Castle faces inquiry for conduct violations

The Psi Upsilon fraternity is currently under investigation for possible violations of the University's alcohol policy and the Code of Student Conduct, according to Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Director Scott Reikofski. The Office of Student Conduct is conducting the investigation of the fraternity located in the Castle, which began "within the last week" and will end "soon," according to Michele Goldfarb, director of OSC. According to Psi Upsilon National Executive Director Mark Williams, the investigation stems from a February 11 incident. He declined to comment on the nature of the incident. Representatives of Penn's Psi Upsilon chapter -- located at 36th Street and Locust Walk -- also declined to comment on the investigation. The findings of the student conduct investigation -- which entailed interviewing members of the fraternity and students who were present at the event in question -- will be turned in to Reikofski. He said he will then determine appropriate disciplinary action. Goldfarb would not specify how the University first learned of the alleged infractions. Reikofski said that if the fraternity is found guilty of the alleged violations, his office will likely work with the chapter to develop a probationary agreement. If the two groups are unable to come to a satisfactory agreement, a formal hearing before the Fraternity Sorority Advisory Board is arranged. A probationary agreement is a behavioral contract between the University and the chapter that usually involves the fraternity's national head and alumni. The agreement places the chapter on probation and outlines educational programs to "educate them on why there were some problems and issues," Reikofski said. Williams said that the fraternity's national headquarters is conducting its own investigation of possible infractions, but added that possible disciplinary action is best dealt with by the University. These situations are "best handled locally," Williams said. "If we think there's something more to be done, we would do it." He added that if the national headquarters was not satisfied with the University's disciplinary action, it might mandate additional educational programming for the chapter. Williams said that he is not aware of the chapter having any recent violations. Reikofski said that there have been fraternities in the past that have been under investigation and "not found in violation of anything." In 1990, Psi Upsilon was kicked off campus for kidnapping a member of rival fraternity Delta Psi. Recognition to Psi Upsilon was restored in 1995. Reikofski said that he hopes the current investigation does not get blown out of proportion. Williams also said he wasn't surprised by the investigation. "I deal with fraternities," he said. "Fraternities have problems from time to time and we just have to deal with them as they arise."