Evidence from a February investigation showed OU's Delta Upsilon fraternity chapter was in violation of the university's hazing and alcohol policy.
The Daily has obtained documents relating to a February OU's Office of Student Conduct investigation into Delta Upsilon's OU chapter and the sanctions levied against the fraternity.
In a report written by director of OU's Office of Student Conduct Steve Ashmore, evidence from the investigation showed DU had violated the university's policies regarding hazing and alcohol. The investigation did not, however, find institutional knowledge of drug use in the chapter.
The investigation included an effort by the Norman Police Department to look into drug use and or distribution by members of the fraternity, as well as student conduct interviews of DU members, according to an OU's Office of Student Conduct report.
As a result of this investigation, student conduct issued five sanctions against the fraternity in February:
1. The chapter is required to remove any member not willing to conform to chapter or university policies.
2. The chapter must complete an educational program with a professional about "the psychology of hazing, ethical leadership and the meaning of brotherhood."
3. At least 90 percent of the chapter was required to complete more than 20 hours of community service by the end of the spring semester.
4. The chapter was placed on disciplinary probation until the end of the Fall 2018 semester.
5. DU received one additional strike as a result of the investigation, meaning they now have two out of the three that would lead to an immediate suspension.
In the report Ashmore created during the investigation, which was originally only searching for drug and hazing related issues, Ashmore wrote that university alcohol policy was violated by DU because of a group of active members calling themselves the "black ops" team. This group took pledge members to an out-of-house location to drink.
OU's Office of Student Conduct found that the activities of the "black ops" team violated university policy because it was "in furtherance" of DU's activities and "designed to circumvent” alcohol policy. The report did not find evidence of hazing on behalf of the "black ops" team.
"There is no question that many members of the chapter were aware of the existence of the 'black ops' team, believed it to be a group engaged in hazing new members and yet took no action to stop or prevent the group's activities," Ashmore wrote in the final investigation report. " ... The DU (executive committee) either knew or should have known of the 'black ops' team and yet made no attempt to stop its activities.”
Ashmore wrote in the final report that DU members were asked by the chapter to assemble and perform physical activities, such as relay races, while carrying five gallon buckets of water. Ashmore wrote that such activities violated university policy regarding hazing.
“Even if such activities were not, as the chapter’s response suggests, intended to cause mental, physical or emotional harm, the intent is not dispositive,” Ashmore wrote in the final report. “Even consent by the new members cannot remove required physical activity from application of Oklahoma’s hazing statute, or the university’s hazing policy.”
Despite allegations, the investigation did not find evidence of “widespread drug use or tolerance” within the chapter. Ashmore wrote in one investigation report that those interviewed said the chapter made a “diligent effort” to prevent drug use.
In a letter to Ashmore, DU chapter adviser Ben Graves said the chapter conducted its own internal investigation. Graves said in the letter that they agreed that there is not evidence to support ideas of widespread drug use within the fraternity, but disagreed there was evidence of hazing or alcohol violations. Graves said there was a lack of evidence that there was institutional knowledge of the "black ops" team activities.
OU’s DU chapter will be on disciplinary probation until the end of 2018, and will remain at two strikes until Feb. 16, 2020.
