Phi Kappa Psi fraternity re-joined the Inter-Fraternity Council and re-established a formal relationship with the University yesterday after the Office of the Dean of Students officially reinstated the fraternity's Fraternal Organization Agreement.
Phi Psi lost IFC recognition April 10 after five pledges were arrested Feb. 14 for breaking and entering the Phi Psi house at Washington & Lee University. The pledges had stolen $1,200 worth of goods from the house, under the instruction of other fraternity members.
Losing IFC recognition voids a fraternity's FOA. The Phi Kappa Psi national fraternity does not usually allow chapters to exist without the FOA, the document that outlines a fraternity's relationship with the University. But Phi Psi nationals made an exception in this case, University Phi Psi President Dan Payne said.
"They viewed us as being on probation," Payne said.
The IFC Judiciary Committee recommended in a hearing last Monday that Phi Psi's FOA be reinstated, after the fraternity fulfilled its sanction from last April.
Assoc. Dean of Students V. Shamim Sisson, who signed the FOA, said she was impressed with Phi Psi's successful completion of the sanctions.
In addition to revoking its IFC recognition in April, IFCJC sanctions included the completion of 200 hours of community service, writing a new code of conduct, organizing a hazing education program for the IFC and maintaining a clear police record.
Payne said the incident and resulting policy changes will make Phi Psi a stronger fraternity.
"It can only affect us in a positive way," he said. "It forced us to take a step back, look at everything, and change stuff that needed to be fixed."
Asst. Dean of Students Aaron Laushway said the incident has taught Phi Psi a valuable lesson.
"Their experience and the ramifications of [the experience] can only lend helpful use to fraternities' understanding of hazing," Laushway said.
Sisson said she hopes Phi Psi will serve as an example for other fraternities facing problems.
"We don't think any organization -- or any student -- makes it through the University without having learned hard lessons," she said. "What we would hope is that Phi Psi would be willing to share [what it has learned] with other chapters."
At last Monday's hearing, the IFCJC also mandated that Phi Psi present its hazing education program to all IFC fraternities by Dec. 1, and repeat the program each year for the next three years. Phi Psi members also must complete another 100 hours of community service by April, and officers must submit to the IFC a copy of a revised pledging policy.
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