GAC approves Psi Upsilon bid to recolonize

'Owl Society' to be excluded The Psi Upsilon fraternity came one step closer to recolonizing at the University after the Greek Alumni Council approved its provisional recognition bid last night, according to GAC chairperson Andrea Dobin. This decision follows Tuesday's Interfraternity Council vote to support the fraternity's reinstatement. But Dobin said the administration still needs to approve GAC's and the IFC's decision to grant provisional recognition status before Psi Upsilon can return to campus. The fraternity was kicked off campus in 1990 after Psi Upsilon brothers kidnapped a member of Delta Psi, a rival fraternity. The Delta Psi brother was handcuffed to a pole while Psi Upsilon brothers yelled racial slurs at him. Upon losing recognition, some members of Psi Upsilon formed an underground fraternity known as the "Owl Society" or "Castle." When Psi Upsilon unsuccessfully attempted to regain recognition last year, GAC expressed concern over the group's connections with the Owl Society. As part of GAC's decision to approve provisional recognition, no member of the Owl Society will be allowed to become a Psi Upsilon brother, Dobin said. "The history of the chapter is an issue as it was when they tried to recolonize last year," she said. "There are many safeguards to insure that the Owl Society and the new Psi Upsilon chapter are separate and distinct." Although there have been "a lot of changes" in Psi Upsilon's structure, Dobin said that if Owl Society members join the new fraternity, Psi Upsilon will again lose its recognition. Michael Corwin, an independent consultant contracted by Psi Upsilon alumni in Philadelphia, said the fraternity has made a clean break from the Owl Society. The Psi Upsilon brother and alumnus of Washington State University said the fraternity will have all pledges sign an agreement stating they are not "involved in any manner" with the society. "We are going to be known as Psi Upsilon. We don't want to bring back the Castle," Corwin said, adding that the fraternity's local alumni group has spent over $20,000 on the reactivation process since last November. If the University approves the recolonization status, Dobin said Psi Upsilon then must negotiate to determine the location of the fraternity house. After the abduction of the Delta Psi member, all Psi Upsilon brothers were removed from their house, commonly known as "the Castle," which is located at 36th Street and Locust Walk. Since then, the Castle has been used to house the Community Service Living Learning Program. In the 1950s, Psi Upsilon and the University entered into an agreement in which ownership of the property was given to the University. According to Associate Treasurer Christopher Mason, the agreement said that if Psi Upsilon ever lost its house, the University would have to provide the fraternity with another property and pay for moving costs. The local alumni chapter filed a lawsuit against the University that was dropped over six months ago, Corwin said. He said the fraternity's "greatest desire" is to move back into the Castle, but the first step is to gain recognition from the University. "We have to have a fraternity before we think about where we live," Corwin added. "It is all in the administration's court. All Psi Upsilon has is a hope and a dream."