The brothers of the Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity have a reason to party. TEP was taken off its social probation this week, at least two months earlier than was scheduled. But according to TEP President Michael Jacobs, the fraternity remains on "overall probation." "It's been a long process," Jacobs, a College junior, said last night. "We've been trying to get off probation for a while and we've hit some red tape along the way. But we're finally off and I think people are happy." So happy, in fact, that TEP held its first party last night to celebrate. Jacobs said the fraternity has been planning parties all semester in anticipation of being let off probation. TEP was ordered off campus in the fall of 1991 after being found collectively responsible for three hazing incidents that occurred in the spring of 1991. According to University policies, a finding of collective responsibility means that the entire house can be held liable for the charges and punishments can range from probations to the complete revocation of the chapter's charter. TEP was also ordered to perform various community service projects each semester, as well as implementing an education program for its brothers. The fraternity returned to its house at 3805 Walnut Street in September and has been performing community service projects since then. Interfraternity Council President and Alpha Chi Rho brother Morris Massel said the settlement was "about on schedule" and that TEP has acted in accordance with all of the demands set forth in the agreement of 1991. "They had a whole lot of things to do for the settlement," said Massel, a College junior. "They've held up their end of the deal." Jacobs said that TEP has been holding seminars all semester, including ones on the negative affects of hazing, on respect for the individual, on scholarship, and on the history of the University. Workshops sponsored by the Drug and Alcohol Resource Team and Students Together Against Acquaintance Rape were also held. Jacobs also said that when TEP appeared before the Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board in February, it was told to finish up two remaining seminars. According to Jacobs, the fraternity held those two seminars the next week. Jacobs was notified by Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Tricia Phaup during spring break that TEP's social probation had been lifted. Phaup did not return a call placed to her office yesterday. The fact that TEP is still on "overall probation," Jacobs said, means that the fraternity is being watched carefully for other infractions and will still have a live-in residential advisor. Jacobs said the brothers involved in the hazing incidents are no longer in the fraternity. "[The University] can expect us to continue to act the way we've been acting [while on probation]," he said. "A lot of what went wrong had to do with brothers that were older than us. They're no longer here so you're not really dealing with the same people." Jacobs added that the fraternity does plan to have more fun for the remainder of the semester, starting with last night's party.
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