Mapping & Analyzing Locust Walk

Topics explored below:

Map of instances of sexual violence, demands from marginalized groups, successes, and fraternity demographics along Locust Walk from 1956-present.
History of committees and concerns over fraternities on campus and violence
Specific incidents that made the DP/Philly papers
History of disciplinary action against fraternities

History of Committees and Concerns over Fraternities on Campus and Violence

Concerns:

Discrimination
- Selective invitations to parties & social events
- Using central locations as sites of homophobia, racism, sexism, etc. (i.e. play inappropriate music to create hostile environment)
- Disparities between Penn housing and frat housing (ex. No “RA” figure and unequal access to alcohol)
Harassment
- Cited as locations of verbal & physical harassment
- Women citing repeated catcalling, objectification, etc. that made them uncomfortable walking on Locust > safety concerns
- Counterclaim: Alumni believed an appropriate code of conduct could be put in place, in exchange for frats to remain on Locust
Representation & unity
- Worry that frats disrupt goal of representing true heterogeneity of the makeup of Penn’s campus
- Counterclaim: Divisive to remove frats as well as causing social/legal trauma for alumni that have invested in these buildings/orgs
- Counterclaim: IFC believes diversity on Locust begins by diversifying the fraternity system, not removing it
Public disruption
- Complaints about noise pollution and distractions to academic buildings
Imbalanced power dynamics
- Prominence on Locust makes it easier for frats to assert power & push back on university demands
- They have easier access to stand in solidarity or excuse misbehavior due to proximity

Timeline of Fraternity Incidents at Penn

1956 – Social probation of Psi Upsilon and other fraternities as a result of “scholastic difficulties”
1981 – Kappa Sigma suspended for three years for “egregious racial indiscretion”
1983- Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) gang rape
- led to large protests on campus
- unable to be prosecuted by Philly DA office
- ATO suspended for 6 months and then permitted to return to campus
- survivor given a monetary settlement while the only punishment faced by ATO members was a reading assignment and community service project
1987 – Zeta Beta Tau suspended for 18 months for “sexually and racially offensive activities during fall rush”
- before being reinstated, had to create a written plan for eliminating sexist and racist behavior and every member had to do 25 hours of community service
1987 – Wharton senior Alexander Moskovitz arrested on drug charges, which included major shipments of cocaine to the Psi Upsilon house
- Moskovitz was expelled, but no Castle members were held responsible for their actions even though they believed members of the house were buying the drugs from Moskovitz
1988 – Beer kegs banned as part of new alcohol policy
- 70 frat men barricade Locust with beer kegs in protest
- a few weeks later the ban was lifted, as long as frats made plans to prevent illegal drinking
February 1990 – Philadelphia police investigated Psi Upsilon (“Castle”) over the kidnapping and assault of a Delta Psi fraternity brother
- Psi Upsilon was found responsible by the University for the incident after investigation, which led to their suspension for at least 3 years
April 1990 – Around 50 demonstrators from the Progressive Student Alliance marched against Phi Sigma Kappa after they played homophobic music from their house during a rally for gay rights
April 1990 – President Hackney establishes the Committee to Diversify Locust Walk, saying that “the current mix of student residences along Locust Walk must change”
September 1991 – Former Phi Upsilon house filled by students in a community service residential program, with the intent that Phi Upsilon could eventually move back into the house
1991 – After Phi Upsilon is suspended from campus, many members form a “secret” off campus fraternity called Owls
1992 – Theta Xi is permanently shut down after property damage to their house during a party
- they had also been investigated for sexual harassment in 1991, but the property damage is the event that led to their charter being revoked
1996 – Penn Women’s Center moves into former Theta Xi house
1998 – Psi Upsilon moves back into their former house, displacing the community service residential program
1999 – Penn alum Michael Tobin dies after falling at the Phi Gamma Delta house
- leads to a 2004 assessment of “the current state and infrastructure of all the University’s Greek houses”
2000 – Former Phi Gamma Delta house converted into College of Arts and Sciences building
2001 – Graduate Student Center moves into former Phi Sigma Kappa house
2004 – Zeta Beta Tau (“ZBT”) suspended for 3 years after 4 policy violations in 3 years
2011 – Phi Kappa Sigma (“Skulls”) faces lawsuit after death of Matthew Crozier during a party at their house
- immediately suspended and eventually their charter was revoked
2016 – Pi Kappa Alpha (“Pike”) member suspended after using racial slurs in email listserv
2017 – The DP reports that only 5 of 27 IFC fraternities have completed the requirements for attending 3 educational programs about sexual violence prevention
- Penalties reported for this include social sanctions, where frats can hold limited registered parties, and fines of $100
2021 – Protests against Phi Upsilon (“Castle”) due to an assault by their members that occurred at a party

History of Disciplinary Action Against Fraternities

What are the institutional organizations that hold Fraternities and Sororities accountable?
- The Fraternity and Sorority Advisory Board (The Advisory Board)
  - Purpose: To be a fair and impartial board which will recommend to the Vice Provost for University Life actions necessary to ensure the commitments and obligations of both the fraternities/sororities and the University are being maintained. The Advisory Board has exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases arising under the policy entitled Recognition and Governance of Undergraduate Social Fraternities and Sororities at the University of Pennsylvania. The Advisory Board will also hear appeals regarding sanctions levied by the Interfraternity and Panhellenic Judicial Inquiry Boards (JIB).
  - Who is on the Board: 4 faculty (one of whom shall serve as chair), 3 Greek students (one from Panhellenic, BIG-C and IFC each), 1 non-Greek student (appointed by the Nominations and Election Committee of the Undergraduate Assembly), 2 members from the Greek Alumni Council, and 2 non-voting administrators (both appointed by the Vice Provost for University Life, with one being the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs)
  - Some of their responsibilities: Monitor the efforts of the IFC/Panhellenic/BIG-C in achieving the goals and objectives of their strategic plans, audit each chapter at least once annually based on the required paperwork that each chapter submits annually to the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA), and address, as outlined in this charter, any incidents of misconduct related to fraternities and sororities, especially those that result in injury, illness, psychological harm, or property damage.
- Center for Community Standards and Accountability (CSA)
  - Formally known as The Office of Student Conduct (OSC)
  - Duties: Shall investigate complaints against chapters under the regulations of the University and the Recognition Policy; help determine whether charges involve a chapter’s collective responsibility and subject the chapter to the jurisdiction of this charter and whether such charges should be brought before the Advisory Board; present at the review relevant evidence concerning the charges. The Director of OSC can testify; call witnesses, present documents before the Advisory Board, and recommend appropriate sanctions.
- Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs
  - Duties: Shall resolve by agreement changes against the chapters; present history and information about the chapter in reviews before the Advisory Board after a determination of collective responsibility; ensure that agreements and sanctions are enforced; perform all other responsibilities specified in this Chapter.
What is the procedure for filing a complaint?
- Any person who believes that a fraternity or sorority chapter has violated University rules or regulations may file a complaint with the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs (OFSA). OFSA may conduct preliminary fact-finding before a case is forwarded to the CSA for in-depth investigation. The complaint may also be filed with a University office other than OFSA (e.g. Public Safety, CSA, VPUL). The CSA may also bring charges against a chapter on behalf of a complainant who requests anonymity or on behalf of the University in general. Office of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs should be notified of these complaints.