Fraternity Suspended After Party

The UC Berkeley chapter of Alpha Xi Omega fraternity was put on interim suspension last week for what university officials said was a violation of the alcohol moratorium.

The fraternity, which has a primarily Asian-American membership and is not affiliated with the Interfraternity Council, was put on interim suspension after throwing a party, according to Dean of Students Karen Kenney.

Campus officials would not comment on what specific events at the party led to the suspension.

"To reveal the details would be premature. It's still under investigation," Kenney said.

Junior Jeremy Chang, president of Alpha Xi Omega, said he received a call from administrators after the fraternity threw a party Thursday of Welcome Week and was confronted about having alcohol at the party.

"There was alcohol, but our organization doesn't have that many members ... and a lot of people had already been drinking at other parties before they stepped in the door," Chang said. "It's not fair to be singled out."

The fraternity will have a hearing with Student Judicial Affairs, during which a panel will vote to extend or overturn the suspension.

Under the suspension, the fraternity is prohibited from throwing events, which include rush events and initiation ceremonies.

"Recruitment week is crucial for all fraternities and you can't just ask us to suddenly stop everything," Chang said.

Chang said the fraternity is trying to appeal the suspension and has been meeting with university officials throughout the week "to work something out."

University officials issued an alcohol moratorium on the Greek system last May after a string of alcohol-related incidents.

Whether the incident will affect the gradual lifting of the alcohol moratorium-part of which was lifted last weekend to allow pre-game parties-is not yet clear, Kenney said.

"It's still under consideration whether we'll roll back the moratorium," she said.

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