“The chapter demonstrated its inability to effectively manage operations and recruit sufficient new members to perpetuate its existence,” said Delta Tau Delta Executive Vice President James B. Russell. “Despite concerted efforts by fraternity alumni and university officials during the past several years, the chapter consistently failed to meet conduct expectations and accreditation standards of Delta Tau Delta.”

In September 2000, following the most serious incident in the chapter’s history, the death of member Joseph Upshaw in the chapter house from a drug and alcohol overdose, the chapter was put on probationary status. The university and Delta Tau Delta jointly set forth a set of expectations for changing the priorities and culture within the Ohio State chapter. Those included adhering to the Ohio State Code of Student Conduct and meeting regularly with university advisers to review progress toward goals to improve scholarship, leadership development, campus and community involvement, member recruitment, financial management, risk management, diversity education, service and philanthropy.

Since then, the chapter has failed to recruit sufficient members, maintain minimum grade point standards, conduct itself in accordance with fraternal values, and submit required reports. Throughout the Autumn 2001 quarter, members refused to cooperate with university officials who sought to investigate allegations that the chapter had violated university and Interfraternity Council rules.

“Recent actions by members of the OSU chapter of Delta Tau Delta have made it apparent that the hoped-for changes in priorities and culture are not likely to occur,” said Heather Brandon, assistant director of Ohio Union and Student Activities, who provides oversight for Greek affairs at the university. “We fully support the decision of the national officers, and we are appreciative of their efforts and those of local alumni.”

Ohio State and Delta Tau Delta have agreed that the fraternity may re-colonize in Autumn 2004 under a detailed set of expectations related to recruitment, membership education, scholarship, community service and university involvement. The Beta Phi chapter of Delta Tau Delta has been at Ohio State since 1884 and has 2,185 alumni members.

“Delta Tau Delta has traditionally been a strong and vital member of the Greek community here,” Brandon said. “It is unfortunate that the recent membership has not lived up to the standards of the organization and the university. The university, the alumni supervisory committee and the national organization have made many efforts to work with the members to reverse the negative trend, but the members showed no commitment to change. It is in the best interest of all to close the chapter now and to try to bring it back with a fresh start in a couple of years.”

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