Fallout from a crackdown last weekend on off-campus student drinking has led to the temporary suspension of a California University of Pennsylvania fraternity.
The fraternity's national headquarters, based in Missouri, suspended the Theta Xi chapter at Cal U Friday. The action comes as the organization and the university investigate actions by California fraternity members.
Last weekend, scores of students were charged with underage drinking and other alcohol-related offenses by borough and university police at various locations in California.
Mayor Casey Durdines said earlier this week, "The message was we're taking the community back. We're not taking the nonsense. There are problems all of the time. It never lets up."
When reached Friday, the Cal U Theta Xi president, who only identified himself as Cory, said he has been advised by national officials to say "no comment" and refer calls to Ron Trucks, the organization's national director of operations.
"We suspended chapter activities while investigating activities from the past weekend," Trucks said.
Trucks said the local chapter has been asked to discontinue chapter activities, including meetings and philanthropic events.
Trucks said he was unsure how many Theta Xi members were cited by police, saying that information will be part of the fact-finding effort by the national organization.
Cal U spokeswoman Christine Kindl said there is no word about a university decision concerning the fraternity's status. She said university officials and representatives of Greek Life - an organization comprising Cal U fraternities and sororities - were meeting to discuss the situation.
She said university officials have been in touch with the national organization of Theta Xi.
"We have a discipline policy that will be followed," Kindl said. "The first step is for all parties to meet."
Kindl could not confirm how many fraternity members were charged by police last week, noting, "We understand there were numerous (cited)."
Kindl said she is not aware of any other fraternities or sororities under investigation, adding, "But, our office of student conduct does not have a complete list of all who were cited this past weekend."
