IFC revokes Psi Upsilon recognition

The InterFraternity Council withdrew its recognition of the Psi Upsilon fraternity last week, according to Greek Alumni Council Chairperson Andrea Dobin. She said the IFC received information that led them to "change their mind," adding that they were "well within their rights to do that." Dobin would not specify exactly what motivated the IFC to revoke their recognition of the fraternity, but added that in response to this decision, GAC also revoked its recommendation that Psi Upsilon be recognized. The IFC granted conditional recognition to the Psi Upsilon in March, reversing a previous decision made last year that denied reinstatement of the fraternity. GAC approved the provisional recognition bid of the fraternity one night later. At that point, Psi Upsilon only had to get the administration's approval in order to return to campus. The fraternity was kicked off campus in 1990 after fraternity brothers kidnapped William O'Flanagan -- a member of Delta Psi, a rival fraternity. The Psi Upsilon brothers abducted the College student from his apartment, handcuffed him to a pole and yelled racial slurs at him. At the time, the Judicial Inquiry Office released a report which stated that throughout the two-and-a-half hour episode, O'Flanagan was "in fear of imminent serious bodily injury, and at one point, death." As a result, Psi Upsilon's national organization agreed to pay $145,000 in compensation to the Delta Psi brother. All Psi Upsilon brothers were kicked out of the Castle, the fraternity's Locust Walk home. The space is currently being used for the Community Service Living Learning Program. Upon losing recognition, some members of Psi Upsilon formed an underground fraternity known as the "Owl Society" or "Castle." In the fall of 1993, the fraternity applied for re-recognition, expressing its desire to start another chapter on campus. In order for Psi Upsilon to be allowed back on campus, the IFC, GAC and the Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board would all have had to approve the decision. The IFC and the GAC decided against the fraternity's appeal. At the time, the GAC expressed concern over the group's connections to the "Owl Society." The council emphasized that no member of the "Owl Society" would be allowed to become a Psi Upsilon brother when they supported the fraternity in March. But now that the IFC and the GAC have withdrawn their recommendations, Psi Upsilon will have to wait until next year to bring up their case again, Dobin said.