PURDUE WITHDRAWS FRATERNITY RECOGNITION AFTER DRUG CHARGES

Purdue on Tuesday withdrew recognition of Tau Kappa Epsilon
fraternity following the May arrests of three former executive
officers on drug-related charges, according to University reports.

Tau Kappa Epsilon and its Alpha-Zeta Chapter at Purdue will appeal
the University's decision to withdraw recognition of the
organization. The fraternity has been active continuously since Dec. 20, 1928.

Three fraternity members were arrested on May 5 by the Tippecanoe
County Drug Task Force, a force that includes Purdue police officers.

University reports say the men arrested and their initial charges are
Michael David Kapetanovic, of Rockville, Md., having completed his
sixth semester at the University, felony charges of dealing cocaine
and two counts of conspiracy to deal psilocybin mushrooms; Kyle
Phillip Conforti, of Woodbridge, Ill., having graduated in May,
felony charges of dealing cocaine and possession of cocaine; and
Brandon George Freiberger, of Georgetown, Ind., and having completed
his second semester at the University, two felony counts of dealing
psilocybin mushrooms and an additional count of possession of
psilocybin, an organic hallucinogenic drug found in Psilocybe
mexicana mushrooms.

The men are no longer enrolled at the University.

In University reports, L. Tony Hawkins, dean of students, said, "The
situation involving this fraternity house was unusually egregious.

"Illegal drugs were confiscated at the TKE house. We believe that
members had reason to know or suspect that there was a problem and
did not take corrective action or alert University authorities."

University spokeswoman Jeanne Norberg said this case is different
because of the members' previous executive positions at TKE, located
at 300 Russell St.

"These weren't three individuals; these are three elected officers.
The second distinction is that there were other members there that
knew and did not take appropriate action.

"This does not mean every member of the fraternity is at fault, but
they elected these people and that changes the situation."

She said this is the first instance in a 34-year collective memory
that action has been taken against a fraternity for anything
involving the sale of drugs. She said because the case is still under
investigation, it is uncertain if and when the organization will be
again recognized by the University.

"After their period of withdrawal, they may apply for recognition. At
that time an understanding is developed for what it takes for them to
solve the problem. It depends on whether we believe that that is
necessary. There are individual circumstances in every case," Norberg said.

Kevin Mayeux, CEO of TKE International Fraternity, said in a press
release that he "believes the incidents were isolated and only
related to a handful of individuals, and that the actions of those
few individuals � who were expelled from and are no longer
active members of the chapter � are not reflective of the
values, standards and conduct of the more than 60 remaining men in
the Alpha-Zeta Chapter."

He said TKE plans to continue to keep the chapter and facility
operational, and presented plans to ensure that the chapter house and
functions are free of narcotics, individual members pledge to remain
drug-free in their private lives and a plan for a positive outreach
program to educate Purdue and its Greek system about substance abuse.
During the 2005-06 school year the fraternity will have a full-time,
live-in adviser to hold the chapter accountable for membership standards.

Alex Fenske, president of Interfraternity Council and a senior in the
School of Management, encourages every member of Purdue's Greek
community to hold each other accountable.

"With peer accountability, if there is something that an individual
feels is going on and isn't right, they should report it to their
chapter's executive board, their corporate board, the group of alumni
that governs their house or their national fraternity if they feel it
is necessary." He also added that both Interfraternity Council and
Panhellenic Association are open to hearing concerns.

"One of the primary goals of the leaders of the Greek community is
that we try to uphold the highest standards and try to develop our
members to be high caliber students and people," Fenske said.

Interfraternity Council is one of the governing bodies that enforces
and regulates standards for the Greek community.

Norberg said of TKE fraternity, "People need to understand that we
are very serious about (drug policies). We have a lot of good
fraternities here and we don't like to see this happen. We try very
hard and work with them very hard to help them succeed and helping
them learn their rights and responsibilities."