Published 2006-11-14T00:00:00Z”/>

Kourtney Jason

University Police are investigating hazing rumors regarding a Chico State fraternity.

No report has been filed regarding a possible hazing incident at the Phi Delta Theta house, at 429 W. Fourth St., but police will investigate any allegations made, said Sgt. Robyn Hearne.

“We are looking for something,” Hearne said. “With any allegation about hazing, we will investigate and see what can be substantiated.”

Greek adviser Larry Bassow said the Student Activities Office is working with Student Judicial Affairs, University Police and Phi Delta Theta’s national organization to get all the information.

Bassow began to hear talk of hazing last week and made sure something was done according to the university’s and national fraternity’s procedures, he said.

When the investigations produce facts, the individuals or groups involved will be dealt with appropriately, he said.

“We are just helping the process along,” he said. “Nothing has been substantiated yet.”

The Student Activities Office works with all student organizations, Bassow said. If any student groups have broken campus policy, Bassow will work with them, too.

Assistants for university President Paul Zingg and Drew Calandrella, vice president for Student Affairs, said that both men did not feel comfortable commenting on the investigations until more information was available.

Phi Delta Theta President Tyler Kennedy said the investigation is still developing.

Interfraternity Council President Dustin Struble, a Phi Delta Theta member, said he doesn’t want this investigation to imply Phi Delta Theta hazes its members.

“We just want to make it clear that Phi Delta Theta does not stand for hazing at all,” he said.

This new hazing investigation comes almost a month after police found men forcing a member of Delta Psi Delta, an unrecognized fraternity, into the back of a truck, handcuffed and duct-taped, according to police records.

The university is also investigating the Delta Psi Delta incident, Joe Wills, director of public affairs, told The Orion.

President Zingg said in a 2005 speech that he defines hazing as any action that involves abuse, humiliation or embarrassment.

In the speech, which came after student Matthew Carrington’s death during a hazing ritual in February 2005, Zingg told students that hazing would not be tolerated and that no distinction would be drawn between major and minor hazing, The Orion reported.

Carrington died from water intoxication in the basement of Chi Tau, an unrecognized Chico fraternity, police have said.

Kourtney Jason can be reached at

<a href=”mailto:[email protected]”>[email protected]</a>