Brian Lewis

Phi Kappa Theta fraternity was expelled from the Interfraternity Council earlier this week after 24 charges were lodged against it. Fraternity members say they will be appealing the charges.

A day after his fraternity was expelled from campus, Matt Moreno, president of Phi Kappa Theta, said the punishment was too severe.

The Interfraternity Council charged Phi Kappa Theta, 1111 W. 11th St., with 24 charges for recruitment and alcohol policy violations. Lawrence police cited nine people alcohol violations and confiscated more than $500 in cash, signs that advertised the party and 16 kegs.

“To tell you the truth, we’re shocked,” Moreno, Wichita sophomore, said. “Basically, we feel it was unprecedented. It almost seemed they were making an example out of us. It feels like we were victims of the circumstance.”

Moreno said he wanted to appeal by Friday. The KU charter of Phi Kappa Theta was the fraternity’s oldest operating chapter in the nation. It has been at the University of Kansas since 1910.

The chapter has already taken actions to improve accountability within the fraternity, Moreno said. They have created a proactive outline for members to follow.

Within the outline are steps the fraternity members can take to hold themselves accountable, after the incident.

Moreno said the 35 members of the fraternity would be required to listen to a guest speaker talk about the dangers and risks of alcohol tomorrow night. Members will be required to participate in a park cleanup activity at South Park this weekend as well.

This is not the first time a proactive list has been scheduled for the fraternity.

Fraternity members abided by a 10-point plan of corrective measures in 1998, which followed hazing allegations, Kevin Lampe, Phi Kappa Theta national secretary, said.

Phi Kappa Theta is the first greek organization the IFC has ever expelled.

Scott Shorten, IFC president, said he could not compare a previous situation to the magnitude of the Phi Kappa Theta incident.

The IFC judicial board decides whether a chapter should be expelled on a case by case basis. Shorten said the Phi Kappa Theta decision was made because of the chapter’s disregard for IFC rules.

“I would say their lack of effort to conform to our laws and bylaws endangered those of their fraternity and the guests of their fraternity,” Shorten said.

Though the IFC no longer recognizes Phi Kappa Theta as an active fraternity, Moreno said his fraternity would plan to remain active as a greek organization.