IFC approves reinstatement of Psi Upsilon

Future of the Castle still unclear The Interfraternity Council granted conditional recognition to the Psi Upsilon fraternity last night, reversing a decision made last year to deny re-instatement of the fraternity, IFC President and College junior David Treat said. Psi Upsilon was kicked off campus in 1990 after fraternity brothers kidnapped a member of Delta Psi, a rival fraternity. The Psi Upsilon brothers abducted the Delta Psi brother from his apartment, handcuffed him to a pole and yelled racial slurs at him. As a result, Psi Upsilon's national organization agreed to pay $145,000 in compensation to the Delta Psi brother. All Psi Upsilon members were kicked out of the Castle, located at 36th Street and Locust Walk, in the wake of the incident and the building has since been used as a residence for the Community Service Living Learning Program. In the fall of 1993, Psi Upsilon applied for re-recognition. But the IFC and the Greek Alumni Council decided against their appeal. Last night, however, the general membership of the IFC voted to recognize Psi Upsilon by a "solid majority," College sophomore and IFC Judicial Manager Josh Gottheimer said. The vote came after extensive presentations, discussion and debate, he added. The decision, however, is complicated by legal issues as to where Psi Upsilon will be housed. There is ongoing litigation between the local alumni chapter of Psi Upsilon and the University regarding ownership of the Castle. In the 1950s, the fraternity 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 agreement even listed various properties on Locust Walk that would be used as relocation sites -- including the building at 3609-11 Locust Walk and the alleyway at 3613 Locust Walk. If the fraternity chooses the latter, the University would have to build and pay for a new structure to be erected in that vacant space, Mason said. And representatives from Psi Upsilon have said ownership of the Castle is still unclear. Gottheimer and Treat said Psi Upsilon's move back to the Castle was a possibility, although the IFC is not involved in that decision. According to Gottheimer, under the IFC's expansion guidelines, the recognition is conditional for two years. Each semester, the executive board will conduct a review of the fraternity and will present its findings to the general membership. The IFC found that Psi Upsilon is, "a strong national fraternity with strong alumni backing," Gottheimer said. "There were some very good positive ideas in the agreement they presented to us -- especially with academics and philanthropy," he said. "It reflected what the IFC stands for and is something the IFC supports." And Treat said he thought Psi Upsilon would "strengthen our system." Although the IFC vote is a "big step" in the recognition process, Gottheimer said the Greek Alumni Council and the University have to approve the decision before Psi Upsilon can return to campus next fall. Treat said he will present the IFC's decision to GAC during a scheduled meeting tomorrow night, adding that GAC will probably vote on the re-recognition during that meeting. Psi Upsilon representative and brother Michael Corwin, an alumnus of Washington State University, was unavailable for comment last night. He came to the University to work on gaining recognition for a University Psi Upsilon chapter.