

The chapter was put on two separate year-long probations for hazing violations in April 2014 and December 2016. The group just cleared their most recent probation on December 15, 2017.

“I think that the university takes a strong stand against hazing,” Thomas Lane said. “I think we do a good job of educating all of our student organizations about the importance of not hazing and that hazing is not congruent with the values that we have as an institution.”

Dr. Lane says that the university has made the 26 students who live at the fraternity house aware of their on-campus housing options.

He also says that it’s still possible that the school may discipline some students, but they won’t pursue any group charges against the fraternity since, “in essence, the chapter no longer exists.”