Northwest closes troubled fraternity chapter
TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Following two alleged instances of sexual assault at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house on West Ninth Street in Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University acted on Tuesday to revoke the local chapter’s institutional status, effectively ending its existence as a recognized Northwest Greek-life organization.
Citing violations of Greek-life risk management policies, Northwest Missouri State University on Tuesday revoked its institutional recognition of the Delta Nu chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Northwest leaders made the decision after a recent investigation found the chapter had violated its probationary status by “failing to comply with policies and procedures on multiple occasions,” according to a university release.
Northwest originally placed the chapter on probation in May for violations related to alcohol use and high-risk social behavior uncovered during a separate investigation conducted last spring, the release stated.
The chapter’s probationary status would have expired in December.
Tuesday’s announcement comes after two separate criminal investigations into alleged sexual assaults, which reportedly took place at the TKE house, located at 555 West Ninth Street, during the past calendar year.
The first incident occurred in March when Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Robert Rice filed first- and second-degree felony rape charges against then 22-year-old Abraham Flores Acosta, who has since been booted from the fraternity.
The second incident took place over Halloween weekend when Maryville police investigated a similar incident and questioned a suspect. No arrests have been made.
The Delta Nu chapter was informed of the revocation, which essentially ends its existence, in a letter from Northwest Vice President of Student Affairs Matt Baker.
“Tau Kappa Epsilon has a long and proud tradition at the university and has been a foundational experience in the lives of many alumni,” Baker wrote. “But the chapter’s deteriorating culture and refusal to abide by the terms of its probation leave the university with no choice but to revoke recognition.”
According to Northwest officials, the revocation takes effect immediately, and the chapter will no longer be recognized, identified, or listed as a university-affiliated Greek-life organization.
In addition, the chapter is denied the benefits and support of a university-recognized student organization, and is no longer permitted to participate in such activities and organizations as recruitment, initiation, Interfraternity Council, and social events.
According to the Northwest release, future students may attempt to regain university recognition for the chapter no earlier than February 2019 by filing a petition for colony status.
Under Northwest’s Student Conduct Policy, the chapter has until Dec. 2 to appeal the decision, which is subject to review by the university’s senior administration.
Decisions related to the fraternity house, which is not university property, will be made by TKE’s national office and the local Tau Kappa Epsilon Housing Corporation.
Current TKE members who reside in the house are being asked to contact Northwest’s Office of Residential Life for housing assistance.
According to university spokesman Mark Hornickel, the revocation of chapter privileges does not necessarily mean that students are barred from living in the house. Terms of occupancy, if any, he said, would be set by the corporation.
The Northwest release stated that President John Jasinski has called for the launch of a Greek-life “visioning process” to be led by two Northwest alumni in conjunction with “organizational leadership” from Northwest’s Greek-life staff.
According to the release, the process “will involve university leaders, students, and alumni to address the future of Greek Life at Northwest.”
