IFC votes ZBT out of organization

By David Enders

Daily Staff Reporter

Two members of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity arrived late to last night's Interfraternity Council Meeting expecting to find more than 40 of their brothers. When they found none of their brothers present and the chair normally occupied by their representative to the IFC empty, they turned and left. On his way out, one spat on the floor.

Five minutes before their arrival, IFC voted to expel the campus chapter of ZBT from its ranks.

More than 40 members of ZBT attended the meeting to defend their fraternity. The vote resulted from house representatives missing the first two IFC meetings of the semester. IFC's probation in the wake of hazing incidents last spring required ZBT's attendance at all meetings.

All members of the house present stood up and left as a group after IFC President Adam Silver read the results of the secret ballot.

The IFC decided to vote two weeks ago after ZBT representatives failed to attend the first two IFC meetings of the semester. The Greek Activities Review Panel, a branch of the IFC, is also investigating other possible violations of the probation.

ZBT President Israel Nosnik felt the vote was unfair in light of changes his house has undergone, including this summer's expulsion of more than half its members in relation to hazing.

"I know that there are a substantial number of houses on campus that still haze. We took the step to stop it, and we got bent over for it. I think it was an embarrassment to IFC. I think its very sad. Each day our house is better than before," Nosnik said.

The vote consisted of a two-thirds majority of 25 voting fraternity presidents in the IFC and prompted the resignation of IFC Vice-President of Internal Affairs Matthew Cohn, a member of Tau Epsilon Phi fraternity.

"I listened to (ZBT) give their testimony," Cohn said. "No one spoke against them, and in the end, it didn't seem to matter. Everyone came in with their vote in their pocket.

"It gets me choked up that (the IFC) could say to 60 guys that we don't want to be your brothers, just because they missed two meetings.

"I feel like this single event is more damaging to the Greek system than one kid getting bleach poured on him or a kid getting shot in the penis. These are guys who are supposed to be more than your friends. The whole point of the Interfraternity Council is to bring brothers from other fraternities together ... This is exclusion."

Brothers in Trouble

- April 7: IFC recommends to expel ZBT from the organization

- April 12: IFC passes first hazing policy

- April 13: Nationals conclude probe into hazing incident

- Summer 2000: ZBT purges 47 members

- Sept. 10: IFC allows ZBT to stay in council on probation

- Oct. 18: IFC expels ZBT from the council